La Riv Wood Fired Italian

We really like this place. It’s a HIGH FOUR STARS for us. Dim lighting cozy booths and bar seats and a staff that has great personality and really cares about their profession. Oh, and the food is consistently great. We are stuck on the meatball and polenta appetizer and pizzas but have enjoyed many dishes and always go back. Not great for kids, but not bad, good for date night. Creative but classic cocktails and scrumptious desserts. The noise level is just right for semi-intimate conversation and bigger parties can all hear each other. If I could change one thing it would be add an eggplant dish but so many good eats keeps us coming back. See ya again soon, La Riv.

We recently visited La Riv Wood Fired Italian, and it was a wonderful experience! The staff was friendly and accommodating, and the ambiance was warm and inviting. We ordered the Carne pizza and Spaghetti Carbonara—both were outstanding. The pasta was rich and flavorful, and the pizza crust was perfectly crisp and delicious. It was hard to choose between dishes, but next time I’ll definitely be trying the Shrimp Scampi! Highly recommend this spot for anyone who loves authentic Italian food.

As we continue trying different restaurants in downtown Georgetown, we made reservations at La River Wood Italian Restaurant. After about a 15-minute wait, we were seated near the front door. The atmosphere was welcoming, and the staff overall seemed pleasant. Our server was Paul. While looking over the menu, it felt like the restaurant catered more toward wine enthusiasts, as the wine selection seemed more extensive than the food selection. Having traveled to Italy and visited many Italian restaurants across the U.S., I expected more traditional Italian options. I was also surprised they didn’t have lasagna, and when I mentioned it, I was told it was more of an Americanized dish than Italian—which I personally disagree with. For dinner, I ordered the Italian meatballs and spaghetti, but unfortunately it was very bland and under-seasoned. Normally I finish everything on my plate, but this time I couldn’t. My wife ordered the fish, and she felt the same way—it also lacked seasoning. Both dishes were presented well, but no one offered parmesan cheese, seasoning, or anything extra to enhance the flavor. Service was decent overall, but the biggest issue was the long wait for our food—over 45 minutes. After checking with Paul, we were told the fish takes a long time, but that hasn’t been my experience. I later spoke with the manager, who was very professional and checked on the delay. He discovered our order hadn’t been entered in a timely manner and offered to comp our meal, which we appreciated. He also brought out extra meatballs while we waited—though they were also bland—and we were given a slice of red velvet cake, which was okay. Based on this experience, we’re willing to give the restaurant another try in the future—possibly with different friends to get a second opinion—especially since it was clearly busy and popular. People must enjoy it for a reason, though from our visit, the food selection and flavor didn’t seem to be the main draw.

Great quality Italian food - we had the short rib pappardelle and truffle mushroom ravioli. You could tell the pasta was fresh and the short rib was melt-in-your-mouth. Excellent wine list and topped it all off with the delicious bread pudding. Will be coming back!

Food was excellent! Took the family there on Christmas Eve and we had a fantastic time. Never felt rushed, waiter was super attentive, food was the best, great cocktails and wine. Perfect setting for a dinner and then to walk around Georgetown square and soak in the lights and ambiance. Thanks for a great dinner!