I'd read mixed reviews but why pass up a casual dining place on the water? I found a parking spot close by and opted to walk instead of taking the xl golf cart that they offer rides to the restaurant. It's hot out and there's a breeze and the restaurant is at a marina so lots of boats to look at while walking. When I entered the restaurant I told the desk I had a reservation and I was immediately seated. The waiter asked if I wanted a drink as he dropped off the menu and I said I'd like a minute - a place like this you really need to soak up the view. When he returned with water I ordered a draft and a couple half size happy hour appetizers to start. The oysters were good - decent size, not briny and they came with lemon, horseradish cocktail sauce and a tiny bottle of Tabasco. The conch fritters were very good, I especially liked the sauce they came with. They were crispy on the outside and soft and pretty good flavor on the inside. Decided on the fish bites appetizer for the rest of today's meal - the fish came out quick and was hot and tasted fresh. Service was great, food good.... If there's any negative it's that maybe the fryer oil is not at temp or needs changing as all the fried food seemed a little darker than I expected....still tasted good though. I'll definitely be back - had a couple good suggestions from the waiter that I can't wait to try. read more

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My wife and I were visiting a friend in Bradenton, and we were hungry, so we stopped by here before heading home, as I had a hankering for some seafood. We parked and walked the deck to the restaurant, we walked in and were greeted by the host, and were asked if we wanted to sit inside or out, we chose out and were led to a table on the deck, which had a beautiful view of the water, and gave us menus. Our server came and brought us water, we ordered something to drink and perused the menu. There was lots to choose from, and even though I wanted fish, I saw the burger and nearly went with that, but I decided to get the Blackened Mahi sandwich instead, I also ordered the Smoked Mahi Fish Dip as an appetizer. The fish dip came, complete with the prerequisite saltines, which I love, and while the dip was okay, it wasn't great. Not very smoky and too tuna-salady. Still, i enjoyed it, and it was a large portion. My wife ordered a burger, and they bought hers as well as my sandwich. They were both on brioche buns, and I was disappointed that the buns were not toasted- that would've made the sandwiches! My Mahi was okay, good flavor and firm flesh, I wish I had ordered black beans & yellow rice, however, as the fries were not very inspiring. We finished and got the bill, I should've asked before ordering, as the Mahi sandwich was listed as "MP," it was a whopping $28.00! While it was good, it wasn't $30 bucks good, but hey, you're paying for the view. This is a nice place inside, and the view of the water are spectacular but it is a bit pricey in my book. However, our server was awesome, as well as the staff, so I would definitely come back here. read more

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Food was pretty good, but the service was absolutely horrific. First off, we waited at the table for over 10 mins without any service. I had to go remind the hostess that we were there and waiting. No apologies. When the server, Michael, came over he said "I'll go get you waters since you guys just got here." No. Actually we got here 15 mins ago and you know that because you walked past us twice. Then he dropped a water glass on the table lol. Ok, fine. Took forever to get a water and we had to ask for a drink menu and ask for a kids menu. I guess they didn't see the stroller or remember that they brought over a high chair. Whatever, we can move past it. What I really can't get past is that EVERY SINGLE thing we ordered was MISSING something from the plate. Cornbread appetizer was cold when it arrived. Can't say that I ever received food in a cast iron skillet that was served below room temp. Ordered the house salad... had to send it back because it was missing the cheese and nuts. Ordered a bowl of soup... they brought out a cup. Ordered the kids French toast... they forgot the side of bacon. Ordered the tacos with fries.... They forgot the fries. Ordered the eggs Benedict.... They forgot the side of potatoes. They had to be doing it on purpose, right?! You can't be a wanna be classy restaurant on the water and be open on holidays and be THAT incompetent, can you?? Oh well. Their loss. Won't be back and would not recommend The Riverhouse to anyone. read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - New England Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

The food was good, the view was excellent and our waiter, Johnny, did an excellent job! I had the butterfly shrimp basket that was very good and my husband had the jambalaya which was just ok. It had more of a bbq taste than a creole taste that we are used to. We will definitely be back! Rey friendly atmosphere. read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Butterfly Shrimp Basket - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

This is a beautiful establishment, with incredibly nice staff. There is a golf cart to take you to and from the restaurant if you don't feel like walking the pier! The food is flavorful however the portions are a little small for what it is and it did take an exorbitantly long time to receive drinks and dishes. We sat waterfront with good company, so that made up for some of it! read more

