Riverstone Cafe
143 W Lincoln Hwy, Exton, PA, 19341
Riverstone Cafe Menu
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Address :
143 W Lincoln Hwy
Exton, PA, 19341 - Phone (610) 594-2233
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Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : No
Coat Check : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Whitney M.
Eek!! We were really not particularly impressed. For the first time Yelpers lead me a stray! When we arrives there was a large group of people that were smoking right outside the front door, making it impossible for us to eat in the patio despite the fact that the website advertises the restaurant as smoke-free. We ordered drinks, a glass of wine an the evening's special martini. However, the dinner was half over before we realized that our waitress had completely omitted the martini. We didn't call it to her attention since it was too late in the meal for us to want it anymore and I was relieved to see that it did not appear in the bill. For dinner I ordered the Goat Cheese Bombs and the Grilled Salmon skewers. My husband ordered the French Onion soup, chicken enchiladas, and Asian lettuce wraps. The Goat cheese bombs came DRENCHED in the honey lemon sauce, rendering the mixed greens salad that came with it utterly inedible - way too sweet! The salmon was nicely cooked and the stirfry rice and veggies was good, but honestly didn't just wow me. My husband said that the French Onion soup truly was very good, but the other two dishes left much to be desired. He complainedthat there was hardly any chicken in the chicken enchiladas. The chicken that came with the lettuce wraps was completely unseasoned and was very dry. All in all, dinner was rather unsatisfactory and the service was only mediocre.
(2)Dan W.
Great tapas, great atmosphere, wait staff left something to be desired.
(4)Jennifer M.
Tapas menu is excellent. The hummus plate and the crab cake triplet are my favs. About a half dozen wines for $4 from 5-7!
(4)J. J.
This place has the best martini's and bartender in the area! Go see Stacy and ask for a dirty martini. The atmosphere is always fun and upbeat. They are known for their oyster bar and tapas. Great food, drinks and loads of fun! On the menu, I would highly recommend the hummus and veggie wrap , the apple chicken salad, the flatbreads and the crab ragoons. A great place to take a new date to. The bar itself is made of riverstones under glass and the scene always has a nice vibe to it. I was surprised to find a poor review about Riverstone here from the gal prior to me. This is one of my hot spots that I visit pretty regularly and have never had poor service or less than fantastic food.
(5)Steve P.
I really enjoy this place. It is a versatile, yet stylish environment that has been comfortable for a dinner with my wife and infant son, yet equally chic and welcoming for my debaucherous group of 4 couples out for a late night food and drink-fest. The food is diverse and tasty. The bar is well-stocked and offers some cool concoctions (sweet tea martini, anyone?). The oysters are fresh and yummy. The tapas are not your typical fare. All in all, you'll have a great time and not spend a mortgage payment. I have a hard time recommending one dish, as all of the small plates are tasty in their own right. Get the goat cheese balls. Get the shrimp rolls. Get the flatbread pizzas. Get the oysters. One word of warning -- small plates sneak up on you. I was uncomfortably full that night and well into the next day. Pace yourself and listen to your belly if you don't want a bloated ride home.
(4)Daphne Y.
Great place. Nice decor; ambience. The menu is varied with a little of everything in the form of small plates. I had the mussels, and the firecracker shrimp egg rolls. I would pass on the mussels next time, but the egg rolls were great. Chocolate raspberry cake was pretty yummy. There is an oyster bar, too. I am not sure how all the menu items fit together--in addition to all types of nibbles, hummus, salads, there are even small pizzas. I guess if you are sampling plates, the eclectic menu is okay--just makes for odd combinations.
(3)Lindsay C.
Our experience with Riverstone Cafe began with a phone call to the restaurant to inquire about spaces for large groups and options for people with food allergies. We were able to secure a curtained-off section of the restaurant for our party of 15 on a Thursday night, and the chef got on the phone to talk about allergies with us. The chef listed a number of menu options that were natively free of the allergen and offered to make us pretty much anything we like with a special preparation to exclude the allergen. Great start. On arrival, our table was ready to go in the special section of the restaurant. We were greeted by the friendly waitress, and the chef came out immediately to talk to us about our allergies. Our party ordered appetizers and entrees. Among the things that were ordered were the crab cake triplets, hot dang, french onion soup, oysters, crab and spinach dip, chef's crab cakes, scallops and shrimp scampi, New York strip steak, chicken picatta, blackened grouper, cheeseburger, etc. Everyone enjoyed their food. Alcoholic beverages were also ordered, and everyone seemed to enjoy those as well. Throughout the meal, the waitress, staff and the chef were very attentive, friendly and on top of things despite there being a large party with 3 small children. The noise level in the restaurant was low, and we were able to hear each other comfortably. I also want to note that the chef mentioned that he was hired just a few days prior to our visit. Therefore, folks who were unhappy with the food should give this place another chance. The new chef is pretty awesome.
(5)Lauren T.
Riverstone has changed since last year! (2014) my husband and I loved riverstone..... We loved the tapas and the food was always fresh... "Was" is the key word.things have changed here. The food is mediocre for the price and the drinks are awful. We loved this place and will no longer be returning.
(1)Michael F.
Riverstone seems confused to me. Oyster bar, tapas, pizza, soup, salad... hang on for a minute...is this a concept gone wrong? I think so. So with my little group today, we ordered some soup, the buffalo sliders, rangoons, french bread w/ pesto sampler, grilled flatbread and a couple other items. My cup of turkey soup with grilled vegetables was really underwhelming. It contained GROUND turkey, with some corn and ... I'm not really sure. The broth was underseasoned and to say it was a cup would be generous...the portion was closer to a thimble. Any respectable diner does better. Out next was our french bread with pesto. The bread was shining with a glaze of butter, and it tasted like it. The sun-dried tomato pesto and basil pesto was the best part. Next out were our buffalo sliders and crab rangoons. Unfortunately, they were all (four of us) overcooked and fairly dried out. The rangoons were in the fryer for a good time...overly crisp. It took my 2 hours and a cup of coffee later to rid my mouth of the layer of butter & oil from our lunch. Chef...take it easy next time. Overall, I thought Riverstone was disappointing and I don't plan on a return.
(2)Tom D.
This is my favorite "a drink and a comfy chair" place. The vodka on tap is fantastic but they lose a star for their sad olives alone, the only true flaw in this place. The raw oyster bar is wonderful and the tapas are large enough to share but too good to do it happily.
(4)Marc R.
Food is always good here, and the burger was excellent. Good wine list as well, a nice atmosphere. Service has always been good. However for 7pm on Saturday the place was a little empty.
(4)Bill H.
Nice decor, good service. We had a large party of 13 and had attentive service. We did the tapas approach where we sampled many many dishes. Worthing going back too.
(3)Doug J.
Have driven past this place 1000 times and never even gave it a thought. But decided to try something new and were pleasantly surprised by Riverstone. Had three small plates to share with my wife, and our friends had sandwiches. Everyone enjoyed the food and service. Will try Sunday Brunch sometime as well as dinner. Worth a stop, especially if you want just something small.
(4)Johnny V.
Eh, it was decent. We went later so it was close to empty. Only us and one other table. Nice atmosphere and good decor. I think it would be pleasant even if crowded. I had two Tapas plates, mussels and the three mini crab cakes. The mussels were served in a white wine sauce (choice of white or red) which was delicious. They were very good size and cooked great, served with crostini which was good. The crab cakes were very bland and had way too much filler. They were dry and the aioli did nothing to help the flavor. My wife had the French onion soup which she said was good but was advertised as being served with a puff pastry on top but was instead served with a piece of Crostini, not a huge deal, but. She was going to get the grilled squid, but they were out of that as well as being out of the chicken saltimbocca (sp?). Instead she got the special that she was told was scallops served over angel hair pasta. Scallops were WAY overcooked and the pasta albeit homemade was not angel hair and was very doughy, so much so that she didn't eat half. Service was okay, even only with two tables, there were multiple mix ups of what goes to which table. Would we go back? Depends. I would for the mussels, but probably not for any other reason.
(3)Shayne M.
So disappointing. This has been a great staple for good drinks and good food and good service for years. It has definitely declined. They had a band tonight that was way too loud and made the experience a bit awkward. Tonight we had food that was inedible and had to be sent back. The server was nice but had too many tables and we had to flag her down on several occasions. Sadly this will be my last visit. Their tapas was so good, the new menu just isn't working well.
(2)Jay S.
These reviews are the equivalent of someone saying they enjoy low-key quiet lounges so they go to a night club and complain about the noise and intense atmosphere. The oyster bar is very relaxing and they always have a great variation of oysters accompanied with tasty sauces (try the red pomegranate one). The new management is excellent and the new menus are very good. I originally went for brunch two weeks ago and had a apple chicken walnut salad which tasted unbelievably good. I would recommend this salad for a light and tasty lunch. The service was friendly, quick, and the environment was relaxing. After asking for a dinner menu to browse, I saw a handful of entrees and tapas that caught my eye so I decided to return for dinner later in the week. Dinner: I had a pear and goat cheese crustini and sesame tuna to start. I can confidently say the pear and goat is the tastiest appetizer I have ever had. The sesame tuna was cut to perfection and the presentation was very nice. For my entree I had the Gingo Miso Striped Bass. Couldn't find anything wrong with it. The soup wasn't overbearing, the bass, which lied on the udon noodles, was perfectly seasoned. Once again, the service was great, quick, and friendly. Lemoncello lemon drop martini was a bit strong but hey, who's gonna complain about more alcohol. There was honestly nothing I could find wrong with my experience. I suppose the food took a bit longer than I hoped for but the server told me the kitchen cooks for Riverstone AND Doc Martin next door. To have a kitchen staff cooking for two restaurants at once made this more tolerable and understandable. The menus online need to be updated too. 10/10 will return.
(5)Lauren S.
