River House

Visited from out of town during a work trip, nice place to grab a bite to eat on the water. Drinks were good. We tried the oysters which were on the smaller size but good 8/10a The lobster pasta was pretty good 7/10. Friends had the lobster roll and said it was okay it’s more bread than lobster, 5/10. The blood orange margarita was pretty good. View 10/10

Had a great and refreshing time visiting Portsmouth! We enjoyed a beautiful lunch at the River House on the riverside. The atmosphere was lovely, and the food—especially the chicken tenders and fries—was delicious. A bit on the pricey side, but the view and vibe made it worth it. Highly recommend for a scenic, relaxing meal! 🌊🍽️

What a great find. We had one of the best lobster rolls we ever had. The tower was perfection so was the seafood chowder! Great cocktails as well. Highly recommend!

This was my second trip to this seaside seafood spot. Food is good and fresh. We had whole belly clams, fish tacos and baked haddock. Prices are fair and the dock side seating is nice.

It was fantastic. A little expensive but man everything there was worth it. We got the lobster dip nachos. Amazing. I got an poster poboy. Amazing. My girlfriend got a lobster roll. Amazing. Honestly, the food is delicious, fresh and you get an amazing view of the river. If you ever have the chance, go.

Bright and lively, this is a great place to enjoy a river view and great food. The summer berry salad was amazing, as was my hubby's salmon and rice dish. The chowdah is delicious, and our waitress was a pro!

disappointing. We have been there many times over the years and have liked it in the past- this visit just did not meet expectations. both my wife and I ordered the haddock fish basket. The fish batter was thin (which is good) but the taste was "off" as the fish as an odd oily taste, like the oil it was cooked in was contaminated by a stronger tasting item being cooked previously or it was older oil. For $80 (two meals, 1 mixed drink and one coke) - it should be better.

Loved the views from the balcony almost as much as the food!! My husband said the seafood chowder was the best he’s had. I really enjoyed my fish tacos too! A great spot!

Perched on a deck, overlooking the harbor, in the best part of town, I recommend River House to any friend who visits Portsmouth. First of all, the vibes are unbeatable, especially when it comes to the outdoor seating. The River House's outdoor seating consists of one long deck suspended over the water. Each low top and high top has a clear view of the harbor water, and the classic Portsmouth tugboats in the near distance. The Deck Punch and the Clam Chowder are must-tries. This weekend I ordered those, along with fish and chips and the Mediterranean mahi-mahi. The fish was cooked perfectly and we had an amazing view of the water the whole time. The service is fast and friendly, and even helped us relocate seats to get out of the hot sun!

First off, the lobster was fresh, chunky, and clearly living its best life before becoming my dinner. No rubbery bits, no questionable textures--just tender, sweet lobster that hadn't been massacred by over-dressing. The mayo was present but not too present--like a supportive friend who enhances your life without taking over. This chowder was so rich and creamy, I'm pretty sure it qualifies as a luxury skincare treatment. Packed with tender seafood!

We chose this restaurant because of their reputation for care in dealing with gluten free needs. My partner was not disappointed. The fryer used for the fish and shrimp basket with fries is always gluten free. Like my lobster Alfredo, the gluten free meal was a large and delicious serving. Along with a nice river view, we enjoyed the friendly and fast service. Having Heineken 0.0 on hand was an extra bonus.

I came here as my first stop in Portsmouth. I really enjoyed our view of the waterfront and the food was amazing. I got the oyster poboy and the crab cake. I will definitely come here again to try the oysters. Our server was super friendly and helpful.

Hard to beat the view at the River House, or any of the restaurants along the river here in Portsmouth. We had not been to this restaurant in many many years, and decided to give it a try. Overall a positive experience, but as others have mentioned, the price is fairly high for the quality of the food being served. We started with a few cocktails, and while pleasant tasting, they did not seem very strong, more juice than alcohol. They provided a menu of daily specials and we sampled the bang bang calamari which came to the table crispy, piping hot and quite delicious. For my entree, I had the crab cake BLT which was pretty disappointing. The crab cake was mostly filler with very little crab to taste, and smothered with an aioli sauce and a couple of strips of very undercooked bacon. I will say the fries on the plate were cooked perfectly, which many restaurants don't seem to get right. Service was fine, slightly rushed and I sensed they wanted to turn out table. Don't expect to spend more than 45-60 minutes for your dinner. So overall a real toss up. Fast and friendly service with some dishes hitting perfectly and others a real miss.

