Tasty food. Remarkable atmosphere. Note that the kitchen is small so be prepared to wait for 40 minutes to an hour for food to arrive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Chris B.
We sampled appetizers, entrees, non-alcoholic cocktails and desserts. All of the dishes were creative but not wacky. Extremely fresh and flavourful. And balanced! The mocktails were convincing and delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and a little rustic but classy as well. A hard balance to strike. Our waitress was charming and genuine. I will definitely be back. It's worth a drive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Buzz
The food at River House never disappoints. Jen was a wonderful server. The portions are not large but, in fairness, they focus on small plates. I'll take quality over quantity any day!
Another wonderful meal, thank you. They've moved to a small plate menu since our last visit and everything we had was wonderful. Marinated carrots and parsnip/crab/corn bisque to start and fried cod cheeks and monkfish next and finished with a frozen salted caramel with corn custard. Joyous!
YUMM
Outstanding dinner and evening for four friends. We shared farm salad, fabulous carrots, a pea bisque and several orders of monkfish made in a light curry as well as chicken. We thought the food was terrific but then we ordered the desserts - wow. Don't miss the custard with shaved salted caramel. We went at the second seating and had a delightful, leisurely chat with the staff as well as wonderful service. My favorite place to be! Portions are small but full of flavor as this is a place where you are meant to sample a variety of quality dishes.
Wendy S.
We loved this restaurant a few years ago. Alas. They are trying to do tapas, but most of the dishes aren't tapas -- e.g. soup or a hamburger. Food was very slow and came out one at a time, so the soup was 45 minutes before the chicken. None of the food was warm. Service was so-so, I hope they pull their act together because the setting is lovely and the food once was so good.
Joseph guzzardo
Ordered Brussels sprout app and chicken entree. After 35 minutes with no food I paid for my drink and left. Ridiculous. Don’t waste your time. I live in maine and am accustomed to slow service. This was insane. Other patrons complained of same thing. Terrible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
SarahB
Absolute gem of a restaurant with tapas plates to share or to eat solo. It gives you an opportunity to try farm fresh vegetables, seafood, and more prepared with interesting complex spices. Excellent service. We come every time we visit my in-laws here in Maine!
JohnS
We have been huge fans of the River House since they opened. About a month ago, they changed to a Tapas style menu. And, maybe, hired a new chef.... Prior to the change to a Tapas style, a half chicken with a side dish was $24. Now for $20, you get a drumstick and a burned corn biscuit. Both tasted like burned grease. Terrible; and terribly expensive! It was suggested that we order 3 to 4 plates per person. We ordered 2 plates per person with 2 glasses of wine and left the restaurant $170 lighter in the wallet. And still hungry. We will not return until they go back to their previous format. On a positive note, the service was impeccable.
LClocal
We arrived for the 7:15 seating. They were out of about a third of the menu offerings and out of dessert. While the dishes were top rate, the experience this time around was not. Too much apologizing by the wait staff. Menu change to tapas style was a surprise but maybe driven by the economy. Hope this works for them. If we did not have a gift card balance, probably would not return.
I miss their summer menu but the small plate variations were super tasty and quality. I will be there lots this winter as the food is delicious and creative. Try the carrots and the swordfish skewer! I needed two!
Dan Knickelbein
Very good food. Small portions make it not quite worth the rather expensive price.Parking: Public parking (along the river is usually very crowded.Kid-friendliness: Not for kids
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
DamariscottaAnn
They have a wonderful new menu that consists of smaller plates. In a party of 4 we had a great time sharing our choices. It also would be great for a drink and a light dinner. Everything was excellent, especially the swordfish skewer and the carrot salad.
Ann R
Excellent service and meal, in a very pleasant setting by the River. The space is intimate and might be noisy on a packed weekend night, but in a mostly full restaurant on a week day, it was very accommodating to our old ears. The farm salad to start followed by the halibut were both delicious.
DickM
We always enjoy dining at River House. It's cozy and comfortable. Service is always top notch and even though they're usually heavily booked we never feel rushed. Corn chowder and creative green salad were excellent first courses. Halibut filet was perfectly prepared. The only disappointment this time was the grilled lamb. It was over cooked and not of top quality. The server hadn't asked how the lamb should be prepared and my companion didn't say anything so the kitchen didn't get the opportunity to fix things. Despite that, we'll visit again...it's a great option in the mid coast area.
