The Historic Downtowner

Charming place right on the New River, get an outdoor table and watch the boats go by. We had a great burger on the daily special for $7(!). If I lived near there I’d be back for the burgers. Perfectly cooked also. Our server Matthew was great. We also shared a shrimp Cobb salad, very good. Lovely place for lunch. I’d try it for dinner too.

Excellent water front dining on the intercoastal. It is a first come. First serve open sitting inside. We were able to walk right in and get a table. Randomly stopped dead while visiting downtown Fort Lauderdale. Really cool view at night. The food was good, but nothing special. I felt our service could’ve been a little better which would’ve helped the experience. Overall will try it again.

We went here for lunch for the first time. I will start with the positives. Positives: The location is nice right across from the water & lots of beautiful yachts parked in the area. Another positive is the waiters Kitty was nice & friendly. They had mocktails on the drink menu and I had a coconut mojito and it was good. Negatives: We ordered Conch fritters and they were ok but they served it with cocktail sauce and that was not a good combination. I ordered the shrimp & grits & it was horrible. It taste like they added sugar to the meal. It was the worst shrimp & grits I ever had. My husband ordered the salmon Rockefeller and I had to spit it out it was horrible. When I went inside to use the restroom I felt out of place and uncomfortable. Overall it was a horrible experience. I will never come here again.

Review from a non local! Riverside seating and views made our meal delicious and fun. Ordered the mahi fish tacos with Spanish fried rice, sirloin steak tacos, shrimp cocktail appetizer, and Lauderdale Brewery Coconut Porter. Everything was delicious! Hot and fresh. Absolutely delectable. The coconut porter was very interesting; tasted like a Guinness with coconut. Service was wonderful and very attentive. Our server was excellent and was very knowledgeable of the menus. Family friendly restaurant. I really loved the water views. Everything was nice already but the waterside seats made it just more fun. Highly recommend!

The kitchen actually was slow, but we were fine with it. Our waitress (Sharia sp?) was professional and lovely. Our meals were fine, but nothing exceptional. However, with drinks, seating canal side, and great weather, altogether made for a memorable day. Free parking behind the restaurant.

8/12/22- Got a spot on the dock again , air-conditioning inside was fabulous they have outside seating as well. We had the fish fry Friday nice three pieces and nice french fries and coleslaw was very good. Nancy at the bar was pleasant . Got a dock spot. Score. The place was packed. Sports bar and lots of games and TV’s. Kitty was our sever. As busy as she was she was great, cool calm and collective she talked to us to joked with us and I’m telling you the place was wall-to-wall people. We wanted a beer and a bottle of wine. G had a hamburger. It’s was huge with FF. I had the lobster bisque and Marie had the French onion, looked real cheesy. My gf and I split the wine , plus I ordered their fish and chips the batter was was light real good . Marie had the Philly steak which came with peppers and onions we asked for shrooms on side. Kitty the server was truly a seasoned server.

Always a classic in Fort Lauderdale! Come sit by the water enjoy the views and whole Fort Lauderdale vibe. Food is great and you can waste hours away enjoying cocktails and the locals. I got the Famous Fish and Chips and the breading was amazing. Tasted very fresh, my wife got the poke bowl. I had a bite of the clam chowder and it was delicious!!! Friendly staff!

My Hamburger was great with the Bacon jelly! We ate right on the water. Captain Bob recommended we came here and he was spot on! He was our Captain on the free water taxi. Our waiter was Ray. OK this guy's eyes .... wow! Ok in all seriousness he was so nice and friendly and communicated with us on our meal status often. Top notch service. I would definitely agree with Captain Bob on this one. Go here!

Always a classic in Fort Lauderdale! Come sit by the water enjoy the views and whole Fort Lauderdale vibe. Food is great and you can waste hours away enjoying cocktails and the locals. I got the Famous Fish and Chips and the breading was amazing. Tasted very fresh, my wife got the poke bowl. I had a bite of the clam chowder and it was delicious!!! Friendly staff!!

