Riverbend Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Newton

My family came to the Riverbend for a Sunday brunch. It was OK. Just OK. Nothing special and not a drop more then OK. I was somewhat disappointed. We used to come to this Marriott for family brunches when I was a child in the 1970s. Brunch here was special, almost elegant, men in suits, women in dresses, boys in white shirt and tie. The brunch was expansive with breakfast foods, salads, lunch dishes, carving stations, omlett stations, etc... It was a real show. Every brunch felt like a holiday feast. Sadly, that was then. The restaurant has remodeled and re-themed several times over the years. It looks nice now and gone are the coffee shop and seedy bar. Now is a large, clean reasonably modern restaurant which also serves as a lounge. It gives a good first impression apon entering. I'm told that the lounge and restaurant use different menus and that you actually have to ask your server if you want the less expensive bar menu. Our waitress was an older woman who was well past her table waiting prime. During the meal I was frequently reminded of Betty White's character on Golden Girls. First came coffee and juice. Coffee was served "family style" by putting an insulated coffee carafe on the table. Juice was served airline style. A glass was placed before me, a mini can of tomato juice appeared in Barbara's hand, the can was opened, emptied into my glass, and Barbara wandered off. A choice of ice, black pepper or Tobasco would have been nice. The brunch had a nice omlett station. The omlett chef had a habit of mixing up people's orders but he did make a good omlett. The hot food line had seven dishes including: breakfast sausage, bacon, scrambled egg, potato, hot vegetable and chicken. The foods were OK. Very cafeteria like in quality. The bacon was not crispy nor were the potatoes and the chicken dish washer bland. The brunch also had the usual small boxes of cereal, bread and bagles for toasting, desert baked goods and oatmeal. The real star of the brunch was the tray of smoked salmon. Overall the restaurant was at about 15% capacity and I was not surprised that it was not fuller. I would not choose dining there again. And one more thing... To get to the restrooms, one has to leave the restaurant, go to the lobby, cross the lobby, and head down the hall toward the banquet rooms. Somewhat inconvenient but especially vexing for those who are not familiar with the...

While the Riverbend Bar & Grill boasts a picturesque view of the river that adds a special touch to dining experiences, my recent visit left much to be desired, particularly in terms of accommodating diverse dietary needs. The buffet, though extensive, falls short for those of us who are vegan or have specific dietary restrictions such as wheat, dairy, and nut allergies. The lack of ingredient listings on their assorted pastries further complicates matters for guests with sensitivities or preferences.

Although I appreciate the variety offered, the overall menu felt limited. My order of eggs Benedict didn’t meet expectations as the yolk was medium soft instead of the runny consistency I anticipated. On a positive note, the omelet station was a highlight, demonstrating the potential for excellence this establishment has. However, I was disappointed to see that they’ve discontinued other specialty stations like the crepe/waffle station, which used to add an exciting variety to their brunch offerings.

Riverbend Bar & Grill seems like a potentially good spot for brunch and families with children, thanks to its ambiance and kid-friendly options. However, I hope to see improvement in their consideration for guests with diverse dietary needs and a return of more varied stations to truly elevate the dining experience to match the beautiful...

You're eating here because you're in the hotel and don't have a choice. Wait staff was rude. They have three different menus depending if you use the app or look in the room or go to the restaurant. It says delivery available but I was told they don't do that. I stood at the host stand where it said to wait for a host, but the staff stared at me and just walked away. When I ordered for pickup the man was offended that I came to the restaurant to pick it up and told me to go to the lobby instead. Food sort of tasted like McDonald's at three times the price. Fries were good though, so you have that to...