The House on the River

Review summary

1. A

   Alexa

   Fort Lauderdale

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   We just celebrated our parents' 50th anniversary here, and it was absolutely fabulous. The private room was gorgeous and quiet, and it was the exact intimate experience we were hoping for. Our waiter, Sean (I hope that’s spelled right 🥴), was exceptional, attentive, and sweet, making our overall experience wonderful. We highly recommend The House on the River for anyone looking for a beautiful night with loved ones. Thank you to everyone at The House for making our night pure perfection.
   

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2. R

   Rose

   Phoenix

   2 reviews

   4.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 5

   This is our third holiday dinner with House on the River. The food was outstanding. Our service was absolutely terrible. I have been here for Brunch. I have been here for the bakery and it's always been a lovely experience. Our waiter that waited on us at take 44 was beyond horrible. He lied and told us that the oysters that were being served were "large" and now only were being served one rather than two a person. It was a fixed menu and after 45 minutes were still waiting on our appetizers. I mentioned it to our waiter, "Samuel," tall red head, nothing was done. We were still waiting on food. I spoke with the manager Jody downstairs. She had no knowledge of different sizes of oysters and made note of the beyond terrible service. I have dined many times at many restaurants in the US and Samuel is by far the worst waiter I have found coast to coast in an out of the country. He lied and told us our bill was COMPED then when the bill came paid for two glasses of wine. I'm not looking for a free meal. I was looking to continue with our holiday tradition started at House on the River with fantastic food and as great dining experience. If not, for Jody the manager the night would have been a complete bust. She is pleasant and an asset to the company. Everyone can have a bad night but our waiter was beyond bad. He is a liar. You can't come back from a severe character flaw. My Google review to follow.
   

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3. M

   Michael

   Miami

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Not much is open on Thanksgiving so I was looking for a place special for my small family. This was a random choice based on proximity to all of the members. Long story short... Great service everybody was quite personable. Great soft jazz music playing. Great ambiance with this beautiful historic home cozily decorated and a garden Terrace on the New River. Thanks to everyone who worked on Thanksgiving especially Liz our server. What a gal! The food was great all around. All four people were happy which is something to say! Thanks for a great experience. I'll be back on my next date!
   

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4. D

   Dragan

   Fort Lauderdale

   3 reviews

   3.0

   3 reviews

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 4

   Our Thanksgiving dinner at House on the River started off wonderfully. The food was exceptional, and our server, Samuel K., provided outstanding service—attentive and friendly throughout. Unfortunately, the evening ended on a sour and disappointing note. After approximately two hours, as we were finishing our dessert and nearly ready to leave, the female manager approached us and informed us that we were approaching our allotted time of 2.5 hours and would need to vacate the table soon. This came as a complete surprise, as no one had informed us at the start of our meal—or on the website—that the Porch Swing Room table had any time limits. While I understand that this room is exclusive and in high demand, the situation was handled with a disappointing lack of hospitality business sense. The restaurant was nearly empty, and instead of offering a solution—such as moving us to another table—we were unceremoniously asked to prepare to leave. For customers spending nearly $400 for two people and prepared to spend even more on drinks, this level of disregard for guest experience is unacceptable. Hospitality is about making guests feel welcomed and valued, and this encounter did the opposite. Despite the excellent food and Samuel K.’s exemplary service, the management’s handling of the situation overshadowed what could have been a perfect dining experience. This lack of customer focus is deeply disappointing and unprofessional for a restaurant of this caliber. D.H.
   

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5. B

   Barbara

   West Palm Beach

   10 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   10 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Our first time here and pleasantly surprised. Although quite busy at brunch time, we were seated quickly and server came right away. Very satisfied and will definitely return.
   

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6. D

   Danielle

   Atlanta Metro

   1 review

   vip
   2.0

   1 review

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   The host is astonishingly rude. I should be clear about who because there was more than one. The older caucasian woman has one of the worst attitudes I’ve come across in the service industry. There are several other reviews about her which the management should heed. Her personality is enough to make milk sour. She stared at us when we walked up and said “yes?” No “how may I help you?” Or any kind of greeting for that matter. She acted like she was upset that we showed up for our reservation. Fortunately the rest of the staff is kind. We sat outside and the atmosphere is beautiful. The food is okay - nothing to write home about. But you’re paying for the location. However that first impression was enough to spoil the experience for me. There are plenty of waterfront restaurants in Fort Lauderdale to sit and watch boats go by with decent food, and most importantly, kind and hospitable staff.
   

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7. P

   Patricia

   New York City

   26 reviews

   5.0

   26 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The House on the River is my “go to” for Sunday brunch prior to a show at Broward Performing Arts. This was my second visit and I am already looking forward to returning with my granddaughter in December! The food and drinks are delicious. The ambiance—both inside and outside seating—is stellar. Our waiter—“Sam”—was thoughtful and made sure we got to our show on time. A wonderful spot on the river that has old school charm with classic brunch fare beautifully prepared.
   

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8. M

   Mabel

   Fort Lauderdale

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 5

   The Sunday brunch was delish! Enjoyed everything but the croissants and the chicken n waffles were the table faves!!
   

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9. B

   Bradley

   Fort Lauderdale

   38 reviews

   2.0

   38 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 2
   4. Ambience 2

   we were offered a wobbly table and a broken chair. Service was poor (still waiting form my glass of wine) and my wife's trout was awful. Accompanying sweet potato was cold. Bread basket was OK but came during midst of dinner.
   

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10. A

    Aundra

    Miami

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5

    I attended the House of Veuve brunch presented by House on the River and had such an amazing time. The host Anique was very kind, engaging and attentive! The service provided was excellent, the food was tasty and I really enjoyed partaking in my bottle of Veuve Rose! I loved the vibe of this brunch and I look forward to attending again!
    

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