The Riv Cafe — Restaurant in The Dalles

For Experienced Coffee Lovers & Health Conscious Hipsters! Vegan Friendly!

Wow! What a special gem to find while passing through The Dalles. I couldn’t have asked for better hospitality, coffee, and food! (And, it’s nestled inside a converted historic church with stain-glass doors).

If you are a coffee connoisseur like me, you will appreciate the roast The Riv provides. They roast their own coffee! The espresso had natural notes of maple, caramel and toasted banana in my smooth medium roast cappuccino (no syrups added!). (I think it’s a single origin bean, and I’m not sure if they rotate the bean/roast. This was November 2020 when I had the espresso). You will experience different natural flavors from start to finish! It’s a very unique roast that you won’t get anywhere else. Best coffee roaster in the Hood River / The Dalles area! There is no bitter or burnt espresso here!

I also want to give a shout-out to the super friendly host who took my takeout order over the phone – as it was during Covid times. He was so hospitable and exceeded expectations when I picked up my order. Thank you! I wish I had gotten your name!

The food is top notch (and fair prices) and incorporates better flavors and quality than some 5-star restaurants I’ve been to. I loved the Charlie Boy (black bean burger that came with chipotle cashew spread on a yeast bun). Perfectly flavored. Gosh, that bread was awesome! Everything tasted homemade.

These folks care about the quality of their ingredients and want you to have an all-around happy taste-bud and hospitality experience. They nailed it! I want to come back when Covid is over to have the full experience eating inside the...

I was in the Dalles, OR for the labor day weekend and discovered this cafe. This is a gem of a place!! When I arrived, I’d have easily missed this place if it wasn’t for the customers seated in the open area. After all, this cafe is housed in a remodeled church! Which is charming! Ah, it was rather dreamy!

Since I decided to sit out in the open, it took me a while to figure out that one needed to go in and order at the counter and then pick a table and wait for the dishes.

On to the food! I wanted a simple breakfast and ended up getting the porridge. I loved it. Any restaurant that can make the most basic dishes yummy are the best kind out there! And, The Riv cafe really served the best porridge that I’ve had so far! The cool porridge was deliciously refreshing under a warm sun! 😋 The drip coffee was fresh and yummy too!

If you’re in the Columbia Gorge or around The Dalles, stop by here. You’ll not regret it! Personally, I’d consider making a little detour to stop by, if...

If coffee is your religion, you are in the right place 👌

The Riv Cafe is such a cool spot. This refurbished old church blends the cozy ambience of communal dinning with a modern coffee shop vibe.

We relished the chance to get a few hours of work done in the pews while sipping a good local roast and enjoying our lunch.

Lots of plant-based options for our fellow vegans and flexiteriains. Free coffee refills were a win! They also have a good list of local teas and baked goods. We love a farm to table food concept and everything we tried tasted delicious.

Lots of indoor and outdoor seating options. The staff was attentive and very friendly.

Good street parking. Solid Wifi. They close at 2 pm though (November 2021) so plan accordingly.

We wish we could hang longer. It made such a great...