My family and I were craving some seafood during our visit for graduation weekend and stumbled upon this place and wow I'm so glad we did because it was delicious!! We started off with the Low Country dip and we could not get enough of it! This dip is such a southern delight and if you're looking for an appetizer this is it! For my entree I decided on the Alabama Catfish (seared) which comes with gouda grits and I subbed the collard greens for green beans. When I say I licked the plate clean, I really mean it. It was THAT good!! The restaurant was such a gem and if I find myself back in Tuscaloosa I will for sure be heading back here! P.S. This place does seem to get pretty crowded and with COVID safety measures in place I recommend making a reservation to guarantee a table! read more

Really nice stop in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, we were on a family road trip to North Carolina from Texas. Food very selective and delicious on Sunday brunch! Beautiful atmosphere with water surrounding. For sure we will stop again. read more

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My salon had our Christmas dinner here. The food was delicious and the staff were all very kind and attentive.

Absolutely a wonderful experience! The mussels were the best I've ever eaten!! Our server, Marcellus did an outstanding job! Definitely worth going again! A must-eat in Tuscaloosa! read more

I loved the restaurant's architecture and river views. This restaurant had a nice bar seating area that was placed nicely and not too loud for the dining customers. This is a great date night or couples night out etc. Service- Our waitress, was very lovely and offered great suggestions, we chose the happy hour bottle of wine. Food- Our appetizer, the low country dip, was great, but would exceed its status without the chips (tasted burnt, but were not; it may be the seasoning). Instead of the chips, I would recommend serving it with bruschetta. Dinner- I ordered the Pork Shank, and wow!! The meat was cooked amazingly; I mean fall off the bone cooked. I started by using my "butter knife" and I laughed, there was no need, it was cooked beautifully! My husband's ribeye was cooked to his expectations as well. All together, if I'm ever in Tuscaloosa again, I will be coming to this restaurant and also, renting one of the river paddle boats at the dock. read more

Great atmosphere, quiet place to have date night. Food is deliciously prepared. Service is great.

Great spot on the Riverwalk featuring outdoor dining, fire pit area and fun menu. The service is always top notch. A must restaurant if visiting Tuscaloosa. read more

I popped over to River for an early dinner and sat at the bar (Yancey is awesome) they have a great cocktails menu and wine selection. The early evening was cool enough for the bar area to be opened up leading to the patio the overlooks the river. It was an amazing view and a nice breeze. For my entree I ordered the fresh fish which was Mahi Mahi. It was perfect. read more

River - Fresh fish (Mahi Mahi) - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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Beautiful restaurant with amazing service and the food was incredible! Our meals were delicious from the mussels appetizer to the perfectly prepared fish entrees. We also had the opportunity to meet the talented head chef, Phil and he was very gracious. We will definitely be back to dine again. Thank you. read more

Food was delicious and service was great. Their hours are very unusual but it is not too inconvenient. Their food was very flavorful and you could tell it was fresh. I would recommend this to anyone who wanted to go to a nice restaurant but not spend too much money. Will definitely be returning here again read more

River - biscuit and gravy appetizer - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I have wanted to eat here since my daughter started at UA in August. I would put this under the category of "Been there and Done with that". They have limited reservations but we just walked in @ 6:30 pm on a rainy Friday night and were seated right away. For appetizer we had the smoked salmon chips and the pork rinds and humus. Both were very good. For dinner we had the ribeye and sea scallops. Overall the small plates and desserts were very good but the main entrees were not worth it. I would only come back to see if the lunch menu is better. I have 3.5 years left of visiting the campus and I'm glad there are a lot more restaurants in "T" Town. read more

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Love River, have visited a few times over the last 5 years. Food is delicious and the view from the restaurant is outstanding.