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We stopped in for dinner after the BAM Fest. While the view was beautiful and our server, Murphy, was fantastic the food was lackluster. We got HH drinks, Margarita and the Rum Punch. The rum punch was great and strong, the Margarita tasted like water and sour mix. We ordered the Blue Crab dip for an App. I still can't get the taste out of my head. It was basically hot cream cheese and Mayo. Ugh, never again. We ordered Tacos - catch of the day which was Snapper and fried grouper - and we shared one of each. While they were good, they weren't memorable. I asked for the snapper to be blackened but there was barely any seasoning on it. We got Key Lime pie for dessert and it was perfect! It's the only thing I truly liked from the food we ordered. All in all of we were to be back in the area we would not go to this restaurant again. read more

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This restaurant is located on the end of a dock just north of Bradenton, great location. Servers were attentive, food was very good. We went with a large group and had reservations. I believe everyone was pleased with their meals. I'd recommend this place for those wanting a romantic dinner for two or a celebration for a group. read more

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A friend joined me for lunch on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. We took a seat outside to enjoy the view. Johnny was our server and quickly took our drink order. The menu has a nice variety of choices and I finally settled on the chicken tacos and chose the coconut rice as my side. The food arrived timely and looked great. I don't think I ever had coconut rice, but it is really good. The tacos were full of ingredients and very flavorful. Service was great and food was wonderful, so this is a 5 star experience. read more

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Awesome service and food! We had a party of 10 for Mother's Day. It was phenomenal. The view is amazing on the water. read more

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We made reservations for an early dinner to celebrate the one year anniversary of our retirement! We requested and were given an indoor table next to the window towards the corner of the restaurant where we enjoyed the water view the entire meal! Our server was attentive and took our drink and appetizer order-we enjoyed the calamari. I chose the fish and chips while my husband enjoyed the shrimp basket. I am a mayo based slaw girl so I did not prefer the slaw but the fries were good and the baskets were brought to us quickly and the food was hot! The fish was huge, delicious and flaky although the batter is a little too much for me-but I peeled it off and enjoyed it with the sauce. We chose to share the chocolate chip cookie in a skillet topped with ice cream whipped cream and caramel sauce-huge and delicious! The atmosphere is always casual and the staff is always helpful and friendly. read more

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Calamari were baby pieces and was only about 20% of the whole dish. The rest were fried jalapeños and peppers. Cousin ordered shrimp Alfredo and had 4 pieces of shrimp. I ordered the Wagyu Surf n Turf and had more edible meat on my lobster tail than in the whole steak. Majority was fat. Whoever procures the meats for this restaurant either needs to do a better job on meats they're buying OR restaurant can do better on giving more meat when people are paying $30+ for entrees only to have 20% or less meat on their plate. read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Wagyu Surf n Turf - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

The oysters were fresh and definitely the highlight of the meal. Unfortunately, most of the other dishes fell short. The spinach artichoke dip arrived without any spinach, and the Cabo bites were very small compared to what we saw online. The grouper tacos came out cold, and the roasted chicken was fine but served with carrots that were still uncooked. The fish sandwich was undercooked, and by the time it was redone, the rest of our table had already finished eating. On top of that, our server initially brought the wrong dishes for both me and my husband, which delayed things further. It had been four years since our last visit, and friends invited us back this time, but the overall experience was a reminder of why we don't normally choose to dine here. read more

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We made reservation on Resy for Friday at 6pm for patio seating. It was our second time there. Food and drinks were great. Our server Johnny was great as well. The sunset over the water was even better. Definitely recommend! read more

comfortable restaurant with a great view unfortunately the food quality has gone way down in the last five years. I feel like this is most places these days. If you just want to grab a drink and watch the sunset, this location is great but we spent $150 for two people on oysters and appetizer and one entrée. The oysters were really subpar flat. They fell apart. They weren't cleaned properly. Calamari was pretty good probably my favorite thing that they had Lobster mac & cheese was OK but much better last time we were there. It was just kind of bland. Had to send my lobster bisque back because it tasted like a bowl of heavy cream. It was lukewarm and had no lobster flavor or pieces. this place used to have decent food now it just kind of feels like the food from every major chain restaurant read more

