The River Café

Beyond expectations… FOOD & SERVICE & perfect martini etc — I was with my parents who were visiting from Hawaii. The ambiance the service and the food was spectacular. The views are out of this world — sunset was amazing. The spirit of Aloha lives her on the water. My Octopus appetizer was super flavorful and perfectly presented. The goat cheesecake I would of never ordered but because it was a three course meal I had to & and I am grateful I did I ate everything: D The chocolate bridge was beautiful as well.
It’s a real treat to have been able to enjoy the place with family: D I think it’s an ideal romantic place for couples celebrating you can have conversation and take in a breathtaking view of NYC.

Truly a 5 star experience. Came for brunch to celebrate a bday. Gorgeous & classy ambiance. Flowers everywhere. Ordered the ceviche & lobster. Delicious & filling. Pork belly & duck was ordered by bday girl.
The views are to die for!!! U dont get a skyline of manhattan sitting in manhattan. you need Brooklyn and queens for that.
Cocktails are so well made… lavender honey?! Yes, please!
Lovely experience. I highly recommend this restaurant for special occasions. Top-​notch & upscale service.

Outstanding food and service. My girlfriend and I came here for her b-​day. I made reservations 2 weeks in advance and while making the reservation they also took note that it was her bday. We arrived 15 minutes late and our table was still reserved for us. We were greeted with a smile by everyone and the doors was held for us. The view was spectacular from the sun setting to it becoming dark outside. Immediately after we sat down, the service never stopped. Not once did I have to call for a waiter except for the check. We proceeded to celebrate my girlfriends birthday with 3 course meals. I had the lamb chops and wagyu beef tartare to start, while she had the red snapper and oysters to start. Oysters were fresh, they were so confident in their seafood that they didn’t even need to provide cocktail sauce. The wagyu beef tartare was amazing and presentation was beautiful. For our main courses, not a single flavor was missed. My lamb chops, simply cooked to perfection and was juicy meanwhile tender. The red snapper went perfect with the lobster brown sauce. The chef definitely knows what he’s doing. We’re not really dessert people but we had the brooklyn bridge and cheesecake. Her cake came with a candle so it was nice of them to keep note of it meanwhile making the reservation. We finished the night by getting the bill, many may say it’s expensive but honestly it wasn’t. I believe that every single bit of our experience was worth every dollar.

My husband and I just celebrated our wedding at The River Café just a couple of weeks ago. We live in DC and love NYC so when we saw River Café we knew this was the place we had to have. Needless to say, this place had EVERYTHING we could imagine for our special day. The manager Luke and staff made us and our guests feel like queens and kings! The food was beyond delicious along with the spectacular view. Our reception was a very small and intimate seated dinner and cocktail hour and we couldn’t have asked for a more romantic evening shared with family and friends. We took advantage of their onsite florist Maureen for not only the wedding flowers but for the tables as well and she did an amazing job with the most beautiful arrangements. We also had a few gluten free and non fish eaters and the staff was extremely accommodating to these special dietary requests by making some of the passed appetizers gluten free. They also made all the chocolate brooklyn bridge desserts all Gluten free and you would have never known!
The price is definitely in line for the immaculate custom service, amazingly great food (which everyone still talks about) and the view. For those looking for something on a budget, trust me, it will be worth the extra cost as it includes everything from open bar during cocktail hour and a 4 course meal with dessert to organized car service for your guests when they leave!
5 stars just isn’t enough!

The onlay reason I don’t give this restaurant five stars is that for the money you’ll pay for this meal, you should get more than an hour and a half out of it. The view can’t be beaten, I’ve been married 22 years and got engaged there, so it’s been there quite a long time. We returned for an anniversary and the food was, of course, Devine, but it was a rather short lived experience over very quickly, and on to their next seating. The grounds are elegant, and even with the neighborhood gentrification and the crowded DUMBO nearby, it’s still a quiet spot.

I’ve got to say I am utterly baffled at the service we received here. Let me start of by saying we were on vacation in New York from California. We choose this place to celebrate my friends work anniversary. Everything was going well. The bill was given to us and our little experience came up to almost $ 800. Anyways my friend and I both put our cards down and the waiter took the bill. Shortly, he came to let me know my card didn’t go through. That was odd to me because I knew I had money on my account so I even checked my online account to make sure and asked the waiter to run it again. The second time he came back his demeanor had changed, he was upset. I would have excpected him to say something like «I’m sorry mam but there appears to be something wrong with your card». He instead said in Spanish «Aqui hay mucho problema» meaning «There are a lot of problems here» and he roughly placed the bill on the table. I was embarrased not only because of the situation but at his loud tone of voice considering there were other tables around us with guests. I continued to apologize for the inconvenience. Later it clicked to me that I forgot to tell my bank about the trip and after the large transaction outside of California my card probably got flagged. By this time at 11 pm it was impossible to call my Orange County based credit union to let the transaction go through. So we decided pay by using some cash and the rest on my friends card. To our surprise and great embarrassment the card didnt go through either because it was flagged. By this time the waiter was mad and so was the waiter’s manager (or who knows who he was, he was going around collecting the tips from each table). We continued to apologize for the inconvenience and asked where was the closest ATM so could take out money in smaller amounts.
So get this it went from everybody saluting you and opening the door for you and making way for you to none of that what so ever! I’m serious when I say this. When started our journey to the ATM that was located outside the retaurant, we passed by many waiters and the host and the manager and none of them reflected the same attitude they did when we first arrived and the 2 times we stood up to use the restroom. Not that it was important for me to get the door opened and get a smile from the personnel but it all seemed weird because of the sudden change. Why did everything change? For whatever reason it was, we were in awe at this revolutionary change. Long story short we knew we were obviously paying the full amount of the bill so that was never something we were worried about because we had the money but for some reason they didn’t think so. Hence, their abrupt change in behavior.
The reason I gave it 2 stars instead of 1 is because I can’t complain about the food it was good, a little overpriced, but overall good. The desserts not so much.
I will definitely be back in New York but not to this place. I’d rather give my hard worked money to some other expensive restaurant.