I finally got my chance to try the River, and I was so excited! We made a reservation and found our table ready when arrived. We were quickly greeted our server, Hope, who was wonderful the whole night. We started off with the white flatbread and the smoked Gouda queso. Both were delicious. The queso came with pork rinds, which was an interesting choice. However, you can't go wrong with pork rinds and cheese. The flatbread was not as Alfredo as I expected. It was still pretty good, though I'm not sure if I'd order it again. I ordered the shrimp and grits because you can never go wrong with that. The kitchen took a little long, but this is expected when you order fresh food. I loved the shrimp and grits. It was sweet with what tasted like a red pepper sauce. One of the biggest shortfalls of an order of shrimp and grits can be how heavy it is. This didn't overwhelm me with a heavy feeling during the meal or after. My grandmother, who is a very traditional southern woman (she likes her food very basic), did not like the shrimp and grits. So, if you have a basic palette, maybe this isn't for you (I'd recommend another restaurant though because this one has so much unique flavor in its food). I tried the chicken and the ribeye, and both were delicious as well. We finished off with creme brûlée, which was delicious. It was chocolate flavored, which was unique. It tasted more like a chocolate moose than a typical creme brûlée. Overall, it was a good experience. I wasn't blown away, but I'd return for the service and the appetizers probably as a happy hour choice. read more

Another number one to go to restaurant when visiting my son at the University of Alabama. Great staff on their game excellent food can't beat it when I leave New York City it's my go to place in Tuscaloosa read more

The view is outstanding so if the weather is pretty... definitely think about asking for a seat outside! Appetizer: beignets -- GET IT! It was like chewing on a cloud. It was delicious and set a high precedent for the rest of the meal. Ordered the Pork Chops with the mashed potatoes and mushroom. Sad to say but it didn't impress me all that much. It had way too much breading and at first glance, it looks huge but the meat inside is actually pretty tiny... so all that you are seeing is mostly breading. The breading in itself could also use a little bit more flavor. I ended up having to ask for hot sauce (i NEVER put hot sauce on pork chops) but i really needed some flavor so... a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do... right? Overall, the views and the appetizers are the reason why I'm giving it a 3-star. Unfortunately, the entree was less than impressive. Perhaps the other items on the menu will be a lot better but i will definitely take a pass on the pork chops for next time. read more

River - Pork chops with mashed potatoes - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

I Absolutely loved visiting this place! The people there are so friendly and well knowledgeable about all the food and wines on the menu The atmosphere is extremely relaxing and has a very romantic feel to it The view is breathtaking The FOOD is BEAUTIFUL on the plate and tastes DELICIOUS ‼ read more

River - Fried Chicken - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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I've been here twice with my husband and I love this place!!! My husband had a hard time finding something on the menu the first time but he wasn't in the mindset for an upscale restaurant (pricing) that day. I have to ease him into those kind of dining experiences The service is great and the views take you away to a place your destined to enjoy with your girlfriend guaranteed! They have outdoor couches on the patio with heaters. The second time we went it was lunch and the menu changed some but there is a wide range of items. The salmon made my husband happy (thank the lord) and I enjoyed really enjoyed the Pasta Carbonara! The chicken, pasta and sauce had me enjoying every detail of every bite. Girls, let him wear jeans and you can wear your fav dress! It's a great place for pictures!!! read more

Marcellus was very personable and told us all about the place and the varied menu. We sat outside and watched the river and joggers. Catfish was great. read more

I give River 5 Stars. I had the flash fried chicken with the waffle and wow, outstanding. Wife had the grilled skirt steak which was also very tasty. Our friends had the filet cooked differently to their taste. We were all happy with the meal and a glass of wine for each of us. We had reservations and arrived 45 minutes early after Bama BB. They said it would be close to our time and I asked about sitting outside and we were seated immediately. No complaints here for that. All in all a great experience. Our waitress was also awesome. Don't have her name in front of me but she has the chocolate lab pup. It is great to get personal with he person waiting on one. Makes me want to come back again! read more

River - Flash fried chicken breast with what's underneath is more than a meal. - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Amazingly delicious food, informed and articulate server, delightful ambience, just magnificent

I came here for my birthday the other night with a small group. Bethany was or waitress and made excellent recommendations for food choices. We ordered several things but the dishes that stuck out to me were the brisket taquitos, catfish, and the chicken dish. All were really amazing and this is one of the nicest restaurants in Tuscaloosa. I always enjoy coming here. They even have an oatmeal cream pie that I was given for my birthday dessert! read more

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Longer wait times than what the staff tells you. They cut their menu in half. When we asked for Salmon at 7 pm they were OUT of it?????? Service isn't great and I'm very confused. read more

Excellent food service and atmosphere. Would recommend. Love the outdoor seating option

Food is always delicious and the staff is always courteous and efficient. Wait times can be long, though, so be prepared!

