La Riva — Restaurant in Barnegat Light

La Riva Pizzeria in Barnegat Light elevates the cocktail experience with its Boulevardier Negroni. This sophisticated concoction combines bourbon, Carpano Antica, Cinzano Sweet, Campari, and Contratto, skillfully balanced and garnished with a twist of orange peel. The blend of bitter and sweet notes creates a harmonious symphony on the palate, with the bourbon adding a warming, rich depth. Each sip is a testament to the bar's commitment to craft, making it an exceptional aperitif. This cocktail earns high praise for its flawless execution and delightful complexity.

The 12" wood fire pepperoni pizza at La Riva Pizzeria is a standout dish. Featuring a base of organic tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, each bite is a burst of authentic flavors. The pepperoni, perfectly crisped by the wood fire, is complemented by the unexpected yet delightful addition of hot honey. This combination adds a subtle yet impactful heat, making the pizza both flavorful and mildly spicy. It's a dish that tantalizes the taste buds and showcases the pizzeria's creative flair.

La Riva Pizzeria is more than just a place to dine; it's a welcoming haven. The space is very open, with a warm and inviting atmosphere that makes it a perfect spot for a leisurely meal. The thoughtful layout and décor enhance the dining experience, ensuring that patrons feel at ease as they savor the culinary delights on offer.

La Riva Pizzeria is a gem in Barnegat Light, excelling in both its beverage and food offerings, and providing a delightful setting...

Summer 2022: Still early for the new restaurant concept by the owners the Daymark and the Arlington. But unfortunately there are kinks to work out. Wine list was extremely limited and disappointing. Pizza was mostly crust. Sausage pizza was missing the sausage. Staff was dismissive of our concerns. Top it off, it was expensive relative to value received.

On the plus side, there was a great atmosphere on a beautiful September night. Garage doors line the walls and it really opened up beautifully. The Clam pizza was pretty good and the calamari was a delicious, nicely portioned option.

December 2022: Just gave this restaurant another try early in December. I really want to like this place, but they are making it difficult. The salad was terrific and the branzino was pretty good. Unfortunately, for a pizza place they cannot do pizza. The first one brought out had a bottom that was completely charred and an undercooked top. The staff was kind enough to notice we were struggling through the char and brought us a second one, unfortunately it was the same. That said, the service was incredible and kind, but the pizza just did not stand up. Love the place and its people and, as a year round Islander, I am cautiously optimistic they will find their stride--which I look forward to. But they are...

We have been to the establishment before and ordered baked rigatoni which we usually love. Drove 23 minutes to restaurant to pick up 3 orders of baked rigatoni to go when the entire order was wrong. Paid in cash and she wanted me to drive all the way back with 6 children to collect my refund since they could not refund a card. I explained to her I could not drive back for refund so do gift card to email. She refused to and told me I had to then drive back for cash. If the owner would like to call me back and not incompetent manager we can resolve. Since I could not drive all the way back with a 1 year old and 5 other children! The entire call was on speaker phone so I have 5 adults that can verify what terrible customer service they have when it comes to takeout. If the takeout menu is not identically made to the menu in store then you may possibly want to list that, since I am not the only one to have complained about takeout menu.

1 order was supposed to be no ricotta cheese -came with absolutely no cheese

2 made as per menu and came with no mozzarella or Parmesan

As a result I had to dispute the charge we...