Had an incredible 16 course counter menu that put us all over the edge, so much luxury in this me meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mace Hack
Outstanding food, disappointing service and atmosphere. The Sunday prix fixe 4-course menu was beautifully prepared but at a price point well over $100/person with a drink and tip, the service should be excellent also and it wasn’t. Server was brusque and non-attentive despite an empty restaurant. No offer of a second drink, no refilling water glasses, bit condescending, and defensive rather than helpful when we asked for the blaring Lynyrd Skynyrd to be turned down. Why the chef chose to blare their personal playlist, edging up the volume when a favorite played, was beyond me and sent the message that we the customers were not important.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
perle75nyc
it’s a small, cozy open-kitchen restaurant with a warm atmosphere — but unfortunately the food and service fell far short of expectations. Overall, the seasoning was overwhelmingly salty, which made it hard to appreciate the actual flavors or character of the ingredients. Each course felt unbalanced, and even the rice grits were inconsistently cooked, with some parts almost like raw rice.
The halibut dish was especially surprising: the cabbage served with it tasted like pure salt, while the halibut itself had almost no seasoning at all. Half of it was warm and the other half was completely cold, which was really unexpected.
Only chopsticks were set on the table, and no one explained that other utensils were stored in a drawer — we only realized after watching another table take theirs out. For a restaurant with so many positive reviews, the service felt unprofessional and careless. Even though I had stated the reason for our reservation, the staff randomly asked whose birthday it was, which felt awkward and out of place.
The highlight of the night was actually the bill — a receipt that already included a 20% service charge, yet still had the extra tip line marked and emphasized as if we were expected to add more. I couldn’t help but wonder when it became normal for restaurants to openly push for additional tipping on top of an already-included charge. It just felt unnecessary and uncomfortable, especially after such a disappointing meal and experience.
To top it all off, both of us experienced stomach discomfort and diarrhea later that night after the meal. Overall, it was a disappointing experience on what was supposed to be a special occasion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Nathan Kurland
Great food, pricy but I wouldn’t say it wasn’t worth it. We spent $300 for 2 including tip with two add on dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina Congdon
Amazing playlist
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jason Kahei Tam
Each dish was excellent. The tomato sandwich was highly recommended and we’re so glad we got them. The server was attentive and gladly answered our questions.
Highlights are the hiramasa tartare, Maine scallops, financier with pawpaw, tomato sandwich, hiramasa collar, sour cornbread with truffle and uni.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maria Concepcion
The music was so loud, I had to ask them to turn it down. Pure metal rock. The service was meh. Couldn’t tell you the waitresses names as they never introduced themselves. Over priced. You couldn’t order your burger med rare bc the owner wants it medium or well. You had no choice in building your own burger bc the menu was preset as is. So mayonnaise it is. The oysters were dry. The gooseberry sauce tasted like apricot preserves. The bread was cold. The ricotta dip with the marmalade did not mix well. The wine tasted watered down. Portions are small, leaving you hungry. Won’t be back!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
張植康
Great food and vibe! It's quite small and homey. The food quality was great and chef did a great job to highlight ingredients. Fun and delicious wine pairing as well.
Michael G. Thompson
Wonderful dining experience here. My favorite in Philadelphia.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Josh Deller
After 5 visits (4 a la carte, 1 tasting menu), I can confidently say that River Twice is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, and a contender for my favorite all time. Intentionality is at the forefront of the restaurant, from the earthenware to the ambience to the deeply personal service, River Twice crafts a complete experience for every patron.
The Mother Rucker (the famous burger) is everything it’s cracked up to be. Rich, beefy, with the perfect toppings and nothing more, I never leave unsatisfied.
When returning most recently to finally try the full tasting menu, I was blown away. Chef Rucker has a deep commitment to taking fresh seasonal ingredients and using them in transformative ways. We were greeted with a compliment of hr kitchen to start. Oysters topped with pieces of yellow tomato. Perhaps the best oysters I’ve eaten. Both the herbaceousness and acidity of the tomato were perfect complements to the oyster they topped.
Seafood is consistently featured at River Twice, and our first course displayed a beautiful, large piece of hiramasa. The fish, while accompanied with tomato oil and other toppings, spoke for itself with a fatty, decadent flavor and texture.