We had such a lovely dinner at River House with beautiful views and amazing food! The service was top notch. Nate was an attentive server despite his busy section. The manager, Kenny, went out of his way to accommodate my mom who wanted to pay for our meal over the phone. Everyone was pleasant and caring. Also the best meal we had during our vacation, the short ribs are a must! read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Dinner with a view - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

Great views, relaxed vibe - food is decent, but you're here for the setting... We visited River House on a Sunday night, and the place was lively with lots of people enjoying the space. There are multiple seating options: a waterfront bar, a downstairs restaurant, and an open-air area upstairs. On the night we went, it was windy coming off the water, so they weren't serving any tables outside--but we lucked out with a beautiful indoor table that still overlooked the water. Our server, Erin, was fantastic--juggling a ton of tables and still managing to be efficient, friendly, and composed the whole time. I ordered the Scallop Angelina in lemon butter, which tasted great. It wasn't super hot when it arrived (same thing happened to the table next to us, and they actually sent theirs back), so if temperature matters to you, maybe flag that early on. To be fair, this is one of those places you go more for the view and vibe than a standout culinary experience. The setting is beautiful, the mood is casual, and it's a great spot to unwind. We had a reservation (booked online), which made getting a good table easy and quick. Our bill came to about $45 per person with tax and tip--fair for the atmosphere, but drinks can definitely drive that number up fast. Overall, the food was decent, the service solid, and the experience exactly what we were hoping for--a laid-back night with a gorgeous view. read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

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Service was really good, the food was fantastic! And it was really FUN! The Ambience was my favorite, we ate outside and got to see the river which was beautiful. I don't know what the inside is like. It was pricey, but NICE! read more

Let me start by saying don't be fooled by the fact you need reservations. It's too bad because the place is in a beautiful location and the ambiance is great. It ends there. Service was extremely slow but we were with friends we haven't seen in a while so that's ok I guess. I ordered the Wagyu Steak Surf and Turf meal, my wife ordered fish and fries, friend ordered jambalaya, and his wife ordered grouper. We had blue crab dip and fried shrimp for appetizers and those were good. My meal presented well but I almost choked on the first bite. There was an odd piece of stringy fat that I couldn't chew. The texture of the steak was almost mushy. Flavorless! The tiny lobster tail was ok but the vegetables definitely weren't fresh. Wife fish should have never been served. She literally tried to cut it with the butter knife and couldn't. It was like a piece of rubber. Nope! Friends wife enjoyed her grouper. Last but not least the jambalaya tasted like someone was experimenting in the kitchen. Shrimp was barely cooked and tasted awful. Yes I tried it. Very disappointing. read more

Snapshot: Gorgeous riverfront views, excellent service from Mike. Great menu, but... Visit: Saturday, 5:30 reservation for four. Easy to book, though it required the Resy app. Parking was full, so we parked a block away. The hostess greeted me softly by name--small detail, big impression. Seated immediately, with waters down in seconds thanks to Mike. Drinks: My Moscow Mule was strong, but needed more lime. Mike brought wedges on request, which helped. Food: * Southern Jalapeño Corn Bread - Complimentary, warm, flavorful, but missing the jalapeño. * Bahamian Conch Fritters - Golden brown outside, but undercooked in the center. Flavor was okay, and the sauce didn't add much. * Jambalaya - Shrimp, chicken, and andouille over rice with a small portion of garlic bread, but instead of Cajun depth it was simply salty. * Seasonal Fresh Catch Grouper w/ Coconut Quinoa Jasmine Rice - Fish cooked nicely, but the rice was overcooked and bland. Greens came out dry, but Mike fixed it after dressing was reauested. * Grilled Gulf Shrimp & Sea Scallops - Pineapple teriyaki dominated. Okay overall, but not memorable. * Bacon Bleu Wagyu Ribeye (16oz) - Cooked perfectly medium, tender, flavorful. Bacon + bleu cheese made it the clear standout. * Coastal Key Lime Pie (supposedly with house-made whipped cream) - Fun idea, but the crust was soft, the filling too sweet, and instead of whipped cream it came with a green syrup drizzle. Ambience: Unbeatable Manatee River views, slightly loud jazzy muzak (not live), but conversation stayed easy. At 5:30, the 2nd floor had a light rumble of activity. Window shades are self-serve--a thoughtful touch. Comfortable temperature, pleasant atmosphere. Service: Mike nailed the important stuff--timing, and fixes (extra lime, salad dressing). He discreetly let me slip him my card so I could pay before my parents (who always try to cover)--pro move. But there were misses: delayed check-in after entrées, my request for a more isolated table with my service dog wasn't honored, and I had to ask for his water (other places have me spoiled). Still, Mike kept things smooth and professional - under $300 dinner for 4 Bottom Line: Worth it for the ribeye and the view, but most dishes may leave you underwhelmed. Cheers read more