This place...was not good. Was in the area on Sunday morning and wanted brunch. Browsed Yelp, checked out this place's website, and everything promised a beautiful brunch buffet with rave reviews. We drive all the way there, and as soon as we walked in the door, the host said, "Okay if you're here for our brunch buffet, we are no longer doing it. We just have a regular menu now." I felt bad for the girl because I bet she had a lot of angry people on her hands that day. I guess we could have turned around and left, but we had driven all the way there and didn't want to be rude to this poor girl, so we agreed to be seated. She placed us (2 of us) at a teeny table way out of the way of the near-empty dining room. Our server had to come looking for us if he wanted to see if we needed anything; it wasn't something he could see from across the room. Which leads me to my next point. Dude, I realize you probably hate your job - who doesn't - but you could not have made us feel less welcome. I'm not averse to punk style, but the guy who serve you food shouldn't have inch-long, black and glittery fingernails. His hands looked like SabreTooth from the X-Men series. He wasn't very helpful or welcoming - this includes splashing me and our table with water from the pitcher because he wanted to fill our glasses and leave. No apology or recognition of this. My dude ordered the crabcake eggs benedict which seemed ok. I ordered a salad and said, "Can I just get that without cheese?" It came with gorgonzola. I knew right away the order would be wrong. He didn't write it down, he didn't even really do anything other than nod and grab our menus. Of course, it came out covered in gorgonzola cheese. I couldn't eat it. I wouldn't even send it back because quite frankly, what else are they gonna bring me? Take an hour to give me something else I Don't want? Kind of pointless. The entire time, a man - I think the owner - was standing at the front yapping on his cell phone. The room was filthy and abandoned - places you could tell used to function as the brunch buffet were now just empty stands. Every person there looked unhappy, including the staff, and all-in-all, it seems that whatever everyone had been raving about on Yelp has gone the way of the dodo.
(1)Jennifer H.
Service was amazing BUT food was lacking... Veal Parmesan was dry and not flavorful at all. No oyster bar anymore folks!
(2)Tameka H.
Drinks are excellent and the food usually is. However did not care for the spinach and crab dip. Window seats are chilly in frigid temperatures. Get a seat near the fireplace. Mon-thurs you can bring your own wine. They have kid menu .. But make it a date with the Martinis. Especially between 5&7! Excellent for big appetites or small. Also the tapas allow you to try several things and share. Great parking and great bar to catch up on sports. It is close to Downingtown theater so you can drive 10 minutes down he road and still catch the movie before it starts!
(3)Sean G.
Food was good but service was almost non existent. Server didn't check on our table until we were finished. Food came out wrong but was fixed quickly. Had the feeling that we were more of a nuisance then a guest.
(2)Jenna H.
Absolutely horrible! I've never received such terrible service. This place used to be consistently good but after my experience last night I would never recommend this restaurant again. We waited 30 minutes for drinks, 40 minutes for one appetizer, and an hour and 45 minutes for entrees! We were a party of 4 and the restaurant was not crowded. The waitress even came by and said it "wasn't her fault" because the bartender got "overwhelmed" and that's why our drinks took so long. However, she only came over at that point because I stared her down and right after saying it was the bartenders fault she went directly over to the bar and - surprise! - our drinks were, in fact, ready. I guess the kitchen was overwhelmed too. The food, which used to be accurate, was mediocre at best. The goat cheese crostini was soggy and the steaks were filled with gristle and difficult to cut. Definitely NOT worth the 1:45 wait. The worst part was, no one stopped by to apologize, talk with us about our experience or do anything to try to improve it. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else for dinner. I'd give this zero stars if I could.
(1)Sara S.
Riverstone is a favorite among my coworkers and me for happy hours after work, but this place is really good any time of day. They always have great beers on tap and they make an awesome dirty martini. There's a great range of seating options - casual lounge chairs and low tables, lots of bar stools, a private room in the back and a nice little outdoor area during warmer months. And the food is seriously tasty - especially the hummus platter, the brie & roasted turkey panini and the pear & goat cheese crustini. Two other bonuses: 1. If you're in the mood for more casual "sports bar" type food, you can also order from the Winners Circle menu, since they share a kitchen. 2. On Tuesday nights, they put out free food during happy hour and it's usually a pretty decent spread.
(4)Magali T.
For the past 9 years, my husband and I used to go to Riverstone as our go-to. But all that changed when the new owner took over about a year ago. The last time we dined there, a couple sat next to us outside. We started noticing someone smoking behind us - which is illegal in Pennsylvania- but we were done, about to leave and decided not to make a fuss. The man, by the way, was sitting outside RIGHT next to the no smoking sign. The couple next to us, however, had just sat down so the man very courteously got up and asked the man to stop smoking. At that point, the smoker became rude, told the other man he was the owner and he could do whatever he wanted. Angered, the man returned to his table and asked to move, so he and his date went inside. We were pretty upset by this and mentioned it to our waitress as we were leaving. Well, the smoking owner then decided to kick out the couple! We spoke at length with the manager and have not returned since, and refuse to go to Riverstone or Winners Circle.
(1)Jenn S.
All I have to say is bad oysters! As in, you take a whiff and the dead fish smell nearly knocks you off your seat. Understood that it is a busy night and they were two servers short. Willing to overlook service and getting our flatbreads before our oysters. However bad oysters -YUCK! Will not be returning and will not recommend.
(1)Ben M.
Avoid, this place has one redeeming quality. The Wednesday oyster special. After having several small, overpriced, awful tasting appetizers. I have come to the conclusion that it simply is not worth coming to this establishment anymore. The martini list is awful, the beer selection is awful, and the bar service is sub-par for price comparison. For 9$ a martini I want it to be at least satisfactory. I would avoid eating here six days a week. The oyster special is great, the rest, is a wannabe restaurant. DO NOT enjoy
(2)ReadyFreddie M.
If you want to make your girlfriend cry on her birthday, take her here. If you like to go back into the kitchen to get your own syrup, come here. If you like being a guinea pig for some frat boy's first day on the job, this is your place. All those reviews written before the management change and before they did away with their signature brunch buffet? Let them fade from your consciousness like the glory of this Exton staple has faded in the past few months.
(1)Howard U.
It was an enjoyable evening. The restaurant was not full on a Saturday night. service was good but could have been faster. The waiter was odd and blinked a lot. He forgot to bring me ketchup after I asked. Not a very good waiter. All the food and drink I had was good. Different types of oysters to try. Tapas are nice and good for sharing. I liked the Bloody Mary they made. I would go back. Hopefully a different server will be at our table.
(4)Richard H.
Just so you all know, the ownership has changed hands as of September of last year...
(3)Unhappy T.
I love this place!! Stumbled across it a few weeks ago and finally had a chance to get there on a late Sunday afternoon. There was only one other person in there. Could not understand why. Was told it was new. Sat at the bar. Martinis were great, food was to die for. New hang out. Come one, come all!!
(5)Curt S.
This was our first experience at Riverstone. The food was very good but I have to be honest and say that I was not impressed at the beginning. The first item on the menu that we both ordered, veal saltimbocca, was no longer being offered and our server was not aware of it until after she had taken our order. We re-placed our order for beef short ribs (me) and chicken piccata (wife). We received our drinks and I was irritated that a $6 glass of house wine was only about four ounces and my draft beer cost $6.50 for about 8 ounces. This I should just get past because you know you're going to be gouged for alcohol in Chester County. Fortunately it got much better after that. Our fried calamari was good. Lightly crisped and good marinara. My short ribs were excellent. Even though I'm not sure it was anything more than strips of eye round it was very tender and moist. Vegetables were al dente and not over cooked. My wife's chicken was true to the menu, lightly breaded and pan seared and was tender and flavorful. All in all a good meal even if the the price point was higher than I thought it should be. Four stars for meal. Three stars for value and not having their act together. I would probably go back.
(3)Stephanie G.
We made reservations 2 weeks ago for brunch for 11 people for a First Communion party. We called today to confirm our reservation for tomorrow since no one had yet called us. They told us they no longer serve brunch. It would have been nice if they had told us that when we originally called. We won't be giving them our business.
(1)Mike E.
Since its been under new management, this place has gone down hill! They continue to take things off their menu, their drinks (though still good) are not full when they come out, and they don't do their infused vodka drinks anymore. Well b/c we loved the food and drinks we continued to look past that. Well after tonights dramatic decline tonight we won't be back. And unfortunately for the staff, they clearly are pissed at the new "management".
(2)Bradford G.
It's attached to the Winners Circle, I think they share a kitchen, so it is a bit of a better option. My hummus was good but they should not serve it with the scoop shape intact on the plate. My lamb ribs appetizer was a bit too fatty but tasty. The miso tuna was a bit too small. Good but not great. Hummus scoop Lamb ribs fatty boney Miso tuna
(3)Frank C.
So disappointing under new management. We recommend following the old Riverstone management team now offering great food and service at the White Horse Tavern in Frazer!
(1)Andy W.
Good brunch and popular place.
(4)Reid F.
We had excellent oysters, great tapas, and outstanding service. Nothing but A's all around for this place.
(5)D S.
We've loved Riverstone for a long time. Food's very good and consistent, great vodka and drink options, staff has always been excellent. Will not be going back. The new owner is terrible. He kicked a nice couple out of the restaurant because he was smoking and drinking outside in a non smoking area and they asked him not too because the smoke was coming towards them (and us). I do not want to support, and do not want to be exposed to, ugly and negative things when I'm looking for a relaxing and nice evening out. One of the worst and most disappointing experiences I've had at a restaurant. I'm only sorry for the great staff there.
(1)Shawn S.
I took my mom here and we both loved it. It was casual and busy but not too loud to talk. We shared four dishes and everything was delicious. If there was anything I would take away a partial point for it would be that I thought it was a little too expensive. I would definitely recommend this place to others.
(5)Patty L.
A bunch of girls from work wanted to come here since it would be my first time here, I wanted to see reviews about it. After reading the reviews I decided to try the Mushroom soup....it was very good. The serves was good & since we got there at about 6pm on a friday night they weren't to busy. The interior was very modern. We had a nice table in the corner which was nice. I will be returning again.
(4)Maureen C.
Enjoyed a nice father's day dinner. Calamari was awesome! Chicken gnocchi not so great. Loved the French onion soup.
(4)Leila A.
Was a bit disappointed eating here tonight. The Exotic Mushroom soup in the past has been fantastic. Tonight it was lacking flavor and goupy, for lack of a better way of describing it. Our Pear & Goat Cheese Crustini was just ok, though not as good as it has been previously. However, the Sesame Tuna was very nice and the service friendly and prompt.
(3)Dori L.
An enjoyable spot for a Relaxing Sunday afternoon. The Tapas were delicious, reasonably priced and generous portions. Pretty good house wines. Definitely no pressure to rush, but if you are there to talk, ask for a table away from the breakfast buffet tables or outside on their patio.. No service issues at all, very attentive. Will be back!
