River Side Brewery & Restaurant
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by BucBasil from Rwanda
3.73/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
3.73/5 rDev 0%
vibe: 5 | quality: 4 | service: 3 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4
An awesome looking place on a side road near Vitosha Mountain. The restaurant backs right into a national park, and the place itself looks like it could be a park lodge or a ski lodge, with lots of climbing ivy, big stone blocks, and weathered wood (despite the fact that the place itself is pretty new). Inside, 2 gleaming copper kettles greet you in a warm homey, lodge style kind of atmosphere with a lot of knick-knacks and old pictures on the walls. Despite all that, the place somehow st has a clean, modern feel to it. Part of the dining room has a little stream running through it and you have to cross a small bridge to get into the main dining room. The kitchen is exposed and looked spotless. There's an outdoor terrace that looks right out into the national forest and a porch outside.
This is apparently the first microbrewery in Sofia, according to some text on the exposed wooden beams inside (though I think that distinction probably belongs to Pri Kmeta). The bar is stocked with all sorts of glassware and looks very classy.
The power went out as a storm rolled over the mountain and everyone took it in stride (typical Bulgaria). It was up in about 10 minutes.
The food is typical Bulgarian, but with a modern flare. Very well done with a lot of fresh salads and grilled options. No burgers or typical pub grub to be seen. I had a lamb cutlet with onion rings and the dark beer went well with that.
Service is typical Bulgarian (European), and you have to flag down the waiters if you want anything. The prices were great. About 2 lev for the microbrew - lager, weiss, and stout. Other beer selections included the typical Euros: Krombacher, Heineken, Beck's Tuborg, and for some reason Corona.
A bit hard to find. It's in a neighborhood somewhat far from the center... I took a taxi to the neighborhood, and still walked quite a bit. If you take a taxi tell them to go to where the entrance of the national park is, and there are signs there directing you to the brewpub.
Overall a very cool place that I'll be going back to next time I'm in Sofia. A true gem in Bulgaria. And the beer's not bad either! Recommended.
May 19, 2010This is apparently the first microbrewery in Sofia, according to some text on the exposed wooden beams inside (though I think that distinction probably belongs to Pri Kmeta). The bar is stocked with all sorts of glassware and looks very classy.
The power went out as a storm rolled over the mountain and everyone took it in stride (typical Bulgaria). It was up in about 10 minutes.
The food is typical Bulgarian, but with a modern flare. Very well done with a lot of fresh salads and grilled options. No burgers or typical pub grub to be seen. I had a lamb cutlet with onion rings and the dark beer went well with that.
Service is typical Bulgarian (European), and you have to flag down the waiters if you want anything. The prices were great. About 2 lev for the microbrew - lager, weiss, and stout. Other beer selections included the typical Euros: Krombacher, Heineken, Beck's Tuborg, and for some reason Corona.
A bit hard to find. It's in a neighborhood somewhat far from the center... I took a taxi to the neighborhood, and still walked quite a bit. If you take a taxi tell them to go to where the entrance of the national park is, and there are signs there directing you to the brewpub.
Overall a very cool place that I'll be going back to next time I'm in Sofia. A true gem in Bulgaria. And the beer's not bad either! Recommended.
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