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Services were great. Food was awesome and the Red Grouper is the BEST. Recommend by waitress and she was. Ambiance was beautiful looking at the manatee river and downtown Bradenton. Very nice view and GREAT service. The risotto read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Me at the River house restaurant in Palmetto Fl. The red snapper was best I ever had. - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

What went well!! Everything The food. The service. The ambiance. It was all that and then some. The scene was set and the food was Amazing. The sunset delivers every time. read more

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We have eaten at the Riverhouse numerous times over the years - but it had been about two years since we were there last We met up with friends and sat outside with the lovely view . We moved our table slightly so one of us would not be in the sun and a man ( maybe a manager ) appeared and told us not to do that in a very brusque way , That was the start of the not so good dining experience I ordered the scallops and so did our friend's wife . My husband tried one of the scallops and later that day we were all sick .... Two stars for the server and view but otherwise we won't be back read more

I've been here many times but I don't think I've ever left a review. Came today for lunch with my elderly Aunt. We were seated for lunch right away indoors. It took a little while to be asked for our orders but the waitress explained that there was a large group getting drinks and heading out on a river cruise in just a few minutes so they were trying to get them out the door. We definitely noticed the noise and wondered why they was such a large group in the bar area, but once they cleared out the room was much more quiet. I appreciated that she told us about the situation. My aunt ordered the salmon and it was delicious. She's always a sucker for yellow rice and said it was great. She wasn't really a fan of the wilted spinach but she's not normally a spinach person anyway. I ordered the grouper tacos and they had just the right amount of spice kick. I could have used a little more of the dipping sauce but I did not ask so that's on me. I forgot to take pictures, but the last thing I want to mention is their sweet tea was just right! read more

We had the Lobster Bisque and grouper fish tacos. Very delicious! We had to wait quite a long time to get our food, but they were short staffed that day. It was definitely worth the wait! Loved being in the waterfront! read more

I chose this place because the online menu stated they had GF items on the menu. When we got there, the menu only had 2 or 3 items listed as GF and I was instantly irritated. We had ordered wings, which we were told were baked, when in fact they were fried, BUT, Ed came out to let me know before I ate them (I wasn't going to anyway because I could see they were fried) so I wouldn't get sick. I was a bit skeptical after that. That said, our waiter, Ed, was very helpful in making sure there were in fact, GF items and that they also had a dedicated GF fryer and used GF flour in their foods!! This made me feel so much better! He even confirmed with the chef multiple times (I kept asking to be sure) that the food was GF!! I had a really good GF cider by 3 Daughters and it was delicious and, of course, GF! My husband and I sat outside and the view was spectacular!! The sunset was gorgeous, though we were sitting in the worst spot because the sunset was directly in my husband's eyes! It was gorgeous but he had to squint for the longest time, till the sun went down, so maybe some sun shades could help? Anyhow, all together a wonderful time and I'm so happy for the GF food!! Thank you!!! read more

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Yes our server was great. Food was good. Only complaint was that someone in our party got cold fries.

Riverhouse is sort of an institution in Palmetto, where we moved to a few years ago, so we go there fairly often. For me, it's mostly about the view of the water and the relaxed, coastal atmosphere, so it's a favorite of ours. The food is good, I can't say it is spectacular by any means, but it's good. From the looks of the restaurant as you walk up to it, I remember expecting the food to be a little more upscale then it is. There are plenty of dishes for everyone- of course they have seafood, chicken, plenty of salads, and tacos, etc. The shrimp or grouper tacos are both really good, the crab and corn chowder is also very good. The lobster mac is another standout, although it seems to be hit or miss in terms of how much lobster is in it. My favorite thing on the menu is the salmon bowl, it is excellent and the dinner size will really fill you up. Service is usually good- we have some excellent service, and one night where it was just a bad night for everyone- server, kitchen, etc., but we've been back since then and had no problems. Whenever out of town guests come to visit, and it's amazing how many people want to visit when you move to Florida, we usually take them to Riverhouse for at least one meal and a few drinks, and it's always a good time. read more