A group of 6 went to the Historic Downtowner and it was nothing but a DOWNER We arrived around 5:30 and we're seated near the water outside, absolutely gorgeous weather and a nice setting on a canal with yachts and boats galore. The outside seating was pretty full but the inside was nearly empty, not busy. We ordered a round of drinks (happy hour ) and a few appetizers. All good so far. Thursday is 'prime rib special $22'. The waitress got all 6 orders, all prime rib except one, who ordered shrimp tacos. When our food arrived, every rib dinner was cold and over cooked, even the vegetables we refrigerator cold. One girl likes rare prime rib, it came out more overdone med-rare, she asked for a new 'warm' rare cut and they brought her the same plate, re-warmed now cooked well done!!!! The manager came over, we told him about the cold food and he only took one dinner off. I'll say I looked forward to this dinner all day as 3 in the group raved about it. Big disappointment is an understatement. Will I go back, NO Will I recommend, NO I say proceed at your own risk. I give it the 2 only for the beautiful outside setting, nothing else.

This is one of the last few restaurants you can sit on the River and has been there forever it is really "Historic". Still has historic charm and despite all the tall buildings, it's nice to dine on the water. Having grown up in Fort Lauderdale, I spent many great times at the Downtowner. I can't remember why we stopped going but decided to try it last night and was sadly disappointed. Like so many restaurants (since Covid?) they are understaffed, and the quality of the food has significantly diminished while prices increase. I understand we were dining on prime real estate, so didn't really focus on prices and maintained our patience despite the slow service. I ordered spinach and artichoke dip and French onion soup. The dip was OK, chips were a little stale... The soup however was horrible. In fact, I can safely say it was the worst French onion soup I've ever tasted. I've made it at home. It's not that hard To begin with, It was in the tiniest crock I've ever seen, and salt was the predominant/only flavor. It was as if they dropped a boullion cube in a glass of warm water (and didn't add enough water). if that wasn't bad enough, it was cold. When I nicely told the waitress that I couldn't eat it because it was cold, she replied "of course it was" The other ladies I ate with had a quesadilla and a burger both were pretty underwhelming. When we asked to split the check three ways (which I understand is a pain in the butt) she rolled her eyes and said It's gonna be a while" ... After waiting another long while, we walked up towards the building to save her the extra steps and she told us she needed to void it all because she put the whole bill on one credit card. Painfully understaffed, she was overwhelmed, but a little empathy would've gone along way. I know it's hard to maintain a good attitude in those situations. I blame the management for not having enough staff. People are looking for a jobs out there now - Covid has been pretty much gone for a few years. Hope they can step up their game. I'd hate to see another river Restaurant go away to make room for yet another monstrous high-rise Good places to eat on the River in Ft Laud keep disappearing. Downtowner Saloon could be awesome again and hope it will be.

We met a few friends here & it was a gorgeous day to sit by the water & watch the boats go by. The outside is dog friendly so we brought our 12 month Golden Retriever who's in training for a therapy dog. We sat outside to have a few cocktails & a bite to eat. Thanks to Ray our waiter who was A#1 He introduced me to their Watermelon mojito. It's a fabulous must try. The food & watermelon mojito were delishhhhh! There is parking just behind the restaurant. Nice place to unwind & kick back.

Best place to eat in downtown Fort Lauderdale! The entire staff is super sweet, and very welcoming and the head cook Leon is a complete angel. We love it there, 10/10 would recommend.

This place is sometimes great and other times not so good. Overall, food is good. Depending on the who's working the service varies. Ambiance is what you'd expect of an old divy place, however, location is great - right on the river. Can get busy sometimes on the weekends or when there are some events going on, but overall, a decent place.

The ambience of this place is great, very nice indoor & outdoor seating. Service is also friendly. The food however is pretty below average. I got the blackened snapper, the fish was alright, but the rice was super crunchy and just did not seem like it was cooked properly. Nonetheless, I would probably come back and maybe try a different menu item.

I feel terrible dogging on this place, it's a staple of Ft. Lauderdale and so historical. I LOVE IT for that. Gorgeous views on the water, divey atmosphere, you feel like a local. I just really wish they'd step it up in the food department.....the chicken quesadilla was soggy and limp. My husbands chicken sandwich was meh. The fries looked like they'd been picked off on. I just wish they'd put a little more love into their food. Wishing this place all the best, hoping this feedback makes it somewhere because this place is truly a historical gem.

