River House Restaurant

I got engaged this weekend! My fiancé and I stumbled across this lovely restaurant on our hunt for a nice celebratory dinner and it couldn’t have been better. The waitstaff were all incredibly kind and so welcoming. They truly went above and beyond, we felt so celebrated and taken care of. The food was fresh and flavorful. We had the swordfish and duck and both were some of the best food we’ve had in recent memory. Thank you River House staff! You made a once in a lifetime day even more special.

After a long week leading up to my birthday I took my very best friend to River House and fully enjoyed our time. The chef sent us a fun watermelon dish and truly made our night. Our bartender was very excited and happy to make us dirty martinis. We enjoyed the revamp of the menu and the new host is so kind and welcoming. Thank you for a wonderful night!

A refined restaurant with a great vibe. The food was fresh and great! A small but excellent wine selection. We will definitely be back!

The food was truly out of this world - we especially loved the lobster risotto, the chicken and wild mushroom starter. Everything tasted incredibly fresh, thoughtful and well-executed. Service was equally excellent. Liam was our waiter and couldn’t have been more attentive or knowledgeable - a real standout. Highly recommend for anyone visiting the area. We’ll absolutely be back.

Really disappointed. This place used to be so good. They sourced everything locally and had an upscale but welcoming atmosphere. We always made sure to visit when in the area. I heard they had new ownership but the whole place has changed. The service was still great, lots of new staff but professional and friendly. The food was way more expensive and not nearly as good. Our oysters were dry and the monkfish overcooked and way too heavy. They seem to be turning into another basic tourist trap restaurant. Not worth the price anymore. There are so many authentic true farm to table places in the area that were happy to check out.

Nichole F. Was our primary waitress and she was very attentive and friendly! The other waitress (I didn’t catch her name) also assisted us and was very helpful. The oysters were delicious! The tuna was phenomenal and well paired with the green onions and sauce. The halibut was also very delicious! The hard cider was unfortunately sour and I was surprised by this. Thank you!!

I recently visited River House in Damariscotta, Maine, for the first time since the change in ownership, and it was outstanding in every way. The menu, under the new team, is simply exceptional, blending a small-plate/tapas style with locally sourced, wood-fired cooking that showcases the very best of Maine’s farms and fisheries. From the moment we sat down overlooking the scenic River, the ambience felt warm, unpretentious, and intimate. The service was thoughtful and attentive, perfectly complementing the experience.

Had a lovely time here while on vacation recently! Being pregnant and predominantly pescatarian, I was comforted by the several options available suitable for pregnant women. That said, the restaurant was out of at least one option I was interested in (the mushroom app), and I learned I couldn’t eat the cheeses featured in the dishes as they’re unpasteurized. If I weren’t pregnant, I know I would have loved to have had the cheese!!! Looked amazing. The chef was accommodating towards my situation and left the cheese out of the tomato salad that came with my salmon, so I was really grateful for that. The shining star of the evening was my zero proof cocktail The Layover. Hands down, the best NA cocktail I’ve ever had (and I’ve tried MANY). It had dimension, flavor, and most importantly, it had BITE. That’s so hard to find in a zero proof cocktail. So thank you thank you thank you for making an amazing option for those who can’t imbibe! I also tried the Ravenscourt Park mocktail but it didn’t hold a candle to The Layover. Second shining star of the night was the soup of the day which was banana pepper! I was skeptical, but man in was tasty. It was buttery, rich, and had a bright pepper taste. So fantastic. The rest of the table enjoyed the swordfish belly special, and everyone thought the smash burger was delicious. Highly recommend and will go back!

What happened to this place? We've been going for years and always loved how they put such importance on supporting local farms and fishermen. The meat is no longer locally sourced and the prices have gotten so high! We always felt like this was a place for the community and visitors alike. Now it just seems like it's pandering to tourists. While our service was wonderful the energy in the place has changed. It's becoming another basic restaurant with flashy dishes that are just ok. They have an amazing wood fired grill but the food had barely any hint of what that provides to the flavor. Plus our oysters were dry, like they'd been shucked hours before. Unacceptable being a stones throw from the source. I don't know if it's new ownership not knowing how special it was but it's no longer the River House we came to love.