So, so very disappointed. My last visit was disappointing, but we decided to give it another shot since it had been a couple of months and we had our grandkids and they enjoy the view of the water. First of all it appears it is not a kid friendly place as their kids menu is extremely expensive and limited with choices. $10 for an entrée of mac & cheese and bought applesauce I think is a little expensive. My husband ordered the fish and chips. The batter was so thick. There was hardly any fish inside and the batter inside was gummy. They replaced his entrée with another one and it wasn't much better. I've been going there over 15 years and the quality used to be great but now it just seems like the quality has gone down, the service has gone down and it just seems like they don't care. I don't know if they have a new chef or they're putting all of their efforts into the second floor, but it is just not the same and that is very disappointing! I enjoy quality food and I don't mind paying a price for the quality but this was not it! read more

food is amazing. View incredible. Bartender's second to none. Parking gets a bit crazy.

I want to personally thank the hostess at Riverside who arranged for a floral delivery to be presented when we arrived. Her excitement at being responsible for creating a lasting memory is greatly appreciated. I don't want to leave out our server. He read the table and did a great job. The meal was delicious, as well. My compliments to the chef. The afternoon view overlooking the Manatee River was breathtaking. I forgot to mention the great values, as well. You all did a fine job celebrating a memorable birthday! read more

I've been coming here for years when I am in the area. Today's staff was delightful and polite/attentive. They just switched the menu and some favorites are back on for the season. read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Grouper tacos - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

Our server was awful, she was beyond bad, no focus whatsoever. Drinks were wrong, we waited foran hour before our order was taken. The food was so salty it was inedible The worst dining experience ever. read more

This restaurant sits at the end of a pier in a marina. Husband loves boats so this was a win. Upstairs is fancier dining. We ate on the first floor. Sat indoors though outdoors was equally beautiful. Not a bad seat in the house. River views. I got the lobster pot pie. Omg. Heaven. And big chunks of lobster. Got a side of smashed potatoes with it even though it came with greens in citrus dressing. All so very good. Husband had grouper and risotto. No complaints there. Edgardo our server was attentive and remedied lip stick stained coffee mugs asap. Got the peanut butter pie with extra whip. Small enough to not feel stuffed and we shared it. Excellent meal. read more

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Light lunch was very good. Shrimp salad, calamari lightly breaded, delicious wings- we order them hot. Service was great! We sat outside since there was a cool breeze, awning covered us to keep the sun off us. Wonderful lunch read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

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Amazing experience! Love the views from inside, and great happy hour! $7 apps and alcohol deals. Service was quick and server was very knowledgeable. Find was SO good. Blackened grouper tacos, lobster pot pie and lobster mac were all SO good, really large pieces of fish! Would totally recommend! read more

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Enjoyable atmosphere, friendly staff, great food & drinks! A bit of a walk to the end of the dock, but there is a shuttle service for those interested. Eat indoors or outdoors, but seemingly no bad views in sight. read more

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Ahi tuna and fried green tomatoes were excellent. Shrimp po-boy was good. Potato lobster chowder was ok but.... The crab dip was very disappointing. It was to be served with crostini and it came with tortilla chips but most of all it was very burnt and 50% of it was inedible. The view and staff was excellent so will prove in another try but overall it was a mediocre experience read more

Riverhouse Waterfront Restaurant - Blue crab dip - Seafood Near Me - Palmetto, Florida

Awesome fresh fish, waiter Kevin is the man. Got us in quickly with no reservation on Mother's Day! The view AND great food FLO-RI-DA

Nice seafood restaurant with a great view of the river area. I had the grouper sandwich and the wife had the fish and chips. Both of the entrees were very good, and I would recommend both. The fish and chips were actually better than the ones I had at Gordon Ramsey's Fish and Chips, which was surprising. The only item we had that I would not recommend was the bruschetta. It just wasn't great and was pretty expensive for five little pieces. read more

We came in with 3 kids and 2 adults for a 1:30 pm lunch. We ordered 2 orders of tacos, 2 kids chicken finger meals, and a salad. The food took 1 hour and 15 minutes to come out, which was very frustrating, especially with young kids at the table. When the food arrived, the waitress apologized and explained that the fry station was backed up. I believed her, as the fries were only partially cooked. The staff was polite and apologetic, and the experience was not bad overall, but the wait time made it a difficult lunch. read more