We had our intimate 50 guest wedding reception here in the private room to the left of the entrance. Can you get a more romantic venue? Absolutely not. Better service? Probably not. Better food? Absolutely! I was weary of the meal options when I was told that I could NOT have a tasting. They rely on their location and vista and that’s what you’re paying for. The passed hor d’oeuvres were just OK. The plated 4 course meal was uninspired, totally dated and just not sexy at all. The best thing was the cake and from all appearances, the pastry chef is the only one keeping up with the times insofar as deliciousness and eye appeal.

This Michelin rated restaurant is located on the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn bridge. Bordering the east river, they are in a prime location which overlooks the lower east side of the Manhattan skyline.
The whole atmosphere here is very professional and they expect the patrons to be the same — suit jackets are required in the dining room. I’ve read some reviews in which some diners wore jeans, but I would recommended against it to refrain from standing out in a bad way. As expected the staff is very professional and friendly. You are given two options for dinner, a 3 course pre fixe or a six course chef’s choice (about $ 65 more). The latter appeared a lot more economical and made the most sense as their menu featured several dishes that we wanted to try. Note that the whole table is required to get the chef’s tasting menu if you opt for this choice.
First course — very fresh oysters and clams. I can’t remember the names of each, but they were all topped off with some additional flavoring (ceviche style, roe, and scallions). No cocktail sauce is provided as it would not do this dish justice. ⁴⁄₅
Second course — Gigantic piece of shrimp with an amazing butter sauce on top. With crab meat and beets on the side, this was one of my favorite dishes. Flavor, texture, it was all there. ⁵⁄₅
Third course — monkfish, which had a texture very similar to lobster but a little less chewy. This dish was a little on the bland side, and I didn’t quite enjoy this one much. ³⁄₅
Fourth course — a huge portion of foie gras alongside a slice of pistachio cake. The combination of the two was interesting. Although good, I got a little sick of it at the end. But I had to finish it though, as I couldn’t let high quality foie gras go to waste. ⁴⁄₅
Fifth course — black pepper crusted duck. The crust along with the meat was excellent. The meat itself was average, but have it with the seared exterior and you will never forget the flavor. This was served with some German pasta on the side (fried potato pieces) ⁵⁄₅.
Sixth course — dessert. We asked to move near the piano bar so we could have a better view and a more intimate atmosphere. The staff gladly complied and served us our desserts there. There were several plates, one of which was the Brooklyn bridge chocolate cake. This was a perfect ending to a wonderful night. ⁵⁄₅. However, I though he cheesecake was just average ³⁄₅.
I definitely recommend this brilliant restaurant for anyone looking to celebrate a special occasion. Food was delicious and filling, staff was exceptional and the view is perfect.

Dear Unilocalers!
The food, the view and the service!
This restaurant is absolutely divine. The food was effortless. We came here just to dine and we each made sure to order something different. The presentation of the different foods is what really wowed us the most! All of the food was prepared and cook perfectly to our liking. Make sure to order dessert it makes the dining experience complete!
The views were subpar, you need to make sure you ask for a table close to the water or you miss the views. There is a patio outside that you can go out and take photos but it is small and you might have to wait your turn. The actual restaurant is on a barge so if you stay really stilll you can feel it moving. It can get a little loud in the restaurant but you can take your dessert and have it in the seating area by the piano. He plays wonderfully!
The service is on point. We had Ricky and he was really tentative to our needs, which was a little shocking since the entire place was packed! There was no real room to walk and the tables were close together. We made reservations in advanced because we wanted to go on a Saturday so we don’t know what walk ins would be like.
Overall the 4 stars are for the food. They made it worth while!

