Riverside Cafe
(818) 563-3567
1221 W Riverside Dr
Burbank,
CA
91506
34.1591
-118.3133
Neighborhood: Burbank
What People Are Saying About Riverside Cafe
The Editor
Contributor
Citysearch
Neighborhood bistro also popular with weekday studio folk serves French and Californian fare, with an emphasis on lamb.
User Reviews
jwrites4u
May 16, 2009
I am a very young 83 years old who has spent most of my life in a sophisticated industry (Entertainment). I say this only for the purpose of letting you know that I have been everywhere and have done everything. This afterrnoon, my granddaughter (very sophisticated 26 year old who has a Masters Degree in Public Administration and whom most guys would consider to be "hot") and I went to lunch. When I asked her where she wanted to go, she told me about a small place (Riverside Cafe in Burbank) she had heard about but had not yet been to. I immediateky checked it out on the Internet, and read all the reviews. I couldn't believe how they could fluctuate from "excellent" to "horrible". That was all I needed. That made it a challenge. I had to go to this place and find out for myself. So we went. Admittedly the Riverside Cafe doesn't look like much from the outside. It's a ramshackle tiny shack on a tiny lot with a tiny yard for parking. I can see why most people would be immediately turned off. But once we stepped in and selected a small table on the patio, the entire world changed. It became CHARMING! I couldn't help but be surprised at the diversity and quantity of the menu offerings. One thing I noticed in almost every review. Whether you loved the restaurant for whatever reason, or hated it for whatever reason, everybody raved about the French Onion Soup. So that was a must. We both ended up by mimicking each other's order. (French onion soup and a half sandwich of your choice of meat.) What can I say about the French Onion Soup that will persuade you to accept my word that, by far, it's the finest French Onion Soup I have ever tasted. And throughout my life I have had literally hundreds if not thousands of French Onion Soups made by hundreds of different chefs. This was glorious! A full bowl, piping hot, thick, loaded with both onions and cheeze, and the flavor was superlative!. I can't see how anybody could possibly improve on it. Usually, when I order soup to start a meal, I end up having half of it, then push my plate away. I couldn't do it with this. I had to have all of it ....to the very last drop. And I had all of it....to the very last drop. I can understand why almost every review raves about the French Onion Soup, because it's well worth raving about. We both ordered a half sandwich of roast turkey. It was so high that I wasn't certain I could open my mouth wide enough to take a bite out of it. It was all white meat and perfectly done with lettuce and all the other fillers that go into first class sandwiches. And the wheat bread couldn't have been more fresh. Sitting on that patio was so charming that neither of us wanted to leave. We just went from discussion to enjoying the ambience. Despite the fact that both my granddaughter and I are on diets, we decided to share a dessert. Our choice was the Boston Cream pie. What does one say after "Perfect?" Some reviewers have said that the food here isn't worth the price. I'm hardly wealthy but I couldn't disagree more. Everything we ate was delicious and in my opinion, well worth the price. Our waitress couldn't have been more pleasant. Her attitude of warmth coupled with her smile made us feel as if we had been there many times before, and were being welcomed back. If ambience and luxurious backgrounds are your thing, This restaurant won't win any blue ribbons. But if you want magnificent food, wondefrfully served and the feeling that you're among family, ther'e's no way you can go wrong by trying the Riverside Cafe. I know that I will be back, and I'm certain that my granddaughter will also.
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vickycristina
May 02, 2009
This place is supposed to be a gem in the neighborhood. Ouch!! What a total bad experience. The food was totally forgettable -- those roast lambs were cut terribly (can I say butchered) and more importantly had no flavor at all -- and at $17.99!!!! They can not even give you a small plate for the stale bread, my party of four ended up eating on the napkin. Guys, save your money and go somewhere else!! Full of hype and smoke -- and no substance.
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Kaitlyn21
February 04, 2009
This place is amazing! Everything that i have ordered is so good so it makes it hard to order something different because what i had the time before was so good! There's a parking lot or street parking so very convenient! The service there is absolutely astounding, the busboy has my drink for me before i have even sat down (call me predictable i guess) and the waitresses there are very friendly, one of them is the owner and the other one is her daughter! its very sweet! It's really nice to sit outside and watch the horses go by, my favorite thing to do though is sit in the cozy inside on a rainy day with all the other seems to be regulars and have a nice bowl of french onion soup! mmm that's what i call perfection:)
read full reviewThe Details on Riverside Cafe
Know Before You Go:
The restaurant doesn't serve beer or wine, but guests are welcome to bring their own. Corkage is free.
Category:
Payment Methods:
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, B.Y.O.B., Brunch, Outdoor Dining, Lunch Spot, Date Spot