Outstanding service on a busy night!! Cheeseburger seriously one of the most ambitious ones in the state -- sichuan peppercorn aioli, chile crisp, a juicy marinade, and charred greens with fondant potatoes, a perfect pairing. Hearing about one with a sichuan pesto made me want to reverse engineer it. Flawless peach cobbler cheesecake special with a perfect perfect cinnamon bite, and a really special cocktail program. Killer date night spot and amazing tunes and murals.

We were looking for a perfect spot to celebrate our 25th anniversary with our children on a rainy day. River House was perfect! We were seated quickly at a table with fabulous views, and were made to feel very welcome. The food was amazing, and the chef even sent us tasting of a polenta dish with whipped goat cheese. Delicious! Our starters of oysters were fresh and local, mushroom ragout was full of flavor, and our mains were perfectly cooked and beautifully plated. Desserts (tiramisu, blueberry sorbet) were the perfect ending. We never told the staff it was our anniversary but we were treated like they knew. Highly recommend and we will definitely be back!

We had a great dinner here last night. The service was stupendous, the food presentation lovely, and most importantly the food was absolutely delicious. Highly recommend!

I did not know they are under new ownership since last fall, had dinner last night and it was decadent. Nice and warm and cozy with the open kitchen.

Simply the best Great service, great food, great drinks. Friendly, accommodating, wonderful.

Walk through the door and you will be greeted by a welcoming staff. Say hello to the chefs and take a table by the river, an estuary really, and it is an ever changing show.They put the "K" in Kraft cocktails, which are fresh, creative, thirst quenching. We only had time for an appetizer: dark rum beverages, bread and butter and local oysters, delicious. We will be back for dinner. And River House, your attention to creating a great experience was appreciated by us and well done, superlative actually. Keep up the good work. Hope to be back soon.

The River House is uniformly very satisfying. I find their menu to be blasé at times, but none of it is ill suited for their apparent mission, and all of it is pretty good. The venue itself is very pleasant , small with many intimate spaces, and several tables that offer a glimpse of the busy kitchen , which I always enjoy. Service is also very good. Their pricing, like all good restaurants in Maine is almost eye popping high. But then when you operate with a business model based on 5-6 months of operation , I suppose that is impossible to avoid. A dinner for myself and three guests with a nominal bottle of wine and a few drinks was $450. I never felt like I hadn't gotten my moneys worth , but the sticker shock of Maine dining continues to sting. Make a reservation and take someone you really love here for a meal. They will appreciate your efforts, and so will you.

I heard a lot of good things about this place, and was very excited to go in and have a try at their restaurant in the "Napa valley of oysters" in Maine! And believe it or not... this place was GREAT!! WHAT I HAD: corn on the cob, burger, their in house special mackerel dish, and the chicken!!! Of course we had the dessert as well... OVERALL: I loved everything about this place and it definitely was a good relax... chill... and enjoy the vibes type of restaurant. The servers were very polite and attended to us frequently! There was one server who helped us set up the fire outside because we were cold, and that just made the meal a more pleasant experience. My favorite dish was the corn!!! Honestly everything was so good but the corn stood out to me because they managed to elevate a simple ingredient like corn to a dish worth its value. I loved the creamy-Ness of the outside layer, and the corn was not a sweet corn but a chewy and less sweet corn (not sure what the same is called), but it all worked out!! Super delicious!! Don't worry if you are sitting outside, there's also room for adjustment with this restaurant!! Definitely check it out if you are at Damariscotta!

Had an amazing dinner here tonight, The Artemis cocktail is amazing. Everyone loved what they ordered. Best restaurant in town and best meal and experience we have had in awhile. Highly recommend.

