This is one of our favorites. The seafood platter is always more than enough for both of us especially when you get some of that fantastic slaw and cornbread to go with it! read more

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I heard about this place from some older folks and they said to come hungry because the portions are huge I didnt eat all day. I payed 34 dollars for a ribeye baked potatoe all the appetizers and I had to get the combo to try the catfish. They knocked it out of the park great dinner at a reasonable price for high quality food read more

This is my second time at a Top O'The River but the first time at this one. This is a casual, family friendly restaurant. We were seated upstairs. Our server, Maria, seemed to be new (judging by her timidity) but did a great job. The food was fresh and delicious. I had enough to take some home and make another meal out of it. read more

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Prices are outrageous! Only good thing about Top O is the greens, cornbread and slaw. Eating out is just too expensive anymore. The fish tastes like mud! read more

I am rarely impressed with anything. I've had a blessed life. Traveled a lot. Had dinner in lots of nice places. That being said, THIS PLACE IS AWESOME! It was absolutely delicious. My husband and I both ordered the 2 item combo. Catfish 10/10. Gulf shrimp 10/10. Shrimp scampi 10/10. Entrees are served with coleslaw, cornbread & pickled onions. All delicious!!! Our server was Kelsey, and she was just a delight. We live about an hour away and this was our first visit. We are still reminiscing over our yummy dinner and can't wait to go back!! Yes!! It's 5 stars from a picky old gal. lol read more

Top O'The River - Sooooo good - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

Always good food. Taste of tea was a little off tonight. We shared the world's largest seafood platter. Great catfish. Great slaw and cornbread. I wished their hushpuppies were a little better but the cornbread makes up for them. Dixie provided great service. We had a great dinner after a sad visitation. read more

Top O'The River - World's largest seafood platter with baked potato - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

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The food was hot and fresh and tastes so great! We had a very nice server and he was very nice and we def had good service and was seated right away. Def will go back to this Location. The ambiance is casual and by the water so a very nice and upbeat place to eat and watch the water! read more

Top O'The River - Catfish, shrimp and baked potatoes with hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

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This was my first time at this restaurant. I've been hearing about this place for years and I always wanted to go. I went on a Sunday around noon and there was no wait. We were seated upstairs, not by the window, but we could still see the river. We started off with an appetizer of onion rings and they were huge. We got a small order and it came with four. When you go there automatically get cornbread, coleslaw, and onions. I know cornbread is supposed to be dry so it was very dry and the coleslaw had a lot of mayonnaise on it. Definitely not my favorite. I end up getting the chicken and grilled chicken kebabs with a potato. The toppings for the potatoes they have is only butter and sour cream. They did not have any cheese which I found to be strange. Erica was our server and she was super nice and very attentive. The sweet tea was very good. There's lots of nice decor on the walls and a beautiful aquarium. I found the restaurant to be very clean. I will definitely be back. This is definitely a place for seafood lovers. read more

Top O'The River - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

Went to Top O' the River while vacationing at the lake. It came highly recommended by the locals and we completely agree! We went in with a group of 7, we were seated and served fairly quickly. Friendly and efficient staff and the food was good! My husband and I had fried shrimp, most everyone else had catfish- everyone was happy with their food. Fun place to go on Lake Guntersville and the sunsets are amazing! Make sure to walk out on the back patio for a glimpse of the beauty! read more

Great food, great catfish, slaw n cornbread and pickled onions...all they need is some slow cooked pinto beans n fried taters

Absolutely always a wonderful experience!! I always order the Riverboat Special which feels me for 2 meals. Who wouldn't love the appetizers which come to every table-- pickled onions, coleslaw & cornbread?!??? I love that curbside pickup is an option, also. 2 friends want to return from Birmingham to meet me here for lunch!! read more

Great catfish and sides. We loved our meal and are returning customers. Always ample servings and staff are great.

We went in here for lunch and the ambiance was very nice. It was busy, but thankfully not crowded like the one in gasden. Our waiter was very nice and friendly. We brought a birthday cake for my cousin's birthday and we forgot to bring a lighter. Our waiter was nice enough to look for one. The food is solid but not great. The cheese sticks were good, the cornbread was fine. The popcorn shrimp and fries I ordered were fine. I do recommend checking this place out, you'll probably have a nice time. read more

Top O'The River - Fries and popcorn shrimp with hushpuppies - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

Service was good, food was average, nice view of the lake. The sun hits that back dining area in the evenings and can make it warm. Fried catfish was good but two pieces a little mushy. Don't get a lot of shrimp in the scampi but it is good. The cornbread and hush puppies are delicious! The onion rings are whoppers! We're not rushing back but we would consider visiting again read more

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Top o' the River is an extremely popular restaurant in Guntersville, Alabama and sits right on the lake. I came in on a Monday evening at probably about six or six thirty in the evening and there was about a fifteen or twenty minute wait. My server was extremely friendly and professional and I opted to go with the Riverboat Special, which was a half pound of fried catfish filets, hushpuppies and a choice of a baked potato or French fries. They also bring coleslaw, pickled onions and cornbread. The restaurant itself has a cool feel and reminds me of the ambiance of the restaurants along the New Jersey Shore (I grew up in New Jersey and have great memories of summertime at the Jersey Shore). I really enjoyed the ambiance here. My dinner was pretty good. I would have preferred that they did not use packages of sour cream, but it was an overall good meal. I can definitely see why this restaurant is so popular and would definitely recommend a visit here. I will give it five stars overall. read more

