The Riverhouse Restaurant

We had a reservation at Rocpool on the evening of our wedding anniversary and our first night in…read moreInverness in the middle of our 12 night Scotland adventure. The place was packed when we arrived for our early evening slot so doubling down on anyone's recommendation to make dinner reservations if you want to go to nice places in the North of Scotland. We were seated immediately. Everything about the experience was beautiful and delicious. I started with a Passionate Laddie Cocktail made with a peated whiskey and egg white. The texture reminded me of the Ramos Gin Fizz drink I had in New Orleans. It was well mixed but I didn't taste smoke from the whiskey, The tomatoes in the "Green Salad with Cherry Tomato and Parmesan" we're amazing and, truly, the star of the salad which had a generous amount of shaved parmesan on top satisfying my cheese-mongering sensibility. I had the Cornage Cheddar and Feta Cheese puffs for my main. They were fried but delicate, served over mango with cooked pear. It was quite indulgent - like dessert for dinner My wife enjoyed the prawns dish she got, and the salmon as well served with perfectly cooked asparagus and really good mashed potatoes. Everything was beautifully plated and tasted great. Inverness is not huge and there are a finite number of finer dining restaurants. We ultimately chose this one as I'm a vegetarian and they had the most abundant options to choose from (including a separate vegan menu which I didn't end up ordering from as the options on the main menu served my desires for the evening. The tiniest disappointment - It was our wedding anniversary and I had put that on the reservation (as well as emailed in advance about it) and we didn't get a "happy anniversary" or any kind of acknowledgment of it. I mean we were perfectly happy to just be with each other, but it would have been nice. :) Otherwise this is undoubtedly one of, if not the nicest restaurant in Inverness.

The food was delicious. The staff were very nice to us. They have soft jazz and other music playing…read morein the background. The tartare has some texture. The chips were fantastic. The bathroom is also interesting because it's connected with sinks in the center.

Birthday wishes

See all

Johnny Foxes

4.0(110 reviews)

We ate here on our last night in Inverness after a very long day on a tour. We did not have…read morereservations but the restaurant was accommodating and kind. The World Cup Game was on so it was lively and fun. I will tell you, this was some of the best seasoned food we had the entire time we were in the UK (two weeks). Finally we didn't feel the need to add salt to something. The flavor was just spot on. My husband had the beer steak pie with puff pastry, I had the Cullen skink, my son had a pizza (I can't remember if it was on the kids' menu or not) and my daughter had a Caesar salad with chicken, which she eats a lot at home and had been craving. Both the skink and the stew were perfectly flavored! The fish in the stew was tender and so was the steak in the pie. If we ever go back to Inverness, we will be sure to be returning to Johnny Foxes. Oh! And our waiter was wonderful! I don't remember his name but a young blonde man with a mullet kind of haircut. Thank you to him!

I was walking back to my guest house after a long day on a tour. I decided to pop in to Johnny…read moreFoxes, and I'm glad I did!I had the steak and Guinness pie, it came with French fries and peas. It was HUGE! I wished I could share it. It was so tasty I managed to eat most of it, I just didn't have room for much of the fries or peas. Quick service and a lovely pub atmosphere.

Dining room

Supposedly this mayo is coleslaw??

See all

Bar area

Mustard Seed Restaurant

4.2(164 reviews)

0.1 mi

This was an excellent lunch stop for us in the town of Inverness. We picked this place partially…read morebecause it was a recommendation by renowned travel writer Rick Steves back in 2014. It is also located conveniently in the heart of the commercial district and right alongside the Ness River. Our friendly and engaging hostess/manager was Alina, a 17 year veteran. They have a cozy and attractive 2 story high ceilinged setting and we sat on the 2nd floor. The lunch menu was a variety of high quality 2 course selections for a very reasonable 18.95 GBP. Our party of 4 had a delicious and beautifully presented lunch. For the mains, I had their traditional fish pie and wife had their filet of seabass. Our travel mates had the rump steak and red pesto gnocchi. It got busy and the kitchen might have gotten backed up and it took a little while on the food, but we enjoyed hanging out here. Service was otherwise friendly and attentive. Highly recommended should you find yourselves in the lovely town of Inverness.

