The area’s newest Italian restaurant features a traditional menu and a comfortable dining room that can accommodate families and large groups. Italian River restaurant opened about a month ago at 1556 River Road NE. Owners Pablo Martinez and Jose Garcia are the owners of Italian River. Martinez is also the owner of El Jalapeno Mexican restaurant in Niles.

They transformed the interior of the building, which formerly housed the River Road Tavern, to give it a cozier atmosphere that is inviting to families and groups. A wall and greeting station was added that splits the formerly open room into a dining area and a bar area.