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We had such a great experience at Top O' the River tonight, and a huge part of that was our waitress Cheyenne. Hands down the best server we've ever had there and we've been coming for years. She was attentive without hovering and so funny she kept us laughing the whole time. It's rare to feel genuinely taken care of in a busy restaurant, but she made the whole evening feel memorable. Cheyenne, you were outstanding!!!! Thank you for making our friends night out such a good one. We would choose you every time read more

Cute family style catfish restaurant on Lake Guntersville. We went on Sunday evening at 6:30. The restaurant is HUGE so despite the crowd we were seated quickly. My partner had the baked catfish and shrimp skewers. Both were good. The shrimp was a bit salty. I had the Riverboat Special. The catfish were good, could have been crispier, but that is what you get at the end of the weekend. Portions were very generous, Coleslaw was good, cornbread was "old style " (not sweet). Onion rings were giant and sweet (not the best, but good. read more

Top O'The River - Good eats. - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

A group of nine guys went here during our weekend retreat on the lake on a Saturday evening around 6pm. We checked in with the hostess and were seated within five minutes. Our waitress was quick to get our drinks and appetizer orders. She got the drinks out and took our food order. It was a quick turnaround on the food all around. The fried pickles and mozzarella sticks were good. One of the guys ordered the greens to come out with the coleslaw and cornbread. Definitely suggest you get the greens! I ordered the pick two and got the catfish filets and popcorn shrimp as my meal. Everything tasted wonderful and we left there stuffed as a tick!! The service was spot on and we didn't have to wait for anything. read more

Top O'The River - Catfish filets and popcorn shrimp with a baked potato. - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

we are from Valdosta ga. When we come to our relatives in Huntsville we always come here. Great food and service

Great food! Beautiful view! Great service! Would definitely recommend! Loved the corn bread and cold slaw!!! Shared the platter. Great!!!!

Raised $$$ different than web site Food not as good more expensive Appointment $$$$$$$ Service good read more

Visiting from out of town - We ate here our last night in town and it did NOT disappoint. It was delicious. Our waitress was phenomenal and very attentive. The place was massive on the inside, which I didn't expect. Depending on where you sit, you make have a nice waterfront view. read more

My BIL wanted to come here for his birthday, and we don't usually deny birthday requests, so we ate dinner here last Saturday. Hmm...it was about what I expected, which is to say below average for a high price point. BIL and SIL got here at around 4:45 to get in line to aim for table service by 6:30, which is crazy to me. But their strategy paid off, because when the rest of our party showed up, we only had to wait a few minutes before they called us in. They don't take reservations and they don't seat parties till everyone is present, FYI. The inside reminds me of like...a kinda country take on a really touristy restaurant like Rainforest Cafe or Hard Rock or something. Big, cheap looking animal sculptures and over the top decorations accompanied by standard, somehow always sticky and vaguely grimy chairs and tables. It's not really my speed, but it's obviously very popular, so maybe I'm a Grinch or something. The menu is almost exclusively fried food, most of it from some sort of aquatic animal. You can get broiled crawfish, catfish, and tenders, but if you don't want catfish, chicken tenders, shrimp, imitation crab, or crawfish, you're basically out of luck. I'm not a huge fish or shellfish person, so I went with the fried tenders. All meals come with hush puppies and your choice of fries or a baked potato. As if that wasn't enough, we also ordered fried pickles to start. You are also served one pan of skillet cornbread and a cup of coleslaw per 4 people. I LOVE fried food, but even I felt a little overgreased on my way out. Service was okay - our server was nice enough, and prompt with drink refills and getting any dipping sauces we asked for - but the food was painfully slow to come out. It was about 1 hour and 15 minutes after we ordered before our meals were delivered, which isn't really acceptable. I get that they're crazy busy, but if the seating can accommodate 100+ people, you'd hope the kitchen could, as well. As for the food...mine was honestly better than I thought it would be, but that isn't to say it was especially good. The chicken tenders were breaded in the same batter as the fish and shrimp, which I don't really like on chicken tenders, but it was okay. The meat at least was tender and juicy and the tenders were large. Fries were definitely frozen then fried and needed some more salt, too. Hush puppies weren't very flavorful but were nice and crispy. The ranch was a good addition to all items and I think was house made. Honestly maybe the best thing, lol. The fried pickles were pretty enjoyable, and the tea was fresh. The rest of my party wasn't super happy with their food, at least those that I asked. Husband and FIL both thought the catfish was really dry at the thinner edges of the cut and soggy and dense at the thicker parts, which isn't really what you want. Everything was pretty expensive ($17-18 an entree) for what it was. I dunno, it's a novel experience and may be more to your liking than mine, but I personally don't really need to return. read more

Top O'The River - Fried chicken tender plate with French fries and hush puppies - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