This food was really quite good although a little pricey for what you get. The bread bowl that came…read moreout before our entree was delicious! I could not get enough of the bread and butter on this trip. It was warm and flaky bread and worth every carb! My main entree of chicken curry was mild but flavorful. The portion was small. It came with a side of naan that was okay I was hoping for a little bit of spice but to no avail. The building is beautiful. The vibe is solid. The staff was a little bit indifferent to us. I felt like we were bothering them every time we asked for something. I would come back though.

A partial view of the cozy 2nd floor dining space.

Mussels

See all

Another view of their 2nd floor dining space.

The Kitchen Restaurant

3.8(60 reviews)

0.1 mi

Word to the wise - get reservations in Inverness. We came our first night to the kitchen and they…read morewere fully booked so got in for a reservation on the second night. To start we went for the salmon gin cured appetizer with pickled radish and seaweed. This was a very good start to the meal and had really interesting flavors. I really appreciate and enjoy seeing what a chef can do with a vegetable and tonight was no different. The cabbage with potato and puréed carrot was my choice and wow was this good. The dare I say humble ingredients were elevated in a way that I felt really highlighted each vegetable. I all but licked my plate. My husband got the venison and after a dash of salt to lift the potato flavor a bit more to his taste, he also just about licked the plate clean. A few cocktails (tallisker old fashioned for him and Lost Scotsman for myself) added to the experience). Service was friendly and the view we had was looking out over the River. A really nice night all around.

We were excited to try The Kitchen based on the buzz online. The location doesn't disappoint, it…read moreoverlooks the river and looks snazzy from the outside. On the inside are three different levels, all small areas with tables tightly together. We were seated on the 2nd level so I don't know about the third level. No one dresses up, even in a more expensive restaurant, just a note. We tried a variety of items including Mushroom and onion broth, cep and hazelnut gnocchi, roasted shallots, shimeji mushrooms and green onion oil £19.95 (VG). Parmesan and truffle fries £4.50. Heritage tomato and pesto salad £4.50 (GF,VG). Tender stem broccoli, yogurt and lime dressing, toasted peanuts £4.50 (V). Soup of the day with bread and beurre noisette whipped butter £6.95 (GFA,VG). I wanted to love everything and came in to love everything. What I did love was the soup of the day (the bread was disappointing though) and the stemmed broccoli (really good). Everything else was "ok". The bartender here was fascinating to watch. She very slowly made every drink, very slowly, and put loving care into each and every one she made. I tried one after we'd noticed her attention to detail and it was excellent. :)

Chicken supreme

Soup of the day with bread and beurre noisette whipped butter £6.95 (GFA,VG)

See all

Inverness Gin

Water Front

3.9(26 reviews)

We happened upon this lovely place by accident. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was cozy…read moreand friendly. The service was nice and friendly too. Don't let them fool you... we ate there twice and both times we walked I. Without a reservation and both times there was a bit of "discussion" as to whether they would be able to seat us. They did. And they were never completely full either time! lol! Gets our full recommendation. Picture is the Trawlers Pie and the Steak and Ale pie. Try the Scottish Blaggis appetizer. And their bread pudding was really good as well!

Walked here from the Guesthouse since it was close and it was raining. We were lucky to get a table…read morewhich was nice. Got a bit noisy when a tour group arrived next to us. We got the Rump of Lamb (21 pounds) and Scottish Mixed Fish Grill plate (18 pounds). The Rump was a bit fatty and small portion. The mixed grill had 3 types of fish which were tasty. It's more of a 3.5 overall.

Smoked salmon and salad

See all

Hard cider on tap

Prime Steak & Seafood

3.6(40 reviews)

Outstanding food and service today, following a long drive exploring The Highlands. The restaurant…read moreand bar provided a nice, welcoming environment. The steaks were perfect, and Kayla was an exceptional waitress.

I ordered a smoke haddock soup that is a Scottish specialty. I found a piece of metal wire in it…read more The manager was nice enough to take the price off our bill. I ordered a salad to be shared according to the menu, but it was so small that there was not enough to share. My husband's steak was not worthy of the restaurant's name. My chocolate ice cream was nothing special. The ladies room had toilet paper strewn across the floor. It needed service. The waitresses gave good attention but it did not make up for the insufficiencies. When I went to past via credit card, I received a receipt that was totally blank as the machine was out of ink. This was a highly recommended place that was a great disappointment.

