River Cafe

09/25/2008 Posted by JL722

I went here for an anniversary and I must say I fell in love all over again. This sweet place is tucked right under the Brooklyn Bridge. Even someone with not one romantic bone in their body will be romanced by The River Cafe. People were complaining about pricing however this is not your everyday dining. Service was attentive, food was fantastic and the view was breathtaking!

Pros: Ambience, Service, Food, Parking

08/08/2008 Posted by gnobbo2000

We went to River Cafe with great excitement in order for a drink and a look at the skyline by night .The lady at the door met us with a big smile and we were seated in no time at a great location in the restaurant. But then it stopped, and we mean STOPPED! We had to wait for fifteen minutes before the waiter came close enough in order to make it possible for us to ask for service. We then had to wait another ten minutes before reciving two glasses of champagne. Since the minimum charge is $25 we were lucky enough to get attention and order a second drink. We then decided to ask for the check at the same time we received our drinks. After finishing the drinks and waiting yet another fifteen minutes we got the attention by the waiter, who apparently had forgotten about the bill. No excuses, no comments or even a smile from the waiter. The view is great, but you can view it for free from the park next door.

Pros: Great view

Cons: No service available, expensive

08/05/2008 Posted by newyorker33

Just took my girlfriend here for her birthday. I had read a couple of reviews on here complaining about the service so i was a little apprehensive about dining here but there were so many great reviews I figured I should give it a try. After dining there myself, all I can say is, WOW. The service was impeccable and the food was fabulous. From the moment we sat down to the end of the dinner there was always someone seeing if we needed anything or if we were doing ok. And it wasn't a nagging, overbearing type of service. They were attentive and treated us like we were royalty. I had the Yellowish Tuna and my gf had the steak. Both were delicious. I'm not a big fish person but the Yellowfin was to die for. For apps we got the seared tuna and tomato, eggplant, and mozzerella salad. Both were amazing. I just can't say enough about this restaurant. I highly recommend the River Cafe and will definitely be back sooner than later

07/14/2008 Posted by sassysmart

yes, it's a lovely spot, but the food doesn't warrant the prices. new york city is full of amazing food at much better pricing structures. yes, the view is lovely, but one can have the same view from the park next door and still have cash in your wallet. within the last year the management established a $25 minimum (per person) to sit on the deck and enjoy a glass of wine or appetizer. For $25 per person you can have an entire meal at numerous nearby restaurants and then stroll down to Fulton Ferry Landing and enjoy an ice cream at the Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory. River Cafe - get over yourself!

Pros: view

Cons: $25 per person minimum outdoor seating - what a rip-off

06/02/2008 Posted by tfromnj

Just went to a brunch this Sunday. In a nutshell: over-rated, appetizer portions more like tasting portions; entree portions like appetizer portions, everything but the water and bread extra cost. At $55 prix fixe for an appetizer and entree (no dessert included) plus gratuity and tax, would have expected more. Had a short ribs and filet mignon entree. Short ribs were 4 one half inch square "chips" buried in 1/3 cup of mashed potatoes!! Filet was about 2x3 inches, maybe four ounces on the outside. And had to pay a $5 surcharge per person for this selection! Nothing like adding insult to injury....... Other observations..... Martini : $12. Small glass of house wine: $10. Desserts start at $10. COFFEE IS $6 A CUP!!!! $6 a cup and served in an expresso cup!!!..are you kidding me?!? All in all the ambience and view not worth the price which, even by New York standards. is wwaaaaaaaayyyyyy over priced. My advice: eat elsewhere, then stroll on the pier next to this place. Same view, and you won't come away hungry and broke!!!!

Pros: View of financial district and South Street Sea Port

Cons: Ludicrously expensive, minute portions, limited selection, most expensive coffee I have every had in a restaurant!!.

03/26/2008 Posted by wallstreetdi

My husband and I went to the River Cafe twice in the past year. The first was for an incredible wedding in the private room and the second for our 1st wedding anniversary. Both times our expectations were surpassed! The view is absolutely breath taking, the staff was excellent and the food was amazing! We had the tasting menu and it was exceptional. I can not believe some of the reviews. I will admit there is a bit of snobbery in the air..but it wasn't from the staff, it was from the patrons. (Half of which were foreign tourists). We had such a fantastic, romantic, and memorable time. We will definitely be back on our next special occasion. It should be known that men must wear jackets, it's very old school, and don't expect to spend less then $150 a person for food and drinks. There are two options, Prix Fixe at $95 where you choose an appetizer and entree or Tasting Menu $115 for 6 courses!!! ALL AMAZING!!! Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!

Pros: Words can not describe the view, food, and service!

