Riva Fish House

About the Business

Specialties

What started as a fish market has ended up an amazing dish restaurant and bar. At Riva Fish House, we offer a view with flavor. Dine at our seaside haven on the Municipal Wharf in Santa Cruz today! When we gave up the fish market for the restaurant, our objective was to turn out the best possible meal at a cost working people with a family could afford. That didn't mean something they could handle but under stress. It meant, and still means, a really good meal and beverages at a really comfortable price. Our loyal and friendly staff now serves some of the best, award-winning seafood around. Voted Santa Cruz's Best Seafood Restaurant, we offer something for everyone. Try our chowder, fish tacos, zucchini fries, or a killer crab sandwich. Big hunks of juicy tasty crab, seasoned to perfection, served on sourdough bread hand-made and baked to Riva's exacting specifications, with cheese of your choice, grilled and hot for your body. It's probably good for your mind, too. Wash that down with a craft beer or handmade cocktail. Finish off your experience by trying some of our 12 flavors of delicious, creamy gelato that is sure to please. Stop by and dine with us soon. You'll walk in with a smile. You'll walk out with a grin.

History

Established in 1981.

In 1981 we started with the idea of having the best fish market on the West Coast. We were on our way but a year or so later one of our regulars asked if we'd put some of our Bay shrimp in a cup for him, which we did, and he dumped some red sauce on it. Actually, it looked pretty good. The next time he was in he wanted to sit down, so we gave him a chair and poured a glass of wine from a bottle one of us brought for lunch. It wasn't long before we had two or three regulars joining us for lunch, so we put up a couple of tables, and chairs. That was the end of something, and the beginning of something else. The name we borrowed from a little fishing village on the Ligurian Coast of Italy, Riva Trigoso. It had been home for a number of early Italian immigrants who settled in Santa Cruz and worked on the Wharf. That's our story.

Meet the Business Owner

Business owner information

Peter D.

Business Owner

Peter Drobac has been in the seafood business for many years! Growing up around the family business, Peter came to work at Riva Fish House which has been in the family for over 30 years. Peter and his staff enjoy serving the public, locals and tourists alike, who come to dine at their waterfront restaurant. Peter hopes that you'll stop by and enjoy great hospitality and even better food for lunch or dinner the next time you're in the area!