Tasty food. Remarkable atmosphere. Note that the kitchen is small so be prepared to wait for 40 minutes to an hour for food to arrive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
We sampled appetizers, entrees, non-alcoholic cocktails and desserts. All of the dishes were creative but not wacky. Extremely fresh and flavourful. And balanced! The mocktails were convincing and delicious. The atmosphere is cozy and a little rustic but classy as well. A hard balance to strike. Our waitress was charming and genuine. I will definitely be back. It's worth a drive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food at River House never disappoints. Jen was a wonderful server. The portions are not large but, in fairness, they focus on small plates. I'll take quality over quantity any day!
Another wonderful meal, thank you. They've moved to a small plate menu since our last visit and everything we had was wonderful. Marinated carrots and parsnip/crab/corn bisque to start and fried cod cheeks and monkfish next and finished with a frozen salted caramel with corn custard. Joyous!
Outstanding dinner and evening for four friends. We shared farm salad, fabulous carrots, a pea bisque and several orders of monkfish made in a light curry as well as chicken. We thought the food was terrific but then we ordered the desserts - wow. Don't miss the custard with shaved salted caramel. We went at the second seating and had a delightful, leisurely chat with the staff as well as wonderful service. My favorite place to be! Portions are small but full of flavor as this is a place where you are meant to sample a variety of quality dishes.
We loved this restaurant a few years ago. Alas. They are trying to do tapas, but most of the dishes aren't tapas -- e.g. soup or a hamburger. Food was very slow and came out one at a time, so the soup was 45 minutes before the chicken. None of the food was warm. Service was so-so, I hope they pull their act together because the setting is lovely and the food once was so good.
Ordered Brussels sprout app and chicken entree. After 35 minutes with no food I paid for my drink and left. Ridiculous. Don’t waste your time. I live in maine and am accustomed to slow service. This was insane. Other patrons complained of same thing. Terrible.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 1
Absolute gem of a restaurant with tapas plates to share or to eat solo. It gives you an opportunity to try farm fresh vegetables, seafood, and more prepared with interesting complex spices. Excellent service. We come every time we visit my in-laws here in Maine!
We have been huge fans of the River House since they opened. About a month ago, they changed to a Tapas style menu. And, maybe, hired a new chef.... Prior to the change to a Tapas style, a half chicken with a side dish was $24. Now for $20, you get a drumstick and a burned corn biscuit. Both tasted like burned grease. Terrible; and terribly expensive! It was suggested that we order 3 to 4 plates per person. We ordered 2 plates per person with 2 glasses of wine and left the restaurant $170 lighter in the wallet. And still hungry. We will not return until they go back to their previous format. On a positive note, the service was impeccable.
We arrived for the 7:15 seating. They were out of about a third of the menu offerings and out of dessert. While the dishes were top rate, the experience this time around was not. Too much apologizing by the wait staff. Menu change to tapas style was a surprise but maybe driven by the economy. Hope this works for them. If we did not have a gift card balance, probably would not return.
Restaurantji Recommends
I miss their summer menu but the small plate variations were super tasty and quality. I will be there lots this winter as the food is delicious and creative. Try the carrots and the swordfish skewer! I needed two!
Very good food. Small portions make it not quite worth the rather expensive price.Parking: Public parking (along the river is usually very crowded.Kid-friendliness: Not for kids
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
They have a wonderful new menu that consists of smaller plates. In a party of 4 we had a great time sharing our choices. It also would be great for a drink and a light dinner. Everything was excellent, especially the swordfish skewer and the carrot salad.
Excellent service and meal, in a very pleasant setting by the River. The space is intimate and might be noisy on a packed weekend night, but in a mostly full restaurant on a week day, it was very accommodating to our old ears. The farm salad to start followed by the halibut were both delicious.
We always enjoy dining at River House. It's cozy and comfortable. Service is always top notch and even though they're usually heavily booked we never feel rushed. Corn chowder and creative green salad were excellent first courses. Halibut filet was perfectly prepared. The only disappointment this time was the grilled lamb. It was over cooked and not of top quality. The server hadn't asked how the lamb should be prepared and my companion didn't say anything so the kitchen didn't get the opportunity to fix things. Despite that, we'll visit again...it's a great option in the mid coast area.