(4)Liz W.
I like this place more and more each time I come. The tapas style apps are fun and delicious and the drinks are on point. Love the loungey vibe of this place. Highly recommend!
(4)Dave H.
Riverstone's oyster bar has more kinds of oysters than you can shake a stick at, including European flats, Giga-motos, Mystic Rivers, and Shigokus! Their $1 oyster special (Wednesdays) applies only to half of the varieties they offer. Each oyster has its own texture, flavor, and size; study the menu to best satisfy your oyster cravings. Try their Oysters Moscow ($9), four freshly shucked Atlantics with Pearl vodka, horseradish cream, and black caviar - don't worry, they're not shots. Speaking of which, they serve up generous shots, with deep pours. The red bell pepper and crab chowder (small is $4) is pleasantly flavorful: substantial jumbo-lump crab meat, roasted peppers, bacon, Idaho potatoes, onions, green bell peppers, and celery. Respectable texture. On the other hand, their Asian lettuce wraps ($8.50) - with pulled chicken - is frightening. Stick to seafood. Good service. Bubbly server Sam met our every need, splitting our check when we asked, and bringing us extra forks with dessert! Attractive ambiance, low-key music. The dining room has a large center table with a fountain, and off to the side is a pizza oven. There's outdoor seating as well.
(4)G M.
Relaxing decor, friendly and helpful staff, and most importantly, tasty offerings. Based on recent visit and several meals from a while ago.
(4)Michaela H.
If I hadn't had a recommendation to go here, there is little chance I would have gone on my own. Riverstone Cafe is in a strip mall-esque location and at first glance, it gives off that eerily familiar chain restaurant vibe. In reality, not so! The food is FANTASTIC. The oyster selection has always been pretty expansive (especially since we're in Exton, not Cape Cod) and the tapas have always been top notch. The pear and goat cheese crostini, the crab queso, the country french loaf, the grilled vegetable tapas pie-- all great. The bar is beautiful and the interior is chic. All in all, it's a gem I wish we'd discovered much sooner! Check it out!
(4)Howard S.
We eat here at least three times a month. I never disappoints. Consistently good food and decent service.
(4)Paul K.
Came here on a recommendation from a co-worker after deciding I was in the mood for Tapas, as I was down near where I work for a three-day stint of meetings. I had: Housemade guacamole and chips Oysters Casino Mahi Mahi tacos (corn salsa; guacamole; lettuce; light citrus dressing; flour tortilla) And since I was in the mood for it, I finished it off with the smoked salmon plate. No dessert. Also had two martinis, one of their "Top 21" Absolut ones (Limoncello Lemondrop) and one of their specialties (Hibiscus martini). I have to say the drinks were delicious. The portions were not large, but they were reasonable for this area in terms of price. The guacamole was fine. No complaints, but nothing "wow." A bit underseasoned, and a bit bland. Served with a hot pepper on the side, but even it wasn't very spicy. Didn't expect much with this one anyway. The oysters casino was probably the best plate I had, which makes sense given the place's oyster specialties (unfortunately I am not a huge fan of raw oysters [though I do love other raw seafoods], so I could not sample their oyster bar). The oysters were sweet, with just the right amount of brininess but no fishiness whatsoever - very fresh. They could have gone easier on the breading, and the oysters were not large, but it was the best plate of the night for me. The Mahi Mahi tacos were disappointing. I expected chunks of robust, grilled, fresh fish, or very non-greasy fried chunks of robust mahi mahi, tossed in a fresh corn salsa with notes of cilantro and jalapeno. Instead, I got two tacos, each with a dilapidated 1/4 filet of mahi mahi within, some wilted lettuce, and a teaspoon of guac. The fish was fresh, but it was a very lackluster plate. I took one sniff of the rice pilaf, determined it was overcooked, bland, and flavorless, took a bite to confirm, and didn't eat the rest of the rice. The salmon plate was equally disappointing. Again, the fish seemed fresh, but it was overcooked. How do you overcook smoked salmon? It was served in kind of a hunk on one side of the plate, with rows of capers, tomatoes, and onions in the middle, and four small crostini slices on the other side. Looked like something out of a diner in the late '80s. Worse, my server was awful. Jamie M never once asked me how my food or beverages were. Better, I had used my two forks on my tacos plate and my oysters casino plate, so I was forced to eat my salmon plate with a butter knife. I would have asked her politely for a fork, but she did not appear -- once -- on the floor for the entire time it took me to eat the salmon plate... with a butter knife. Given the area, there really aren't too many restaurants that blow one away, otherwise this would have been a two-star experience. But given its competition, this was par for the area. You might have a better experience if you enjoy raw oysters, as their oyster selection seemed incredible and varied, and has been well-reviewed here.
(3)C Y S.
Great happy hour. Good food and cocktails (albeit on the smaller side). Decent service; almost too attentive though. I hate servers that hover and interrupt when you are in mid-thought. But other than that, I'd definitely go back for the happy hour.
(3)John L.
Always love eating here. You can "make your own" meal with the nice selection of Tapas. The pizzas are OK. My wife likes to try the different martinis and we always love the fresh oysters. Very few complaints (if any) ever here. The brunch is a good deal for the price. Plenty of choices for everyone.
(4)Leigh F.
We took my mother here for Mother's Day for the oysters. It was recommended to me by two people. WE knew of no other place in the Philadelphia suburbs. We weren't sure what to expect. When we drove up and parked, my father said, "Huh? An oyster restaurant in a shopping mall? I'm not so sure about this." When we walked in, it didn't look like an oyster house or a specialty restaurant for oysters other than the sign above the small oyster bar. We sat down and reviewed this very large selection of oysters form all over (which looked great!) and we ordered up 3 trays. We got a selection from all over the country and they were some of the best oysters I ever had! We were really surprised. They were so good, we ordered another 2 trays! They were fresh. Tasty. Clean. Served on ice and chilled real nicely. Each tray came with 4 sauces that were delicious. They made a great pomegranate mignonette sauce along with a few others. We could have sat there all day eating them. My mom, dad, my boyfriend and I were all surprised and we were really pleased with everything. We are definitely coming back here again! We also ordered several plates of tapas, and everything we ordered was excellent. While a lot of people come here for the oysters (why wouldn't they?), there were a lot of people around us ordering burgers and sandwiches. This confused me b/c they had such a excellent menu for Oysters and tapas and I wondered why people were here eating sandwiches and not from the menu we ordered on. Anyway, our serve Paul was great. He put up with my father's humor and we enjoyed him. The only downside if I have to say there is one, is that the Cafe doesn't really look like and Oyster Bar or tapas restaurant or martini bar. It was nice, but I thought it would have more of an urban feel. When we pulled up and my dad made the comment about it being in the shopping mall, I thought the same thing. But the food really surprised us and we were really pleased. If you are looking for great oysters and a selection from all over (Cape Cod, Pugent Sound, Cape May) - this is the place to come. You won't be let down. They have $1 oyster night ever Wednesday. I will be back for this soon!
(4)Connie M.
We went to Riverstone for Happy Hour on Monday night for their 3 for $20 tapas special. We were told it was a per person price??? So we would have to order 6 things to comply??? Fortunately our server gave us a break and we only ordered 4 . Way too much food!! Won't be back on Mondays unless I sign up for Weight Watchers from Tuesday through Sunday,
(3)Suzann S.
Riverstone has some of the most creative tapas I have ever seen. The pear and goat cheese crustini is definitely my favorite. I have also tried the firecracker shrimp spring rolls, crab cakes, and the pan seared filet all which have come out perfect. The atomosphere is perfect for date night, or get together with friends. No need to shout across the table in order to hear the people you are dining with. Along with the food being top-notch, some of the best servers I have had were here. Although I have been here numerous times and enjoy trying other locations this will always be my go to for an evening out.
(4)Ryne D.
YCJCYOD What does it mean? The friendly staff here will definitely be willing to help you with that. They'll also be willing to split the bill among any number of credit cards, which is always appreciated. They've got a good-sized drink location, though I haven't tried any of their martinis. They also serve a wide variety of "tapas", though I'd classify them as fancy appetizers. Maybe Italian/Chinese tapas if you really want to stretch it. Name aside, they are pretty good. I've tried many of them, but the crab/shitake rangoons and "A Taste of Little Italy" (Italian meats, cheeses, and bread) were particularly good. What's nice is that their salads (as large portions) and flatbreads are great for sharing as well. The Thai Shrimp Salad had a delicious blend of spices on it, and the Duck Breast flatbread has a great mix of apples, duck, and arugula. All in all, it's a good place to bring a group and sample a bunch of things for dinner.
(4)Mary B.
Something for everyone! I scarfed down 28 oysters and my girl was just as happy with her French Onion soup and poached pear and goat cheese crustini. 4 out of 5 stars because prosciutto in the Taste if Italy was cut too thick. Come on - that's an easy one Riverstone.
(4)Brett K.
Went for Sunday brunch - family of 5. Made a reservation on line and when we were seated the table was ready for us in a quiet section of the restaurant. We have 3 kids and they placed us in the perfect spot. The brunch selection was awesome and the food was great! Smoked salmon was great, oysters were good. Made to order 3 egg white omelete with all the veggies was good. The staff is very good - professional! The chef at the omelete station was very aware of patrons looking for an egg/omelete...very comfortable. Great atmosphere.....Lots to choose from.
(4)Tammy Y.
I have been here many times since my first review and I must say I am a real fan now. I love the oyster! there are always 10 to 12 different kinds available and they are always fresh and delicious. They have a tapas style menu which allows you to try many of the dishes. The firecracker Shrimp rolls are one of my favs. They offer 10 or so craft beers on tap and make some excellent martini's. I have had no issues with the service since my first visit and have always been treated well every time since then.
(4)Yannis F.
I got there for a quick meal late at night before to go the hotel. I ordered a greek flat bread salad and the grilled lamb chop. The greek salad was ok but nothing amazing. It was a little too saucy and the flat bread was not the best i ever had. The lamb chop was two small pieces of lamb, overcooked and with bone on most of the part. I was pretty excited about this meal. But it was disappointing especially for the price. At the end i do not think it is worth it to spend that much money on the tapas or small plates. It would have been probably smarter to order their bison burger.
