River Rock Grill

It doesn't get any better than this for a local bar/pub. The menu has a nice diverse set of options, not just the standard boring American pub fare. There's something for everyone, and the food is solidly good. The lobster salad was fresh with not too much mayo and had the perfect flavor. The side salad included nice greens and a good assortment of veggies; the balsamic vinagrette deliciously homemade. One minor glitch--the steak tips arrived over cooked, and so we sent them back to the kitchen. They returned rare and juicy. The buffalo calamari (a fun alternative to the standard preparation) was perfectly fried (despite slightly too much battering). The mud pie dessert left something to be desired as it seemed to be having an identity crisis. It was sort of part-mousse, sort of a brownie, but nothing like a traditional mud pie. But when you put chocolatey gooieness and vanilla ice cream together, it can't ever really be too terrible. Overall, though, I think they got a little too creative on that one. We try to stay away from dessert anyway...and who really needs it after some good and fairly priced drinks and all the yummy food. Nice lively atmosphere, friendly service...we'll be returning!

My husband and I have been to River Rock many times. Its a great place for a double date, which we've done often. Can't complain about any of the food we've had. Nothing too special, but always good. We've had lunch, appetizers and dinner here and are always satisfied. The atmosphere is nice and we've enjoyed listening to the live music on a couple of occasions. The buffalo calamari is a personal favorite!

Disclaimer: this experience was months ago and I hope the there have been some significant improvements since, such as a complete turnover in staff or else I would expect the same treatment.
I rarely have a dining experience that is poor in all aspects, as my prior reviews will show. River Rock managed to disappoint from the moment we stepped through the door. The hostess acted as if we were requesting a table for 35 even though it was 3 adults and 2 kids at 630 PM on a Saturday night. I have always read poor reviews with a grain of salt because a waitress can be having a bad night or the kitchen staff may have some recent turnover making for a less than pleasant but understandable experience. After feeling like we were imposing by walking through the door, we were seated. Despite having a 2 year old, we were never asked if a high chair was needed, which my wife later retrieved herself. We waited for 45 minutes for our meals including a cheese quesadilla and mac and cheese for my kids. One order of flatbread with hummus was given at the beginning of our wait and we never were asked if we wanted more bread or water. Too long to wait without any attention at all. The meals were overpriced for the quality of food (my bouillabaise was mediocre - the mussels were inedible due to sand and very poor taste) and the unanimous sentiment among the 3 adults was that 1) the hostess did a very poor job 2) the waitress did a very poor job 3) the chef did a mediocre job and 4) the prices were much too high. The average meal was $18-$20 dollars, which I am more than willing to pay, but not when all the above is factored in. At least bring the kids meals out first, it couldnt have taken more than 10 minutes to microwave a quesadilla and cook mac and cheese. If the owner lets go of the entire staff, the restaurant may survive, otherwise it will end up on the long list of Maynard restaurants that have gone under. As a Maynard resident, I cannot recommend this restaurant to anyone. The staff knew that we were frustrated by the experience and made no effort change it. How about taking a drink or two off the bill, or a complimentary dessert? Try Cast Iron Grille or Blue Coyote if you want consistent service and food. Skip this likely to fail eatery.