I came here for a bachelorette luncheon on my most recent visit to NYC. The restaurant is a small floating building right on the Hudson. You can see the Brooklyn Bridge from almost everywhere in the restaurant and the outside area is absolutely beautiful. I loved all of the bright flowers and the great views. The inside is a little small and a little crowded for my taste. I really enjoyed the pianist who played a lot of soothing familiar tunes.
The menu is pre-​fixe which I am not generally a fan of because of my food allergies. They were able to change up my appetizer and main course to make it allergen-​free for me but I paid as much as everyone else with less of the taste :(Still, the food was very fresh and tasty. I had the fluke as my appetizer and the monkfish as my entrée and both were very enjoyable, if a little bland (again because of MY food allergies — nothing really that they could do);
The service was phenomenal. The staff was very attentive and very interested in making sure we had a great time. I was a little confused that the brunch was no longer being served at 12:30 because we were supposed to be going there for brunch but the lunch menu was so good that at the end of the day, I’m glad we lunched instead.
This location seems like it would be perfect for a romantic evening with that special someone. I’d like to come back sometime and check out the dinner menu and see the views at night!

After reading so many amazing reviews and seeing beautiful sunset pictures, I was super excited and looking forward to bring my girlfriend here for our anniversary!
The venue itself is super small, very tight corners, all the tables are very close to each other and only one person can pass by (while others are pushed up against the seated patrons), even while waiting for our table, in the bar area — which is squeezed into the corner was stuffy and bumped few people as I sat. Once we sat, we were in the back near the door and had a very obstructed sunset view
Besides the physical constraints, the food and service turned out to be absolutely spectacular — which is why the 4-​star review! They only have an expensive (VERY expensive) fixed price 3-​course meal… it is well-​noted on their website menu about the price — BUT for the small portion sizes of the dishes, the price could be lowered.
Onto the food — As mentioned, the portions are small… BUT, everything was so fresh and flavourful and tasty; plus the presentation of each dish is so delicate and beautiful.

Came here with a party of 6 and was greeted with the utmost service. Our host, Josh and the waiters made sure we were satisfied throughout the night and adjusted many of our courses on the pre-​fixed menu according to our peculiar tastes. The food was delicious! We got to try the jumbo shrimp, lobster, and a raw platter. The raw abalone and the scallops were so fresh and definitely opened up our appetite. Their steak was cooked according to my taste, just wished they had more of the sauce that comes along with it. I’m not a fan of desserts, but their signature Brooklyn bridge cake was really rich with chocolate and adorable.
The view would have been amazing if it wasn’t for the rain because this restaurant is right under the Brooklyn bridge and you get to see the skyline of downtown Manhattan. They also have a small little garden where you can take pictures.
The only downside I had was the table arrangements. They tried to fit as many tables as possible in that small space.

This restaurant was quite the ordeal to book a reservation. So much so I almost decided to forgo it and go elsewhere but it was a special occasion and I really knew my husband would enjoy the experience and frankly I was interested as well. So we kept their earliest available reservation at 9:30pm on a Friday night. I had originally wanted a 6:30 or 7:30pm dinner time but they had no availability 3 weeks out. Traffic was just terrible getting there from central Manhattan so we arrived dreadfully late, minutes before 10pm. I called to let them know we were running late and they were very accommodating. Once we arrived, we were seated within 2 minutes at a corner table in the back of the restaurant but facing the window. All the window tables were full and I was late so I was just happy to have a seat. The view from our table was still romantic and beautiful. Service was superb and the food was fantastic. They offer a 3 course menu for $ 125pp. The quality of the food, the presentation and the taste of the food were all terrific.
Our dinner selections were:
Appetizer 1: Crab Cake ⁵⁄₅
Appetizer 2: Wild Shrimp ³⁄₅
Entrée 1: Lamb ⁵⁄₅
Entrée 2: Duck Breast ⁴⁄₅
Dessert 1: Milk Chocolate Soufflé ⁵⁄₅
Dessert 2: Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge ⁵⁄₅
Flavio from the River Café assisted us with our wine selection. I opted for a Peach Bellini and it was awesome. Flavio recommended to my husband to try a glass of Sauternes because my husband and I enjoy sweet drinks. It was a perfect choice for us, it was sweet and delicious. We couldn’t be happier with his recommendation.
After we finished our main entrée a table opened up next to the window and the staff came over to ask us if we would like to sit at the window for dessert. How thoughtful, they remembered that was my request when I booked the reservation. We were served our desserts at the window table. It was the perfect end to a perfect dining experience.
I highly recommend coming here to celebrate a special occasion in style and class. The table next to us got engaged and some other tables were celebrating birthdays and anniversaries. This is the spot to celebrate a romantic and special occasion — trust me! You’re welcome.

The location is beautiful right under the Brooklyn Bridge. This restaurant is so beautiful with the garden, lighting and huge ceiling to floor windows. We waited for our table at the bar. We took our glass of wine outside and enjoyed the sunset while we waited for our table. The view is beautiful as the sunsets and after the sun sets, the breath taking view of Manhattan’s skylines.
The food was delicious, we went with the six course tasting menu at $ 155. We started off with the three shells appetizer with the abalone, oysters and ceviche, which was delicious. Then we ate a fried seafood ball that you dip in this amazing cheese sauce. The main course was the lobster. It was amazing, the shell was removed, the texture was perfect, the flavors were on point. I am not sure what the dessert was but it was perfect and the mousse was delicious. I wish I wrote down each course of the meal, but we were enjoying our time together and took minimal pictures. We want to come back when we are in New York. I will remember to do a better job then.

