Review Highlights
“One of the things I remember most from my childhood in Three Rivers was the special times we would go to see a movie at the Riviera Theater.” in 3 reviews
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About the Business
Historic 1925 theatre featuring independent, foreign, and documentary films, concerts, and other live entertainment. Available to rent for conferences, parties, weddings, and other events. Full bar.
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Overall rating
15 reviews
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1 star
- Salvy R.Granger, IN222453Nov 15, 2023
Highly recommended by a local named Tom, this establishment exceeded expectations. Despite my visit during its opening hours, the staff efficiently managed their routine, demonstrating a commitment to customer satisfaction. The venue's unique design, reminiscent of an old theater, immediately stands out, with popcorn and beer as popular highlights.
Specializing in pizza, the menu offers a variety of crust options and includes both traditional and seasonal selections. Despite the small kitchen, the culinary team consistently delivers exceptional results. My personal rating for the pizza is 8/10, with the staff impressing not only with their knowledge and recommendations but also with their warm hospitality.
Originally contemplating a 4-star rating, my experience shifted to a perfect 5 stars during a simple yet impactful interaction when requesting a to-go box. The staff not only promptly boxed my leftovers but also labeled the container with its contents and date. As someone with a family background in cooking, I find this attention to detail significant and universally commendable.
This small gesture transformed my perception, earning the establishment a 5-star rating and establishing it as a must-visit when in the area.
Summary Ratings:
- Food: 8/10
- Drinks: 9/10
- Customer Service: 10/10
- Ambience: 9/10Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Rich D.Knoxville, TN722017Aug 23, 2023
Super cool place we stopped at on the way through. Limited rally good menu, a couple sandwiches, good pizza, nice specials. I'll take a short, fresh menu over lots of lousy food any day! Friendly staff showed us the theater while we were here.
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 1Oh no 0 - Sarah K.Park City, UT17Mar 23, 2023
Tonight we ordered takeout from Riviera. This was our first time ordering from here and my fiancé and I have been on the hunt for good pizza in Three Rivers since we moved here about 8 months ago. We have exhausted almost all the local options, in hopes to find one worth re-ordering from. Tonight I found what we were looking for. Not only for pizza, but for Service, ambiance and Vibe.... Let me start by saying it didn't start out too good. I arrived after phoning in my order and being given an estimated time for pick up. During prime dinner time a 35 minute readiness timeframe seemed appropriate. I arrived and the sweet waitress informed me I'd have to wait a little longer because the order wasn't quite ready yet. No problem , I figure I was a little early for the pickup window, so I sat down and ordered a pint. It happened to be Trivia night so I sipped my beer, played along in my head and enjoyed listening in. The waitress came by to check in and apologized for the wait...had 15 minutes passed already!? As a stay at home/work (remote) from home mom, and after having a bit of a rocky week, I had hardly even noticed the time...and was truly just soaking up a little "me" time. Another 15 minutes passed and the waitress checked in and cashed out my tab (because I requested to) and apologized for the delay again. Being a busy night with a full house of trivia attendees, I could understand why the kitchen might be backed up. Shortly thereafter, another waitress (maybe management?) came by with the food and apologized again for the "wait" but extended a gift card for our return. I was elated leaving the restaurant, and I hadn't even tried the food yet. Me time and a gift card!? I couldn't wait to tell my fiancé all about it, when I returned home. He who was hungrily waiting at home, listened in and appeased my excitement. It's safe to say we both enjoyed our pizza. So delicious and the crust is sooo much better then the other local competitors. We will certainly return, thanks for making this mom's night!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Chava N.Fort Wayne, IN052Sep 10, 2022
Good chill atmosphere! Delicious flavorful Pizza! Good local brews! Bar tender was polite. I'd definitely come back next time I'm in town
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Justin H.MI, MI02Feb 26, 2023
Great Staff, The pizza is fantastic, In my opinion ,its the best in the area, by far, also got the carne sandwich, again fantastic! The old theatre is so nice inside, quiet, clean! First time I have written a review, I was really blown away at how good everything was! Can't wait to go there again
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Jennifer N.Valparaiso, IN03Jul 19, 2018
Love this place.. has great memories
Fairly reasonable on pricing
Have saw movies here and also bands .. has a little dance floor up front ..my kids enjoyed that ! Will go backHelpful 7Thanks 0Love this 4Oh no 0 - Maureen M.Colon, MI03Aug 28, 2021
Great time seeing Then, and now of the St. Joe River. A crowd of easily 100. The bar had a wonderful selection of non alcoholic beer. Such a grand place!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Maggie H.Troy, MI8514883Apr 14, 2012
One of the things I remember most from my childhood in Three Rivers was the special times we would go to see a movie at the Riviera Theater. The closest movie complex was over 30 minutes away so we would wait every week to see what one movie the Riviera Theater would pick for that week!