What a fantastic spot! This cute farm to table restaurant is located right on the water with both indoor and outdoor seating. Fresh, creative cocktails as well as extremely well executed food. I very much enjoyed the scallops, oysters and mussels paired with their twist on a gimlet. Everything was beautifully presented and the service was excellent! We finished our meal with chocolate mousse and a rhubarb crumble. Perfection! I highly recommend this place! One of the best meals I have ever had!

A picturesque dining experience right on the Damariscotta River. The burger was excellent, as were the mussels and salad. An intensely local and romantic restaurant with friendly service and great views.

Went last night to celebrate our anniversary. An hour drive in the rain soured my mood but the payoff was spectacular. Food was ridiculously good, service amazing. The swordfish was the best I have ever tasted and I am old! Not one thing was overlooked, everything was perfect. Appetizer of mussels was truly fabulous and different from the usual. I say go as soon as possible!!!!

This restaurant is a gem that needs to be tried. Prices are reasonable for the quality and quantity of food you get. We started with the biib salad which had a blue cheese, garlic dressing. Delicious We also had roasted tomatoes with a biscuit and carmilised onions. Both dishes will leave you speechless they were so good. The tomatoes and biscuit were served in a small cast iron pan and to us it reminded us of Thanksgiving. So good. For our mains. I had the goat shwarma with a side of veggies. The meat was flavorful and tender. Do not be fearful that its goat. It was not gamey at all. The side veggies of quash and beets were excellent. My wife had the muscles which came in a garlic and herb broth which was exceptional. The finaley was a lime, whip cream, and a short bread crumble. It was basically a deconstructed key lime pie.. You have to try this place and tell your friends. Worth a drive.

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.

Amazing dining experience and exceptional food! We'll be back during our next visit to this lovely town!

So lovely!! A small limited menu, but thank goodness because it means that each dish is very thoughtful, seasonal and intentional. Nearly all indoor tables have a river view. Setting is very cozy and welcoming and the front street patio looks very fun for summer. It's a special place for a date or with friends. Really look forward to returning!

Remarkable, wonderful restaurant on the water in Damariscotta. I showed up on a busy Thursday night in August and the hostess found a nice spot for me at the bar. The bartender Brett was fun, attentive, and conversational, and the food was superb -- broiled dayboat fish, fruit crumble and ice cream dessert, interesting cocktails. I'll go back.

Very nice location and the food was amazing and beautifully presented. Both my mom and I really enjoyed the dishes we ordered. I would highly recommend this restaurant for a nice dinner if you're in Damariscotta.

Owner John, was incredibly hospitable and knowledgeable about his food and artisan cocktails. We enjoyed our oysters and beverages immensely! Coming from San Francisco, River House impressed us and we felt welcomed and comfortable!

One of the best farm to table spots in Maine. The food,cocktails & desert are unique and amazing. Very unassuming and small kitchen that will wow your tastebuds.

Don't waste your money! In a nutshell - the place considers itself to be "high end" but the only thing that is high end here is the pricing. Portions are very small, and the food looked and tasted like a third grader had played in the kitchen. Upon entering, we were not even greeted, but immediately shamed by the host (?) because we did not have a reservation and that we had entered the restaurant 10 minutes prior to their opening for the evening (hint: keep your doors locked until you want patrons to enter). Wife had the chicken (there are only 4 items on the dinner main course menu). I had the arctic char, which was undercooked (mushy on the inside), disgusting. Even a dog would probably have turned its snoot sideways. There were some vegetables as part of the presentation, but it was all a greasy mess with way too much salt and seasoning on it. They char their vegetables at this establishment, which is very archaic considering what we know today about esophageal cancer and charred food. Anyway, the bill came to $92 - complete waste of money. We won't be back!

Stunning dinner for two! We had a roasted game hen, monk fish, mussels and cauliflower sun choke bisque for dinner. Amazing flavors! The chef uses a wood fired grill to cook many things and the added wood smoke flavor is spectacular. We also tried their chocolate crema dessert with a salted whisky caramel sauce, delish! The menu changes often keeping it exciting and different. We're very excited to have found this place, we're looking forward to many more meals here.