Update, September 2019: A friend wanted to try, so I decided to give it another shot. Our server was not great; she ignored us and we had to flag down another waiter several times. The food was better this time, though the chicken was a little bland. I'm definitely done with the restaurant. Go to Side by Side, better quality, better service. ****** The first time I went to River, I loved it. The second time it was okay. The third time made me want to never return. If you get a good table, the ambiance is great. However, my requests for certain tables on the reservation on my second and third visits weren't acknowledged or honored. Our last trip there, my wine glass was sticky, we were in a high traffic area, my partner's food came out cold, and mine was over salted. I really want to love River, but I can't. I feel like the kitchen is out of synch with the servers, and overall they're trying to jam to many diners in one space. I'd rather pay a few more dollars for my meal and enjoy the experience than feel cramped and rushed to increase capacity. read more

Great meal. Wonderful service. One of the best restaurants in Tuscaloosa. Mussels and oysters had great flavor. Loved entrees. Save room for the incredible chocolate cheese cake. read more

I ate here with my mother, and had no expectations because of the typical let down of other "fine dining" restaurants here in Tuscaloosa. However this place has the service, the food, and the atmosphere of a high end, big city fine dining restaurant. I ordered the flat iron steak for the entree and the oatmeal sandwich for dessert. Probably the best meal I've had in Tuscaloosa and the oatmeal sandwich dessert was amazing! I recommend this place to townies and visitors all alike. It is a bit pricy, but soooo worth it! read more

Alabama gets a bad rap. Period. Want to realize the sophistication and wealth of the place, go to River. Service is Southern nice. Food is inventive and well thought out. read more

Food and drinks are always great, and our waiter was really nice. However, if you can't remember an order, USE A PEN & PAPER! I'm not impressed that you take an order from 5 people and don't write anything down, and then forget to put our order in and come back and go over our whole order again because you have forgotten it and then not even say I am so sorry or even acknowledge your mistake! Do better! Waiting 45 minutes for food after we had a 2 hour wait...again Do better! read more

Beautiful place and friendly service but very subpar food for the price, and definitely not worth a two hour wait. Waiting as long as we did to be seated, then paying nearly $200 for three people to eat (only 2 adult beverages), we can't imagine we would try them again. read more

Extremely impressed with River during lunch. The food was great and the portions were actually sizable unlike a lot of fancy places. I recommend the burger which was huge! But what you really go for is the beautiful scenery and river right below. Its expensive, but worth the experience at least once or twice! read more

River - The River Burger for lunch (delicious) - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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Excellent food and great views along the river. Service was stellar! We will be back for another meal In Tuscaloosa for sure read more

Best food best service 10/10 Brunch is so good there and dinner. Great view as well 10/10 read more

We are from Panama City Florida. Spray Poly Parts has a location in Tuscaloosa Al. We took our good friends for all of our first meals at a restaurant since COVID-19. Preston was our server we highly recommend his services. His attitude and passion for Rivers menu and his willingness to expound upon the menu was refreshing. We had an opportunity to experience several craft beer varieties-we would like to recommend a sample tray to become familiar with so many of the beer brands. The appetizers were tasty and unique. The pimento cheese was superb and the creme brûlée was the best I've ever had!!!! read more

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Food was delicious as always. Bartender and server were top notch and always on point. Location near downtown and overall vibe inside made this a great visit to T-town read more

I typically don't write reviews unless I have either outstanding service and food or terrible service and food. River was outstanding on all fronts!! Service was excellent, the ambiance was awesome, and the food was outstanding! Great staff from hostess, bartender's and the waitress....can't forget to include the chef! 5 Stars! Thank you! read more

Came into town for UA Graduation. Had just what I was craving- catfish, grits and peanut butter pie! We also had the most delicious lobster stuffed mushrooms as an appetizer. Our waitress was the best! Great atmosphere and very accommodating given it was graduation night. Thank you for making the evening even more special. read more

Absolutely love their appetizers and the ambience is amazing we had the chips and salmon it was delicious.

Friendly , Very Clean , Great Bartenders and Staff , varied menus with excellent Cooking

Very impressed with River...delicious food, excellent service and great ambience. Considering a group of 10, service was fast. Food came out within 15-20 minutes of ordering, which is really fast by Alabama standards. If you like duck, I recommend the duck gumbo. Oh, and don't forget the oysters!!! read more

River - So good! We are going back tomorrow. - Southern Near Me - Tuscaloosa, Alabama