01
Best overall pick
Mario's Place
Mission Inn District, Riverside • Upscale Italian-Influenced Bistro • Best Date-Night Option
Refined Italian-inspired cooking and a serious wine list make this the go-to spot when you want dinner to feel like an occasion.
Mario's Place has long been one of Riverside’s most polished dining rooms, with white-tablecloth service that still feels relaxed rather than stuffy. The menu leans Italian with seasonal California touches, from housemade pastas to beautifully cooked seafood and steaks. It’s an easy choice for anniversaries, business dinners, or any night you want to linger over a multi-course meal downtown.
02
Downtown hangout
The Salted Pig
Downtown Riverside Core • Modern Craft Gastropub • Craft Beer And Burger Pick
A lively gastropub known for creative comfort food, standout burgers, and one of the better beer lists in the Inland Empire.
The Salted Pig helped kick-start Riverside’s modern dining scene and still feels like the city’s living room on busy nights. Expect upgraded bar food—think rich mac and cheese, pork belly, and carefully built burgers—served alongside rotating craft taps and solid cocktails. It’s a smart stop if you’re coming in from Lakeview for a casual night out, especially before or after a show nearby.
03
Daytime favorite
Simple Simon's Bakery & Bistro
Mission Inn Avenue, Riverside • Casual Bakery-Café • Top Brunch And Lunch Spot
A bustling daytime café for fresh-baked breads, generous sandwiches, and relaxed patio seating steps from the Mission Inn.
Simple Simon's is where locals line up for strong coffee, pastries, and hefty sandwiches made on their own breads. The menu is straightforward but well executed, with daily specials, quiches, and salads that make it easy to fuel up before exploring downtown. If you’re driving in from Lakeview for errands or sightseeing, this is an easy, no-fuss stop for breakfast or lunch.
04
Quirky must-visit
Tio's Tacos
Northside Of Downtown Riverside • Eclectic Mexican Restaurant • Most Unique Atmosphere
Colorful, folk-art-filled grounds and a sprawling menu of familiar Mexican favorites make this a fun, ultra-casual stop.
Tio's Tacos is as much an art project as it is a restaurant, with towering sculptures and recycled-art installations crowding the courtyard and walkways. Inside and out, families, students, and road-trippers tuck into combo plates, seafood dishes, and big aguas frescas. It’s an easy recommendation if you want something kid-friendly and memorable after the drive up from Lakeview.
05
Group-friendly choice
Anchos Southwest Grill & Bar
La Sierra Area, West Riverside • Lively Southwest Grill • Best For Big Groups And Families
A busy Southwest-style cantina with housemade tortillas, mesquite-grilled meats, and plenty of room for large parties.
Anchos is a longtime Riverside standby where baskets of warm flour tortillas and salsa hit the table almost as soon as you sit down. The mesquite grill gives fajitas, steaks, and skewers a pronounced smoky flavor, and the portions are built for sharing. With big booths, a comfortable bar, and a crowd that often includes multigenerational families, it suits everything from team dinners to casual celebrations after a day around Lakeview.