The room

Trout.

See all

Contrast Brasserie

3.9(17 reviews)

0.5 mi

Walking in to Contrast Brasserie, there are wood tables and chairs and a beautiful wood floor. The…read morestaff are wonderful, very helpful in making our selections. Our choice of wine, Sancerre, was excellent. I ordered the scallop appetizer that was good, not great. The scallops were sweet, the sauce also good, but it was a bit overpowering for the scallops. Our mains included the seabass cooked in a tandoori style. The fish was good and flavorful, but the preparation dried the fish and in my opinion, did not enhance the flavor. The fish was accompanied by a combination of truly delicious vegetables-cauliflower, potatoes, broccolini. My wife chose the cod in a light creamy sauce, with gnocchi, pearl onions, peas and small clams. I think her dish was the superior selection. The food quality was first rate. I think the preparation of my dishes missed the mark a bit. It was late and we were tired, so we did not order either dessert or coffee or tea. It is a nice place with a great staff and ambiance. The quality of the food is absolutely superior, the preparation was not to the level of the food.

Beautiful place and excellent food, we didn't see Nessie that night. But the dining experience was…read moremuch better than a sighting.

Butter Chicken

Tandoori sea bass

See all

Vegetarian Dragon Roll

Riva Bistro Italiano

4.0(17 reviews)

Modern bistro, excellent location with great range of food choice. Staff friendly and helpfulread more

Went to Riva a few hours after completing the Loch Ness Marathon. Not a large spot but nice. I…read morestarted with a Bruschetta, which was excellent. There were two on the menu and our table had both, the other was well received too. I went pretty safe with the Lasagna and it hit the spot. It wasn't unique but traditional and tasty.

See all

Along the River Ness

Zizzi

3.4(37 reviews)

We found our way to ZIZZI because it was right next to the apartment where we stayed in Inverness…read more And I'm so glad we did, because ZIZZI was great! I don't know how to describe the interior exactly, so I'll just call it rustic chic. A variety of different chairs around simple wood top tables. But each table was ornately set with large clear glasses, a wine bottle with the table number and wheat stocks(?) in it, a small candle, and vivid, brightly colored menus. And let's talk about those menus, shall we? So many tantalizing options. So many things just looked absolutely fantastic, and we were just a one couple, so we had a difficult time choosing between all of the different dishes. We started off with a Garlic Bombe. It was amazing. For drinks, we started with an Amalfi Sundown and a Limoncello Spritz. Those were both very delicious and refreshing. For our main dishes, we shared a Mushroom and Truffle with Burrata pasta (cause I have come to learn that you can never have too much burrata cheese), and a Pepperoni Campagna Pizza. These were unbeLIEVABLY good. We really didn't need any more food after all this, but they went and put a Baked Lemon and Black Currant Cheesecake on their dessert menu, and I'd never heard of that before. So naturally, I had to try it. It was fantastic, of course, and an excellent way to finish off our spectacular meal. The service was very friendly, and I was quite impressed by how fast everything came out. The place was hoppin', so that's just another indication that it's a good spot to grab a bite, when it's full of customers. We absolutely loved our visit to Inverness, and should we be fortunate to go back someday, ZIZZI would definitely be on our list of places to stop in for a meal.

I was a 5pm walk-in solo diner. They put me in a corner basically on top of another 4-top table…read morewith 2 kids despite numerous open 2-tops. The table was oriented so the seats sat facing directly into the setting sun and they never offered to lower the blinds, despite being literally blinded. They didn't clear the 2nd place setting which I HATE. No one offered me water. I ordered the strawberry mocktail which was supposed to be made with soda but tasted completely flat. For food I ordered the margarita pizza and I got a huge piece of cheese flatbread with 3 pathetic leaves of basil. Tasted as bland as it looked. I was in and out in about 25 minutes. I'd never come back.