(3)david d.
A nice little gem nestled next to a dirty sports bar. I went here last night with some family members for a get-together and even the finicky eaters in the group found something on the menu to love. The crab and shiitake rangoon was heavenly. We also tried the atlantic salmon skewers, which were nicely cooked and accompanied by a flavorful rice dish, but not as spectacular as some of the others. Next time I'll have to try the mahi tuna. The martini bar had some creative and tasty choices, and my cousin, who has a bit of a sweet tooth, was all over the coco loco, a mix of coconut vodka, rum and pineapple juice. I personally wanted to see if the bartender could make a good, normal drink (read: manly), and ended up with a very well-mixed Manhattan. All in all, the place was a hit with our small group. Even the music was fun and uptempo without being overpowering. And I may not know anything about oysters but boy were there a lot of them. I will say that the service was kind of slow to start out, but after a few martinis we stopped caring.
(4)L B.
This is the best place for oysters! They hav a zillion different kinds, and their mushroom soup is to die for!
(5)Duong N.
This is without a doubt one of my favorite places in the suburbs! They have a creative tapas menu and their oysters are good. I like most of the tapas that I have tried there. And if you like martinis, you are in for a treat! Check out their selection of vodka on tap. I have no hesitation recommending this place.
(4)Shauna T.
You have got to eat here for a nice night out, this is the best food I've had in a long time. AMAZING: --Rangoons--like fancy cream cheese wontons with sweet sauce, the cremy sauce pouring out of the crisp shell will make your mouth water --Watermelon Salad with herbs and goat cheese (special): the juicy sweet watermelon slices paired perfectly with the savory items --Goat cheese crustinis (translation: toasted bread with warm goat cheese on top) with fig and balsamic--the goat cheese was amaazing. More fig would've been good. Good: --Dulce de leche cheesecake (ask for the dessert tray to see the possible desserts, which look like typical desserts but are made very well) MEH: --Crabcake triplets: could've been crispier with more sauce, but still good --Cocktail special, $5, tasted like a simple screwdriver, but was generous with the alcohol even though the orange juice covered the taste --Prices are a bit high for the small "tapas" plates, but the quality is very good, so save up for a nice night out at a beautiful restaurant
(5)Chris D.
Went for dinner with six people and everything was amazing. pear crostini, flatbreads, french onion soup, crab ragoons, grilled shrimp, beet salad. Don't forget the dessert, dulce de leche cheesecake, choc mouse.... Delicious food, great drinks and very reasonably priced. A must try!
(5)Janine L.
Unlike all the other restaurants in town which is a major plus! Great unique menu which is affordable when dining with a group (tapas = little food for large prices). What I really liked is finding out that their Happy Hour on weeknights, including Fridays, is until 7pm featuring $5 martinis. Will strive to come back on weeknights with my friends.
(4)laura h.
Great martinis, great raw bar, and great brunch. On Wednesdays they have oyster specials. I love their brunch, which is very extensive and includes pasta, mto omlets, carving station, cold salads, bruchetta, shrimp, all types of breakfast, and great desserts! I've been here about 5-6 times now and the food has always been good. Only had a problem once with service where our tapas came out on top of each other and it seemed that we were ignored for a larger table of older diners. Besides that it a good experience if you're in the area. The bartenders are friendly and you can sit outside when its nice out!
(4)Safrona O.
My husband, the pickiest eater in the world, is always happy when we go to meet friends at Riverstone. Why? Because it's not a seafood restaurant. Wait, they have a raw bar and tons of seafood, I'm confused... Tapas baby! They have about 40 different tapas dishes that are NOT teeny tiny foo foo plates...my carnivore hubby can get the filet tapas with a veggie and be perfectly sated. Me? I have to try a crab cake, a firecracker shrimp, a spring roll, a salad, a dessert, and my very favorite "martini", the blush-tini (Yes, it is the ultimate girly beverage, so what??) This is NOT a good place for large groups to meet, however, unless you do not need to have a central speaker. There is a small, separate "meeting room" that is only separated from the rest of the diners by a curtain and without a PA system, you can't hear squat from your group's presenter. Plus the "meeting room" only seats about 20-25. If you have a group larger (like 45-55) they will seat you in the main dining area and every other patron that enters has to listen to your speaker as well. Plus, I brought the aforementioned PA system because I knew it would be loud, and there was no electricity anywhere in the restaurant. Don't take those comments for anymore than what they are -- Riverstone is a favorite restaurant in our household for the FOOD, the ambience, the martinis, and the service. Just don't try to have a large group meeting there!
(4)Nancy T.
The food is delicious and the ambiance is pleasant. Service is great and the dishes we tried are superb. (beet salad, crab cake, fried New Orleans oysters, and tapas pie for lunch). We will definitely come back for dinners and with friends.
(4)Kevin C.
Food was good, service was good. Lights, a little too bright. Otherwise, I will return.
(4)Steve M.
EXTON Area - good stuff I travel extensively across the US & Canada for work and am eating out at least 3 nights a week and am always trying to find local fare in any city I'm in. In addition to asking the hotel front desk I have been starting to use yelp and have had great success. After reading Safrono O's review I decided to venture out to Riverstone Cafe. I was in the mood for seafood and when I hear Raw Bar I was sold. I was alone so sat at the bar, primarily as it gives me a better chance to strike up a conversation with the bartender and get to know the restaurant and area a little better. It was a bit mellow inside and not very crowded so was worried at first..but read on. This was a martini type bar and restaurant with an awesome variety of high end vodkas, gins, stylish martinis, scotches and good ol' penn state made Yuengling on draft. When they say Oysters they weren't kidding. THere were over 20 different types of Oysters = East Coast to West Coast and Canadian coast lines as well. I tried 6 from west coast (never had these before) and 6 from east coast. They were all awesome. Even better this is the only place I've seen with like 4 dipping sauces for oysters. While I tried all of them, cucumber, chile lime, and ginger wasabi....I am pretty traditional and just loved the regular cocktail Sauce. NOTE - Wednesday night is Dollar Oyster night so I lucked out. You can get a dozen high quality oysters for $12 bucks. Note this. Oysters were great...almost ordered another dozen, but saw the TAPAS Menu and had to move on. DINNER This is also a tapas bar with a big menu of little appetizer size plates. I had the Pan Seared Filet and the Crab and Shitake Mushroom Rangoons. I can't lie, they were both incredible. The Filet was perfect about 6 oz. with whipped mashed potatoes and green beens. Yummy. I specifically asked the bartender to suggest my second tapas dish and he's the one who recommended the rangoons. way better than just normal crab rangoons you get at a chinese restaurant, these were bigger and had a nice sauce dripped on them. The food was all presented in a very high quality fasion. Best deal of all is I had 2 drinks, 1/2 dozen oysters, and my two tapas appetizers all for less than $50 bucks before tip. Pretty awesome if you ask me. The ambiance is pretty cool as well with a modern contemporary decor and you can sit at the regular bar or at the oyster bar. The bartender was very professional and guided me along the way. Wish my wife was with me to enjoy this great experience. Highly recommend that if your traveling thru or local, give this place a try. I hope my review helped and drop me a note to let me know how I did. Also...one last tip. Make sure if you are there during the holidays to ask what the letters stand for over the bar. There's like 7 letters up at the top of the bar on pieces of paper, ask the bartender what it means. It is awesome, you will be glad you did. HINT - "YCWCYOD" Later, Belush
(5)Regan R.
The Riverstone Cafe is a great place to come if you are very hungry, kind of hungry or not hungry at all. They have a Oyster bar, and a Tapas style menu that you can find many attractive items. They also boast a large selection of Martinis. So is this place great for adults - yes, but what about the kids? Well if you want to bring them, they have a great kids menu that allows an entree, choice of 2 sides and a dessert for a very low cost - less than $5. One last thing to mention, the decor is also very nice - contemporary style.
(3)Bob R.
Tightly nestled in the corner of an Exton strip mall, this venue is not much to look at from the outside. However, once inside you are treated a very clean which is decorated in a river stone motif. Initially inviting, we quickly discovered that it is not a very intimate setting. There are no booths and no tables smaller than a four-top and is definitely geared towards larger parties. Riverstone does not quite measure up to traditional tapas restaurants. When first glancing at the menu the prices are higher than even some center city Philadelphia tapas hot spots. After your plates arrive you quickly realize why- they are too large. Though the food is very good, I suggest the plate are scaled down. A good place for larger groups. Great lamb
(3)Nicole M.
SO yummy!!!!! I have only eaten dinner here twice and once for brunch. The french onion soup is amazing and I still have dreams about it! The brunch is good but they could class it up a bit more without the frozen pizzas and such.
(4)April P.
I love love love this restaurant! All the dishes I've had here are superb (among them the Mushroom Soup which is my personal favorite, Goat Cheese and Pear Crostini, Salmon Skewers, and the oysters--ALWAYS super fresh and much more reasonably priced than Doc MacGrogan's in West Chester especially if you go for their Buck-A-Shuck specials on Wednesdays during their happy hour). Drinks are good as well especially the Limoncello martini which I wouldn't recommend drinking outside because it attracted wasps like crazy which was definitely annoying but we ate quickly and moved inside for the rest of the meal with no problem. Service can be unnervingly slow especially when they're bombed on weekends (which is the only reason behind the 4/5 rating). Otherwise, though, the waitstaff are consistently super friendly and make their service very personal and attentive. I'm pretty sure I've had a different server each time I've gone in and every single one of them have been great. I recommend this place to all my friends with the warning that they can be slow, but it is *definitely* worth the wait for the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere, which by the way is very relaxed and contemporary. Outside seating is a must (minus the wasps!) on a beautiful day.
(4)Seth H.
Great restaurant with good food. Tapas style menu allows you to get as much food as you want while getting many different things. They like to push the Oyster bar, which I guess is good from comments I've heard, but since I don't like oysters I can't comment on. They also have a huge vodka and martini selection which are always very good, though a often little expensive. The waiters are excellent with a few exceptions. Its a quite, casual restaurant and provides good ambiance for a low price.
(5)James P.
This place STINKS. The $12 seared ahi tuna was 4 thin tasteless strips of tuna. The chicken lettuce wraps was the blanded chicken i've ever tasted. it was just unseasoned boiled chicken. The pizza, hummus, and empanadas were mediocre. The only good dishes were the bread and the crab rangoons. Our watier also tried to upsell us, which we didn't like very much.