First off, I can’t imagine a more lovely setting for an evening out. Right by the river, right under the Brooklyn bridge, across a cobblestone street, nestled in the trees sparkling with twinkle lights, sits this lovely little café. Not to mention that the restaurant itself, especially as night falls, is breathtaking. It would be an amazing location for a wedding reception. The yellow-​and-​white striped awnings, the little outdoor deck area, the flowers everywhere, the wrought-​iron portholes — transport your to another moment in time. The only issue is that they clearly overbook the small space, so that you have to navigate a very tight maze in order to get from the back of the restaurant to the front again.
The service was fine with some snafus; we had to wait 15 minutes to be seated for a reservation made a month prior, despite our special request for a window seat (again — made a month prior, the maximum window for a reservation), we were seated at a booth, we were waited on by a number of wait staff, several of whom were so inattentive that my coffee was cold by the time I got a refill, etc. You would think that for these prices, the wait staff would be better curated and the service better orchestrated.
The food was good on one end: my duck was OUTSTANDING. I shoveled it down lest I got too full to finish, lol. Outstanding, I’ve never had better duck in my entire life. Order it Medium-​Rare and it will grace your dreams for years to come. However, the first course was tiny (an itty-​bitty salad), my side dishes with the duck (a sliver of red cabbage and cracker-​consistency sweet potato spaetzle) were unimpressive, and the desserts were also small and anti-​climactic. It’s one thing to spend a good chunk of money on an amazing entrée like the duck, it’s another to spend $ 120 on a 3-​course meal that wasn’t worth the $ 120 for what you get in terms of portion size and quality.
Despite its downfalls, River Café was romantic and beautiful, the service was adequate, and part of my meal was to die for. My reaction is that I’ve had better, more filling meals for less than $ 120, which is why I can’t bring myself to value the food at the price, or give River Café more than 3 stars.

Gentlemen, attire is strictly enforced.
Came on friday evening and everyone is well groomed and elegantly dressed. The waters are very friendly and accommodating. I was very pleased with all the dishes. A beautiful display and full of differwnt flavors. Nothing too overbearing. Definitely a romantic place and expect to stay for atleast 2 hrs they do not rush you out the door which i love. Thank you river café for making it a night to remember for the bday girl.

Celebrated my anniversary and a birthday here. It was a fabulous evening! We both had the chef’s tasting menu and I was beyond impressed with every course. My favorite was the scallop ceviche and the rabbit tenderloin. The wine menu was extensive and covered wines in all price ranges. The dessert was beautiful decorated with a chocolate Brooklyn bridge. We had exceptional service as well. Highly recommend this NY classic for a special night it was well worth the money. The parking lot was hidden but once you can find it they have valet too.

Every girl has her dream of getting proposed after a perfect meal at a perfect place. The River café is one of them. I dined in this place with my mom and I thanked her for giving me amazing time.
Before entering the restaurant, i was amazed by their garden decorations. Lightings were romantically arranged and the flowers were beautifully ornamented. We sat by the window area for dinner, looking at the downtown area of Manhattan, the river, and brooklyn bridge. The view was so beautiful. My mom and I looked outside the window for a long time and enjoyed our drink.
I ordered ox tail ravioli with truffle for starter and lobster for the main course followed by the Brooklyn Bridge dessert. Honestly, ox tail ravioli was some what mediocre, but the lobster and desserts were AMAZING.

Old-​school fine dining. Great location and view of the Manhattan skyline (hello 1 World Trade Center!) The ambiance was sophisticated and everything we ordered was delicious.

5 stars all the way! Wonderful food, sophisticated and comfortable atmosphere and amazing view!

There’s always pressure for Gents to arrange a memorable evening on a day like Valentine’s — and I couldn’t be happier with my experience at The River Café.
This place had been highly recommended to me a few times, so I set out to make reservations. Took me 2 weeks of persistence, placing a card on file, and filling out a form just in case… They’re serious about their reservations!
The first details we noticed were the privately tucked away cobblestone drive-​in, the attentive Valet staff directing traffic, and the well-​done landscaping. Immediately sets the tone for a romantic dinner.
Upon entry, staff is courteous and competent. They smile, they greet us, and proceed to seat us promptly after taking our coats.
The attention to detail on this evening was lovely. As we made our way to the main dining room, the thin corridor was lined with flowers and other decorations — really a nice touch.
It’s not until after you emerge from the corridor that you get a glimpse of the breathtaking views. A smile comes over my face as we make our way to our table. I’m already very pleased at this point.
All of the couples look fantastic, the staff is well dressed, there was a live violinist, the lighting and temperature was perfect.
A glass of champagne was poured for us while we reviewed the menu. Our server Lee and his runner Shannon made a great duo. They knew just when to check-​in. Not too frequently so as to smother, yet remaining attentive from an accessible distance.
The four-​course meal was scrumptious. I chose the Wellington Filet Mignon and my lady the Duck. (The Duck was a better dish) Ordered a couple half-​bottles of Wine, and the wine expert (the proper term slips me) had phenomenal pairing suggestions. It’s probably the first time I’ve had a pairing suggestion be of any good use — well done, sir.
A classic night of laughs, romantic gazes, fine dining, and plenty of wining ensued all while overlooking the city skyline from what seems like an IMAX theatre view.
On our way out, the staff gifted each lady with a souvenir to take home. A nice closing touch.
All in all — an exquisite experience! As a true service aficionado, my hat goes off to the entire team at The River Café.
Highly recommended for a special occasion dinner of any kind.
JH

