The Riverdale Garden Restaurant

(718) 884-5232

4574 Manhattan College Pkwy
Bronx, NY 10471 40.8892 -73.9004

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Neighborhoods: Fieldston, West Bronx

ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “recommend this restaurant to those with sophisticated palates desiring a fine meal amongst nice people in an inviting atmosphere where the background music is so blessedly soft that one must actually try to hear it in order to do so.”
  2. “Chef/owner Michael Sherman has created a charming, comfortable oasis at the end of the No. 1 Train.”
  3. “Finally a restaurant in Riverdale that is worthy of its inhabitants - wonderful food, great service and a terrific ambience.”
  4. “We also loved the patio and view of the garden (despite the view and noise from the elevated subway).”
  5. “Great atmosphere, excellent food and friendly service.”
  6. “Wonderful, romantic setting.”
  7. “The atmosphere, especially in the garden is divine.”
  8. “last minute choice, instead of older, better known, more expensive "romantic" restaurants and it was HEAVENLY.”
  9. “The ambiance is romantic and cozy, from the woodburning fireplace and sofas (great for dessert which is decadent and homemade) as well as the patio and garden in the back.”
  10. “Haute cuisine, reasonable prices, relaxed atmosphere”
  11. “You can bring your kids and feel comfortable and relax and still enjoy first class cuisine - very unlike the Manhattan Upscale scene.”
dessert
80.0% positive
  1. “The ambiance is romantic and cozy, from the woodburning fireplace and sofas (great for dessert which is decadent and homemade) as well as the patio and garden in the back.”
  2. “and yummy desserts (big enough to share, not that you?”
  3. “Plus the molten chocolate cake is truly amazing.”
  4. “We had and recommend the Grilled Salmon, Sirloin Steak, Endive and Watercress Salad, Arugula salad on brioche,Champagne and Italian sparkling wine by the glass and the Triple chocolate dessert.”
  5. “Oh, and yes, the desserts are good too.”
drinks
77.77999877929688% positive
  1. “And the wine list is an incredible value of spot- on treats.”
  2. “No bartender in the not very inviting bar!”
  3. “Come to the beer tasting, the wine tasting, come hear music or enjoy the fireplace and a glass of wine while waiting for your table.”
  4. “But soon after, they got us a bucket to chill our wine for us and the service thereafter was outstanding.”
  5. “Service was very slow, especially when waiting for our drinks (no bartender, bad mistake).”
  6. “Riverdale Garden is a wonderful restaurant, the wine list has the ability to be both sophisticated and non pretentious, the food under Chef Michael Sherman is possibly the best New American that NY has to offer, and not as pricey for better quality in man”
  7. “Finally, a place for really good, intelligent food and wine in Riverdale.”
  8. “We had and recommend the Grilled Salmon, Sirloin Steak, Endive and Watercress Salad, Arugula salad on brioche,Champagne and Italian sparkling wine by the glass and the Triple chocolate dessert.”
  9. “Amazing food, impressive wine list, and great service and reasonably priced.”
food quality
90.27999877929688% positive
  1. “love the scallops, and their game dishes.”
  2. “Great food in underserved area”
  3. “recommend this restaurant to those with sophisticated palates desiring a fine meal amongst nice people in an inviting atmosphere where the background music is so blessedly soft that one must actually try to hear it in order to do so.”
  4. “and yummy desserts (big enough to share, not that you?”
  5. “Amazing food, impressive wine list, and great service and reasonably priced.”
  6. “You can bring your kids and feel comfortable and relax and still enjoy first class cuisine - very unlike the Manhattan Upscale scene.”
  7. “With the best risotto in the city, vinaigrettes that should be bottled they are that good - I always enjoy perfectly cooked fish when I go there.”
  8. “We had and recommend the Grilled Salmon, Sirloin Steak, Endive and Watercress Salad, Arugula salad on brioche,Champagne and Italian sparkling wine by the glass and the Triple chocolate dessert.”
  9. “Delicious cuisine emphasizes fresh local ingredients and is prepared with great care.”
  10. “The food was excellent.”
  11. “Riverdale Garden is a wonderful restaurant, the wine list has the ability to be both sophisticated and non pretentious, the food under Chef Michael Sherman is possibly the best New American that NY has to offer, and not as pricey for better quality in man”
  12. “He uses the best ingredients and knows how to bring out the best in food.”
  13. “Such a shame since I'm not willing to spend the money on a place like that again and take yet another chance to see if the meal will be good or bad this time.”
  14. “Great atmosphere, excellent food and friendly service.”
  15. “My friends and I have had some of the best meals of our life here, especially the fish dishes.”
  16. “The food is simply fabulous.”
  17. “The food is amazing.”
  18. “Finally, a place for really good, intelligent food and wine in Riverdale.”
  19. “Love the risotto, love the grilled squid, love the duck, the chicken, the lamb chops, the pheasant, the sturgeon.”
  20. “The fresh flavors (no heavy sauces thank you!)”
  21. “The highly skilled kitchen staff put forth thoughtfully prepared food that is fantastic.”
