Rive Bistro: A Riverfront Restaurant Opens in Westport

Although the Westport riverfront restaurant located at 299 Riverside Ave. has exchanged owners, it still boasts the same spectacular views.

After a soft opening last week, Rive Bistro, formerly the River House Tavern, officially March 29. It will specialize in French-bistro style cuisine. 

Rive Bistro chef and co-owner Eric Sierra said the new restaurant has a much cleaner, and warmer appearance. Sierra owned Bistro Des Amis in Westport from 1991 until 2001 when he opened El Palio in Shelton. He said the restaurant’s new look is, “bistro style.”

Sierra, a native of Biarritz, France, has been cooking his entire life. He came to America in 1987 and was employed as a private chef in Greenwich.

Sierra and co-owner Vivi Torres purchased the restaurant from Kevin Burns, an investment banker who sold the business after ten years of ownership, Sierra said.

Sierra said Burns, a friend of his, did a fine job running the restaurant, but that it was inconsistent as it had several new chefs over the years.

“I am going to be here and run the restaurant the way it is supposed to be run,” said Sierra.

The restaurant is accessible by car and boat, with four slips at a public dock providing entry from the Saugatuck River. A wide patio with a panoramic river view vista invites outdoor dining seasonally.

For reservations, you can reach Rive Bistro at 203-557-8049.