Went to The River House tonight. Has a great laid back atmosphere and beautiful views! I sat at the bar and was greeted by Kylan. He's a great bartender with great eye contact and knowledge. He made me an unbelievable White Russian! Delicious! I had the shrimp cocktail and it was phenomenal. I also had the chicken tender and the honey garlic sauce was amazing. Elyssa also helped me at the bar and everyone there was super friendly and attentive. Very clean in there. I highly recommend The River House and I'll be back again soon! Thank you Kylan and Elyssa!

I have high standards so my review may be somewhat biased. The service was very good. The food was average but enjoyable. I am thankful that I stopped by. Drinks were a bit weaker than usual.

We just happened upon The River House on a recent New England road trip and gave it a try based on reviews. We were starving and decided why not? We chose to sit outside on their deck which was pretty cool feeling despite the June heat. Inside did not seem to have air conditioning. Our waitress was pretty young and training someone else, but they did a good job. My husband opted for some fish and chips and fried shrimp while I ordered a chicken Caeser salad- I am allergic to some seafood and opt to stay away from it. My husband has NOT STOPPED raving about how good and fresh the seafood was from this place. Everything was flavorful and the views of the water were incredible! If we wind up back in Portsmouth I would for sure eat here again!

The view and historic buildings along the waterfront make this the reason I visit when driving thru the area. Seafood Chowder bowl was fine. It's thick and creamy but I wanted more chunks of scallops or lobster. The shrimp cocktail was fresh and the cocktail sauce was good and extra horseradish. On this cold day the Irish coffee hit the spot The service was very good given the low afternoon crowd. We heard two older gals departing the restaurant saying that was their last time as it's gone downhill. I assume they didn't like the loud blues music during their lunch but we went not sure. I'd probably try the place near by next visit, but I do love the stop view.

The Lobster Roll and seafood chowder combination (called The Tall Ship) is easily five stars for both. I had three lobster rolls from different restaurants here in Portsmouth this weekend and The River House lobster roll was the best of the three by a long shot. 4.5 ounces of lobster meat overflow the buttery toasted bun. The seafood chowder was filled with mouthfuls of seafood. Every scoop offered chunks of lobster, scallops, shrimp, clams, and haddock. Pure bliss in a cup. Highly recommended.

Service was impeccable!! Sat outside on the upper deck for a chilly dinner (our request) and enjoyed watching the boats go by. Lobster rolls wasn't my favorite but my husband's ravioli was delicious.

Saw a line outside and decided ro check it out.. then saw their happy hour on the raw bar and that was enough to seal the deal. The oysters are solid and for 1.50 a pop it's a steal. They also have jumbo cocktail shrimp and a spicy tuna app at $1.50 as well, so we had plenty of each. Everything was tasty, service was great, and it's always nice to sit by the water.

Excellent experience at The River House, and 100% will be back when I am in town next! Our waitress (forget her name, ugh!) was a firecracker and was awesome. Ended up starting the meal with oysters and a cup of the seafood chowder, which was AMAZING, and ordered the lobster roll (hot with butter!) for my entrée. As a lobster roll connoisseur, this one was up there with some of the best I have had in my life (and I've had them fresh off the boat in Maine) - awesome flavor and excellently presented. The waterfront deck seating was great as well and really contributed to the ambiance. A full five stars for The River House, and visiting this place should be on every Portsmouth tourist's list!

I went to the River House for a seafood meal and a great view of the water. I have been here before and like the ambiance and friendly staff. I was seated at a small table in a cramped vestibule in the front of the restaurant. I felt uncomfortable. Kina came to me and asked if I wanted to switch tables, before I could ask to be changed to a different seat. I appreciated her awareness. I had a nice dinner of mussels and oysters. Both were fresh and tasty. People make the difference, and I was happy to be served by Kiana. The bartender was sociable. I recommend this restaurant for Lunch, dinner, or drinks at the bar. There is public parking across the street.

Beautiful views of the water! This place was recommended but someone working in one of the shops, and it did not disappoint. We sat outside and each got a different salad for lunch. The salads were fresh and well-made and absolutely delicious. Service was great.