  22. “Overall the service was friendly, the food was excellent, and we will definately be dining there often.”
  23. “Though the food had not impressed us before, decided to give it another chance and made reservations for Easter lunch (two adults, one infant), arrived on time, were mistreated by the wait staff who refused to give us a high chair (though we'd requested o”
  24. “It was a complete 180 from the night my husband and I had before and I was quite embarassed to have brought the other people along with us there after having told them it was a good meal.”
  25. “Haute cuisine, reasonable prices, relaxed atmosphere”
  26. “The food is excellent and the service is even better.”
  27. “We enjoyed our meals the first time, I had duck with a berry sauce that was very good.”
  28. “They're very attentive there, have interesting dishes and specials and the prices, while not cheap, are well worth it.”
  29. “However, we decided to bring back 4 other people another time 1 month later, and the service/food was absolutely terrible.”
  30. “BYOB Tuesdays- a great deal for great food”
  31. “New American food that is as good as it gets!”
  32. “Finally a restaurant in Riverdale that is worthy of its inhabitants - wonderful food, great service and a terrific ambience.”
  33. “The food was memorable and it is now our favorite restaurant !”
  34. “Great food”
  35. “The skin of the duck was sooo tasty.”
  36. “The tree ear mushroom risotto with crispy slivers of garlic was to die for.”
menu variety
100.0% positive
  1. “The well-credentialed chef provides an excellent menu, of which no item we tasted failed to please us.”
  2. “interesting menu choices (wild boar anyone?)”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “urge all foodies north of 96th street to try this potentially great restaurant while you can still get in.”
  2. “That's what all my friends say when I take them to my favorite restaurant, The Riverdale Garden.”
  3. “The food was memorable and it is now our favorite restaurant !”
return potential
100.0% positive
  1. “We are anxious to come back when it gets warmer to enjoy the garden.”
service
76.46999835968018% positive
  1. “Service was very slow, especially when waiting for our drinks (no bartender, bad mistake).”
  2. “Overall the service was friendly, the food was excellent, and we will definately be dining there often.”
  3. “But soon after, they got us a bucket to chill our wine for us and the service thereafter was outstanding.”
  4. “The highly skilled kitchen staff put forth thoughtfully prepared food that is fantastic.”
  5. “Great atmosphere, excellent food and friendly service.”
  6. “Though the food had not impressed us before, decided to give it another chance and made reservations for Easter lunch (two adults, one infant), arrived on time, were mistreated by the wait staff who refused to give us a high chair (though we'd requested o”
  7. “recommend this restaurant to those with sophisticated palates desiring a fine meal amongst nice people in an inviting atmosphere where the background music is so blessedly soft that one must actually try to hear it in order to do so.”
  8. “The chef was friendly and conversational with us.”
  9. “Michael, the chef and owner, is friendly and in my opinion (and in the opinion of all my singer friends who live in Inwood and Riverdale) quite competent.”
  10. “It was a complete 180 from the night my husband and I had before and I was quite embarassed to have brought the other people along with us there after having told them it was a good meal.”
  11. “Finally a restaurant in Riverdale that is worthy of its inhabitants - wonderful food, great service and a terrific ambience.”
  12. “Amazing food, impressive wine list, and great service and reasonably priced.”
  13. “You'll have a great, friendly, gourmet experience at The Riverdale Garden.”
  14. “No bartender in the not very inviting bar!”
  15. “The food is excellent and the service is even better.”
  16. “However, we decided to bring back 4 other people another time 1 month later, and the service/food was absolutely terrible.”
  17. “They're very attentive there, have interesting dishes and specials and the prices, while not cheap, are well worth it.”
value
93.75% positive
  1. “Riverdale Garden is a wonderful restaurant, the wine list has the ability to be both sophisticated and non pretentious, the food under Chef Michael Sherman is possibly the best New American that NY has to offer, and not as pricey for better quality in man”
  2. “last minute choice, instead of older, better known, more expensive "romantic" restaurants and it was HEAVENLY.”
  3. “And the wine list is an incredible value of spot- on treats.”
  4. “Food was good but portions were quite tiny.”
  5. “Such a shame since I'm not willing to spend the money on a place like that again and take yet another chance to see if the meal will be good or bad this time.”
  6. “This place really surprised us with its fine quality at really reasonable prices.”
  7. “They're very attentive there, have interesting dishes and specials and the prices, while not cheap, are well worth it.”
  8. “Haute cuisine, reasonable prices, relaxed atmosphere”
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. “last minute choice, instead of older, better known, more expensive "romantic" restaurants and it was HEAVENLY.”
  2. “Service was very slow, especially when waiting for our drinks (no bartender, bad mistake).”
1 Star Rating: Poor

