Riverside Family Restaurant [closed]

Just came home from a hearty meal at Riverside Family Restaurant, which I believe has been mentioned in a couple other threads but didn't have its own dedicated one (hope it's ok that I created one). I learned of this restaurant from a handyman who was at my home recently. He and I were chatting about where he goes for good food, and he mentioned that this is a restaurant that he likes to frequent near his home and said it tends to attract an Eastern European crowd. I remember him telling me that "the food is good-- really good." It is.

We stopped by for lunch today around noon and were greeted with great service and large portions of delicious, stick-to-your ribs fare. My husband and I shared the 1/2 roast chicken which came with a tasty, very homestyle stuffing. I only had a bit of the stuffing but it was flavorful and had nice chunks of what seemed like thick bacon mixed in. Chicken was very good, though a smidge on the dry side, but still flavorful and actually quite nice with a pouring on of the gravy that came with my daughters' mashed potatoes. (The slightly dry chicken was probably the only slightly negative thing during the meal, and quite frankly, I really enjoyed the dish.) Entrees come with a ton of choices of sides, as well as a bread that appeared to be homemade. My husband had the beef noodle soup, which was flavorful and satisfying. I got the liver dumpling soup which had a nice, clean broth with a bunch of small liver dumpling-ettes mixed in-- very tasty. My kids had the kiddie chicken tenders, again with a couple of sides (they chose mashed potatoes and applesauce). My daughter and husband couldn't stop talking about how good the gravy was. We also ordered some delicious roast potatoes for the table, as well as the cheese blintzes. These were fantastic -- buttery with sweet cheese and studded with some golden raisins - yum. We'll definitely return.

3422 Harlem Ave, Riverside, IL ‎
(708) 442-0434 ‎
riversiderestaurant.co

Odd thing about this place..

If there's a fish special on the menu, be confident it will be fresh, and decent.

I'm not a frequent flyer here (kitchen closes at 7, I think,) but I do like the place. I was just there a few nights ago, matterafact. Some things are salty beyond belief while others are bland. It's a really weird toss up sometimes.

Whatever Polish Sausage they use, it's absolutely delicious.

Friday's fish soup is a town favorite. Many of the old school peeps I've asked around town really dig the Friday fish soup. I thought it was pretty gross. "Haslisle," I think? Kind of a cream+tomato base with a few fish pieces. The pinkish hue was not for me, and it kinda tasted like doctored up foodservice bag o soup.

Fish- surprisingly good. So good, I commented to the front of house lady, and she explained that her husband is in charge of the fish specials, and he is meticulous about picking his fish. I didn't like the seasoning of the fish we chose, (carroway in the seasoning,) but it was so remarkably fresh, and perfectly cooked, I was compelled to compliment. Must be the "east coaster" in me. When you get fresh fish, you KNOW it.

One ding for me (outside of the 'what's gonna be too salty tonight?' issue:) canned veggies. Peas a few nights ago were grade school canned peas. Almost gray in color, and tasted like they were from the Carter administration. Jr asked if he had to eat them. I laughed at myself when I said "no way." Felt snobby, but sorry, I don't believe in suffering through crappy brand canned peas. If you know what to order here, you are gonna eat like a KING.

I have enjoyed the Riverside for years. Unlike Seebee above, I always enjoy the Friday Fish Soup, as well as any of the other daily soup specials. Their rye bread is homemade and absolutely delicious. The servings are more than ample and the price is always correct. Among my favorite plates, in addition to the aforementioned Polish sausage, are the goulash, stuffed cabbage, pork tenderloin, chicken paprikash, and a few more specials I cannot neither spell or pronounce. The place is a good, reliable west suburban mainstay of Polish/Bohemian fare.

Anyplace that will serve you a schnitzel covered in melted cheese and sausage slices is the place you want to eat. Sometimes.

I've been eating at the Riverside for as long as I can remember. Great Czech/Bohemian food- the best in my humble opinion. The Riverside is a local neighborhood favorite- great food, great service, great prices. My family ALWAYS went there for their roasted duck, which is excellent, but my personal favorite is their wienerschnitzel with dumplings and sauerkraut. Their breaded pork tenderloin is outstanding, too.

Each table comes with a basket of homemade rye bread, and dessert consists of their homemade Kolachkies, usually apricot and raspberry. It's the perfect ending to a perfect, old school European dinner. A true, neighborhood gem.

I just read this elsewhere: "With the end of the heatwave, the MRS. and I decided to go to Riverside Family restaurant for some good Slovak comfort food. But, they're gone! The hang sign now reads El Faro but on the building not yet, another gem lost. You would figure with all the renewed ionterest in pot roast, short ribs, etc. that the classic European restaurants would be making a comeback, but sadly no."

I checked to find their website is gone. From yelp, it appears they closed in mid-June.

Regards,
Cathy2

Cathy2 wrote:I just read this elsewhere: "With the end of the heatwave, the MRS. and I decided to go to Riverside Family restaurant for some good Slovak comfort food. But, they're gone! The hang sign now reads El Faro but on the building not yet, another gem lost. You would figure with all the renewed ionterest in pot roast, short ribs, etc. that the classic European restaurants would be making a comeback, but sadly no."

I checked to find their website is gone. From yelp, it appears they closed in mid-June.

Regards,
Cathy2

Oh, boy!

More tacos!

Cathy2 wrote:I just read this elsewhere: "With the end of the heatwave, the MRS. and I decided to go to Riverside Family restaurant for some good Slovak comfort food. But, they're gone! The hang sign now reads El Faro but on the building not yet, another gem lost. You would figure with all the renewed ionterest in pot roast, short ribs, etc. that the classic European restaurants would be making a comeback, but sadly no."

I checked to find their website is gone. From yelp, it appears they closed in mid-June.

Regards,
Cathy2

Besides the usual...

Czech Plaza Restaurant
7016 Cermak Rd, Berwyn

There is the quirky...

Little Bohemian Restaurant
25 E Burlington St, Riverside

But I was really impressed by...

Westchester Inn
3069 Wolf Rd, Westchester

... worth the trip.

Little Bohemia is more than quirky, it's downright bizarre! I went there about 25 years ago when we first moved to the neighborhood and realized how much better Riverside Rest was, so never went back. I pass by there all the time and there never seems to be more than 2 people inside - but usually it's empty. Not sure how they stay in business since the landlord of those buildings is known to be monsterous and unforgiving. Maybe his relatives run the place.

The new owners of Czech Plaza seem to be doing a decent job. Was in there for lunch last week and the food was very good - although there was some sort of party going on in the side room and service was very slow.

Czech plaza seems to be doing a roaring business. They are on vacation now through 7/29.