I also want to highlight our final course, a corn semifreddo. Chef Rucker took fresh sweet corn and made it into such a sweet, fresh tasting dessert. I had never had such strong corn flavor in a sweet, cold dessert, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Delicious food and a fun fine dining experience with amazing atmosphere. The flavor combinations on the tasting menu were a culinary delight with fresh ingredients. However, for the price, the portion sizes felt small and I left feeling a little hungry – ended up needing another meal a few hours later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Meaghan Dempsey
food and vibe were amazing!! will absolutely come back 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Andrews
Absolutely phenomenal experience at River Twice tonight. Warm and welcoming atmosphere, casual but intuitively attentive service, and the food was just incredible. We went a few years ago post-COVID and sat outside but we were celebrating tonight and boy was this a perfect destination for it. Could not recommend it more if you’re looking to splurge for an evening. Bravo to front and back of house, definitely among the best on the I95 corridor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
fran highbloom
I took my sister and my nephew to River Twice for dinner and we were all blown away. The menu that Chef Randy curated is a creative celebration of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with dishes that are as inventive as they are delicious. With the ever-changing offerings, each visit promises something new and exciting. A must-visit for anyone who appreciates bold, thoughtful cuisine. The decor was carefully chosen with sustainability in mind by co-owner Amanda Rucker. It’s warm and inviting and the service is impeccable. We look forward to many more memorable meals in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ananda Badili
TLDR: Every single course was tart/sour and definitely not great for vegetarians or celebrating.
I’ll start with the good. The restaurant is beautiful and the staff was friendly. The best thing we had was the sourdough and butter which is an add on so not included in the $85 per person price. They did call us ahead and confirm that they could accommodate vegetarians which is part of the reason the experience was disappointing.
The first course was and hiramasa with heirloom tomatoes. This was good but for the vegetarian option they removed hiramasa. The second course was grits with sour corn and torched scallops. The scallops were removed for the vegetarian option and without them the grits were quite sour. The third course was steelhead trout with kohlrabi and was also on the sour/tart side so it was feeling repetitive at this point. The vegetarian option was sourdough dumplings with a vinegar sauce and was pretty unpalatable and disappointing. Dessert was also tart and I may have enjoyed it if everything else on the meal hadn’t been on the sour side.
I usually don’t mind automatic gratuity because I want people to be paid fairly but after that experience it was painful. We were also celebrating a birthday and although I don’t expect every restaurant to bring you something free I think they could have done something to make the experience more celebratory. Overall for a $220 meal for two with no drinks I really can’t recommend.
Had an incredible 16 course counter menu that put us all over the edge, so much luxury in this me meal.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Outstanding food, disappointing service and atmosphere. The Sunday prix fixe 4-course menu was beautifully prepared but at a price point well over $100/person with a drink and tip, the service should be excellent also and it wasn’t. Server was brusque and non-attentive despite an empty restaurant. No offer of a second drink, no refilling water glasses, bit condescending, and defensive rather than helpful when we asked for the blaring Lynyrd Skynyrd to be turned down. Why the chef chose to blare their personal playlist, edging up the volume when a favorite played, was beyond me and sent the message that we the customers were not important.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 2
it’s a small, cozy open-kitchen restaurant with a warm atmosphere — but unfortunately the food and service fell far short of expectations. Overall, the seasoning was overwhelmingly salty, which made it hard to appreciate the actual flavors or character of the ingredients. Each course felt unbalanced, and even the rice grits were inconsistently cooked, with some parts almost like raw rice.
The halibut dish was especially surprising: the cabbage served with it tasted like pure salt, while the halibut itself had almost no seasoning at all. Half of it was warm and the other half was completely cold, which was really unexpected.
Only chopsticks were set on the table, and no one explained that other utensils were stored in a drawer — we only realized after watching another table take theirs out. For a restaurant with so many positive reviews, the service felt unprofessional and careless. Even though I had stated the reason for our reservation, the staff randomly asked whose birthday it was, which felt awkward and out of place.
The highlight of the night was actually the bill — a receipt that already included a 20% service charge, yet still had the extra tip line marked and emphasized as if we were expected to add more. I couldn’t help but wonder when it became normal for restaurants to openly push for additional tipping on top of an already-included charge. It just felt unnecessary and uncomfortable, especially after such a disappointing meal and experience.
To top it all off, both of us experienced stomach discomfort and diarrhea later that night after the meal. Overall, it was a disappointing experience on what was supposed to be a special occasion.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 4
Great food, pricy but I wouldn’t say it wasn’t worth it. We spent $300 for 2 including tip with two add on dishes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing playlist
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Each dish was excellent. The tomato sandwich was highly recommended and we’re so glad we got them. The server was attentive and gladly answered our questions.
