The Roadhouse at River Pines — Restaurant in Portola

While I’m really disappointed to write this review, as I was so excited to enjoy the birthday dinner reservations I made in advance at the Roadhouse. I must say, I left there in tears. We arrived at the restaurant and were seated outside. It was a pleasant atmosphere and were we greeted by the hostess who asked us what we wanted to drink. We both ordered iced teas. The waitress approached us to take our dinner order and when I ordered the medallions she said “we do not have those.” Unfortunately, she did not start off by saying before you look at the menu there are several items we are out of. Instead she was short with me and said “what else do you want”. I was furious. Not once did they let anyone know ahead of time that they were out of 5-6 items in the menu. I chose the New York steak and asked for it rare. My honey ordered the salmon and in the middle of the waitress taking his order a man walked up (which we learned later was the manager) told her over here at this table are the owners so you’ll need to get right to them. We were quite surprised when we heard that. Then someone placed our iced teas in the table and ran off. We did not even have a second to ask for sweeteners or anything. So we sat there for over 5 minutes with drinks with no sweeteners. There were no other servers around to ask for assistance with either and when their was, they were completely across the patio and could not hear us say excuse me. Then out came a young man who I noticed was clearing tables I said excuse me could you please get us some sweetener and bless his heart he walked out with two sugar packets and he said this is all that was have in the entire building. I was in utter shock by then and did not know how to respond. Right behind him came a woman with our food. They tried to place two plates on our table that belonged to the owners. I said that was not ours and they were mumbling something to the effect of the kitchen staff got the tables mixed up. I was more concerned with how did they get their food before we received ours when we ordered way before they did. Then about five minutes later our food came out. They place my steak down in front of me and I il immediately cut it open to find it medium well and not rare at all. I said This is not right. The waitress says in a snotty tone what’s wrong. I told her I ordered rare. She took it back. Then 4 minutes later a man Paul to me exact who had to tell me he was the manager comes running out the door with my plate and comes up to me and says what’s wrong with this and I said I ordered rare. He said this is rare and I said no it’s medium well. He said well I’ll get you another then. Why they would not just bring me another steak instead of arguing with the customer and fixing the mess they made. Then Paul comes out to tell me there’s no more New York steak and that was the last one and what else do I want. By then I’m in tears. What was supposed to be my honeys birthday dinner was terrible. His salmon was so seared dry and hard to cut and cold since I had nothing to eat. Paul was super short with me and when I addressed him about being rude to me he even stated he was not. I told him to bring me soup. He left to get the soup but I was crying so much by then my honey said let’s go. Paul had offered to bump the meal anyways so it was not like they were out anything. I was out of time to find a place to eat as every place in Graeagle closes early. Seriously what a joke. I want to say this…we left that horrific restaurant and landed at Grizzly Diner where they had already cleaned the kitchen. When they saw me in tears they fired up the grill and cooked me the most amazing lobster with homemade garlic butter and made my honey the thickest, flakiest salmon on a bed of spinach. They served us with smiles and sincerity. Not once did they rush us or try to put us down! Do not waste your hard earned money at Roadhouse. The Grizzly Diner showed so much hospitality and graciously waited on us after all the mistakes the Roadhouse refused to make right on my...

A Culinary Treasure Worth Discovering

When we heard the Roadhouse had taken over the old Coyote Bar and Grill, we were cautiously optimistic. After two visits, though, we’re beyond impressed—we’re officially fans for life!

Let’s get straight to the main event: the food. “Spectacular” doesn’t even begin to cover it. During our first visit, my husband and I shared the burger with garlic fries and the pork chop with sriracha honey mustard. The flavors were so divine, we were practically sword-fighting with our forks for the last bite. Naturally, we returned to test the consistency, and wow—they didn’t just meet our expectations, they crushed them. The ribeye and tenderloin medallions were melt-in-your-mouth perfect, served with a medley of sautéed vegetables that struck the ideal balance of tender and crunchy. Trust me, these veggies aren’t just a sidekick; they’re a co-star.

And then there’s Paul, the manager. This guy doesn’t run a restaurant—he commands it. Despite being short-staffed, Paul orchestrated a packed house like a maestro conducting a symphony. If it weren’t for overhearing staff chatter, we never would’ve known they were working with a skeleton crew. Paul’s expertise and calm demeanor are the secret sauce that makes everything flow seamlessly.

With staffing challenges hitting so many local spots and the usual growing pains of new restaurants, it’s astounding to see Roadhouse already operating like a seasoned veteran just two months in. Paul’s leadership is a masterclass in restaurant management. If smooth seas make weak sailors, Paul is the pirate king of hospitality, navigating every challenge with the confidence of Poseidon himself.

Yo ho, yo ho, Roadhouse isn’t just here to stay—it’s raising the bar for dining in Graeagle. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, this gem deserves your attention.

5/5 stars—if there were a secret sixth star, Roadhouse would earn it in...

When arriving at the restaurant, I was run over by the server walking outside with food no apologies, or acknowledgment. I sat at the bar with no acknowledgment I observed the girl bartender being very sarcastic with two other patrons at the Bar before she asked what I wanted.. The smell of cat urine really put me off. So I decided not to eat there. I asked for a dirty vodka martini up. When my martini arrived, it was like a 1 ounce martini baby. I tasted it and it had no flavor. It was supposed to be Tito‘s vodka. I should’ve at least tasted the vodka.The olives tasted like they had the brine rinsed off. I asked for a little more olive juice and I got some dribbles of juice from those rinsed off olives. Looking around the dining area at 6 PM, there were about nine or ten people inside and I knew there were two outside on the patio. I did not have any of the food because I decided not to eat there, because of my tasteless martini and the smell . When returning home from my dinner at a great new BBQ place down the street, with great service and acknowledgement to the patrons, I observed 3 more cars in the parking lot at 7 PM. Might try food if they are the only place open...