Do you want a cool, hip, stylish place for dinner? A place where the food is prepared with a farm to table vibe? An intimate dining experience with that special person? Don't go here! This restaurant is pure old-time Alabama with fried everything! And you'll love it! Nothing like fried catfish served whole with fries--and one dinner serves up three whole fish! But your dinner service starts early with your sweet tea (and you better order sweet tea) accompanied by a tin mug of coleslaw and a skillet of cornbread along with onions soaked in vinegar! Enjoy this wonderful meal as you look out over the lake (and don't count calories or cholesterol--it's worth the splurge!). read more

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We stopped here on a Saturday at around 5 - and wow this place was busy!! We were told it would be a 25 min wait but it ended up being more like a 5 minute wait! We sat inside, but there is a covered deck with windows looking out into the lake - and the sunset view from that spot is beautiful. We ordered the onion rings and fried pickles for the app. Both were delicious - the onion rings may be the best ones I have ever had! We also split the seafood platter which contained hush puppies, catfish, 2 types of shrimp, imitation crab, crawfish tails, and a potato. The catfish was the best of all of that and if I go again I would just stick to that. We also got complementary coleslaw and corn bread. The food is delicious and served quickly, the servers were friendly. Great spot for some southern fried food. read more

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Thank you for a wonderful dining experience while we were in Guntersville. The catfish was great and I loved the slaw. The service was so good and we were quickly seated. Being on the river side made it even better! read more

Last time I went they had high pitched noise machines at the front door. It felt like someone was stabbing my ears.

We went on a Friday evening. We were expecting to wait, but was pleasantly surprised to be seated immediately. Our server was very nice. Food was excellent. read more

This is My third time coming to Top o' the river and it's always good ! Catfish is crispy and fresh ! Honestly I could make a meal of just the coleslaw and corn bread lol it's always fresh and delicious. Tonight I had the creole boiled shrimp with my catfish combo and it was seasoned perfectly. This restaurant is fast friendly and clean , which is hard to find these days for sure. read more

Top O'The River - Complimentary Coleslaw, Corn Bread & pickled onions - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

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We visited during a trip for a youth sporting event. The parking was great, service was excellent and the food was tasty! read more

Top O'The River - Steak - Seafood Near Me - Guntersville, Alabama

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Top O' The River in Guntersville is a cool little place with average food. Parking can be a challenge, wait times can be long, and the place is usually not clean. There are no gender neutral bathrooms, and they are usually a mess. The tables are semi-clean, and we watched an employee wipe the food off the table and onto the seating area on multiple occasions. The staff was ok at best and barely cracked a smile. I ordered the River Boat with fries (crunchy pieces, overcooked, barely any meat), and my wife had the shrimp scampi (burnt and overcooked, see pics), and the fried shrimp. The complimentary cornbread, onions, and coleslaw were the best parts of the meal. The drinks are huge, but getting a timely refill was a challenge. Overall a messy establishment with average food, limited parking when it's busy, BUT a cool view on the lake. After driving almost an hour, we probably will try to find a better catfish place. Happy Eats! read more

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This is Davey L. Rich, with the Best Burgers in America Association. I took a break from scoring burgers this weekend and decided to get some Catfish and Shrimp, and it was awesome. The food was great, and the service was as well. Little pricy, but it was so good, it was worth spending the money. read more

No Reservations! Despite the website stating "accepting reservations" they do not accept reservations. Service was good. Food was good. Went shortly after church and there was hardly any wait. Great view. read more

Very outdated atmosphere, very limited food and drink menu, tables and chairs were visibly dirty and/or sticky, food was okay but restaurant itself needs a lot of work as well as the menu. Did not get drinks until well after meal, they will also upgrade your drinks to premium liquor without asking you The one plus, was that there was no wait read more

Went for diner after a long day. After a day of drinking water to stay hydrated, I was looking forward to a cold beer with dinner. Unfortunately, their bar is closed on Sunday. Not a law, but by choice, so I went for Mexican down the street. I will not return. read more

Great food, good service, I highly recommend Top O The River! Get there early to beat the clouds!

The go-to fried catfish spot in northern Alabama. Really fun atmosphere with a big lodge overlooking Guntersville Lake. Service is always friendly. Great southern food spot - catfish, crawfish, shrimp, skillet cornbread, hush puppies, and greens. They also advertised "the biggest seafood platter in the world" but I've never braved it because I can't stop getting the crawfish. read more

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We had a large party they put us in a table that should of been for a smaller party. We asked for an extra table and was ignored and dismissed. We were cramped and uncomfortable with the evening sun in our eyes. Not a good thing. Those that had sunglasses put them on. Service was ok. They ran out of a side item and took upon themself to substitute it without asking what I would like instead. So believe it I not I don't eat French fries. I just refused the whole dinner. Do not go when they are busy. They are not prepared. I have gone here for many years. This a sign of our times I guess. No customer service and eat what they bring you and not what you actually ordered or want. Very disappointing. read more

Have always enjoyed our meals. Good selections and great service. Get there before they open, always a line.

Looks like it's always busy but we were seated right away. Huge place. Simple but very good menu. Cat fish was amazing. read more

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