Highlights are the hiramasa tartare, Maine scallops, financier with pawpaw, tomato sandwich, hiramasa collar, sour cornbread with truffle and uni.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The music was so loud, I had to ask them to turn it down. Pure metal rock. The service was meh. Couldn’t tell you the waitresses names as they never introduced themselves. Over priced. You couldn’t order your burger med rare bc the owner wants it medium or well. You had no choice in building your own burger bc the menu was preset as is. So mayonnaise it is. The oysters were dry. The gooseberry sauce tasted like apricot preserves. The bread was cold. The ricotta dip with the marmalade did not mix well. The wine tasted watered down. Portions are small, leaving you hungry. Won’t be back!!
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 2
Great food and vibe! It's quite small and homey. The food quality was great and chef did a great job to highlight ingredients. Fun and delicious wine pairing as well.
Wonderful dining experience here. My favorite in Philadelphia.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After 5 visits (4 a la carte, 1 tasting menu), I can confidently say that River Twice is my favorite restaurant in Philadelphia, and a contender for my favorite all time. Intentionality is at the forefront of the restaurant, from the earthenware to the ambience to the deeply personal service, River Twice crafts a complete experience for every patron.
The Mother Rucker (the famous burger) is everything it’s cracked up to be. Rich, beefy, with the perfect toppings and nothing more, I never leave unsatisfied.
When returning most recently to finally try the full tasting menu, I was blown away. Chef Rucker has a deep commitment to taking fresh seasonal ingredients and using them in transformative ways. We were greeted with a compliment of hr kitchen to start. Oysters topped with pieces of yellow tomato. Perhaps the best oysters I’ve eaten. Both the herbaceousness and acidity of the tomato were perfect complements to the oyster they topped.
Seafood is consistently featured at River Twice, and our first course displayed a beautiful, large piece of hiramasa. The fish, while accompanied with tomato oil and other toppings, spoke for itself with a fatty, decadent flavor and texture.
I also want to highlight our final course, a corn semifreddo. Chef Rucker took fresh sweet corn and made it into such a sweet, fresh tasting dessert. I had never had such strong corn flavor in a sweet, cold dessert, and I couldn’t recommend it enough.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious food and a fun fine dining experience with amazing atmosphere. The flavor combinations on the tasting menu were a culinary delight with fresh ingredients. However, for the price, the portion sizes felt small and I left feeling a little hungry – ended up needing another meal a few hours later.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
food and vibe were amazing!! will absolutely come back 10/10
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely phenomenal experience at River Twice tonight. Warm and welcoming atmosphere, casual but intuitively attentive service, and the food was just incredible. We went a few years ago post-COVID and sat outside but we were celebrating tonight and boy was this a perfect destination for it. Could not recommend it more if you’re looking to splurge for an evening. Bravo to front and back of house, definitely among the best on the I95 corridor.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I took my sister and my nephew to River Twice for dinner and we were all blown away. The menu that Chef Randy curated is a creative celebration of seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, with dishes that are as inventive as they are delicious. With the ever-changing offerings, each visit promises something new and exciting. A must-visit for anyone who appreciates bold, thoughtful cuisine. The decor was carefully chosen with sustainability in mind by co-owner Amanda Rucker. It’s warm and inviting and the service is impeccable. We look forward to many more memorable meals in the near future.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
TLDR: Every single course was tart/sour and definitely not great for vegetarians or celebrating.
I’ll start with the good. The restaurant is beautiful and the staff was friendly. The best thing we had was the sourdough and butter which is an add on so not included in the $85 per person price. They did call us ahead and confirm that they could accommodate vegetarians which is part of the reason the experience was disappointing.
The first course was and hiramasa with heirloom tomatoes. This was good but for the vegetarian option they removed hiramasa. The second course was grits with sour corn and torched scallops. The scallops were removed for the vegetarian option and without them the grits were quite sour. The third course was steelhead trout with kohlrabi and was also on the sour/tart side so it was feeling repetitive at this point. The vegetarian option was sourdough dumplings with a vinegar sauce and was pretty unpalatable and disappointing. Dessert was also tart and I may have enjoyed it if everything else on the meal hadn’t been on the sour side.
I usually don’t mind automatic gratuity because I want people to be paid fairly but after that experience it was painful. We were also celebrating a birthday and although I don’t expect every restaurant to bring you something free I think they could have done something to make the experience more celebratory. Overall for a $220 meal for two with no drinks I really can’t recommend.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
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