Rivoli Restaurant

»This week at Rivoli

We just came back from a stellar meal at Rivoli, with the prices rolled back to some 18 years ago when they first opened. It was impeccable.

-Caeser salad was both generous and delicately flavorful.
-Gravlox with an unusual medley of garnishes, including a light cilantro sauce
-Tho I'm not a steak eater, I went for the grilled sirloin because the plate brought to the table next to ours looked so...+READ We just came back from a stellar meal at Rivoli, with the prices rolled back to some 18 years ago when they first opened. It was impeccable.

-Caeser salad was both generous and delicately flavorful.
-Gravlox with an unusual medley of garnishes, including a light cilantro sauce
-Tho I'm not a steak eater, I went for the grilled sirloin because the plate brought to the table next to ours looked so inviting. It was sensational.
-Marquis de chocolate drizzled with espresso sauce was a outrageously light, yet dense with flavor.

We arrived at 8:30 or so without a reservation. Got seated some 15-20 minutes later. Service was great. I hadn't been since they redecorated the main room, and I found it quite pleasant. And not as noisy as I recalled. (Or am I simply more used to it...?)

It was really fun. And I will be sure to go back more often, even after they've returned to normal prices.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (12 Replies) (by escargot3, created February 2, 2011)

We went to Rivoli on impulse last night after a movie since Nizza had closed early and we wanted a quiet place. At around 9:15 on a Wednesday the place was almost full but they had a couple of two-tops in the main dining room. I didn't much care for the crowded entrance / bar area, probably would have gone elsewhere rather than sit there.

Purée of artichoke soup, truffle oil, shaved parmesan...+READ We went to Rivoli on impulse last night after a movie since Nizza had closed early and we wanted a quiet place. At around 9:15 on a Wednesday the place was almost full but they had a couple of two-tops in the main dining room. I didn't much care for the crowded entrance / bar area, probably would have gone elsewhere rather than sit there.

Purée of artichoke soup, truffle oil, shaved parmesan ($8.50) was very good, just a mild artichoke flavor. The portabella mushroom fritters with aïoli, parmesan, arugula and caper vinaigrette ($9.75) were great as always.

Wild mushroom cannelloni, ricotta, rainbow chard, rouille, roast shiitake mushrooms, fonduta, toasted breadcrumbs, parmesan ($17.50) were great, one of the best vegetarian entrées I've had in a while. Oddly, the rouille gave it a sort of Mexican touch. Sonoma Liberty duck breast in blood orange "jus" (seems more like an old-school demi-based sauce) with confit leg and thigh, polenta and pecorino sformatino, slow braised collard greens, and duck cracklings ($23.95) was wonderful.

With a $35 bottle of excellent Château Falfas 2005 Côte de Bourg, the total bill was $95 before tax and tip, which I thought was an excellent value.

My only sort-of complaint is that the food's richer than I'm usually in the mood for, though it's nice once in a while.-COLLAPSE / REPLY (4 Replies) (by Robert Lauriston, created December 31, 2009)