I had lunch with 2 friends today. There is free parking right behind the building. There is another lot to the right side, but you will pay to park there. I wanted the Blueberry Habanero Margarita without the habanero, but Ray told me it was a mix. He suggested the Watermelon Mojito. Excellent choice. My friend had the vegetable quesadilla and said it was the best she ever had. I had the Mahi Tacos. I understand the reviews that said they were bland. They are bland because they aren't blackened. I wish I would have asked for lightly seasoned because they were a little too spicy for me. My other friend had the smoked fish dip and was happy.

This is an amazing place. We have been coming here for years living in miami we appreciate the drive. Desiree, is a magnificent bar tender and so is all the other staff picking up after such a large crowd what a turn out everyone of all ages are here today on a Friday for St. Patrick's Day!! My complements to all the members here you all are amazing seeing you work so well together. The food: excellent as always! The drinks without a doughy perfect as usual. Cheers you all!! Enjoy!

As a local, I frequently go out for both food and drink happy hour. The Downtowner has the best of both worlds. $7 bites which include 3 types of shrimp, baked meatballs, and more. The drinks are $3-$7 on happy hour. It's not on the side of the river with all the bars, however, the food is great, the price is great, and you are in one of the only places that has seats right on the river. I eat here all the time and will continue to do the same.!

The Downtowner is one of the best places to watch football. You enjoy the beautiful weather and view, but you're surrounded by lots of TVs. If you don't care about the weather, there are even more TVs inside. I've always enjoyed my meals here, ranging from salads to the fish dip, which I'd highly recommend. I also love that they have a special doggie menu :) Come check this place out!

a new found (way overdue) love for Downtowner since first visiting for St Patrick's day! that was (a very affordable) booze filled day and an awesome atmosphere and band. then recently came for a saturday afternoon delight lunch. grabbed a table by the water, a few on tap beers, spinach dip, conch fritters(weird flex with the cocktail sauce tho) and bacon jam burger(fire!) find the place to classic inside and out for south florida.

Interesting place to try on St Patricks Day! LOL We were following a local band playing at the Downtowner this eve and decided to venture out. The band "Mr Nice Guy aka MNG" was amazing. We were lucky enough to grab a booth in the bar area as the place was packed. We saw corned beef and cabbage on the menu: i don't know how, but the overly busy servers were able to kindly take our order and eventually we got our dinners . $18 We were happy! The crowd was insane but we had a great night. Will try this place again another time! They have indoor and outdoor seating and the atmosphere was really cool. We will take the free water taxi service which takes you to all these places on the New River.

I didn't get to see the inside of The Historic Downtowner because it was packed! My husband and I preferred to have a table overlooking the water anyway. Even though they were extremely busy, the attendant was quick in finding us a table and giving us the menus. We had a great view of the yachts that passed by and the happy, party people in it. We didn't starve or get bored waiting for our orders. The drinks came right away. I ordered the Don Julio Paloma and my husband the double espresso martini. Verdict? Definitely worth it! My shrimp platter was perfect-the sauce, the coleslaw, and the crispy chips and shrimp were all well seasoned and cooked well. The seared Ahi Tuna was superb and so was the garlic butter shrimp. Everything was delicious. There's also plenty of parking space for their customers. It's free parking! It's a place with good food and drinks, cool views, and friendly and efficient staff. We're both happy we chose to go to The Historic Downtowner tonight. Highly recommended.

Love, love , love the Downtowner!!! But Seafood Saturday sux!! Wish Saturday had a non- seafood option!! Best cooks and bar staff anywhere! They are all amazing, friendly, above and beyond! Kitty, Des, Taylor, Casandra, etc are the Best!! Thank you ladies you rock as always!!!

This place is awesome! I stopped by for lunch with a coworker today. I had the New River Salad which was sashimi grade sesame tuna over baby greens, onion, roasted red peppers, tomato, and Asian sweet ginger dressing. I added avocado and it tasted AMAZING!! Tuna was very fresh and a large portion. The salad overall was huge! My coworker ordered the Philly cheesesteak and said it was very good. The service from Tatjana was outstanding. I'm surprised this place does not have better reviews. I was really impressed and will be back!