Delicious, extremely well considered dining in a beautiful but casual, easy-going environment. The chef has created a tight menu consisting of elevated basics - flatbreads, burgers, chicken, even a bratwurst "hot dog" (amazing!) - that would compete with any meal in any restaurant. The fact that this little gem sits right on the Damariscotta River, and features local ingredients - including oysters prepared with balsam fir olive oil (surprisingly smokey and delicious), adds mightily to the appeal. The side vegetables are remarkable combinations - make sure you try both the potatoes carrots and peas, and the zucchini, beets and cauliflower... they sound like simple combinations, but they make you think about how important it is to simply have great ingredients cooked perfectly. The staff are friendly, warm, and welcoming. The chef is humble and relaxed while putting out incredible meals all cooked over a wood burning oven. If you like to eat well, and are in the area, THIS is the one place you need to visit.

What a wonderful place to dine! The views of the river are amazing and outdoor seating options are a wonderful way to get a curbside view of daily life in Damarascotta. Ambience aside, the food was incredible and served expertly by the kitchen and wait staff. The menu is focused with a handful of 1st plates and an equal number of entrees, along with a daily special for each. This is largely due to their sourcing locally which keeps the menu seasonal and fresh. I highly recommend River House if you're visiting Damarascotta or simply passing through - it's worth the stop.

Had dinner there while vacation in the Damariscotta area at the end of July - wish we were staying in the area longer, as I'd go back to the River House again and again! The food was excellent, and the service was terrific - timed just right so we didn't have to wait long between courses, but never felt rushed. Wait staff was friendly, took time to talk with us, and very attentive to our needs. Highly recommend it.

Everything was absolutely fantastic and really artfully done. Will definitely come here again!

Very good food but a bit overpriced. Very limited menu. Inattentive waitstaff never checked back and could not order 2nd glass of wine. Took forever to find someone to ask for check.

Quaint restaurant right on water. Pizza was amazing. Lots of veggies and pesto. Food is well presented. Ingredients very fresh. High caliber restaurant for the area.

We absolutely Love going to the River House when we are lucky enough to be in Damariscotta. Jonathan, the chef, is incredibly talented and puts his heart and soul into the delightful bites he creates - simple, elegant, delicious, and beautiful. He knows the time and effort it takes to grow the ingredients and honors them with the preparation. And the bread too. Delicious! We can't wait to return! Sending our best vibes to this wonderful restaurant!

Best meal i had in town. Food was beautifully presented, wait staff was awesome. All 3 courses we had were top notch, All ready planning on snagging the outside table when we visit next year.

Every. Thing. Lovely, very special, elegant yet relaxed and easy. Service perfect. Best piece of salmon i have ever eaten. Even the tables were gorgeous.

This gem is one of our favorites! The food is beyond fabulous--always inventive, delicious and all based on local fresh foods. The service is wonderful, the atmosphere is lovely (we especially love dining outdoors under their awning). Jon is a master in the kitchen and the entire staff is friendly, courteous and professional. We missed dining here in person during the lockdown but they did curbside takeout and the wood grilled flavor of many of their dishes can't be described--just out of this world delicious. Happy to be back to dining here in person. You MUST try this spot, it will become a Go To, trust me.

Such an amazing little restaurant! I could not recommend them enough. It's great to see a higher-end spot open up in Damariscotta. The farm-to-table aspect is great. Each dish is clearly prepared with a high attention to detail. Outstanding.