Interior shot

Tasteless Cocktails

See all

Brownie dessert

Little Italy

4.5(39 reviews)

0.4 mi

•£

If I could give 10 stars, I would! I'm still sitting at the table and I just had to leave a review…read moreimmediately. The service was spectacular and the food was exceptional. If we could eat here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for our remaining two days in Inverness, we would. And special appreciation to the young man who hustled with every table, every customer, and every request. He was fantastic!!!!

Ordered takeaway 1 x Pizza 1 x Spaghetti, told 30mins, right on time delicious and a good sizeread more

Bruschetta

See all

The Riverhouse Restaurant - seafood - Updated July 2026

Browse Brands

Brands by name

Browse Articles

Articles by date

People who viewed The Riverhouse Restaurant also viewed

The Kitchen Restaurant

3.8

(60 reviews)

Word to the wise - get reservations in Inverness. We came our first night to the kitchen and they…read morewere fully booked so got in for a reservation on the second night. To start we went for the salmon gin cured appetizer with pickled radish and seaweed. This was a very good start to the meal and had really interesting flavors. I really appreciate and enjoy seeing what a chef can do with a vegetable and tonight was no different. The cabbage with potato and puréed carrot was my choice and wow was this good. The dare I say humble ingredients were elevated in a way that I felt really highlighted each vegetable. I all but licked my plate. My husband got the venison and after a dash of salt to lift the potato flavor a bit more to his taste, he also just about licked the plate clean. A few cocktails (tallisker old fashioned for him and Lost Scotsman for myself) added to the experience). Service was friendly and the view we had was looking out over the River. A really nice night all around.

We were excited to try The Kitchen based on the buzz online. The location doesn't disappoint, it…read moreoverlooks the river and looks snazzy from the outside. On the inside are three different levels, all small areas with tables tightly together. We were seated on the 2nd level so I don't know about the third level. No one dresses up, even in a more expensive restaurant, just a note. We tried a variety of items including Mushroom and onion broth, cep and hazelnut gnocchi, roasted shallots, shimeji mushrooms and green onion oil £19.95 (VG). Parmesan and truffle fries £4.50. Heritage tomato and pesto salad £4.50 (GF,VG). Tender stem broccoli, yogurt and lime dressing, toasted peanuts £4.50 (V). Soup of the day with bread and beurre noisette whipped butter £6.95 (GFA,VG). I wanted to love everything and came in to love everything. What I did love was the soup of the day (the bread was disappointing though) and the stemmed broccoli (really good). Everything else was "ok". The bartender here was fascinating to watch. She very slowly made every drink, very slowly, and put loving care into each and every one she made. I tried one after we'd noticed her attention to detail and it was excellent. :)

Contrast Brasserie

3.9

(17 reviews)

Walking in to Contrast Brasserie, there are wood tables and chairs and a beautiful wood floor. The…read morestaff are wonderful, very helpful in making our selections. Our choice of wine, Sancerre, was excellent. I ordered the scallop appetizer that was good, not great. The scallops were sweet, the sauce also good, but it was a bit overpowering for the scallops. Our mains included the seabass cooked in a tandoori style. The fish was good and flavorful, but the preparation dried the fish and in my opinion, did not enhance the flavor. The fish was accompanied by a combination of truly delicious vegetables-cauliflower, potatoes, broccolini. My wife chose the cod in a light creamy sauce, with gnocchi, pearl onions, peas and small clams. I think her dish was the superior selection. The food quality was first rate. I think the preparation of my dishes missed the mark a bit. It was late and we were tired, so we did not order either dessert or coffee or tea. It is a nice place with a great staff and ambiance. The quality of the food is absolutely superior, the preparation was not to the level of the food.

Beautiful place and excellent food, we didn't see Nessie that night. But the dining experience was…read moremuch better than a sighting.

