Reviews for River Café
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
-
![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 21/01/2026Best Wedding Ever!
It was perfect!! Thank you Kerry and the River Cafe team for making the day magical! Thankfully the weather gods shined on us for a beautiful patio ceremony and cocktail hour! We are passionate foodies and the River Cafe was always a favourite dining spot. We wanted food quality to be high on our list, without feeling pretentious. And it was 100%!! We didn’t bring in our own decor or furniture because we wanted to keep the feel of the place we loved so much. The white table linens were gorgeous with our flowers! The food choices that we made were fantastic for our guests…they loved all of it!! We decided to forgo a wedding cake as the desserts are epic on their own!! We had the ceremony at 4pm so that allowed us plenty of time to take photos on the island before. After many lunches with Kerry (such a gem!) we felt so good about how the day would go! And to be clear, Zoom calls were absolutely an option but who wants to give up a chance to have lunch there?! And I would drive from Edmonton for that! We had a great wine consultation about a month before to decide on the wines and again…perfect!! As far as price, I felt it was good for what we received in return. I had priced out other venues and I just feel this was a perfect fit for what we wanted. The day ran sooo seamlessly…it all just flowed. All of our guests said this was the best wedding they had ever been to!! It truly was a magical day that we will never forget!! We had 75 guests and that was the perfect size! No one felt too crowded and there was seating for everyone on the patio.
-
-
![Brett]()
Brett Sent on 13/01/2026Incredible Venue
We could not recommend River Café more highly as a wedding venue. From the very first email with Kerry, the amazing coordinator, we knew they were better prepared and more thorough than other venues we'd reached out to. The level of care, professionalism, and attention to detail throughout the entire planning process was exceptional. Communication was seamless from start to finish, and Kerry made thoughtful recommendations that made everything feel personal, effortless, and elevated.
The venue itself is absolutely stunning. We hosted an 85-person wedding and it was the perfect size. Intimate, warm, and beautifully laid out without ever feeling cramped. One of the things we loved was the flexibility with ceremony locations. We were lucky enough to have incredible fall weather, and being able to host our ceremony outdoors made the day even more special.
The food was unreal. It was a total hit and months later, we still have guests raving about how good the meal was, which says everything you need to know. The oyster bar was a nice touch and really fun day-of.
River Café exceeded our expectations in every way. If you’re looking for a venue that delivers an unforgettable experience, incredible food, and a team that truly cares about your day, this is it.
-
![Steph]()
Steph Sent on 07/01/202611/10 wedding day (and venue)!
River Cafe has been one of my favorite places in the city for decades. Even though I had moved from Calgary several years ago, it was the first place I thought of when thinking about my wedding. Now, I can't imagine having gotten married anywhere else!
Everything from the planning process to day-of scheduling went smoothly. We worked with Kerry as our event coordinator, who was wonderful and brought such positive energy throughout. I had no stress or worries at all leading up to and on the big day. The entire River Cafe team is incredibly experienced with providing great service and running events. From the ambiance to the pacing of courses/service, everything really felt like it went perfectly. And of course, the food was excellent! That was one of the most important things to us, as big "food people" with many guests coming from a major U.S. metropolitan area. Every guest we spoke with told us they were blown away by the food!
Aside from the food, we wanted an intimate and casual yet elegant wedding that would also be a great experience for our guests. We had an average budget, but were also willing to skimp on things not as important to us (such as flowers) for others we knew were a must-have (like great food and drink). Value-wise, River Cafe was excellent for the food/service/atmosphere, especially coming from the U.S. They also worked seamlessly with all of our vendors to bring our vision to life, and it helps that Prince's Island Park is such a beautiful locale—our photographer was able to find plenty of great spots for taking photos.
