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! 🌊🍽️

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.

Really nice restaurant with great views across the water. There's plenty of seating inside, but on a nice day you've got to sit outside. I was slightly disappointed with the crab cake but the fish tacos were excellent.

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 place was amazing!! Staff was very friendly and food was amazing. View on the patio was very pretty too. We also chatted with some people across the way that was very polite. And funny enough they ordered the same thing we did(not knowing what each other ordered), down to the dessert! Ha it was pretty funny. Parking was ok to find...few spots in a paid parking across the street, however it was $30 which I think is crazy to have to pay when ur just having dinner. Also the souviner shops right next to it. That lady was SO kind 🥰 had lots of goodies to. Check both these places out!!

We were here with our group of 10. Staff was super friendly and accommodating - we did have to wait, but the staff really took care of us. Good was delicious and we were right on the water. Highly recommend!

My first time in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. What beautiful little town. Went to the River house for lunch, sat outside overlooking the Piscataqua River, where the other side of it is Maine. Really nice. Started off with a cup of their clam chowder, I mean you can't go to the New England area and NOT have it. LOL. Normally I would never order claim chowder but as I said "when in Rome". OMG was it delicious, creamy and full of claims not potatoes. LOVED IT. Had my first lobster roll for lunch, OMG. Talk about fresh and huge portions, I had mine what they call "cold" vs. hot butter. The lobster was fresh and cooked perfect, nice and juicy, not chewy. I loved this place so much I went back the next day for lunch again. The waitress said today they have fresh oysters just brought in this morning so I'm thinking Oyster Po Boy. OMG AGAIN. Let me say I love oyster po boys. I eat them all the time, in New Orleans or any other place on the ocean where they harvest them. This was the best one I have ever had, ever. The oyster was obviously fresh and they were a nice medium size. Lightly dusted with a flour cornmeal so not over breaded or over cooked. I mean perfectly cooked. The sauce and pickles complimented the oysters and the bread was soft but firm - held the whole thing together very well. Would I go here again? Oh Yah! I'm going back for more!

Everything was so amazing! Will be returning. Best berry salad I've ever had! The ambiance is great and the service was impeccable!

Perfect spot for our lunch after checking out the sites in Portsmouth. Super location with a covered deck overlooking the harbor. Based on Yelp! reviews, we decided this was the place. We chose wisely! Our party of 4 was warmly greeted and immediately seated outside over the water...killer view of the harbor and the daily goings on (watched a tanker being guided out to sea, not something you see in Reno...just awesome!). Our server, Kyle, was friendly, funny and knowledgeable about the menu and the area (not always the case). Started with a refreshing local IPA, Stoneface...crisp, not too hoppy and perfect after our sojourn around town. Being a chowda fan, opted for their award winning seafood chowder. Thick, buttery and full of seafood (what I abhor is clam or seafood chowder that is mostly soup and potatoes...not this one!). Was going to try try the lobster roll, but at $42, opted for the fish tacos (I know, it's the location but just had a few days earlier for half the price that was spot on). Tacos were decent, a little light on the fish (see photo), but hit the spot none the less. My wife went with the quinoa salad, topped with the crab cake app. Delicious! All in all, a nice lunch experience and will certainly be back on our next trip to NH!

Beautiful spot to have a beer and look at the water on the deck- beyond that, I wouldn't recommend this place to anyone. We ordered mussels as an app. Many of the mussels came closed- should have been caught by kitchen staff. My mother made the mistake of saying something to the waitress. She told her not to eat them and then the mussel dish was left on our table (as punishment we can only guess). Clam and shrimp plate- market price was $36 on August 7, 2025. Only a few clams (5?). Shrimp were small, presumably frozen shrimp. Plate had a mountain of fries to give it the illusion of being a typical New England fried basket. Portions and quality are likely average for Portsmouth as a tourist town, but if you are from New England and have a choice, there are much better places to go.

My friend and I passed for an appetizer and drink. We ordered the lobster artichoke dip and she got a cocktail while I got a soda. The dip was good, the cocktail was average, and the soda was flat. Our server had an attitude and clearly did not want to be there. Just a lot of personal issues going on with him and I do hope he finds happiness one day because he ruined our experience. The view is beautiful and the ambiance is fun and lively. Except, of course, for our waiter.

We stopped in for light dinner while in the Portsmouth area in April. The River House was a great find, nice location on the water and comfortable tables looking out to the view. We opted for salads and an appetizer and both were tasty. I especially liked the tuna cucumber appetizer- fresh and nicely done. Family friendly as well with a children's menu. Prompt and friendly service!