(1)Ben M.
Avoid, this place has one redeeming quality. The Wednesday oyster special. After having several small, overpriced, awful tasting appetizers. I have come to the conclusion that it simply is not worth coming to this establishment anymore. The martini list is awful, the beer selection is awful, and the bar service is sub-par for price comparison. For 9$ a martini I want it to be at least satisfactory. I would avoid eating here six days a week. The oyster special is great, the rest, is a wannabe restaurant. DO NOT enjoy
(2)ReadyFreddie M.
If you want to make your girlfriend cry on her birthday, take her here. If you like to go back into the kitchen to get your own syrup, come here. If you like being a guinea pig for some frat boy's first day on the job, this is your place. All those reviews written before the management change and before they did away with their signature brunch buffet? Let them fade from your consciousness like the glory of this Exton staple has faded in the past few months.
(1)Unhappy T.
I love this place!! Stumbled across it a few weeks ago and finally had a chance to get there on a late Sunday afternoon. There was only one other person in there. Could not understand why. Was told it was new. Sat at the bar. Martinis were great, food was to die for. New hang out. Come one, come all!!
(5)Tameka H.
Drinks are excellent and the food usually is. However did not care for the spinach and crab dip. Window seats are chilly in frigid temperatures. Get a seat near the fireplace. Mon-thurs you can bring your own wine. They have kid menu .. But make it a date with the Martinis. Especially between 5&7! Excellent for big appetites or small. Also the tapas allow you to try several things and share. Great parking and great bar to catch up on sports. It is close to Downingtown theater so you can drive 10 minutes down he road and still catch the movie before it starts!
(3)Sean G.
Food was good but service was almost non existent. Server didn't check on our table until we were finished. Food came out wrong but was fixed quickly. Had the feeling that we were more of a nuisance then a guest.
(2)Curt S.
This was our first experience at Riverstone. The food was very good but I have to be honest and say that I was not impressed at the beginning. The first item on the menu that we both ordered, veal saltimbocca, was no longer being offered and our server was not aware of it until after she had taken our order. We re-placed our order for beef short ribs (me) and chicken piccata (wife). We received our drinks and I was irritated that a $6 glass of house wine was only about four ounces and my draft beer cost $6.50 for about 8 ounces. This I should just get past because you know you're going to be gouged for alcohol in Chester County. Fortunately it got much better after that. Our fried calamari was good. Lightly crisped and good marinara. My short ribs were excellent. Even though I'm not sure it was anything more than strips of eye round it was very tender and moist. Vegetables were al dente and not over cooked. My wife's chicken was true to the menu, lightly breaded and pan seared and was tender and flavorful. All in all a good meal even if the the price point was higher than I thought it should be. Four stars for meal. Three stars for value and not having their act together. I would probably go back.
(3)Mike E.
Since its been under new management, this place has gone down hill! They continue to take things off their menu, their drinks (though still good) are not full when they come out, and they don't do their infused vodka drinks anymore. Well b/c we loved the food and drinks we continued to look past that. Well after tonights dramatic decline tonight we won't be back. And unfortunately for the staff, they clearly are pissed at the new "management".
(2)Sara S.
Riverstone is a favorite among my coworkers and me for happy hours after work, but this place is really good any time of day. They always have great beers on tap and they make an awesome dirty martini. There's a great range of seating options - casual lounge chairs and low tables, lots of bar stools, a private room in the back and a nice little outdoor area during warmer months. And the food is seriously tasty - especially the hummus platter, the brie & roasted turkey panini and the pear & goat cheese crustini. Two other bonuses: 1. If you're in the mood for more casual "sports bar" type food, you can also order from the Winners Circle menu, since they share a kitchen. 2. On Tuesday nights, they put out free food during happy hour and it's usually a pretty decent spread.
(4)Magali T.
For the past 9 years, my husband and I used to go to Riverstone as our go-to. But all that changed when the new owner took over about a year ago. The last time we dined there, a couple sat next to us outside. We started noticing someone smoking behind us - which is illegal in Pennsylvania- but we were done, about to leave and decided not to make a fuss. The man, by the way, was sitting outside RIGHT next to the no smoking sign. The couple next to us, however, had just sat down so the man very courteously got up and asked the man to stop smoking. At that point, the smoker became rude, told the other man he was the owner and he could do whatever he wanted. Angered, the man returned to his table and asked to move, so he and his date went inside. We were pretty upset by this and mentioned it to our waitress as we were leaving. Well, the smoking owner then decided to kick out the couple! We spoke at length with the manager and have not returned since, and refuse to go to Riverstone or Winners Circle.
(1)Jenn S.
All I have to say is bad oysters! As in, you take a whiff and the dead fish smell nearly knocks you off your seat. Understood that it is a busy night and they were two servers short. Willing to overlook service and getting our flatbreads before our oysters. However bad oysters -YUCK! Will not be returning and will not recommend.
(1)D S.
We've loved Riverstone for a long time. Food's very good and consistent, great vodka and drink options, staff has always been excellent. Will not be going back. The new owner is terrible. He kicked a nice couple out of the restaurant because he was smoking and drinking outside in a non smoking area and they asked him not too because the smoke was coming towards them (and us). I do not want to support, and do not want to be exposed to, ugly and negative things when I'm looking for a relaxing and nice evening out. One of the worst and most disappointing experiences I've had at a restaurant. I'm only sorry for the great staff there.
(1)Shawn S.
I took my mom here and we both loved it. It was casual and busy but not too loud to talk. We shared four dishes and everything was delicious. If there was anything I would take away a partial point for it would be that I thought it was a little too expensive. I would definitely recommend this place to others.
(5)Patty L.
A bunch of girls from work wanted to come here since it would be my first time here, I wanted to see reviews about it. After reading the reviews I decided to try the Mushroom soup....it was very good. The serves was good & since we got there at about 6pm on a friday night they weren't to busy. The interior was very modern. We had a nice table in the corner which was nice. I will be returning again.
(4)Maureen C.
Enjoyed a nice father's day dinner. Calamari was awesome! Chicken gnocchi not so great. Loved the French onion soup.
(4)Leila A.
Was a bit disappointed eating here tonight. The Exotic Mushroom soup in the past has been fantastic. Tonight it was lacking flavor and goupy, for lack of a better way of describing it. Our Pear & Goat Cheese Crustini was just ok, though not as good as it has been previously. However, the Sesame Tuna was very nice and the service friendly and prompt.
(3)Dori L.
An enjoyable spot for a Relaxing Sunday afternoon. The Tapas were delicious, reasonably priced and generous portions. Pretty good house wines. Definitely no pressure to rush, but if you are there to talk, ask for a table away from the breakfast buffet tables or outside on their patio.. No service issues at all, very attentive. Will be back!
(4)Bradford G.
It's attached to the Winners Circle, I think they share a kitchen, so it is a bit of a better option. My hummus was good but they should not serve it with the scoop shape intact on the plate. My lamb ribs appetizer was a bit too fatty but tasty. The miso tuna was a bit too small. Good but not great. Hummus scoop Lamb ribs fatty boney Miso tuna
(3)Frank C.
So disappointing under new management. We recommend following the old Riverstone management team now offering great food and service at the White Horse Tavern in Frazer!
(1)Andy W.
Good brunch and popular place.
(4)Reid F.
We had excellent oysters, great tapas, and outstanding service. Nothing but A's all around for this place.
(5)Liz W.
I like this place more and more each time I come. The tapas style apps are fun and delicious and the drinks are on point. Love the loungey vibe of this place. Highly recommend!
(4)Dave H.
Riverstone's oyster bar has more kinds of oysters than you can shake a stick at, including European flats, Giga-motos, Mystic Rivers, and Shigokus! Their $1 oyster special (Wednesdays) applies only to half of the varieties they offer. Each oyster has its own texture, flavor, and size; study the menu to best satisfy your oyster cravings. Try their Oysters Moscow ($9), four freshly shucked Atlantics with Pearl vodka, horseradish cream, and black caviar - don't worry, they're not shots. Speaking of which, they serve up generous shots, with deep pours. The red bell pepper and crab chowder (small is $4) is pleasantly flavorful: substantial jumbo-lump crab meat, roasted peppers, bacon, Idaho potatoes, onions, green bell peppers, and celery. Respectable texture. On the other hand, their Asian lettuce wraps ($8.50) - with pulled chicken - is frightening. Stick to seafood. Good service. Bubbly server Sam met our every need, splitting our check when we asked, and bringing us extra forks with dessert! Attractive ambiance, low-key music. The dining room has a large center table with a fountain, and off to the side is a pizza oven. There's outdoor seating as well.
(4)Marc R.
Food is always good here, and the burger was excellent. Good wine list as well, a nice atmosphere. Service has always been good. However for 7pm on Saturday the place was a little empty.
(4)Michael F.
Riverstone seems confused to me. Oyster bar, tapas, pizza, soup, salad... hang on for a minute...is this a concept gone wrong? I think so. So with my little group today, we ordered some soup, the buffalo sliders, rangoons, french bread w/ pesto sampler, grilled flatbread and a couple other items. My cup of turkey soup with grilled vegetables was really underwhelming. It contained GROUND turkey, with some corn and ... I'm not really sure. The broth was underseasoned and to say it was a cup would be generous...the portion was closer to a thimble. Any respectable diner does better. Out next was our french bread with pesto. The bread was shining with a glaze of butter, and it tasted like it. The sun-dried tomato pesto and basil pesto was the best part. Next out were our buffalo sliders and crab rangoons. Unfortunately, they were all (four of us) overcooked and fairly dried out. The rangoons were in the fryer for a good time...overly crisp. It took my 2 hours and a cup of coffee later to rid my mouth of the layer of butter & oil from our lunch. Chef...take it easy next time. Overall, I thought Riverstone was disappointing and I don't plan on a return.
(2)Tom D.
This is my favorite "a drink and a comfy chair" place. The vodka on tap is fantastic but they lose a star for their sad olives alone, the only true flaw in this place. The raw oyster bar is wonderful and the tapas are large enough to share but too good to do it happily.
(4)Daphne Y.