Honestly, I can’t imagine anything better than this.
Let’s just assume that you can imagine how great the view is. It’s unrivaled.
Then you add in the fact that every member of the staff operates under the highest level of service and kindness and you can tell that they genuinely enjoy what they do. Shout out to the mâitre d, Josh Brown for knocking it out of the park!
So then last but certainly not least, the food is out of this world. Chef Steelman and his team definitely deliver on a delectable menu that leaves you with the highest level of satisfaction possible.
I recommend everything. But especially the fois gras– prepared to the chefs preference that will leave you wondering how you’ll ever have something more delicious. For dinner, if you don’t go for the tasting menu, the Branzino and the New York steak will rock your world. Oh and start off with some caviar because you only have so many chances to taste truly astounding caviar and the River Café is one of them.
Dessert is a whole other delicious ball game and it’s impossible to go wrong. but the Brooklyn Bridge chocolate marquise is both beautiful to look at and eat.
Kudos to Buzzy Okeefe for being the man and essentially producing the best chefs the world has ever seen. Chef Steelman certainly is!

I am a fan because of the phenomenal menu and the beautiful ambience. If you reserve a table later in the night, you will have a better chance of having a seat along the river. The customer service — the receptionists– were not as pleasant as I expected. I was surprised since there were two of them. However, the waiter was extremely nice. Anything on the menu is delicious. The pear salad is a great appetizer.

Ambience: AMAZING. I was expecting it to be all uppity and snobby, but was pleasantly proven wrong. The crowd does tend to be older and dining room was fairly hush for a full restaurant on a Friday night. They have an elegant bar overlooking the river and beautiful live piano playing in the background. No matter where you get seated, you have a pretty solid view of the Brooklyn Bridge and gorgeous city lights.
Staff: Very respectful and kind. They all work together very well to make this an elegant and romantic experience. Everyone from the doorman to the waitress/​waiters to coatcheck staff were poised and informative if we had any questions at all about the restaurant or menu.
FOOD: OKAY SO MY FAVORITE PART! The food was EXQUISITE! Everything was prepared with lots of attention and the unique flavors came together to have a party in my mouth. Super pleased.
Appetizers: crab cake & avocado vs. buttered shrimp = hands down, the shrimp won! There were two jumbo shrimp glazed with a perfectly sweet and savory buttery cream.
Main course: Lamb chops vs. salmon = ding ding ding — winner goes to lamb chops! They were perfectly moist and savory, full of flavor. The salmon was just eh-​ok, although it was served with a delicious mushroom sauce and rice which made it worth it.
Dessert: S’mores chocolate mousse vs. Brooklyn Bridge raspberry and chocolate mousse = TIE. We really couldn’t decide, I found myself digging at both my Brooklyn Bridge and the S’mores chocolate mousse.
Price: Okay, here’s the big kicker. They have a pre-​fixed menu of $ 120 and then extra for any drinks/​wine/​coffee. For the experience and well-​cooked food, it’s worth it and I definitely left feeling full :)
Will I be back? YES! So much more on that delicious menu that is just waiting to be tried. ;)

Solid three stars. FOOD: My husband and I ordered the six course tasting menu with wine pairings. It was a very traditional tasting menu. At each course I found myself thinking, «I’ve had this before at XYZ, but they did it better.» The wine pairings were also safe bets, nothing interesting. ATMOSPHERE: Everyone around us looked to be on a ‘special occasion’ meal, taking selfies by the window. SERVICE: The service was the only thing that stands out as five star. We were attended throughout. VIEW: Not guaranteed & didn’t make up for the ‘meh’ meal. We didn’t get the view we’d hoped for– we thought we would have a window seat, but were seated in probably the worst spot by where the food comes out. BOTTOM LINE: We wished we’d crossed the bridge or gone to one of our other favorite places. I can’t imagine we will return, there are just too many other/​better places to go in this city in this price range.

This is my favorite restaurant in the world… no kidding!
I love everything about it, from it’s great location on the Brooklyn waterfront, free valet parking, nice reception area, with fabulous flower arrangements, and the beautiful private room on the side. The main dining area was totally and tastefully redone after Katerina, and it exudes classy touch. The views of lower Manhattan, all the way to the Statue of Liberty, and the boats traveling up and down the east river, create a great scenery… and then comes the food. chef Steelman is in a class of it’s own, creating new dishes and expanding on old ones, such as foie gras… I recently celebrated there a mile stone Birthday and it was pure joy!
It was one of many times I have eaten there and that place never let’s me down. Kudos !

Just to be clear: everything was perfect! The food was exquisite, cleverly designed, well executed and delicious. Its 3 courses, price fixe. You order app and main course first, dessert later. Of course this is after they let you settle in, have a drink and look over the menu and wine list. We got a window table because I noted our anniversary when booking the reservation on Open Table. BTW, make reservations WAY IN ADVANCE. Views are spectacular! Service is not just excellent. You feel like they care. Yes it is VERY expensive. So once a year for a very special occasion is my limit… but well worth it!