Warm lobster roll was really lousy. Certainly a lot of lobster but it had zero flavor. Bun had too much butter but lobster was seriously missing something. Just the worst honestly. They should taste their own food. Chowder was lousy too. Service good and friendly and seafood tower was good. Just lobster roll and chowder way off

First clam chowder of my New England trip and boy it did not disappoint! The flavors were spectacular, our server vas very sweet and helped us to decide how we wanted our lobster roll. We sat on the lower floor patio, nice views. Definitely recommend if you are in the area

Good food, great service incredible view. The lobster roll was as good as any Good food, great service incredible view. The lobster roll was as good as any in the area. Very attentive and friendly.

Great spot on the water for lunch. Crab cake appetizer was fresh and tasty. Fried halibut sandwich was crispy and well prepared. Great drinks and service from Hannah was outstanding!

Stopped for a quick snack because the menu was nice labeled gluten free. I enjoyed the crab cake

Delicious and fresh Maine lobster role. Incredible flavor and just the right amount of lobster. Service was great - our waitress was very kind and attentive. Loved sitting out on the porch overlooking the water. Building looks a little outdated but great stop for a casual lunch or dinner.

I came here with coworkers. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. Collectively our table ordered Fish Tacos and the Smash Burger. Service was decent. The watervie

This restaurant was amazing with kids. They had crayons and a color sheet and got her meal out right away. The service was quick and friendly. We were able to get a seat on the porch facing the water. It was a beautiful view with dinner. The lobster roll was delicious and so were the fish tacos!

Okay I'll confess right away that once again I was so caught up in the experience that I forgot to take pictures. Bad Yelper! I met a friend here for lunch this drizzly Saturday. We love Portsmouth as a mid point between her in Portland and me in Boston and have met here several times. We eyed The River House on our last visit over the summer, and it was MOBBED, so of course that's where we wanted to go next. Worried that there would be a long wait (no reservations) we aimed to arrive when they opened at 11am. We needn't have worried. Whether it was because it was a Saturday in March, a cloudy/drizzly day, or some other reason, we joined a small stream of folks heading in at 11 and were quickly seated on the outside covered/heated deck, with a lovely view of the river. Our server was fantastic and patient, as we had a dozen question and my dining companion (DC) was very particular about no bell peppers in any of her food (easily answered and accommodated). We started with the lobster artichoke drip (sic) which was delicious, hot, and accompanied with tortilla chips, and not an overwhelming portion given we had every intention of ordering a full lunch in addition. (I note it is pictured here so some other Yelper is on the ball, thank goodness.) DC ordered the crab cake BLT with a side of cole slaw, which she enjoyed. The crab cake looked to be too deeply fried for me but she didn't complain and I didn't ask. I had considered getting that but was glad I ordered the fried haddock sandwich which was cooked to perfection and came on a soft brioche bun with lettuce, a side of cole slaw, french fries and tartar sauce. No complaints! The place got busy as the afternoon rolled on but was never packed. There is a lovely, comfortable bar as you walk in with high top tables on one side and a bar on the other. It would have been a great place to stop for a drink, plenty of seating available when we were there, but I can imagine at night or during the summer it is mobbed. Parking was easy on this particular day; plenty of on-street parking at 10:45am and I never have seen so many off-street parking lots in a metropolitan area, most of them empty at that point. Again, probably due to the time of year and the dreary day. Better for us! Portsmouth is a charming and extremely walk-able town, and we strolled for a bit after lunch and popped into a couple of shops, which will be reviewed elsewhere if I can remember their names. I also took note of a couple of restaurants to visit in future visits!!

Wonderful meal on the water! Lobster rolls and the Baked Haddock were perfect. Sat in the outside deck and the view of the harbor makes for a beautiful setting.

Food was outstanding! Kylan our service was outstanding! The ambience outstanding! Seafood Chowder insane so was the calamari!

After the debacle we had at the Port Inn trying to check in, we chose the River House after looking online, because there was no restaurant guide in the room or even in the lobby alerting us to the myriad of dining choices in Portsmouth. A printed guide would have been nice. The ambience at the River House is nothing fancy; plain tables with no table cloths or placemats. We both ordered lobster rolls, and I was shocked at the price; $40 including French fries. We split a green salad, and neither of us had any alcohol. The bill was a whopping $116. Although the lobster rolls were a good size and tasty, after we did some research over the next few days, we learned that lobster rolls could be had both in NH and ME for significantly less; the average price was $31-32. So, while the food at the River House was good, the ambience was spartan at best, and the food was overpriced, giving me the impression it's just a tourist trap. We will not go back.