Great place. Nice decor; ambience. The menu is varied with a little of everything in the form of small plates. I had the mussels, and the firecracker shrimp egg rolls. I would pass on the mussels next time, but the egg rolls were great. Chocolate raspberry cake was pretty yummy. There is an oyster bar, too. I am not sure how all the menu items fit together--in addition to all types of nibbles, hummus, salads, there are even small pizzas. I guess if you are sampling plates, the eclectic menu is okay--just makes for odd combinations.
(3)Paul K.
Came here on a recommendation from a co-worker after deciding I was in the mood for Tapas, as I was down near where I work for a three-day stint of meetings. I had: Housemade guacamole and chips Oysters Casino Mahi Mahi tacos (corn salsa; guacamole; lettuce; light citrus dressing; flour tortilla) And since I was in the mood for it, I finished it off with the smoked salmon plate. No dessert. Also had two martinis, one of their "Top 21" Absolut ones (Limoncello Lemondrop) and one of their specialties (Hibiscus martini). I have to say the drinks were delicious. The portions were not large, but they were reasonable for this area in terms of price. The guacamole was fine. No complaints, but nothing "wow." A bit underseasoned, and a bit bland. Served with a hot pepper on the side, but even it wasn't very spicy. Didn't expect much with this one anyway. The oysters casino was probably the best plate I had, which makes sense given the place's oyster specialties (unfortunately I am not a huge fan of raw oysters [though I do love other raw seafoods], so I could not sample their oyster bar). The oysters were sweet, with just the right amount of brininess but no fishiness whatsoever - very fresh. They could have gone easier on the breading, and the oysters were not large, but it was the best plate of the night for me. The Mahi Mahi tacos were disappointing. I expected chunks of robust, grilled, fresh fish, or very non-greasy fried chunks of robust mahi mahi, tossed in a fresh corn salsa with notes of cilantro and jalapeno. Instead, I got two tacos, each with a dilapidated 1/4 filet of mahi mahi within, some wilted lettuce, and a teaspoon of guac. The fish was fresh, but it was a very lackluster plate. I took one sniff of the rice pilaf, determined it was overcooked, bland, and flavorless, took a bite to confirm, and didn't eat the rest of the rice. The salmon plate was equally disappointing. Again, the fish seemed fresh, but it was overcooked. How do you overcook smoked salmon? It was served in kind of a hunk on one side of the plate, with rows of capers, tomatoes, and onions in the middle, and four small crostini slices on the other side. Looked like something out of a diner in the late '80s. Worse, my server was awful. Jamie M never once asked me how my food or beverages were. Better, I had used my two forks on my tacos plate and my oysters casino plate, so I was forced to eat my salmon plate with a butter knife. I would have asked her politely for a fork, but she did not appear -- once -- on the floor for the entire time it took me to eat the salmon plate... with a butter knife. Given the area, there really aren't too many restaurants that blow one away, otherwise this would have been a two-star experience. But given its competition, this was par for the area. You might have a better experience if you enjoy raw oysters, as their oyster selection seemed incredible and varied, and has been well-reviewed here.
(3)Leigh F.
We took my mother here for Mother's Day for the oysters. It was recommended to me by two people. WE knew of no other place in the Philadelphia suburbs. We weren't sure what to expect. When we drove up and parked, my father said, "Huh? An oyster restaurant in a shopping mall? I'm not so sure about this." When we walked in, it didn't look like an oyster house or a specialty restaurant for oysters other than the sign above the small oyster bar. We sat down and reviewed this very large selection of oysters form all over (which looked great!) and we ordered up 3 trays. We got a selection from all over the country and they were some of the best oysters I ever had! We were really surprised. They were so good, we ordered another 2 trays! They were fresh. Tasty. Clean. Served on ice and chilled real nicely. Each tray came with 4 sauces that were delicious. They made a great pomegranate mignonette sauce along with a few others. We could have sat there all day eating them. My mom, dad, my boyfriend and I were all surprised and we were really pleased with everything. We are definitely coming back here again! We also ordered several plates of tapas, and everything we ordered was excellent. While a lot of people come here for the oysters (why wouldn't they?), there were a lot of people around us ordering burgers and sandwiches. This confused me b/c they had such a excellent menu for Oysters and tapas and I wondered why people were here eating sandwiches and not from the menu we ordered on. Anyway, our serve Paul was great. He put up with my father's humor and we enjoyed him. The only downside if I have to say there is one, is that the Cafe doesn't really look like and Oyster Bar or tapas restaurant or martini bar. It was nice, but I thought it would have more of an urban feel. When we pulled up and my dad made the comment about it being in the shopping mall, I thought the same thing. But the food really surprised us and we were really pleased. If you are looking for great oysters and a selection from all over (Cape Cod, Pugent Sound, Cape May) - this is the place to come. You won't be let down. They have $1 oyster night ever Wednesday. I will be back for this soon!
(4)Connie M.
We went to Riverstone for Happy Hour on Monday night for their 3 for $20 tapas special. We were told it was a per person price??? So we would have to order 6 things to comply??? Fortunately our server gave us a break and we only ordered 4 . Way too much food!! Won't be back on Mondays unless I sign up for Weight Watchers from Tuesday through Sunday,
(3)Stephanie G.
We made reservations 2 weeks ago for brunch for 11 people for a First Communion party. We called today to confirm our reservation for tomorrow since no one had yet called us. They told us they no longer serve brunch. It would have been nice if they had told us that when we originally called. We won't be giving them our business.
(1)Lindsay C.
Our experience with Riverstone Cafe began with a phone call to the restaurant to inquire about spaces for large groups and options for people with food allergies. We were able to secure a curtained-off section of the restaurant for our party of 15 on a Thursday night, and the chef got on the phone to talk about allergies with us. The chef listed a number of menu options that were natively free of the allergen and offered to make us pretty much anything we like with a special preparation to exclude the allergen. Great start. On arrival, our table was ready to go in the special section of the restaurant. We were greeted by the friendly waitress, and the chef came out immediately to talk to us about our allergies. Our party ordered appetizers and entrees. Among the things that were ordered were the crab cake triplets, hot dang, french onion soup, oysters, crab and spinach dip, chef's crab cakes, scallops and shrimp scampi, New York strip steak, chicken picatta, blackened grouper, cheeseburger, etc. Everyone enjoyed their food. Alcoholic beverages were also ordered, and everyone seemed to enjoy those as well. Throughout the meal, the waitress, staff and the chef were very attentive, friendly and on top of things despite there being a large party with 3 small children. The noise level in the restaurant was low, and we were able to hear each other comfortably. I also want to note that the chef mentioned that he was hired just a few days prior to our visit. Therefore, folks who were unhappy with the food should give this place another chance. The new chef is pretty awesome.
(5)Lauren T.
Riverstone has changed since last year! (2014) my husband and I loved riverstone..... We loved the tapas and the food was always fresh... "Was" is the key word.things have changed here. The food is mediocre for the price and the drinks are awful. We loved this place and will no longer be returning.
(1)Johnny V.
Eh, it was decent. We went later so it was close to empty. Only us and one other table. Nice atmosphere and good decor. I think it would be pleasant even if crowded. I had two Tapas plates, mussels and the three mini crab cakes. The mussels were served in a white wine sauce (choice of white or red) which was delicious. They were very good size and cooked great, served with crostini which was good. The crab cakes were very bland and had way too much filler. They were dry and the aioli did nothing to help the flavor. My wife had the French onion soup which she said was good but was advertised as being served with a puff pastry on top but was instead served with a piece of Crostini, not a huge deal, but. She was going to get the grilled squid, but they were out of that as well as being out of the chicken saltimbocca (sp?). Instead she got the special that she was told was scallops served over angel hair pasta. Scallops were WAY overcooked and the pasta albeit homemade was not angel hair and was very doughy, so much so that she didn't eat half. Service was okay, even only with two tables, there were multiple mix ups of what goes to which table. Would we go back? Depends. I would for the mussels, but probably not for any other reason.
(3)Shayne M.
So disappointing. This has been a great staple for good drinks and good food and good service for years. It has definitely declined. They had a band tonight that was way too loud and made the experience a bit awkward. Tonight we had food that was inedible and had to be sent back. The server was nice but had too many tables and we had to flag her down on several occasions. Sadly this will be my last visit. Their tapas was so good, the new menu just isn't working well.
(2)Howard U.
It was an enjoyable evening. The restaurant was not full on a Saturday night. service was good but could have been faster. The waiter was odd and blinked a lot. He forgot to bring me ketchup after I asked. Not a very good waiter. All the food and drink I had was good. Different types of oysters to try. Tapas are nice and good for sharing. I liked the Bloody Mary they made. I would go back. Hopefully a different server will be at our table.
(4)Richard H.
Just so you all know, the ownership has changed hands as of September of last year...
(3)Lauren S.
This place...was not good. Was in the area on Sunday morning and wanted brunch. Browsed Yelp, checked out this place's website, and everything promised a beautiful brunch buffet with rave reviews. We drive all the way there, and as soon as we walked in the door, the host said, "Okay if you're here for our brunch buffet, we are no longer doing it. We just have a regular menu now." I felt bad for the girl because I bet she had a lot of angry people on her hands that day. I guess we could have turned around and left, but we had driven all the way there and didn't want to be rude to this poor girl, so we agreed to be seated. She placed us (2 of us) at a teeny table way out of the way of the near-empty dining room. Our server had to come looking for us if he wanted to see if we needed anything; it wasn't something he could see from across the room. Which leads me to my next point. Dude, I realize you probably hate your job - who doesn't - but you could not have made us feel less welcome. I'm not averse to punk style, but the guy who serve you food shouldn't have inch-long, black and glittery fingernails. His hands looked like SabreTooth from the X-Men series. He wasn't very helpful or welcoming - this includes splashing me and our table with water from the pitcher because he wanted to fill our glasses and leave. No apology or recognition of this. My dude ordered the crabcake eggs benedict which seemed ok. I ordered a salad and said, "Can I just get that without cheese?" It came with gorgonzola. I knew right away the order would be wrong. He didn't write it down, he didn't even really do anything other than nod and grab our menus. Of course, it came out covered in gorgonzola cheese. I couldn't eat it. I wouldn't even send it back because quite frankly, what else are they gonna bring me? Take an hour to give me something else I Don't want? Kind of pointless. The entire time, a man - I think the owner - was standing at the front yapping on his cell phone. The room was filthy and abandoned - places you could tell used to function as the brunch buffet were now just empty stands. Every person there looked unhappy, including the staff, and all-in-all, it seems that whatever everyone had been raving about on Yelp has gone the way of the dodo.