Wonderful view on Manhattan, historic reataurant, grand classic. Table, flowers, location, service, food everything is nailed to perfection

I have been twice with my partner, and had a lovely time. The first time we were seated right by the window, and the second time we were seated at the second closest table to the window. They have a prix fixé menu for $ 125, and the other for $ 150 if I remember correctly. The last time he ordered lobster, and I had the filét mignon, and both were scrumptious! I would definitely go back again. BTW, men must have a blazer. If you do not have one, I think they offer you one. I am not sure if it is for a fee or not.

Went here recently with the family for an Xmas day dinner. The view of lower Manhattan is breathtaking and the atmosphere of the dining rooms is elegant without being too «white table cloth». The service was good without being pretentious or too stiff. The food was great but if you are going to be paying the extreme prices of this place you are probably better off trading the views for a better meal at a place like Le Bernardin, Per Se, or other multi michelin star restaurants in the city. But if amazing views are your thing this is absolutely a good place to get a memorable meal.

This place is adorable, albeit it was a cold night when we ventured in. Although it’s a bit pricey, the staff seemed attentive and friendly; regardless it might seem like snooty joint. Only were able to grab drinks here, but I would pay for the pricey meal, just for the view and service alone. The view alone is worth it to me. On an autumn day or summer night, would be ideal sit on the patio and watch the passerby’s.

Perfect! I went there with my boyfriend to celebrate our 9 month anniversary. We got a table right by the window, where we could see the Statue of Liberty and the one World Trade Center. Excellent staff, music, food, ambiance. Very romantic. Not even a single negative point! Highly recommended!

I had such an amazing night at the beautiful River Café. I still day dream about their steak. The servings were just right and the view was beautiful. I would definitely go back with my family for special occasions.

BEAUTIFUL place, overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge — we had a view of the Statue of Liberty. We went for Brunch — fixed menu. They didn’t have a lot of options for my vegetarian husband but what they did have was AMAZING — a mushroom Wellington — not only did he love it, the presentation was lovely. I have the crab and steak — I had a hard time finishing it — very good. Service was stellar. A beautiful day.

I recently held a private event for my company here. Walking out extremely disappointed is putting it mildly for what we experienced. I was aware before walking in that this venue has a reputation of being pretentious and rude. Well, I would say they 100% back up these accusations. This is going to be a long one!
This all started off great! The planning stage was fine, the private events coordinator being easy to work with and such. We mentioned we wanted a DJ and their usual DJ contacted us right away.
I arrived about 20 – 30 mins prior to my event to set up the seating cards and to make sure everything was set up according to plan. Everything was pretty much perfect and the waiters and waitresses were helpful in making sure I was happy with everything thus far.
Here is were it starts to go down hill. Guests arrive and we are having our cocktail hour. I am approached by one of the waiters giving me a heads up to start having our guests take their seats. I ask for a few more minutes since we had guests still arriving. Not even a minute later, I am chatting with my boss and was approached again. Both myself and my boss ask again for a few more minutes for a few people to get settled. Without warning, they being telling our guests to sit down. I did not give the ok for anyone to begin doing that. It was embarrassing and very rude.
Moving on to the main event.dinner. A number of my guests were disappointed in quality and serving size. For the money that was spent, I was expecting top notch and what we received was something I could have paid a lot less for in a place where we would have been treated a lot nicer.
Here is the real kicker! According to the contract the party was to end at 11:30PM. Also mentioned in that same contract was the option to extend the party and the pricing was listed for each allotment of time. We are in the middle of dancing and enjoying the music when all of a sudden everything just stops. I look over and the DJ left his table. It looked like he set the last song and disappeared. They begin to shut the lights on the terrace outside of the private room. Then they begin to take the patio umbrellas in! I look at the time and it is 11:30PM. My boss and I were so upset. No one had even approached us to ask if we would like to extend the party. Everything was just ended so abruptly it was mortifying. Everyone was looking around and asking what was going on. We were being rushed out! I ask for the bill and my boss asks if all parties here end so abruptly. His answer was «well 11:30PM was your end time and no one expressed they wanted to extend» My boss’s reply was «Well we were never even asked, we were in the middle of dancing and things just shut down» No one was sitting on their watches, we were enjoying the party! I have hosted events at other venues where I was approach about 15−20mins prior to the expected end time and I WAS ASKED if I wanted to extend since people were enjoying themselves.
One of waiters then proceeds to announce in the middle of the room to please proceed to the front if anyone needs a cab. I mentioned my car was valeted and he took my ticket before I even had a chance to get my coat. We had people visiting from as far as Dallas, TX and I felt terrible that this was what they traveled for.
Then to end our night I finally make my wobbly way in heels down the cobble stone walk way to get my car to see it drive down past me way down the driveway, what was the point of even valeting when I have to go chase my car down their driveway. I am assuming they did this because they were allowing cabs to come in and I am almost hit by one trying to get to my car. You have a bunch of valets with vests and walkie talkies directing traffic but yet it was still a mess. I then received more attitude when I approach the valet for my keys. UNBELIEVABLE!

