Riv's Toms River Hub — Restaurant in Toms River

My husband and I have been there a couple of times and enjoyed it. My son lives in Texas and came home unexpectedly for a few days and wanted to go out to dinner as a family. I called on Monday 3/11 and spoke to Monica about getting a table for 9 the next night around 6pm. I figured a Tuesday night would be pretty quiet. I didn’t know Tuesdays were customer appreciation nights and 1/2 off entrees. She said they would be busy but could absolutely accommodate us and just call ahead an hour on Tuesday. So on Tuesday my husband calls and talks to Justin, tells him the situation, no problem. We get there at 5:50. It is packed, we had to park on the street and walk because there was no parking. I’m beginning to think this is a huge mistake. Justin greets us and takes us to our table(we are still waiting for half of our party). Gets us drinks, explains the menu and specials and is so accommodating! The rest of our party arrives and even though it was extremely busy he took the time to explain everything again to the newcomers. Took our orders, accommodated special requests, kept checking in to make sure everything was good. Could not have asked for a better experience or a better server! Thank you Justin! (Bret...

I had met my family there last night and everyone was great! The waiter we had was great I do not remember his name because a band was playing and it was loud a lot going on. But what I really want to point out is the busboy the one who went around cleaning all the tables and just carried a bucket around the entire night and wore a smile on his face. He was not on his phone once you can tell he really appreciated his job it was so packed and loud but that didn’t stop him for wearing that smile! My boyfriend and I had tipped him $10 dollars because that’s all the cash I had on me unfortunately but he made that $10 dollars seem like it was $100 he thanked us and his smile got even bigger. As my boyfriend and I were walking out he made sure to come back to our table and thanks us again it was such a heartwarming time that I had tears in my eyes. I wish I got his name but I hope this message gets back to him I don’t know him but I want him to know he made my Friday night as I was having a rough week! I will also be on a mission to find the same exact sweet shirt for him and hopefully be able to give it to him...

So, I have wanted to try this restaurant and bar ever since we heard about Chase. Our teenage boy is on the spectrum. So today my son and I ventured out to try it. Unfortunately it did not start off very well. Upon entering it took a moment to get acknowledged never mind sat at a table, but it is week 18 of the NFL which made the bar top busy but tables were not. So we get sat at a high top and we wait and wait. Unfortunately no one came by to even say hey we are busy and to let us know they know we are there and will be with you soon. I am a lifelong service industry employee and I know that as a guest time seems longer then it actually is but to not have someone acknowledge us is not acceptable. Everyone there seemed more focused on the Bar top and those guests, which I understand to an extent. But come on a hello would have gone a long way. Needless to say we left and ate elsewhere. We even got a few weird looks from guests standing in front of our table. In closing we just felt uncomfortable and not very welcomed. Sadly we will not being attempting another first visit. Please try...