(1)Jennifer H.
Service was amazing BUT food was lacking... Veal Parmesan was dry and not flavorful at all. No oyster bar anymore folks!
(2)Jay S.
These reviews are the equivalent of someone saying they enjoy low-key quiet lounges so they go to a night club and complain about the noise and intense atmosphere. The oyster bar is very relaxing and they always have a great variation of oysters accompanied with tasty sauces (try the red pomegranate one). The new management is excellent and the new menus are very good. I originally went for brunch two weeks ago and had a apple chicken walnut salad which tasted unbelievably good. I would recommend this salad for a light and tasty lunch. The service was friendly, quick, and the environment was relaxing. After asking for a dinner menu to browse, I saw a handful of entrees and tapas that caught my eye so I decided to return for dinner later in the week. Dinner: I had a pear and goat cheese crustini and sesame tuna to start. I can confidently say the pear and goat is the tastiest appetizer I have ever had. The sesame tuna was cut to perfection and the presentation was very nice. For my entree I had the Gingo Miso Striped Bass. Couldn't find anything wrong with it. The soup wasn't overbearing, the bass, which lied on the udon noodles, was perfectly seasoned. Once again, the service was great, quick, and friendly. Lemoncello lemon drop martini was a bit strong but hey, who's gonna complain about more alcohol. There was honestly nothing I could find wrong with my experience. I suppose the food took a bit longer than I hoped for but the server told me the kitchen cooks for Riverstone AND Doc Martin next door. To have a kitchen staff cooking for two restaurants at once made this more tolerable and understandable. The menus online need to be updated too. 10/10 will return.
(5)Jenna H.
Absolutely horrible! I've never received such terrible service. This place used to be consistently good but after my experience last night I would never recommend this restaurant again. We waited 30 minutes for drinks, 40 minutes for one appetizer, and an hour and 45 minutes for entrees! We were a party of 4 and the restaurant was not crowded. The waitress even came by and said it "wasn't her fault" because the bartender got "overwhelmed" and that's why our drinks took so long. However, she only came over at that point because I stared her down and right after saying it was the bartenders fault she went directly over to the bar and - surprise! - our drinks were, in fact, ready. I guess the kitchen was overwhelmed too. The food, which used to be accurate, was mediocre at best. The goat cheese crostini was soggy and the steaks were filled with gristle and difficult to cut. Definitely NOT worth the 1:45 wait. The worst part was, no one stopped by to apologize, talk with us about our experience or do anything to try to improve it. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else for dinner. I'd give this zero stars if I could.
(1)Michaela H.
If I hadn't had a recommendation to go here, there is little chance I would have gone on my own. Riverstone Cafe is in a strip mall-esque location and at first glance, it gives off that eerily familiar chain restaurant vibe. In reality, not so! The food is FANTASTIC. The oyster selection has always been pretty expansive (especially since we're in Exton, not Cape Cod) and the tapas have always been top notch. The pear and goat cheese crostini, the crab queso, the country french loaf, the grilled vegetable tapas pie-- all great. The bar is beautiful and the interior is chic. All in all, it's a gem I wish we'd discovered much sooner! Check it out!
(4)Howard S.
We eat here at least three times a month. I never disappoints. Consistently good food and decent service.
(4)Doug J.
Have driven past this place 1000 times and never even gave it a thought. But decided to try something new and were pleasantly surprised by Riverstone. Had three small plates to share with my wife, and our friends had sandwiches. Everyone enjoyed the food and service. Will try Sunday Brunch sometime as well as dinner. Worth a stop, especially if you want just something small.
(4)Suzann S.
Riverstone has some of the most creative tapas I have ever seen. The pear and goat cheese crustini is definitely my favorite. I have also tried the firecracker shrimp spring rolls, crab cakes, and the pan seared filet all which have come out perfect. The atomosphere is perfect for date night, or get together with friends. No need to shout across the table in order to hear the people you are dining with. Along with the food being top-notch, some of the best servers I have had were here. Although I have been here numerous times and enjoy trying other locations this will always be my go to for an evening out.
(4)C Y S.
Great happy hour. Good food and cocktails (albeit on the smaller side). Decent service; almost too attentive though. I hate servers that hover and interrupt when you are in mid-thought. But other than that, I'd definitely go back for the happy hour.
(3)John L.
Always love eating here. You can "make your own" meal with the nice selection of Tapas. The pizzas are OK. My wife likes to try the different martinis and we always love the fresh oysters. Very few complaints (if any) ever here. The brunch is a good deal for the price. Plenty of choices for everyone.
(4)G M.
Relaxing decor, friendly and helpful staff, and most importantly, tasty offerings. Based on recent visit and several meals from a while ago.
(4)Bill H.
Nice decor, good service. We had a large party of 13 and had attentive service. We did the tapas approach where we sampled many many dishes. Worthing going back too.
(3)Ryne D.
YCJCYOD What does it mean? The friendly staff here will definitely be willing to help you with that. They'll also be willing to split the bill among any number of credit cards, which is always appreciated. They've got a good-sized drink location, though I haven't tried any of their martinis. They also serve a wide variety of "tapas", though I'd classify them as fancy appetizers. Maybe Italian/Chinese tapas if you really want to stretch it. Name aside, they are pretty good. I've tried many of them, but the crab/shitake rangoons and "A Taste of Little Italy" (Italian meats, cheeses, and bread) were particularly good. What's nice is that their salads (as large portions) and flatbreads are great for sharing as well. The Thai Shrimp Salad had a delicious blend of spices on it, and the Duck Breast flatbread has a great mix of apples, duck, and arugula. All in all, it's a good place to bring a group and sample a bunch of things for dinner.
(4)Mary B.
Something for everyone! I scarfed down 28 oysters and my girl was just as happy with her French Onion soup and poached pear and goat cheese crustini. 4 out of 5 stars because prosciutto in the Taste if Italy was cut too thick. Come on - that's an easy one Riverstone.
(4)Brett K.
Went for Sunday brunch - family of 5. Made a reservation on line and when we were seated the table was ready for us in a quiet section of the restaurant. We have 3 kids and they placed us in the perfect spot. The brunch selection was awesome and the food was great! Smoked salmon was great, oysters were good. Made to order 3 egg white omelete with all the veggies was good. The staff is very good - professional! The chef at the omelete station was very aware of patrons looking for an egg/omelete...very comfortable. Great atmosphere.....Lots to choose from.
(4)Tammy Y.
I have been here many times since my first review and I must say I am a real fan now. I love the oyster! there are always 10 to 12 different kinds available and they are always fresh and delicious. They have a tapas style menu which allows you to try many of the dishes. The firecracker Shrimp rolls are one of my favs. They offer 10 or so craft beers on tap and make some excellent martini's. I have had no issues with the service since my first visit and have always been treated well every time since then.
(4)Yannis F.
I got there for a quick meal late at night before to go the hotel. I ordered a greek flat bread salad and the grilled lamb chop. The greek salad was ok but nothing amazing. It was a little too saucy and the flat bread was not the best i ever had. The lamb chop was two small pieces of lamb, overcooked and with bone on most of the part. I was pretty excited about this meal. But it was disappointing especially for the price. At the end i do not think it is worth it to spend that much money on the tapas or small plates. It would have been probably smarter to order their bison burger.
(3)david d.
A nice little gem nestled next to a dirty sports bar. I went here last night with some family members for a get-together and even the finicky eaters in the group found something on the menu to love. The crab and shiitake rangoon was heavenly. We also tried the atlantic salmon skewers, which were nicely cooked and accompanied by a flavorful rice dish, but not as spectacular as some of the others. Next time I'll have to try the mahi tuna. The martini bar had some creative and tasty choices, and my cousin, who has a bit of a sweet tooth, was all over the coco loco, a mix of coconut vodka, rum and pineapple juice. I personally wanted to see if the bartender could make a good, normal drink (read: manly), and ended up with a very well-mixed Manhattan. All in all, the place was a hit with our small group. Even the music was fun and uptempo without being overpowering. And I may not know anything about oysters but boy were there a lot of them. I will say that the service was kind of slow to start out, but after a few martinis we stopped caring.
(4)L B.
This is the best place for oysters! They hav a zillion different kinds, and their mushroom soup is to die for!
(5)Duong N.
This is without a doubt one of my favorite places in the suburbs! They have a creative tapas menu and their oysters are good. I like most of the tapas that I have tried there. And if you like martinis, you are in for a treat! Check out their selection of vodka on tap. I have no hesitation recommending this place.
(4)Shauna T.
You have got to eat here for a nice night out, this is the best food I've had in a long time. AMAZING: --Rangoons--like fancy cream cheese wontons with sweet sauce, the cremy sauce pouring out of the crisp shell will make your mouth water --Watermelon Salad with herbs and goat cheese (special): the juicy sweet watermelon slices paired perfectly with the savory items --Goat cheese crustinis (translation: toasted bread with warm goat cheese on top) with fig and balsamic--the goat cheese was amaazing. More fig would've been good. Good: --Dulce de leche cheesecake (ask for the dessert tray to see the possible desserts, which look like typical desserts but are made very well) MEH: --Crabcake triplets: could've been crispier with more sauce, but still good --Cocktail special, $5, tasted like a simple screwdriver, but was generous with the alcohol even though the orange juice covered the taste --Prices are a bit high for the small "tapas" plates, but the quality is very good, so save up for a nice night out at a beautiful restaurant
(5)Chris D.
Went for dinner with six people and everything was amazing. pear crostini, flatbreads, french onion soup, crab ragoons, grilled shrimp, beet salad. Don't forget the dessert, dulce de leche cheesecake, choc mouse.... Delicious food, great drinks and very reasonably priced. A must try!
(5)Janine L.
Unlike all the other restaurants in town which is a major plus! Great unique menu which is affordable when dining with a group (tapas = little food for large prices). What I really liked is finding out that their Happy Hour on weeknights, including Fridays, is until 7pm featuring $5 martinis. Will strive to come back on weeknights with my friends.
(4)Whitney M.