2 stars for the location, bread and dessert…
First you arrive in a nice lobby where a hostess take your coat. We made reservations the day before and weren’t informed about the «Jacket mandatory for the gentlemen» The good thing is that they provided one. Wife had a bad sprained ankle, had to wear very comfy boots (she wasn’t dressed up, but looked casual nice with dress and flat boots)
When making the reservation, we asked for a table next to the window, given that we were celebrating a birthday. We were assured that «all tables were next to the window and had a view». Guess what! we were seating in a remote corner, not at all next to the windows! NO view at all!
We felt it was before we weren’t «pretty enough» for the place, that they hid us. We saw at least 3 unoccupied tables by the windows, and none of them had people all through our meal.
Dinner: here is another thing that we weren’t made aware of: It’s a pre-​fixe menu, at $ 120 (excluding gratuity and drinks). You have to choose one appetizer, one entrée and one dessert. When we looked up online, my wife wanted to order a couple of appetizers instead of an appetizer and an entrée. She usually orders that way.
Bread was good
So appetizers: foie gras for her, crab for me. Crab was good, tasty. Foie gras was unedible. You know how foie gras is supposed to «melt» on warm toast. She is French, she knows foie gras. This foie gras was undercooked, with half of it being slimy pieces of almost raw liver. Just gaggin at the thought of it. She had to test every bite, mashing it with the fork, to make sure it was edible! half of the foie was send back, nobody asked us why!
ENtrees: strip steak and lobster. Yeah… while the strip steak was bland, the lobster was too salty!
Desserts were good: The brooklyn bridge and some dessert with sherbet.
Bill was something like $ 350 before gratuity. We don’t mind spending that kind of money, even more if the food is on point, and we don’t feel like we are a disgrace to the restaurant.
We were so disappointed, we did a rematch for the birthday dinner.
So to sum up: if you are going to this place and want to make you have a view, wear your cocktail dress, all your diamonds and pearl, Louboutins, Louis Vuitton… or else you’ll be put in a corner.
There is a far better view, 1 minute walk from the restaurant, Right behind the bargemusic.

This place is special. the food is worth the price tag ($ 150 pre fixe), the view is quite pretty, and the service is fantastic. They give you a chair for your handbag, that says it all, lol. It’s an excellent choice for a special occasion.
They do a great job putting together fairly normal dinner choices like scallop, lobster, by adding some culinary genius flavoring magic to amuse your taste buds. Such attention to detail and presentation! Seriously the food taste as good as the pictures look. I was trolling Unilocal prior to my dinner trying to figure out what to get, but really, just order what YOU like. If you want to eat lobster, you damn go ahead and get the lobster. There is a tasting menu option, which is a great choice the seriously undecided for just a bit more than the 3 course menu.
For apps, I loved the scallops, but don’t care too much for foie gras. The lobster main course was very good. Portion sizes are just perfect so you don’t feel disgusting after all 3 rounds. I must say though, dessert was hands down the best course. The chocolate/​raspberry bridge was very good. but as soon as I tasted my pistachio dessert, I hardcore fell in love. That was the most unique and wonderfully paired dessert I’ve ever had!!! I’m just salivating thinking back… Sigh! Other than that, I really enjoyed my expensive but delicously crafted cocktail (I got the floral one, sorry forgot the name!).
I would definitely come back here to celebrate a special occasion. How romantic would it be to be proposed here? Guys in serious relationships, take notes here! It’s a beautiful, classy and upscale place. Valet parking and twinkling lights outside the garden. Totally in love! Highly recommend.

Really wanted to like this place. The food was good but nothing really stood out besides the view. I expect more for spending $ 200 per person. Nothing special here, no experience.
Service was average making sure you have your glass full. What really got me is that they wanted to get to the table next too me and I had to scoot up every time. I was about to get up and move my table back. It is not like they can’t make space, it was very disturbing.
After the order they gave some some kind of appetizer. No idea what it was but made from squash. Waiter just put it in front of us and said compliments from the chef.
For the food. The streak tartar was great. And the rabbit had a lot of flavor. Had the ny strip streak for the main meal which was cooked ok but huge portion. The best was the bone marrow.

The food here was fantastic, the wait staff was attentive, and the setting cannot be beat!
The restaurant is on a barge at the base of the Brooklyn Bridge looking across the river into New York City.
The view at sunset would be spectacular and, if you can, I recommend taking the opportunity to walk across the bridge!
If my wallet would allow, I’d have eaten here every night of my trip!

Restaurant bénéficiant à la fous d un remplacement superbe pour un dîner avec vue sur Manhattan et d une cuisine raffinée. À faire en amoureux avec retour à pied par le pont de Brooklyn

Oh man! River café was absolutely having the best view in Brooklyn and probably in all Manhattan area. Looking outside the window, you got the full view of Brooklyn bridge and the other side of the city! How nice and how chill!
Me and my friend were having a relaxing brunch here on a sunny Saturday morning. River café offered a prep fixe brunch set with one appetizer and one entrée, apparently with many more complementary dishes that would send you full. Out of all their dishes, I enjoyed the grilled duck the most. You must try the Brooklyn bridge dessert which was literally the bridge made of chocolate with raspberry sorbet on the side! Absolutely my favorite dish for the day!
Our waiter was also nice enough to bring us complementary wines for pairing. I would definitely coming back for their dinner tasting!