This place is famous for its seafood chowder, and for good reason. If you dine here, if you get nothing else, get the chowder!! It is rich, creamy, savory like nowhere else I've had. The inside is fine for dining, but the real star of the show is outdoors on their deck overlooking the water. Super!

If you don't mind paying premium for the waterfront deck you will be fine. Both my husband and I ordered fried haddock and shrimp or clams. Both come with fries and coleslaw. Even after requesting extra lemon I couldn't eat any of the seafood. The coating was heavy and greasy. Perhaps they were trying to disguise the fishy seafood but failed miserably. I left 90% of my entree and my husband ate most but felt bloated and awful afterwards. The server never asked us how it was. We figured she already knew. The Seafood Chowder WAS DELICIOUS! So if you just want a bowl and a brew, you can enjoy the water view and then head next door for ice cream from Annabelle's. You won't be disappointed and will save about $60.

The River House was awesome. Drinks and food were great. Our server was wonderful. We ordered the tuna nachos, lobster artichoke dip, and fish tacos. Everything was delicious.

This beautiful place on the water was filled to the brim with people. Be warned there's two parts of this restaurant: the bar with a couple of raw options and the main restaurant. Seafood chowder: was amazingly thick with different types of seafood, would order again, one of the best that I've had . Overall, the fried things were a little bit too battered and salty for our liking, but the seafood tasted fresh.

We went here for dinner tonight. Had the salmon and rice. Others had the smash burger and lobster roll. Everything was very good

Hands down the best chowda in the entire northeast. Been coming here for years, I get it every time and it never disappoints. Recently was in Ogunquit Maine and went out of the way to stop here on the drive back to New York. Yea, it's that good

I was in town and had been notified to check out The River House the prior night, so while I was checking out this area of Portsmouth I decided to stop in for lunch. The establishment is pretty large with various indoor and outdoor seating options and nice views of the river. I decided to sit at the bar where I had some excellent service and food/drinks. 1/2 Dozen Oysters - Locally sourced medium sized served with mignonette, lemon and cocktail sauce. Oysters were huge and tasted fresh. I was talking to the bartender about the kind/name of them but I forgot; regardless they were great. Crab Roll & Cup - Fresh local crab meet salad (dressed lightly with mayonnaise, lemon juice and shallots) served on a toasted brioche bun with a cup of award winning seafood chowder and french fries. Everything about this was great. Roll was toasted nicely, crab was plentiful, fries were good and the chowder was really good.

Popped in for a quick bite at lunch, very standard basic menu. Had the haddock and shrimp meal and it was fine. I had the passion fruit margarita and it was ok. The service was fine. The views are great. They can really do more with the place.

On a very very very very very hot day we wanted somewhere by the water where there was a little breeze. We figured we would have to wait a while, but we were seated within 10 minutes! Got a rum punch from the bar while we waited that was fruity and refreshing. I started with a cup of seafood chowder that was SO good. HUGE chunks of seafood in it and just the right texture of creamy. Best part of my meal. AB got fried haddock and fries. She liked the haddock - said the spices in the breading were tasty. I ordered the fish tacos. They were good but they were pretty big tortillas and I would have liked more of the mango salsa. The black beans were good too - kind of lukewarm but well-seasoned. Service was excellent and fast and the view from the deck was perfect. Good choice for lunch!

Awesome service especially with having children. Very quick with taking our orders, getting refills on our drinks and giving our food. A lot of gluten free options

Sadly, despite the view from the deck being amazing as always and the drinks and service being very good, we were both disappointed in the quality and the amount of lobster in their lobster rolls. It's a long way for us to drive to Portsmouth and we very rarely get lobster and we're more than happy to pay a very high premium for lots of lobster in our lobster rolls but alas.....We've decided next time we're going to have drinks and maybe an app on the deck at River House to take in the view then go down to a little restaurant right below where they actually weigh the lobster they put in their lobster rolls so you can make sure that you get your fill!

