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Riva im Tal is a relatively small and somewhat noisy Italian restaurant in Munich's city center, offering friendly service, a bar in the entrance area, and attracting a more trendy crowd. Parking is a bit of a challenge, but this isn't really a problem, as both the Isartor and Marienplatz are easily accessible by public transport.
Loud, cramped, and very long, the restaurant is located in the back – mirrored walls throughout, subdued lighting, very small wooden tables, and a rather hectic atmosphere. Upon entering, the bar, the large pizza oven, and the kitchen are on the left.
I've been to Riva several times – for both pizza and pasta. Reservations are recommended in the evenings and on weekends, as the restaurant is very centrally located and quite well-known and popular. The waiters are very friendly and happy to accommodate special requests. For example, my girlfriend and I couldn't decide on a pizza, and the waiter offered us two pizzas with half toppings – at no extra charge. The pizzas – which, in my opinion, are the main reason to visit Riva – are excellent: not too thin or too thick, they don't fall apart or drip when you bite into them or cut them (I've experienced all of that!), and they are truly delicious and filling.
Riva doesn't offer much more than various pizzas and a few pasta dishes. They have a selection of wines and drinks, but the food is limited to pasta and pizza, a few antipasti dishes (antipasti platter, vitello tonnato, etc.), and salads (pineta, pane e pomodori, Nizza, mista, caprese, pollo e spinaci, etc.).
I once got the Pineta salad (salad with marinated wild mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan, pine nuts, and parsley) to take away (all dishes are available for pickup!) and wasn't really impressed. While the salad itself was nicely prepared and the portion was adequate, the dressing was awful, and I didn't finish it – there wasn't a choice of dressings, though.
Riva offers a fairly wide selection of pizzas, including Margherita, Rucola, Pizza "Bianca" (with mozzarella and wild mushrooms), Quattro Formaggi, Caprese, Napoli, Frutti di Mare, and more. While there aren't too many different pasta dishes, the selection is good: Spaghetti Napoli, Linguine Bolognese, Scampi, and Salsiccia. We tried the Pasta Viareggio with scampi, fresh tomatoes, and arugula and were very satisfied: plenty of scampi and a generous portion of pasta. Pizzas range in price from €7.75 to €12.25. Specialty pizzas, such as those topped with smoked duck breast, Parma ham, goat cheese, green asparagus, beef ham, steamed fennel, etc., cost an average of €10.50 – still reasonably priced in my opinion. Pasta dishes are also reasonably priced at an average of 9 euros, considering the portion size and great taste.
As mentioned, the service is very friendly and efficient. The food arrives quickly and tastes excellent every time. Riva im Tal doesn't offer a particularly fancy or sophisticated atmosphere – it's more trendy and hip. Card payments are accepted at Riva. Try it out, perhaps after a stroll through the city.
I'll be back: Yes, definitely for delicious pizza.
Place visited: Riva
Address: Tal 44, 80331 Munich
Website
Pictures:
Kaimug – (e.g.) 5 Courtyards – Odeonsplatz – Old Town | Bianca's Blog
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