Eek!! We were really not particularly impressed. For the first time Yelpers lead me a stray! When we arrives there was a large group of people that were smoking right outside the front door, making it impossible for us to eat in the patio despite the fact that the website advertises the restaurant as smoke-free. We ordered drinks, a glass of wine an the evening's special martini. However, the dinner was half over before we realized that our waitress had completely omitted the martini. We didn't call it to her attention since it was too late in the meal for us to want it anymore and I was relieved to see that it did not appear in the bill. For dinner I ordered the Goat Cheese Bombs and the Grilled Salmon skewers. My husband ordered the French Onion soup, chicken enchiladas, and Asian lettuce wraps. The Goat cheese bombs came DRENCHED in the honey lemon sauce, rendering the mixed greens salad that came with it utterly inedible - way too sweet! The salmon was nicely cooked and the stirfry rice and veggies was good, but honestly didn't just wow me. My husband said that the French Onion soup truly was very good, but the other two dishes left much to be desired. He complainedthat there was hardly any chicken in the chicken enchiladas. The chicken that came with the lettuce wraps was completely unseasoned and was very dry. All in all, dinner was rather unsatisfactory and the service was only mediocre.
(2)Dan W.
Great tapas, great atmosphere, wait staff left something to be desired.
(4)Jennifer M.
Tapas menu is excellent. The hummus plate and the crab cake triplet are my favs. About a half dozen wines for $4 from 5-7!
(4)J. J.
This place has the best martini's and bartender in the area! Go see Stacy and ask for a dirty martini. The atmosphere is always fun and upbeat. They are known for their oyster bar and tapas. Great food, drinks and loads of fun! On the menu, I would highly recommend the hummus and veggie wrap , the apple chicken salad, the flatbreads and the crab ragoons. A great place to take a new date to. The bar itself is made of riverstones under glass and the scene always has a nice vibe to it. I was surprised to find a poor review about Riverstone here from the gal prior to me. This is one of my hot spots that I visit pretty regularly and have never had poor service or less than fantastic food.
(5)Steve P.
I really enjoy this place. It is a versatile, yet stylish environment that has been comfortable for a dinner with my wife and infant son, yet equally chic and welcoming for my debaucherous group of 4 couples out for a late night food and drink-fest. The food is diverse and tasty. The bar is well-stocked and offers some cool concoctions (sweet tea martini, anyone?). The oysters are fresh and yummy. The tapas are not your typical fare. All in all, you'll have a great time and not spend a mortgage payment. I have a hard time recommending one dish, as all of the small plates are tasty in their own right. Get the goat cheese balls. Get the shrimp rolls. Get the flatbread pizzas. Get the oysters. One word of warning -- small plates sneak up on you. I was uncomfortably full that night and well into the next day. Pace yourself and listen to your belly if you don't want a bloated ride home.
(4)laura h.
Great martinis, great raw bar, and great brunch. On Wednesdays they have oyster specials. I love their brunch, which is very extensive and includes pasta, mto omlets, carving station, cold salads, bruchetta, shrimp, all types of breakfast, and great desserts! I've been here about 5-6 times now and the food has always been good. Only had a problem once with service where our tapas came out on top of each other and it seemed that we were ignored for a larger table of older diners. Besides that it a good experience if you're in the area. The bartenders are friendly and you can sit outside when its nice out!
(4)Safrona O.
My husband, the pickiest eater in the world, is always happy when we go to meet friends at Riverstone. Why? Because it's not a seafood restaurant. Wait, they have a raw bar and tons of seafood, I'm confused... Tapas baby! They have about 40 different tapas dishes that are NOT teeny tiny foo foo plates...my carnivore hubby can get the filet tapas with a veggie and be perfectly sated. Me? I have to try a crab cake, a firecracker shrimp, a spring roll, a salad, a dessert, and my very favorite "martini", the blush-tini (Yes, it is the ultimate girly beverage, so what??) This is NOT a good place for large groups to meet, however, unless you do not need to have a central speaker. There is a small, separate "meeting room" that is only separated from the rest of the diners by a curtain and without a PA system, you can't hear squat from your group's presenter. Plus the "meeting room" only seats about 20-25. If you have a group larger (like 45-55) they will seat you in the main dining area and every other patron that enters has to listen to your speaker as well. Plus, I brought the aforementioned PA system because I knew it would be loud, and there was no electricity anywhere in the restaurant. Don't take those comments for anymore than what they are -- Riverstone is a favorite restaurant in our household for the FOOD, the ambience, the martinis, and the service. Just don't try to have a large group meeting there!
(4)Nancy T.
The food is delicious and the ambiance is pleasant. Service is great and the dishes we tried are superb. (beet salad, crab cake, fried New Orleans oysters, and tapas pie for lunch). We will definitely come back for dinners and with friends.
(4)Kevin C.
Food was good, service was good. Lights, a little too bright. Otherwise, I will return.
(4)Regan R.
The Riverstone Cafe is a great place to come if you are very hungry, kind of hungry or not hungry at all. They have a Oyster bar, and a Tapas style menu that you can find many attractive items. They also boast a large selection of Martinis. So is this place great for adults - yes, but what about the kids? Well if you want to bring them, they have a great kids menu that allows an entree, choice of 2 sides and a dessert for a very low cost - less than $5. One last thing to mention, the decor is also very nice - contemporary style.
(3)Steve M.
EXTON Area - good stuff I travel extensively across the US & Canada for work and am eating out at least 3 nights a week and am always trying to find local fare in any city I'm in. In addition to asking the hotel front desk I have been starting to use yelp and have had great success. After reading Safrono O's review I decided to venture out to Riverstone Cafe. I was in the mood for seafood and when I hear Raw Bar I was sold. I was alone so sat at the bar, primarily as it gives me a better chance to strike up a conversation with the bartender and get to know the restaurant and area a little better. It was a bit mellow inside and not very crowded so was worried at first..but read on. This was a martini type bar and restaurant with an awesome variety of high end vodkas, gins, stylish martinis, scotches and good ol' penn state made Yuengling on draft. When they say Oysters they weren't kidding. THere were over 20 different types of Oysters = East Coast to West Coast and Canadian coast lines as well. I tried 6 from west coast (never had these before) and 6 from east coast. They were all awesome. Even better this is the only place I've seen with like 4 dipping sauces for oysters. While I tried all of them, cucumber, chile lime, and ginger wasabi....I am pretty traditional and just loved the regular cocktail Sauce. NOTE - Wednesday night is Dollar Oyster night so I lucked out. You can get a dozen high quality oysters for $12 bucks. Note this. Oysters were great...almost ordered another dozen, but saw the TAPAS Menu and had to move on. DINNER This is also a tapas bar with a big menu of little appetizer size plates. I had the Pan Seared Filet and the Crab and Shitake Mushroom Rangoons. I can't lie, they were both incredible. The Filet was perfect about 6 oz. with whipped mashed potatoes and green beens. Yummy. I specifically asked the bartender to suggest my second tapas dish and he's the one who recommended the rangoons. way better than just normal crab rangoons you get at a chinese restaurant, these were bigger and had a nice sauce dripped on them. The food was all presented in a very high quality fasion. Best deal of all is I had 2 drinks, 1/2 dozen oysters, and my two tapas appetizers all for less than $50 bucks before tip. Pretty awesome if you ask me. The ambiance is pretty cool as well with a modern contemporary decor and you can sit at the regular bar or at the oyster bar. The bartender was very professional and guided me along the way. Wish my wife was with me to enjoy this great experience. Highly recommend that if your traveling thru or local, give this place a try. I hope my review helped and drop me a note to let me know how I did. Also...one last tip. Make sure if you are there during the holidays to ask what the letters stand for over the bar. There's like 7 letters up at the top of the bar on pieces of paper, ask the bartender what it means. It is awesome, you will be glad you did. HINT - "YCWCYOD" Later, Belush
(5)Bob R.
Tightly nestled in the corner of an Exton strip mall, this venue is not much to look at from the outside. However, once inside you are treated a very clean which is decorated in a river stone motif. Initially inviting, we quickly discovered that it is not a very intimate setting. There are no booths and no tables smaller than a four-top and is definitely geared towards larger parties. Riverstone does not quite measure up to traditional tapas restaurants. When first glancing at the menu the prices are higher than even some center city Philadelphia tapas hot spots. After your plates arrive you quickly realize why- they are too large. Though the food is very good, I suggest the plate are scaled down. A good place for larger groups. Great lamb
(3)Nicole M.
SO yummy!!!!! I have only eaten dinner here twice and once for brunch. The french onion soup is amazing and I still have dreams about it! The brunch is good but they could class it up a bit more without the frozen pizzas and such.
(4)April P.
I love love love this restaurant! All the dishes I've had here are superb (among them the Mushroom Soup which is my personal favorite, Goat Cheese and Pear Crostini, Salmon Skewers, and the oysters--ALWAYS super fresh and much more reasonably priced than Doc MacGrogan's in West Chester especially if you go for their Buck-A-Shuck specials on Wednesdays during their happy hour). Drinks are good as well especially the Limoncello martini which I wouldn't recommend drinking outside because it attracted wasps like crazy which was definitely annoying but we ate quickly and moved inside for the rest of the meal with no problem. Service can be unnervingly slow especially when they're bombed on weekends (which is the only reason behind the 4/5 rating). Otherwise, though, the waitstaff are consistently super friendly and make their service very personal and attentive. I'm pretty sure I've had a different server each time I've gone in and every single one of them have been great. I recommend this place to all my friends with the warning that they can be slow, but it is *definitely* worth the wait for the quality of the food and the overall atmosphere, which by the way is very relaxed and contemporary. Outside seating is a must (minus the wasps!) on a beautiful day.
(4)Seth H.
Great restaurant with good food. Tapas style menu allows you to get as much food as you want while getting many different things. They like to push the Oyster bar, which I guess is good from comments I've heard, but since I don't like oysters I can't comment on. They also have a huge vodka and martini selection which are always very good, though a often little expensive. The waiters are excellent with a few exceptions. Its a quite, casual restaurant and provides good ambiance for a low price.
(5)James P.
This place STINKS. The $12 seared ahi tuna was 4 thin tasteless strips of tuna. The chicken lettuce wraps was the blanded chicken i've ever tasted. it was just unseasoned boiled chicken. The pizza, hummus, and empanadas were mediocre. The only good dishes were the bread and the crab rangoons. Our watier also tried to upsell us, which we didn't like very much.
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