I ordered the Tall Ship Combo with fries. It was expensive at almost 50 bucks but it's par for the course. Lobster Roll was on point much better than some I've had at other places, it was fresh and had a good amount of meat. I got mine warmed with butter, I'd get it again but not frequently. Seafood Chowder was not impressive at all, being from the south this tasted very bland, it did have a decent amount of meat.

Forgot our appetizer. Had lobster rolls. Either surimi made to look like lobster or frozen- absolutely tasteless. With not even a faint hint of any seafood taste at all. Expensive($38) but not that surprising. I've had lobster rolls before so do have a basis of comparison. Minimal service. Go somewhere else. One of our party did have a generous haddock fish and chips that looked good. Setting is attractive.

Great food ! Went here while on a weekend trip to Portsmouth. Family loved as well. View was beautiful as well.

With extreme gluten sensitivities, I always want to share my findings for others who may refer to yelp for help/references, as I rely heavily on reviews from other gluten-sensitive people when trying new places. So many gluten free options here, especially for items I've really not seen gluten free before! The staff took the time to walk me through the menu, explain their preparation to comfort my fear of cross contamination, and answer all of my (many) questions. Server was friendly, checked on us several times, food came out fresh and hot. I had the fish tacos and fries, and honestly could not tell that the fish was fried in a gluten free coating. It was delicious and everything I have missed since going gluten free. I also loved the fries, which sounds rather silly, I mean, who doesn't love fries? Except that when you're gluten free, you quickly find that most places that claim to have gluten free items actually use a shared fryer for cooking, so those items are not really served "gluten free". The River House does not cook any gluten-containing items in with their gluten-free french fries. Safe and delicious, win-win! They served a few ciders, one of which was by my favorite Cidery - Citizen Cider. Always love traveling up north where I can usually find Citizen Cider on tap or available in cans. We sat toward the back, out on the deck overlooking the water. Deck is covered in the winter, but the view is the same - beautiful all year round. Highly recommend The River House! My daughter loved UNH, so we may become frequent guests in the coming years, and will be trying one of everything gluten free on your menu!

Had the chance to visit Portsmouth on a beautiful day and we went looking for a place to eat. My daughter found the River House and suggested that we eat there. We were able to walk right in and was seated immediately on the porch overlooking the River. It was really nice...sun was shining after 4-5 days of clouds and rain so it finally felt like summer! We had a nice waitress, who did a nice job and was available when we needed her. We did not order any appetizers but we did order drinks and our a meals rather quickly. We had two haddock sandwiches, a smash burger and a chicken-pesto sandwich. all came with fries except for one garden salad. The food was delivered rather quickly and without issue. When we were finished eating my son mentioned that the food was "just ok". I asked him why he said that and he replied that the food didn't really have any zing. He was expecting more for the price and the location, I guess. I agreed with him. I had the smash burger, which was just ok...cooked well but 2 four ounce burgers are not enough for the price. Soda's were $3 and the waitress was not around to refill, if needed. Overall, I guess we expected a bit more and didn't get it. We will try another place when we return in late July and we will be able to compare. For now, 3 stars is plenty for The River House.....not great but not bad!

The ahi tuna nachos on the water at sunset was a top notch experience! Will come back again.

Delicious. We were so hungry we didn't take a picture and so sad because it was so good. The seafood bisque was definitely award winning like they said. Oysters were fresh and delicious and cold lobster roll was so good!

Landed here after the place next door couldn't seat us and I'm so glad we did! Sat on the waterfront patio and dove into our first meal on vacation! The chowder was all I had hoped for and the service was delivered with a smile. Was the perfect start to our trip. Don't skip the local cider!

I've been to Portsmouth every year for the last 8 years for work. I make it a point to eat here every trip. They may be under new ownership? Baffled on the level of drop off this last time. Ordered the lobster artichoke dip. Did not come with the chips pictured. They must of run out, came with what looked to be some really cheap Tostitos from a local supermarket. Price was still ~$20. Ordered the New England baked haddock. It did not taste good. This use to but my favorite dish , but had minimum flavor. Not sure if they made some changes in the last year but the food may have taken a step back. Service and location were excellent.

Adorable little place! We sat outside on water and they had clear covers to keep the cold out. Very pricey on lobster from a city who has lobster by the bundle. The lobster artichoke dip was delicious! The chicken bacon ranch was too. Watermelon margarita was a must!

Fabulous food-the chowder is unbelievable-and great deck overlooking the harbor. Nice spot.