River Cafe is a true gem! -
-
![Julie]()
Julie Sent on 08/12/2024Beautifully rustic and flexible venue with delicious food
When researching venues for our wedding, my husband and I only had two major criteria - we wanted to be married in nature (with a reliable rain plan!) and we wanted the food to be tasty. When I googled “get married in Princes Island Park”, River Café Weddings popped up as the first result and the rest, as they say, is history. Jessica was our initial point of contact who turned into our event planner, and she patiently communicated the deposit and booking procedure, the function order, and the details pertaining to how weddings usually run on the day itself. My husband and I (and the majority of our family and friends) travelled from out of town for the wedding so it was really important to have a calm and competent event planner coordinating the details for the day itself. It was nice because there was enough structure to make decisions easy, but with enough freedom to personalize our day and make it unique. We made a trip about a month before the wedding to make some final decisions and although Jessica was taking some well-deserved time off between event-filled weekends, she stopped in to introduce herself and say a quick hello while we were having dinner at the restaurant. We genuinely appreciated this kind gesture and commitment to service and can’t thank her enough for contributing to our special day.
Having our wedding at the River Café also meant that we didn’t have to make as many decisions (HOORAY!), as much of the décor, tableware, and seating arrangements are part of the restaurant and overall package. The wedding package details some amazing vendors which helped us a lot, and we couldn’t be happier with the selections we made from their recommendations (Kendal and Kevin Photography, Flowers by Janie, Pie Junkie for wedding pies). The food and drink were INCREDIBLE – everything was delicious, but the charcuterie/cheese boards, late-night sliders and poutine bar, Arctic char, and beef tenderloin really stood out. The staff were very accommodating in kids’ meals and were very attentive to allergens. We had our wedding on the lawn and our guest count was around 70 people, which fit comfortably into the space provided. The only consideration I would make for this venue is the fact that it is in a park which is pedestrian access only, however the event planner provided permits and instruction for driving onto the island and our family generously helped to escort drivers to the venue and ask pedestrians to make way (we gave them high vis vests, which I like to think helped). Overall we had an amazing day filled with good food shared with the people we love most. We highly recommend the River Café to anyone planning a wedding or large event, and hope that someone we know will get married at the River Café so that we can attend as guests!
-
![Anton]()
Anton Sent on 05/06/2024River Cafe: The Perfect Venue for Our Intimate Wedding Ceremony and Reception
We recently celebrated our intimate wedding ceremony and reception at River Cafe, and it was an absolutely magical experience. This beautiful venue has always been one of our favorite spots, and now it holds an even more special place in our hearts.
The setting of River Cafe is stunning, offering a picturesque backdrop that made our day truly unforgettable. The staff were exceptional, ensuring that every detail was taken care of seamlessly. Our guests couldn't stop raving about the delicious food – the empty plates after each dish spoke volumes about how much everyone enjoyed their meals.
A special “Thank You” goes to Jessica Hitzer, the Events Manager, whose dedication and expertise made the planning process smooth and stress-free. Jessica and her team went above and beyond to make sure our day was perfect.
We are deeply grateful to everyone at River Cafe for making our wedding day so memorable. If you're looking for a venue that combines breathtaking beauty, outstanding service, and exquisite cuisine, River Cafe is the place to go. -
S.p Sent on 17/11/2023
Perfect Wedding Venue
Perfect venue. Staff were above and beyond, and the food was amazing! It was perfect to not worry about the details on the day of. Some minor communication issues with changes in the coordinator, but overall was wonderful. We loved that we did not have to worry about linens, rentals, caterers or set up and take down.
If you are looking for a venue with amazing food, a beautiful ambiance and the best staff, come to the River Cafe.
Our wedding had approximately 75 people and it was the perfect size. -
-
![Emma]()
Emma Sent on 02/04/2023Exceptional food, drinks, space, location and service!
We held our wedding at the River Cafe on October 9, 2022, and had an absolutely incredible time. We would recommend the River Cafe as a venue to anyone! Carla and her team were so on the ball, they were totally organized and fun to work with, and of course the food and drinks were spectacular. We heard from so many people afterward (including our fanciest relatives) that this was the best meal they had ever had at a wedding. We are so grateful to the River Cafe team, and keep wishing someone would invite us to another wedding there so we could just enjoy as guests! Thank you, Carla and team! -
Are you interested?
Are you interested?