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The River Bistro, Providence, RI

The River Bistro

3.4
3.4
38 Reviews
$30 and under
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
  • Great for creative cocktails
  • Great for scenic views
  • Lively
Welcome to The River Bistro, a hidden gem located in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island. Sitting at 200 Exchange Street, this is the perfect spot to enjoy the beautiful Providence river walk. The Rhode Island business owner and restaurateur, Chef Stefan, is excited to turn this hideaway into a hot new destination. At the River Bistro, our chef puts his touch on the classic foods Rhode Island has to offer. All of our food is locally sourced and made fresh daily. Whether you are joining us for brunch or dinner, our staff is here to make your dining experience unforgettable.

Additional information

What 38 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

3.4
3.4 based on recent ratings
  • 3.2Food
  • 3.5Service
  • 3.6Ambience
  • 3.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Rhode Island

    Great for scenic views

  • Providence County

    Great for scenic views

  • Providence County

    Lively

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The River Bistro offers stunning riverside views and a cozy atmosphere. Patrons laud the "great outdoor dining experience" and "friendly staff." While some reviews mention service delays and limited menu offerings, the "delicious bloody Mary's" and "fresh ingredients" in dishes like chicken and waffles highlight the restaurant's potential appeal.

38 Reviews
  1. nunu VIP

    Corpus Christi43 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Overall the food was amazing and the location overlooking the river. Service was a bit lacking due to it only being two servers assisting a packed restaurant. The servers were really nice with all of the tables they had to handle.

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  2. OpenTable Diner

    New York City2 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    They were very accommodating to our large group. They were very flexible. They were friendly. The food was fine. I started with chicken empanadas, they were pretty good. I had chicken Parm with pasta which was a good choice. Two people got bistro tips, and in their opinion it was OK. Overall, I would recommend.

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  3. ailton

    Greater Boston1 review

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Great experience great vibes overall we had a great time

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  4. Karen VIP

    Greater Boston13 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Dined here on Valentine's Day. The food we ordered was brought out promptly and was very good. Great staff - everyone was really attentive and friendly.

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  5. Justin

    New York City1 review

    1.0

    Dined on February 14, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    What an awful Valentine's Day experience. We showed up promptly for our reservation and there was only one other couple there so we thought great, we'll be able to get right in and out. We were seated without menu's and the waiter disappeared, so I had to go track down my own. The waiter finally came out from the back after 25 minutes to take our drink order and food orders. After waiting another 45 minutes, we never received any drink or food. Several other couples sat down and waited for long periods of time and ended up leaving having never received any food or drinks. We ended up leaving after waiting over an hour and in that time we never saw anyone get any food or drinks other than a water. Keep in mind, by the time left, there were only a few other couples there so they were not busy what so ever. No one working seemed to have any sense of urgency and if they are having issues in the kitchen, then the drink should be flowing. We loved coming here when it was the River Social but it seems the new owners under the new name have no clue how to run a restaurant. We'll never be back.

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  6. Carolyn

    Philadelphia1 review

    1.0

    Dined on February 1, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 3
    I was required to make a reservation but when I went in 20 mins late for it, it was dead which should have been my first indication to turn around and leave. We ordered a margarita (simple enough or at least we thought) and it took way too long to make which the new server( who was doing everything alone mind you) stated he never made one before. When we tasted it, it tasted like a cup or tequila and orange juice, no “margarita”ness to it at all. I ordered the surf and turf which came with what looked and tasted like boxed mashed potatoes and the steak tips tasked like the only attempted season was to drench them in garlic and garlic juice. The shrimp was over cooked. We also orders a chicken cesear salad which can out with the chicken looking like it was cooked 2 days prior and then left on the counter and someone still managed to have raw parts in it. DO NOT GO HERE! This place was a terrible experience 10/10 DO NOT recommend!!!

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  7. ReAnn

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 1
    Terrible food. Not worth the money or the parking. The restaurant itself is dirty. The window sils are covered in dirt and hairs and every utensil or glass was dirty. Do not go here. The food tasted and looked like it was cooked out of a microwave with food from dollar tree. Way too expensive and so so disappointing.

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  8. Leandro

    New York City3 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on November 3, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    New owners and menu. Got the chicken and waffles. Went with 8 people and everyone who had a side of home fries got charred burnt ones. My chicken was bland and undercooked. Food was better before the change.

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  9. Albert

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined on October 27, 2024

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    Awful experience. Despite having reservations through Open Table, we had to wait 45 minutes to be seated. There were empty tables (that were not cleared from previous guests) the whole time we waited. We had to ask multiple times to get seated, and watched other guests (presumably without reservations) also made to wait and they left. Apparently their excuse was that a server called in sick, but there was minimal communication about the status of when we might be seated (kept saying 'getting ur table ready') and only minimal apology at the end (and no comp or any effort to make it right). Would NOT recommend this restaurant!

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  10. Manal VIP

    Tampa73 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on October 27, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Love the location. Food is average. Great service.

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FAQs

The River Bistro is rated 3.4 stars by 38 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 6 times today
Google Map for The River Bistro

200 Exchange St, Providence, RI 02903-2621

Additional information

  • Phone number
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Italian, Bistro
  • Hours of operation
    Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Sat 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Dinner Thu, Fri 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    None
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