05/04/12

Horror

by Spoken

We made reservations and signed a contract for a family dinner and got cheated out of our money. Our waitress was very nice but everything else was so terrible that I would never go back.

When our guests sat, the menu was not what we signed on contract, another menu was on our tables with the price listed. Drinks were "included" for our guests of their "liking" on contract but in reality, two drinks were served by the pitcher and I went through the embarassment of having one of my guests charged for their drinks within those two hours.

Outside of the contract, we decided to do a simple toast and asked for an inexpensive bottle of champagne. The owner recommended two bottles instead and said that we were shown the old menu and that they would provide something similar.

When the bill came, we were charged double the price for each champagne bottle without us knowing in advance. They robbed us of our money. My guests will never go there again and I will be sure to deter anyone who mentions that place. A HORRIBLE experience as it was my first night married and I chose that stupid place to have my dinner.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/25/07

Can't get enough of the Riverdale Garden!

by kat4

Located just off Broadway at 242nd street, the Riverdale Garden is just what we need around here. The highly skilled kitchen staff put forth thoughtfully prepared food that is fantastic. With the best risotto in the city, vinaigrettes that should be bottled they are that good - I always enjoy perfectly cooked fish when I go there. The fresh flavors (no heavy sauces thank you!), interesting menu choices (wild boar anyone?), and yummy desserts (big enough to share, not that you?ll want to!) more than make up for service that, while always well meaning, sometimes misses the mark. I love this place!

1 Star Rating: Poor

10/06/07

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by funniewill

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5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/07/07

Something special in the Bronx

by shendel

The Riverdale Garden is a one of a kind Bronx destination that achieves a rare level of culinary excellence. I go there to celebrate special occasions and to create a special evening on ordinary days. Its elegance is of the casual variety, so only dress up if you feel like it. And you don't have to take out a second mortgage to afford it. The food is simply fabulous. I'm not sure what you call chef-owner Michael Sherman's style of cooking except, well, delicious. He uses the best ingredients and knows how to bring out the best in food. The menu changes often, so there is novelty even for regulars. Love the risotto, love the grilled squid, love the duck, the chicken, the lamb chops, the pheasant, the sturgeon. As for desserts...leave room; you can't go wrong. His food goes best with a glass (or two, or three) of wine, and whether you order by the glass or pick out a bottle, you are sure to be pleased. As for the service, if you remember that even though you might be eating one of the tastiest meals of your life, you are still in a local Bronx restaurant and not a bristlingly efficient Manhattan hotspot, you may just realize that the service is just fine. So cut these guys a little slack, appreciate how nice they are, and relax. You'll be amply rewarded.

3 Star Rating: Average

07/02/07

Good Food, Terrible Service

by charlesmstam

I was very excited to book a private event at The Garden. The event coordinator was lovely and professional, as was the chef. I have no issues with the food, which was very well prepared, or the bill, which was well within reason. I was just frustrated by the utterly incompetent waitstaff. It took them forever to bring out the food and they were just didn't seem to know what they were doing. By my estimation, they added another hour to our meal. It's too bad, because this is a hidden gem and the food is top shelf. I just hope they can get their act together.

  • Pros: Very Good Market Driven Menu, Terrific Value
  • Cons: Lackluster and Slow Service

The Details on The Riverdale Garden Restaurant

Place Categories:

  • excellent new american food
  • friendly service
  • favorite riverdale restaurant
  • good meal
  • favorite riverdale garden
  • really reasonable prices
  • divine atmosphere
  • friendly chef
  • loved patio
  • love risotto
  • excellent menu
  • romantic ambiance
  • love game dishes
  • great gourmet experience
  • fresh local ingredients
  • love we
  • still enjoy first class cuisine
  • fantastic prepared food
  • interesting specials
  • good desserts
  • truly amazing molten chocolate cake
  • love scallops
  • romantic setting
  • charming oasis
  • great added incentive
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