The Downtowner is a classic stop during your visit to FTL! Ask about the history while you're there. Go for the river views. Amazing people / boat watching! Grab a seat under an umbrella for some shade and enjoy a few drinks. Food is standard bar food. Expansive beer menu. Impressed with wine selection. Some of the best prices along the river. Staff is great. Always friendly and understanding if you just want to grab a few drinks and share some apps in the afternoon. When you're done, grab the free water trolley east to Las Olas. A great day!

First time visit wow food was great Tori at the bar was so informative and fun. The manager Carson was so welcoming and professional I'll definitely be back.5stars

The fish & chips were so good! Others in my group has the chicken sandwich, shrimp & grits and the bacon jam hamburger. All of it was delicious and the only problem was they don't sell the bacon jam to take home! Ray was our server and awesome. We sat next to the canal and he brought us drinks and food in the pouring rain. I'd highly recommend this place.

Really great experience at The Historic Downtowner. We went around 3pm and were able to sit right on the water with no wait. The Josh Cabernet ($9/glass or $32/bottle) was very good. It was slightly chilled which made it refreshing on the hot day. I got the Wedge Salad with Steak (no bacon and dressing on the side) It was about $19. The salad was sooo good! The steak was cooked PERFECTLY! I enjoyed my salad so much. We also got the Southwest Chicken Quesadilla which was very good! Freshly baked desserts, cheesecake and key lime pie (7.50 each) they were so good! My cheesecake was very fresh and they were served with whipped cream. The service was a little slow but the ambiance was so nice that we didn't mind. Will deff be back!

Another wonderful lunch with a great view and excellent service. Daryl took care of again and his cheery demeanor and wonderful service was so comforting. Our food was fantastic and we were entertained by all of the boats passing by.

Food blah. Service very poor. Outside seating by the river provided great views . Waiter was rude as he was very slow after seating ourselves. Waited 25 minutes before he acknowledged us with menus and water. He verbally told us to hurry with our choices because he had 2 other tables to wait on. The place was not busy at all.

I had a turkey BLT in the middle of the work week. The food was really great and delicious. The service was great too because we were in a big group and they served us quickly and brought out all the checks correctly. I love that it's right by the water and if you love to view the boats you will love this place! I really enjoy the area and the vibes.

By far the worst service in Ft. Lauderdale. You will sit there and wait for over 20 mins just for a waiter to bring you a menu

Went to try their Monday Rack of Ribs special. It's about $12.99 for ribs and fries (although you can get other sides like veggies, etc). We sat outside and enjoyed the nice waterview. The ribs came fairly quickly. They were really nicely seasoned. The flavor was delicious...the only complaint was that they were not very meaty and the rack itself was a bit on the smaller side. We all had to order some appetizers to fill us up. As always, I am partial to the nachos, so I got them...the chili on top was VERY SALTY..... the chips and cheese were fine, but the cheese was used sparingly, so not very cheesy nor gooey. It was just OK. My friends got the pork slider and the coconut shrimp and they really enjoyed theirs. Good place for specials. Nice waterview.. Friendly staff.

Just stopped by for a glass of Red Zinfandel to see a friend who recently started working here. This place has one of the most beautiful outdoor seating areas in Fort Lauderdale. This River Walk area is gorgeous. I encourage you to come here and have a meal or some cocktails and take in the lovely view and chill atmosphere. It was a super mild temperature low humidity day and we throughly enjoyed it. Tuesday is 7 dollar burger day. I don't think this includes the impossible burger though. They have a few things they can tweak to make Vegan, like the Brussel sprouts and the bean tacos. The beer and wine selection is very agreeable and the signature cocktail selection looks inviting. I didn't try it yet but I'll be back to try that peach Cosmo with Grey Goose peach vodka!

I got steak fries and they were fine but the 1 star is for the piss-poor service the server with the mullet provided. He went to all his other tables constantly and really ignored my table. I had to constantly stop ask other servers for assistance. The only difference between the tables is mine was 4 men of color.

Have eaten there many times over the years . Never one complaint! This time was bad enough we won't return. Raw oysters arrived looking like they were literally dropped on the floor. Dog hair and dirt covered. We refused them. My Poke meal came looking like it was someone's leftover meal. While it tasted ok I could not get past the fact it looked like someone's leftovers! Horrible presentation! Very kind server but service was very slow! When eating raw food it's important that if feel clean and fresh! This experience did not feel that way! In fact it was down right gross! So sad cause it's such a great location on the water !

