River House — Restaurant in Portsmouth

Visited this restaurant in downtown Portsmouth NH. The porch dining seats were full so we were seated in the main dining room.

The porch or deck is waterfront real estate hanging over the Piscataqua River. Great views of the river north and the new bridge as well as the big bridge. Not sure if it has sunset views?? The views from the window seats...which we had...from the main dining room were just as impressive. Nicely appointed and plenty of room to sit comfortably.

The hostesses that we met upon entering the restauran t were all nice and friendly.

Now the meal...our server Carley was quick to greet us with a smile and the usual questions. We ordered the Seafood Linguini and the House Steak tips w/salad.

We also tried the Grilled Asparagus side plate.

FYI...House Steak tips come with mashed potatoes, which I don't eat so I had the green beans that were great.

The tips were ordered med. rare and came out perfect. Slightly charred and great flavor. The portion size is VERY generous!

The house salad was fresh, excellent variety on veggies and again...generous!

The grilled asparagus was tender, flavorful and seasoned nicely. Usually thick spears (see the pic) turn me off because they are stringy and chewy. Not these...nice job!!!

The Seafood Linguini was very good. Bay Scallops, Mussels and med. Shrimp. Delicious and cooked perfectly.

Couple of issues with plate #1 of the Seafood Linguini...please note this is NOT a deal breaker as seen by my 5 star rating.

1 of the shrimp were not deviened and stuck out like sore thumbs, alot of people freak out about this when it does happen. We just know better that it is purely aesthetic. The linguini was very overcooked. The texture along with the base sauce gave the plate a mushy pasty texture.

We alerted our server Carley and she was quick to apologize and offer to replace the plate or choose another item. We chose to have them try again with this meal. While we waited the short time for this to be prepared the manager Emily came over to apologize and make sure everything else was good.

Now plate #2 of the Seafood Linguini arrives. Only took 10 minutes!!! The seafood was still excellent ...but the linguini is still overcooked...better... but just not what we like.

However we did eat this plate and did bring this issue to our servers (Carley) attention...honestly we just didn't want to wait for another item.

At this point we had finished our meals and were waiting for the check when Emily the manager came back over with another apology and the check which was minus the Seafood Linguini cost.

We told her we did not expect this (we don't look for free meals) and were willing to pay full price since we had eaten the meal.

She assured us this is how they get better at customer service by doing the "right thing"

Kudos to this restaurant. I am impressed and will certainly be back.

Give this place a try, I'm sure you will be impressed too.

Till...

Spectacular Waterfront Views with Great Seafood (Expect Premium Pricing) Visited on our first day in Portsmouth based on a friend's recommendation, and the location absolutely lives up to the hype. The Experience: Unbeatable Location:

Prime spot right on the Piscataqua River Stunning views of both bridges (especially impressive watching the drawbridge in action!) Perfect waterfront dining atmosphere Great for visitors wanting that quintessential Portsmouth experience

Food Quality:

Lobster rolls: Excellent and fresh - exactly what you'd hope for in coastal NH Fresh oysters: Top quality, clearly sourced well Kids' options: Chicken tenders and cheeseburgers were hits with the little ones

Everything we ordered was well-prepared and delicious

Family-Friendly:

Good kids' menu with familiar options Accommodating atmosphere for families Easy to enjoy with children while adults appreciate the scenery

Value Considerations: The Reality Check: You're definitely paying a premium for that waterfront location. Items like burgers and basic entrees can be found for much less just a few blocks inland from the waterfront area.

The Trade-off: For seafood specialties like lobster rolls and fresh oysters, the quality justifies the location pricing. For standard menu items, you might want to venture away from the water for better value.

Bottom Line: River House delivers on what it promises - exceptional views with quality food. Perfect for special occasions, first-time Portsmouth visits, or when you want to treat yourself to waterfront dining.

Would we return? Yes, but we'd stick to their seafood specialties where the quality and location make the premium pricing worthwhile.

Best for: Seafood lovers, special occasions, visitors wanting the full Portsmouth waterfront experience Consider alternatives for: Budget dining, basic menu items you can get...

I recently visited River House Restaurant in Portsmouth, NH, during the Memorial Day weekend, and unfortunately, my experience was quite underwhelming. The restaurant is definitely overpriced and, in my opinion, overrated.

Firstly, the service was friendly and the staff were polite, which was one of the few positive aspects of our visit. The view from the patio, overlooking the water, was also quite nice. However, these aspects alone don't justify the high prices and the overall experience.

When I ordered half a dozen oysters, I was instead served a dozen, with a price difference of $19. Despite this premium price, the oysters came without even a single piece of lemon, and the dipping sauce was served in a small plastic cup. I had to request lemons, and when they finally arrived, they consisted of just four tiny slices. For the $39 price tag, this was quite disappointing.

The baked haddock was tasty, but the portion was very small. It was served on a bed of mashed potatoes, seemingly to make the dish appear larger than it was. For the amount we paid, I expected more substantial portions.

In total, we spent $80 and left the restaurant feeling hungry and confused. The menu is quite limited, with many of the options being fried. Given this experience, I don't understand the numerous positive reviews this place has received. I would not recommend River House Restaurant and will not...