Rocpool

4.7

(53 reviews)

We had a reservation at Rocpool on the evening of our wedding anniversary and our first night in…read moreInverness in the middle of our 12 night Scotland adventure. The place was packed when we arrived for our early evening slot so doubling down on anyone's recommendation to make dinner reservations if you want to go to nice places in the North of Scotland. We were seated immediately. Everything about the experience was beautiful and delicious. I started with a Passionate Laddie Cocktail made with a peated whiskey and egg white. The texture reminded me of the Ramos Gin Fizz drink I had in New Orleans. It was well mixed but I didn't taste smoke from the whiskey, The tomatoes in the "Green Salad with Cherry Tomato and Parmesan" we're amazing and, truly, the star of the salad which had a generous amount of shaved parmesan on top satisfying my cheese-mongering sensibility. I had the Cornage Cheddar and Feta Cheese puffs for my main. They were fried but delicate, served over mango with cooked pear. It was quite indulgent - like dessert for dinner My wife enjoyed the prawns dish she got, and the salmon as well served with perfectly cooked asparagus and really good mashed potatoes. Everything was beautifully plated and tasted great. Inverness is not huge and there are a finite number of finer dining restaurants. We ultimately chose this one as I'm a vegetarian and they had the most abundant options to choose from (including a separate vegan menu which I didn't end up ordering from as the options on the main menu served my desires for the evening. The tiniest disappointment - It was our wedding anniversary and I had put that on the reservation (as well as emailed in advance about it) and we didn't get a "happy anniversary" or any kind of acknowledgment of it. I mean we were perfectly happy to just be with each other, but it would have been nice. :) Otherwise this is undoubtedly one of, if not the nicest restaurant in Inverness.

The food was delicious. The staff were very nice to us. They have soft jazz and other music playing…read morein the background. The tartare has some texture. The chips were fantastic. The bathroom is also interesting because it's connected with sinks in the center.

Prime Steak & Seafood

3.6

(40 reviews)

Outstanding food and service today, following a long drive exploring The Highlands. The restaurant…read moreand bar provided a nice, welcoming environment. The steaks were perfect, and Kayla was an exceptional waitress.

I ordered a smoke haddock soup that is a Scottish specialty. I found a piece of metal wire in it…read more The manager was nice enough to take the price off our bill. I ordered a salad to be shared according to the menu, but it was so small that there was not enough to share. My husband's steak was not worthy of the restaurant's name. My chocolate ice cream was nothing special. The ladies room had toilet paper strewn across the floor. It needed service. The waitresses gave good attention but it did not make up for the insufficiencies. When I went to past via credit card, I received a receipt that was totally blank as the machine was out of ink. This was a highly recommended place that was a great disappointment.

Water Front

3.9

(26 reviews)

We happened upon this lovely place by accident. The food was wonderful and the atmosphere was cozy…read moreand friendly. The service was nice and friendly too. Don't let them fool you... we ate there twice and both times we walked I. Without a reservation and both times there was a bit of "discussion" as to whether they would be able to seat us. They did. And they were never completely full either time! lol! Gets our full recommendation. Picture is the Trawlers Pie and the Steak and Ale pie. Try the Scottish Blaggis appetizer. And their bread pudding was really good as well!

Walked here from the Guesthouse since it was close and it was raining. We were lucky to get a table…read morewhich was nice. Got a bit noisy when a tour group arrived next to us. We got the Rump of Lamb (21 pounds) and Scottish Mixed Fish Grill plate (18 pounds). The Rump was a bit fatty and small portion. The mixed grill had 3 types of fish which were tasty. It's more of a 3.5 overall.

Riva Bistro Italiano

4.0

(17 reviews)

Modern bistro, excellent location with great range of food choice. Staff friendly and helpfulread more

Went to Riva a few hours after completing the Loch Ness Marathon. Not a large spot but nice. I…read morestarted with a Bruschetta, which was excellent. There were two on the menu and our table had both, the other was well received too. I went pretty safe with the Lasagna and it hit the spot. It wasn't unique but traditional and tasty.

Little Italy

4.5

(39 reviews)

•£

If I could give 10 stars, I would! I'm still sitting at the table and I just had to leave a review…read moreimmediately. The service was spectacular and the food was exceptional. If we could eat here for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, for our remaining two days in Inverness, we would. And special appreciation to the young man who hustled with every table, every customer, and every request. He was fantastic!!!!

Ordered takeaway 1 x Pizza 1 x Spaghetti, told 30mins, right on time delicious and a good sizeread more

The Boathouse Lochside Restaurant

3.8

(31 reviews)

Good food, good for families. Good service. Friendly atmosphere with wonderful views of the loch.read more

Ordered the chicken kebab and my wife had the salmon kebab. Nice change from deep fried food,read more

The White House

4.5

(40 reviews)