Nice location looking the new river, we didn't have to wait too much time for service, food was also good.

Good local neighborhood bar... great happy hour prices and options. The bartenders and servers are attentive and fun :)

Great atmosphere & perfect location. Right up the bridge of the riverwalk.. Food was great, but I was surprisingly in the mood for chicken tendz, pretty good by the way... The downtowner makes me miss Fort Lauderdale so much! Great vibes here, staff is on top of things as well. Bar area seems pretty nice here also. Walk around the Riverwalk when you're done here, so many ice cream vendors, live music... You really can't not love Fort Laudy.

Review from a non local! Riverside seating and views made our meal delicious and fun. Ordered the mahi fish tacos with Spanish fried rice, sirloin steak tacos, shrimp cocktail appetizer, and Lauderdale Brewery Coconut Porter. Everything was delicious! Hot and fresh. Absolutely delectable. The coconut porter was very interesting; tasted like a Guinness with coconut. Service was wonderful and very attentive. Our server was excellent and was very knowledgeable of the menus. Family friendly restaurant. Kid menu available. Seating was ok for families and they accommodated for a party of 6. Indoor seating for families may have been a little tighter. Outdoor seating was very popular but we didn't wait long. I really loved the water views. Everything was nice already but the waterside seats made it just more fun. Highly recommend!

We have eaten here on a few different occasions food is always consistently good . Had delicious chicken fingers the last time we were here most enjoyable

Fun place to sit and have a lazy afternoon drink or cocktail Lots of atmosphere fun to watch the boats go by. Can't say much about the food though not the best.

Great location right on New River. I will be back as I only had appetizers. Nice little happy hour with a small amount of appetizers to choose from and drink specials. The nachos were excellent and we gobbled those up. We also got the coconut shrimp that one friend didn't think were cooked but to me just seemed rather soggy. I will try something else next time. There is an awesome room they rent out for special events. This place is historic and fun.

15 minutes to close and we were given great service, delicious food and not rushed even though they were wrapping up a long days work.

Bad food, bad service, nice ambiance since located on the river. Incredibly over priced bar food & seriously not worth it given proximity to other better restaurants.

It lands at average for me. I had been wanting to go here for a while. My beyond burger was served a little on the raw side and the fries were just ok. Service here was top notch. The outdoor seating is what you should come for and there are two options, close to the restaurant and close to the river. The river option is limited and normally you can expect a wait for any table there. They do have a rather large menu with American comfort food and plenty of drinks. Prices are reasonable and portions are large enough to keep you from starving. This building has been here since 1926. I had a nice time and I'm hoping you will too. Great place to people watch. Check out brunch specials during the weekend.

We went here for lunch for the first time. I will start with the positives. Positives: The location is nice right across from the water & lots of beautiful yachts parked in the area. Another positive is the waiters Kitty was nice & friendly. They had mocktails on the drink menu and I had a coconut mojito and it was good. Negatives: We ordered Conch fritters and they were ok but they served it with cocktail sauce and that was not a good combination. I ordered the shrimp & grits & it was horrible. It take like they added sugar to the meal. It was the worst shrimp & grits I ever had. My husband ordered the salmon Rockefeller and I had to spit it out it was horrible. When I went inside to use the restroom I felt out of place and uncomfortable. Overall it was a horrible experience. I will never come here again.

Great location right on the water. Big menu to choose from. Everything was delicious.

As much as I would had LOVED to had enjoyed myself I just wanted to say that Cat is probably not a good fit for this industry. Her lack of energy, her lack of attention to detail and the lackluster service was enough to leave a one star review. Aside from that, the food was mediocre and flavorless at best. When I found out a chef that used to work there was no longer there, I could immediately tell. The food was a bit overpriced given the closeness to other reputable establishments. As long as Cat is there, the chances of me returning are little to none. Maybe a training course on how to talk to people would be sufficient. Also maybe understanding that at $2.13/hr, I would expect a little more pleasantness with my meal. This experience was definitely a downer on my visit. I now will be left out of any future visits. I will also let my friends and family know as well.

