Murraylands’ best restaurant is about more than just the food

This story is brought to you by Business Murray Bridge, sponsors of the Murraylands Business Awards.

What's so special about the year 1924 to a steakhouse situated along the mighty Murray River?

It was the year the mighty Murray Cods rowing team competed in the Paris Olympics, defying all odds and inspiring the restaurant’s name.

As the weather warms and people flock to the water, the 1924 Riverfront Steakhouse is preparing for a busy summer ahead.

Restaurant manager Peter O'Riley said that, as a young kid, he was always interested in serving the community.

"I really see this as my extension of my household, and everyone who comes here is treated as part of my little community," he said.

He takes a big part of his current business model from his 15 years working in management: not in hospitality, but the Jarvis car group.

During his time at the car dealership they used a net promoter score, measuring customer satisfaction by asking a single question: "On a scale of 0-10, how likely are you to recommend our service?"

"I really tried to implement that as part of my structure here," Mr O'Riley said.

"Serving up a steak is very similar to serving up a car; the process is still the same.

"You've got to be polite ... if you get it wrong, it can be difficult ... and when you get it right, it's a fantastic experience for everyone."

It was Mr O'Riley's brother Damien who started the restaurant in June 2022, after Murray Bridge's new $2.5 million rowing club was built.

Initially it was just one room connected to the rowing precinct; now they've expanded with more space and floor-to-ceiling shutters that open right up to the riverfront.

The unique experience is one of the reasons they took out the category of best restaurant at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards, reinforcing that they're on the right track.

"There's a thousand moving parts to a restaurant, so you can never just pin point it to one thing," Mr O'Riley said.

One thing that's for certain is that the staff are what make the experience.

"Everyone's got to be on point, all of the time ... it's the attitude and response you give customers," he said.

"I don't want people to go 'the food was great, the location was great, the seating was great ... everything was great but the waiter didn't know what food I had' – those things can really take that experience from the customer away."

There were no pokies, drive through bottle-o or accommodation to rely on for other income; it was about the quality of the food and service, he said.

"It's more than just putting the plate down on the table."

• Visit the 1924 Riverfront Steakhouse: Visit 1 Wharf Road, Murray Bridge for lunch or dinner, seven days a week; call 0426 572 966 or follow them on Facebook.
• Read more: Winners revealed at the 2025 Murraylands Business Awards