Outdoor view of a restaurant named "Rivas" with lush greenery, brick and green metal fence, and a sign indicating it is open every day. .

Bright and shiny holiday dining


By Jim Ayres

I begin this column not in Houston, but in a remote corner of Arlington, Texas where I’ve spent much of the past two weeks tending to affairs after a death in my family. It was a somber time, but also uplifting as I reconnected with family. We toasted my sister at a Tex-Mex restaurant you’ve just got to see to believe.
At Campo Verde, every day is Christmas. The entire dining room is covered in over 120,000 tiny colored lights. They are the only light source. And it’s bright in there! Two model trains travel 635 feet throughout the entire restaurant and bar.
But after Thanksgiving, the decorations really get spectacular. The display is gilded with 3,000 yards of multicolor garland, 50 Santas, and 30 Christmas trees. Thanks to YouTube, you can check it out for yourself (see the link below)!
Campo Verde gets bonus points for having the absolute best chips and salsa in Texas. The chips are dusted with salt and chile powder, and everyone in your party gets his or her own salsa and queso.
Of course, you don’t have to travel all that way to dine in over-the-top holiday surroundings. Just head to Riva’s in the heart of Montrose. Riva’s has Christmas lights shining all year round, and the decorations ramp up for all holidays.
If it’s happy hour, stop first at the bar for a cocktail and a chat with the regulars. Riva’s makes a mean vodka martini. On the menu, you’ll see all the classics—pastas, meat dishes, and seafood. This is comfort food all the way.
When I recently went with a group, we ordered a variety of dishes. A friend and I both had Chicken San Pietro. The lemon cream sauce with artichokes, capers, and tomatoes is listed with the veal selections, but we had it with nicely sautéed, super thin chicken breasts. It is superb.
When you dine at Riva’s, you don’t just get an entrée. Within two minutes after placing our orders, we each received a bowl of the restaurant’s legendary Lentil Soup. After that came a green salad with cherry tomatoes and black olives. Vinaigrette and Ranch dressings are offered in sizable cruets, so you can have as much as you want.
Another chicken dish at our table was the Funchezzi, with the cutlets covered in Parmesan cheese and drizzled with butter. Amazing. Lasagna is incredibly rich, with tomato sauce and cheese oozing everywhere. But most impressive to me are the pork chops. The two thick, juicy, caramel colored cuts wouldn’t be out of place at a fancy chophouse.
The point is, you can order just about anything at Riva’s and get an exceptional meal at an excellent value.
Riva’s is one of those places that could only be in Montrose. Of course, it started out in Memorial back in the 1970s, but once it moved to Missouri Street in the mid-1990s, it became a neighborhood treasure. I hope it never changes.

Campo Verde
2918 W. Pioneer Parkway
Arlington, Texas 76013
817-275-7003
YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fctl17jAbag, or search for “Christmas at Campo Verdeâ€

Riva’s Italian Restaurant
1117 Missouri Street
Houston, Texas 77006
713-529-3450
Facebook: Riva’s Italian Restaurant

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