I really loved this place. When you're on the water and paying a premium for location sometimes the food is just "ok" but I thought the food was great and everyone loved their meal. We sat outside at a high top on the deck right in the water which was amazing! Our server was fast and friendly. I got the Mediterranean salad with grilled chicken and the portion was awesome and I shared with my friends. For adding on grilled chicken I thought the portion was good and the chicken flavorful. I liked the crunchy chickpeas too. My friend got fish tacos she loved and my other friend got a fish sandwich she said was great. We also all loved our drinks. It was a beautiful day to sit and have a great meal with great friends. I'll be back to The River House for sure!

Stopped by for a late, quick dinner on our way to Maine. Service was friendly and luckily it wasn't so busy at 8:30. The seafood chowder was excellent, rich, savory, full of seafood. We also shared the pappardelle fra diavolo, it was okay, made with homemade pasta, small portion, good sauce but not spicy enough. It's a good place and if you're lucky you can find street parking. Instead of the parking lot across the street that's about $30!!

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!

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.

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.

Definitely request to sit on the dock by the water. Great views and the service was quick. We loved the lobster rolls, quinoa bowl with salmon and summer salad. Also, don't sleep on the sweet potato fries they were randomly amazing?!

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.

My husband and I came here for lunch. We started with oysters which were perfect! I had a lobster roll with mayo- it had just the right amount of mayo, and celery. Buttered bun . It was one of the best I have had in long time. My husband had the southwest salmon. He LOVED it. Tons of flavor! The best part of our meal was our server, Bella . You can tell she really cares about making her guest happy with her recommendations and how attentive she was . Bella, thank you so much for making our lunch just perfect . We will be back!!

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 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.

We ordered mussels to share. I pointed out to the waitress that one of them had not opened. She says don't eat it. (I knew that already) I said I want another to replace it. Didn't come. By the time we finished we had 4 unopened mussel. I pointed it out to waitress when we reached three. No reaction. Cook should have noticed. Bill not compensated. Tourist trap. View is beautiful. I do not intend to ever go back.

Like everyone says, the ambiance is nice. I'm not a big fan of stools with no back support but that's what we had. We ordered a lobster roll, seafood chowder, and a fried clam basket to share.. The seafood chowder was delicious and the lobster roll had plenty of meat. But I'm here to talk about the clams. I had to wait three days so the act of typing the words wouldn't create gastro trauma from the memory. At first, I thought they had mistakenly sent a plate of raw oysters. There was little to no batter. You could see the little clam strip sticking out and the round 'belly'. When I ate one, the belly portion oozed. I don't mean custard like ooze, I mean yellow liquid ooze. It stained my fingers and was the most disgusting thing I have ever seen and certainly eaten. The waitress recoiled at the sight of the squished clam belly oozing bright yellow 'pus like' liquid and later told us the kitchen agreed they were under cooked. Honestly, we were sick to our stomachs for the rest of the day from the sight and taste and worried for 48 hours we could be sick. It was disgusting and I never want to write a negative review but this needs to be addressed. Whomever is cooking your seafood HAS to know how to bring the food to tempertature, otherwise you are risking the health of your patrons. Ugh, I've got to stop typing this. The memory is making me sick. Go for the views but bring your own digital thermometer.

Wow! Go down to the Raw Bar. We don't know what was better--the food or our amazing server Kylan! Don't skip the Paloma or the Spicy Tuna & Cucumber! Such a vibe! Can't wait to go back.

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.

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.

We were both looking for a vegan meal and wanted to sit on the water. Most of the restaurants in this area don't have much in the way of vegan or even vegetarian choices, but this place had a nice sounding Mediterranean salad. It was a gorgeous day so we checked in and the host told us it would be a 10-minute wait and took our name an phone number to text us when the table on the deck was ready. We got seated in about 10 minutes, ordered drinks and salads and they came out promptly. The salads were large, very fresh, and had a great assortment of ingredients. The dressing was great. The service was top notch. They had plenty of people working there and everything was done very efficiently. We were impressed and happy with the whole experience.

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.

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.

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!

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!

Always 5 stars. Clean, friendly and worth every dollar. Love the outdoor seating option, even in colder weather.

We had an amazing night at the river house. The food was fantastic. The fried shrimp and hadick is so delicious. We had great service and a great view of the river. If you are ever in town, you should make your way to the river house!

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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.

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