Riva Mare

Reviews

• HB

  Haley Bursch

  2 days ago
  5.0
  Ya’ll, this is the place, what a hidden gem!! Love it! Dropped in this evening just for a night out and it was amazing!! The atmosphere was so lovely, fun European flare that very much felt like a great place to relax and enjoy. Greeted by the kindest of hosts, we were seated outside within 10 minutes of our arrival. Gina was our server, and such a delight - incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and attentive! She absolutely made the night so wonderful! And sometimes that makes all the difference & she did! We had the warm Focaccia, Agnolotti pasta - which was perfection, and dessert was the Spumoni sundae, divine. The drinks we also fantastic! Definitely a new favorite! Can’t wait to go back!!
• AF

  Alan Forsyth

  Sep 27, 2026
  5.0
  Made a reservation for 4pm, wanted to beat the crowds and it was a smart play on our part as the entire dining experience we had was a fantastic one. Started with the focaccia and fritto mistook apps. Then had a bianco pizza and squid ink stuffed pasta. We were very pleased with the ambiance, staff, service, food, and prices. Highly highly recommend Riva Mare and will be returning. Just a side note, there isn't the best signage for telling you where exactly the entrance to the restaurant is. Walk towards second state coffee but on the right side of it, and you'll see a small sign for the restaurant halfway down the long red brick building and thats where you take the elevator up to the top
• RE

  Robin Edwards

  Sep 27, 2026
  2.0
  We were excited to try Riva Mare as I had read a Southern Living article about it. The atmosphere is nice and outdoor patio was a nice place to be on a lovely evening. The food though, left much to be desired. The sardine toast arrived cold, there was barely any of the whipped ricotta on it and a sad looking sardine on top. I had expected more of a sardine pate on top, as we'd had in Portugal. The tuna carpaccio was weird and had almost no taste. the gelatinous tomato water did have some taste, but other diners were put off by the "jello" look. The spaghetti with lobster, did have generous amount of lobster, but had very little flavor. The Trofie Alla Genvese pasta with beans had a nice flavor, but I only found 1 piece of green bean in my portion. Our server seemed flustered and overwhelmed, so not sure if that was lack of experience or just under staffed. Overall, this restaurant is too pricey for a mediocre meal. The trend for these new restaurants seems to be let's make a cool atmosphere and some weird menu items and the people will come. Well, I'd rather have food that tastes good and fills me up. We will not be back.
• EM

  Elina Mille

  Sep 21, 2026
  5.0
  Absolutely fabulous new restaurant! Riva Mare is a true gem, and I’m already calling it my new favorite restaurant. The food was absolutely sensational — every dish was beautifully prepared, full of flavor, and truly memorable. A special mention to Alessandro, whose impeccable service, warmth, and genuine hospitality made our experience even more memorable. He struck the perfect balance of attentiveness and discretion and made us feel exceptionally well looked after. We can’t wait to come back to Riva Mare and try more of the menu. Highly recommend — an outstanding new addition that we absolutely loved!
• MS

  Michael and Shelley

  Sep 18, 2026
  5.0
  If you haven't been to Riva Mare at the Navy Yard yet, make a reservation immediately. I recently had the Trofie alla Genovese, and it was exceptional—perfectly twisted trofie pasta coated in a vibrant basil pesto with crunchy pine nuts, rich parmesan, and fresh summer beans. It is the ultimate light, fresh coastal Italian dish.Beyond the incredible food and the hospitality is top-tier. Georgia at the bar completely made our night—she is fantastic, welcoming, and shakes up an amazing cocktail. Between the pasta and Georgia’s stellar service, this has easily become one of my favorite spots in Charleston.