Had a WONDERFUL experience at River House tonight. The venue is lovely, with terrific views of the river and the boats there. It is small, with an open kitchen and prominent bar. Our server, Eloise, was attentive and lovely. She had great recommendations, though you can't go wrong with any of the dishes we had. The staters were wonderful. I especially enjoyed the farmer's salad with a local cheese I hadn't heard of. The Damariscotta oysters, were perfect, of course, with a nice, light cucumber mignette. Our entrees included a whole sea bass and a monkfish skewer. Both were cooked perfectly, very fresh, moist and well flavored. It far exceeded our expectations for such a young restaurant. The sides! Oh my gosh, the sides! Fresh corn, seasoned and coated with ricotta crumbles was my favourite. The purple potatoes, that were somehow crisp and mashed at the same time were also really good. These were served family style. Jeff, at the bar, helped us choose a really great wine to accompany these, and shared fun stories with.us. For dessert, we had a warm blueberry and cream dish with a nice cobbler. I have a couple of take-aways: first, the menu is small, but everything is so fresh and perfectly prepared that it works. Second, the experience overall was on par with some of the best restaurants I've been to in much larger cities. The staff was attentive and very personable. The owner's presence and energy spread across the 30 or so seats so that we all felt special. The chef and bartender have thought of little details like fresh, edible flowers frozen into the large block ice over which a great bourbon rye was served to conclude the meal. And those sides... I know it's weird, but I passed up the blueberries and cream that my wife enjoyed and instead I ordered another helping of that corn! Don't tell anyone I did that, but I have no regrets!

Amazing food with an incredible view. They've really invested in improving seating options during the pandemic, and the atmosphere is great. Certainly worthwhile; the owners and everyone who works there are lovely.

We were vacationing in the area and happened to stumble upon River House. Walked in and sat right at the bar. Food and drinks were both excellent. HIGHLY recommend!

Wonderful food every time we dine at River House. The Manhattan's are classic, oyster appetizers delicious and choice of (limited menu) entrees suit almost any taste. We are fortunate to have such a fine dining experience (albeit casual) in Mid coast Maine.

Had a second wonderful meal here tonight. Everything was amazing again! The proteins were cooked to perfection, the sides are amazing, the starters were wonderful. It's a small restaurant so reservations are highly recommended but it means that the kitchen can't get overloaded so the food is consistently fantastic. Well done to the owners.

Truly transcendent experience. One of the best meals we have ever had ever, anywhere. Ingredients unbelievably fresh, all locally sourced. If you are ever within 100 miles of Damariscotta, Maine, have dinner at this restaurant -- it is a really special place.

What a gem! Only open 4 weeks and already finding its legs, this restaurant is special. We tried to get in our first night in Maine but they were slammed. Owner Elenor handed us a card with two hands and sincerely said, "Please come back." Welcoming and comforting decor greeted us and the menu though small was very inviting. We started with perfect oysters, then I had the whole fish. The sommelier/bartender Jeff was super helpful in selecting cocktails and wine and was spot on with his recommendations. Thank you for opening this restaurant and I hope you are hugely successful!!!

Very nice new restaurant close to the bridge in downtown Damariscotta.-small , nice atmosphere, limited menu but very good, fresh ingredients coupled with delicious preparation and presentation. Service was friendly and prompt, too. Definitely a keeper in a town with growing excellent options. Wonderful view, as well.

This restaurant was beyond our expectations- warm, personable service coupled with a small but outstanding menu. We will definitely be back- if you can get the reservation for the private deck you will also experience a gorgeous view with local live music in the background.

Exceptional meal, exceptional service. Every thing our party of six ordered was delightful, fresh, and surprising. The pumpkin bisque tasted like spicy froth from the gods. The salads were hearty, lightly dressed and perfectly portioned. Our family members were grabbing each other's chicken bones off the plate to graw the last shreds of tender meat off the bone. The desserts were perfectly portioned, small flavorful and elegant. The bartender is exceptionally skilled! , The cocktail menu is creative. My father, who thinks that cauliflower is a deadly weapon, pronounced the vegetable preparation in aïoli with grapes to be the best cauliflower he's ever had. My mother, who usually does not finish her first cocktail, was witnessed sucking down the drags of a second.Overall, we were deeply impressed with the technical skill of the kitchen and the hospitality of the staff. Wish we could eat here every night. Love you river house!

Our first meal was fantastic. Fresh, local and seasonal ingredients are the focus. Their upscale cocktail selection is also excellent. We samples the smoked bluefish, shishito peppers, roasted chicken and vegetable ragu. The ownership is also focused on sustainability and supporting the local economy. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for a more fine dining experience in the Damariscotta region.