Steak tartare was simply the best I’ve ever had.
I had the lobster for mains and loved every bite of it.
My wife is a vegetarian and she was very happy with her choices. Service was excellent. Views are breath taking.
I’ve heard great things about River Café over the years and it lived up to my very high expectations.

Date night here was PERFECT. We chose the fixed menu over the tasting menu because im a really picky eater and dont eat red meats, certain veggies (haha, im difficult).
The food was very very good, but i cant say that i was focused on the food because i was so entranced by the atmosphere and gorgeous views. The live piano player was also an excellent touch. Oh and saw a couple get engaged here!
The servers are beyond attentive. I set my purse on the floor under mh chair because i really dont care about it that much, and 5 minutes later a server brought out a small stool for me to place my purse on. A server also offered to move us to a table right by the window when a table cleared up.
As great as this experience was, i dont know that i will return because i dont want to tarnish the perfect memory i have of my dinner here. But definitely a place to visit at least once!

it was a pleasure to be here. Great Restaurant and amazing view. Diner was ok, but noch the best.

Este sitio es una auténtica joya y todo un clásico de Nueva Yor elegantón y clásico, valga la redundancia. Su sitio es inmejorable, justo debajo del puente de Brooklyn con unas vistas de postal del skyline del downtown de Manhattan, pero para nada se conforman con esto: su comida es impecable, con una materia prima de lujo y una elaboración exquisita.
Su comida es cuidada, elaborada, pero siempre manteniendo el sabor principal de los ingredientes, sea carne, salmón, vieiras o foie. Dicen que su filete es el mejor de Nueva York, pero su carta es tan atractiva que cuesta pedirse un simple folete con cosas tan atractivas alrededor. De postre su puente de Brooklyn de chocolate tiene un punto de lujo viejuno bastante atractivo.
Su fama bien merecida hace que lo mejor sea rese

Es recomendable ir temprano para disfrutar de la hermosa vista. Al estar flotando, en un par de oportunidades sentimos el balanceo. La comida fue increíble. Soy argentina por lo que se mucho de carnes, y este fue el mejor bife que comí en mi vida.

Nachdem wir auf drei telefonische Anfragen nur Absagen kassiert hatten, konnten wir über den Concierge unseres Hotels schliesslich doch noch einen Tisch im River Café ergattern. sogar direkt an der Fensterfront! Der Blick auf die Skyline von Manhattan ist wirklich einmalig. Das Café ist übrigens kein Café, sondern ein Restaurant. Es gab nur ein Drei-​Gänge-​Menü, das man sich allerdings aus der Karte frei zusammenstellen durfte. Ich nahm als Vorspeise die Foie Gras Two Ways, sensationell, dazu ein Glas Sauternes. Das Spargelsüppchen meiner Frau war gut, nicht mehr und nicht weniger. Als Hauptgang hatten wir beide den Maine Lobster. Der kam fix und fertig, von Schalen und allem nicht essbaren befreit, auf den Tisch, sehr schön angerichtet und wunderbar im Geschmack. Absolut empfehlenswert. Unsere Desserts, einmal die Schokoladen-​Brooklyn Bridge und einmal das Karamelldessert, war beides sehr süß, aber gut. Alles in allem würde ich auch beim nächsten New York Besuch wieder versuchen, hier einen Abend zu verbringen. Allein schon der Lage und des Ausblicks wegen. Von Manhatten kommt man übrigens recht problemlos mit der Subway hierher. Wir sind z. B. in ca. 20 Minuten mit Linie A oder C vom Columbus Circle am Central Park zur High Street in Brooklyn gefahren. Dann noch ein kurzer Fussmarsch von ca. 10 Minuten runter Richtung East River. Zurück dann aus purer Faulheit per Taxi.

Fast schon legendäres Restaurant — vielleicht weniger wegen der Küche als wegen der unvergleichlichen Lage — direkt unter der Brooklyn Bridge mit grandiosem Blick auf Downtown Manhattan. Die Küche ist international mit französischem Einschlag. Die fast überall in New York zu bekommende gebratene Gänsestopfleber ist hier immer zu empfehlen — und als Vorspeise derart groß, dass man meist schon satt ist. Trotz erheblichem Sättigungsgrad sollte man sich aber zum Abschluss nicht das Schoko-​Dessert entgehen lassen — in Form der Brooklyn Bridge. Meist ist es vergebliche Liebesmühe, einen Tisch direkt am Fenster zu bekommen. Daher am Besten einen Tisch für spät reservieren und wenn die anderen Gäste gegangen sind, den Service fragen, ob man zum Dessert an einen der freien Tische am Fenster wechseln darf. Die Küche verdient wohl nicht 5 Sterne — aber hier macht es einfach das Gesamtpaket!