After being open since1925, the Riviera closed down in 2000 after an actual movie complex came into town. However it was renovated and re-opened by a local family in 2008. The Riviera's renovations did not change the unique and beautiful architecture in the building, but updated the technology and added a bar and concession area.
The Riviera now shows current independent movies, classics, and operas/ballets. One of my mother's favorite times is Christmas. The Riviera shows all the classic Christmas movies on the big screen. When home, I was able to see White Christmas on the big screen with my family. White Christmas has been a staple movie in our household since I was a child and being able to see it on the big screen was great for me.
In addition to being a really unique experience, you cannot beat small-town prices. The biggest popcorn they have is only $3, biggest soda is $2.50, and they have a full bar. I must admit my favorite piece is that they still make old fashioned sodas, including the Green River, which was my favorite when little.
If close to Three Rivers the Riviera really is a unique experience that you should get to.Helpful 4Thanks 0Love this 2Oh no 0 - Nick V.Los Angeles, CA12981Jul 28, 2017
My wife and I come with our family every year from our west to visit her parents in the area for a time during the summer. We were blown away by both the theater (which is exquisite) and the adjacent restaurant/bar with great drinks and excellent brick oven pizza that could succeed in the metropolis where we are from. Highly recommend catching a dinner and movie at the Riviera!
Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0 - Tristan H.Kalamazoo, MI35361802Dec 28, 2016
Positives:
1. The theatre presents an amazing range of foreign and independent cinema. And there are a fair number of interesting musical acts that are scheduled.
2. A revitalized historic theatre that is simply gorgeous.
3. Attached bar.
4. Clean bathrooms (two each for each gender).
5. Ticket prices are very reasonable.
Negatives:
1. The theatre has the absolutely worst sound reproduction. Early on we searched for a sweet spot among the seats and there was none. We just stopped going to English language movies because we could often make out only half of the dialogue at best. And if the movie had British actors we were even more in trouble because of the accents. We go only to foreign films with subtitles now. I don't understand why it's never been fixed. I can only imagine no one from management has spent time listening to the garbled sound the speakers put out.
2. The temperature in the theatre in the winter can be bone chilling. It must be expensive to heat such a huge space.
3. The theatre is the only gem in a downtown that has remained pretty depressed. After a movie there's absolutely nowhere to go - and we're not drinkers so looking for a bar interests us not - except get in your car and leave. (And anyway, I don't find the Riviera bar all that attractive a place. It certainly doesn't invite you to walk in. There's only a few scant places to sit, the tables and chairs look to be post Goodwill, and it's difficult to have a private conversation when every point in the bar is visible to every other point in the bar. It just isn't the type of bar that draws me in.)
4. One of the men's bathrooms is a walk down a stairwell (so I use the other one off the bar). Obviously not meant for men with squeaky knees.
Neutral:
1. The theatre has always been insanely underutilized. I can think of a number of times when we were two of maybe ten or fewer moviegoers total inside the theatre. So, if you object to movie going because theatres are crowded and other people are noisy and intrusive and constantly on their phones, this theatre is for you. For all of my complaints about the sound system, we hit this spot maybe 20 times a year. The Oscar Nominated Animation Short Films, Live Action Short Films, & Documentary Short Films shows are must sees every year (usually out end of every January).Helpful 0Thanks 0Love this 0Oh no 0