Cons: None

03/11/2008 Posted by gothamgourmand

Nikusha, quietstorm and joni davis (reviews below) are absolutely correct: the staff treatment of customers here is inexcusable. We were four young professionals on a Tuesday night, and I only refrained from walking out to avoid upsetting our London guests (one of whose birthday it was). I swallowed my initial skepticism about the dress code, and went with it. But when at the table I began to perspire and hung my jacket on the back of my chair (button-down shirt and necktie still on) the maitre d' rushed over and told me I had to put it back on. I mentioned the heat problem and he responded by "diplomatically" threatening to remove us from our window table if I did not comply. God knows how they would treat someone from a non-Western culture. Other disappointments were that our waiter did not remember who was drinking what; that we had to ask for a wine menu; and that we received no advice from the sommelier. Even the young women at the host station (entirely men working on the floor!) toed the line of pretence by refusing to provide an elderly patron with a water taxi schedule. Moreover, the bartender made our mint juleps sloppily (and, frankly, wrongly) and did not offer to replace them when I complained. I can suspend my food snobbery at the right kind of place, but this is NOT that kind of place. The food is intelligently prepared (if heartless) and the setting lovely. But ultimately the view was a superficial backdrop against which the staff played a series of insulting games. The River Cafe belongs in Brooklyn as much as Red Lobster does in Manhattan: it is a bridge-and-tunnel outpost whose petty pretences resonate with any of a thousand exclusive American suburbs (I grew up in one and moved to New York to get away from it). If you enjoy toeing the line on gender and class stereotyping then you'll do just fine here. If not, it will be a very expensive mistake. I would have been masochistic to feel any pleasure from the $750 I spent there.

Pros: Physical setting and food.

Cons: Staff attitude and subpar service.

01/17/2008 Posted by ktobiassen

If you are considering going here, the first thing you need to do is get over the price. It is very expensive. The mandatory 3-course price fixe is $95 per person, excluding beverages, tax, and gratuity. If you can't stomach paying that much for a special meal -- as some of the previous reviewers clearly cannot -- then you should take your business elsewhere. If you can forget about the price, you are in for a very nice evening. I went here on a Friday night in January 2008, and we were able to get an 8:30 reservation on relatively short notice. The service was friendly and attentive. The food was really great: I started with the tasty buffalo tar tar, and my girlfriend got the special appetizer consisting of three tasting plates -- all three were delicious and unique. All of the appetizer portions were pretty large. For the main course, we both got the special: lobster tail gently sitting in the shell, on a bed of lightly curried spinach. OMG. The lobster was so sweet and yummy, I am still dreaming about it a week later. Somehow they made even the spinach the most delicious thing, too. Both desserts were quite good, too. We left full and happy. It probably doesn't need repeating, but the views of Manhattan are stunning. Also, the restaurant provides free valet parking.

Pros: wonderful food, great views, romantic setting

Cons: expensive

10/28/2007 Posted by thewhitetiger

Right from the start, you should know that at this place you'll be paying for the view. Location, location, location is everything, but....... I can't recall ever eating in a place witha better view than the River Cafe, which is breathtaking at its worse, and the jacket requirement didnt sit well with me either, but other than that, perfection and excellence are the words to be used to describe everything. Valet parking with over the top polite attendants, great hostess and coatcheck personel, servers, etc. One thing that needs clarifying here is the prices. Everything is included, which was properly explained after we were seated. I do think that places like these should warn customers BEFORE they come in. The least you should expect to pay, is $140 per person, and that isnt affordable by many. Portions are very French (small and decorated), but very well prepared, and delicious. Let me be clear here: The perfect place to show off, or to try to impress someone. People on a normal budget, should avoid this place. When a meal for 2 costs as much as your mortgage, there is a problem there. The kind of place you'll never forget. You'll always remember the view, the good service, the excellent food, and the incredible prices.

Pros: View, valet parking, service

Cons: Prices, jacket requirement, prices

10/27/2007 Posted by brooklynborn999

very pretty but, i had to wait for my table at their tiny bar, i felt like i was in the line at friendly s., they finally seated us and i didn't get one individual waiter, they basically broke the service down on about three or four people. it took forever to get another drink, and for the money i spent, im sorry they should have been so much more attentive, i really wasn't impressed at all. the food was ok, i have had better steaks at applebees at battery park city. i think you really need to go to this place on a off hour, don't go on a saturday night, its too crowded and the waiters really don't give you service, im not slamming the place, if you have money to burn, and you want to impress go, but dont go on the weekends

Pros: view of the city, very pretty place

Cons: super expensive and you dont get your moneys worth on a saturday night.