Riva Meze Grill — Restaurant in Rochford

Excellent Food Hampered by Long Wait Times & Poor Communication

First off, the food was excellent. Very filling and expertly made. Kitchen and bathrooms were spotless.

Unfortunately, we waited 45 minutes or so per course, and were thus there for 2-3 hours just for lunch.

Additionally, the waitress who waited on our table spoke no English and would roll her eyes or shake her head and ignore us when we tried to ask for things. Thus ordering was frustrating and we had to get the attention of the manager / host.

And this was one of the main issues - there seemed to be a breakdown in communication. We ordered some starters and only got told that they had run out of chicken for one plate once all of them were done - the manager seemingly did not know about the issue until all were done.

This issue was also seen with the drinks - we ordered a drink and got it, then right as we are about to leave the manager man who speaks English tells us it's 2For1 on drinks - maybe you could have told us that during the 2 hours we were waiting for the food?

This place has great food but the service leaves a lot...

This is the second time I've visited Riva, and it certainly won't be the last. The first time I went with my family and the second with a couple of friends. Both times were exceptional. The service is top-notch and the food fresh, delicious, and vibrant. Everything has really improved since the new management team and owners have taken over. From the welcome and first order of drinks to the main course and complimentary Turkish Delight at the end, everything was just perfect. Dennis, our waiter, was very attentive and remembered me from our first visit, even remembering my son and giving me a little something to take back for him. He loved it by the way! Thank you. Now that is personal service and it means a lot. I'm looking forward to coming back very soon and trying something different from the menu. The lamb shank is so amazing that I've had it both times now, but I really must try something new. Top marks to the kitchen for the great food. Can't wait...

Update Since my original review, we have now eaten at Riva and the overall rating remains pretty much the same. The service is professional and friendly, but the food took quite a long time to arrive. The atmosphere is fine but a little muted, perhaps as it's quite a large space with high ceilings. The food is pretty good, although (in my opinion) there are better options for Turkish food nearby. I have given Riva 3 stars, despite not having eaten there. We booked a table for 4 people on Mothers Day, but there was a huge queue of people waiting for their table to become free. We had an 80 year old with us with mobility problems, so couldn't queue for long, so we went elsewhere. I am wary of places that overbook, especially on busy days like...