The hostess should be the most pleasant person in restaurant. She should greet with a warm smile. Well this is not the case at The Downtowner. This is not the first time we have been greeted by Terry or maybe it's Carrie with just plane rudeness. She is just plain nasty. Twice we have just gone to Tarpon River to eat instead. Well last night we did stay to eat but once again. Her rudeness to my son showed it's nasty head. I did complain and the the manager and wait staff were nice and accommodating. We like this place because of the view. The prices are good and the food is good. But I should feel welcomed not out on the defensive. BTW. Our food took almost an hour to get to our table!

Desiree is a 10/10, we came in with our service dog and did not deny any service. she was very attentive and so friendly! we highly recommend her if you're sitting at the bar!!!

If you come here, definitely wait for a seat along the river. That's the only way you'll make this experience worth it. That and order a frozen mango daiquiri! The food was extremely mediocre. The tuna tacos had amazing potential, but it was not plated tastefully. The tuna to tortilla ratio was way off - I took the tuna (and all the fillings) off the third taco and divided it among the other two. I also mixed the sauce that was only at the bottom of the tortilla throughout the top. After this... Tuna tacos get a 4/5! Not pictured, but the fries are amazing. Definitely ask to substitute any side of rice (super bland and weird texture) with their fries! The fried seafood platter was also not worth getting. Overall, I'd only come back to have frozen cocktails by the river. Get food somewhere else.

Our experience at this restaurant was great! Our servers were extremely friendly and attentive, despite one of them being in training. The espresso martini is definitely something I would get again! We also went on a day where they were having a 1/2 off special on ribs, which were fantastic! They fell right off the bone and had a great flavor! We sat along the inter-coastal which had great views of yachts sailing by and the beautiful, tall buildings around us. The wait was fairly long for the outside tables, so definitely recommend calling and making a reservation if possible, but it was worth it to sit outside. Inside, the walls are lined with historic newspapers and photos of Fort Lauderdale, so definitely check those out when you go inside!

I had high hopes for this place, as the waterfront location is great. Unfortunately, the food is terrible and the service is awful. There are much better options for dining. Spend your money somewhere else.

Don't come here for the food - but rather the experience. It's hard to find a solid, local, no-frills bar/restaurant with a great river view in Las Olas, but the DTer doesn't disappoint. Amazing happy hour specials, and the staff makes you feel like you're right at home. Again...the food is not great so don't order the snapper and expect to be blown away. You come here for the people and setting! Catch a table outside, and take your time here to enjoy the good vibes. Stay for that extra drink if you can ;) it's a local establishment and the patrons are friendly...you're bound to come across the most interesting people in South Florida! On Sunday's they have an awesome guy with steel drums sing and play to classic reggae tunes.

I stopped by here with some co workers for an impromptu lunch. The weather was glorious and we were lucky to score a seat along the river. The waiter was super friendly and super attentive. I ordered shrimp roll - which consisted of 12 (yes 12!) huge chilled shrimp, served between a toasted roll with sliced avocado and a Siracha slaw and a side of fries. The roll was super flavorful and I was surprised as to how much shrimp it came with. In the end I couldn't finish the whole sandwich so I just ate the remainder of the shrimp. The slaw wasn't too spicy which was good and the fries were perfectly crispy. I would highly recommend coming out here for lunch and hopefully get a table by the water. The waiter also mentioned happy hour they have daily. Something definitely worth checking out,

I used to go this restaurant often when I worked within walking distance. It was a nice break from my office especially with its scenic views of the New River. Times have changed. There were only 6 people seated inside and a couple tables outside on the water. It took over a half hour to get our food! And we'd only ordered burgers. Hate to see how they handle it when it is busy... They did have a very good lunch special. Their drink of the day for only $5 was Tito's vodka which my husband enjoyed with a splash of grapefruit juice. We both ordered their $5 burger lunch special which came with fries. Our only difference in our orders -- his was with onion and tomato; mine with tomato only. Both no lettuce. So they still got his order wrong. Once we got the burgers, they were fine. We'd both ordered them medium -- his medium rare - - and they were a tad overcooked, but still edible. And by then we were very hungry. You certainly can't knock the prices. The lunch specials were a deal... but even so, they should make it so you want to come back again and again... Now we know.