River

“River is consistently the best restaurant in Tuscaloosa area. Enjoyed our night out at River as usual. We got seated in a lovely booth that had the perfect vibe for us. We got the lamb lollipop for starter. It was beautifully cooked with the right amount of char on the chops. The accompanying BBQ sauce also gave a delicious deep flavor and not sickly sweet like BBQ sauce can sometimes get. The chef also kindly gave us an extra chop as it was the last portion of the night - true sign of real hospitality and very much appreciated from the chef. I got the chicken for my entree and this was absolutely delicious. A simple comforting staple of chicken, rice, and bean but elevated by proper cooking. The chard also adds a nice depth to the dish and really rounded it up. If it were me, I would have loved some dark meat/thigh with my chicken but otherwise still a great dish. For dessert, we got the peanut butter pie. This was really rich and decadent but my partner does not like it as much. I have to admit they have quite a limited choice of desserts to choose from - this can certainly be improved as people can be very subjective about the dessert they like. I happen to like peanut butter pie 😘 Overall, a wonderful experience at River as usual. Will certainly come back.”

“Wow. River knows how to cook a steak! Between the stunning views, excellent waitstaff, and spectacular food - you won’t be disappointed. I always think I’ll try something new - but those filets are top tier!”

“Yet another example of you get what you pay for.... And in this case, it's worth every dollar. Granted, it's a lot of dollars, but the chefs are amazing, presentation is exquisite, and the flavor layers are exceptional. Definitely a great place to celebrate a special occasion like we did and it's known already for being one of the best destinations around the university for fine dining. You won't be disappointed. Just expect to be impressed and going knowing that you're going to be investing in really great flavors and pallets as well as incredible servers and a beautiful atmosphere.... Well done all around.”

“River Restaurant is the kind of place that just gets it right from the moment you walk in. The space itself is warm and inviting, with a big pizza oven at the front of the dining room looked amazing. This place also had the perfect layout for an open kitchen. Sitting out on the porch is highly recommended—you get a great view overlooking the river, which really adds to the experience. We sat out here during sunset and it was absolutely outstanding. The food was excellent across the board. The fried okra came out perfectly crispy and seasoned, the shrimp and grits were rich and flavorful without being too heavy, and the mushroom tacos were a standout—something you don’t see everywhere and worth ordering. The menu feels thoughtful, with enough variety to make you want to come back and try more. On top of that, the beer selection was outstanding, which is always a win. Service was excellent too—Shelby took great care of us and made sure everything flowed smoothly without being overbearing. Between the setting, the food, and the atmosphere, River Restaurant is an easy place to recommend whether you’re coming for a casual lunch, a nice dinner, or just drinks and appetizers on the porch”

“I ordered a rib eye steak. I generally am not very picky when it comes to food. I do know steaks. I spent $70 on this steak and ordered it medium. As you see in the pictures it was very overcooked. Shocked at how poorly the steak was done. I brought it up and was given a free $7 cookie. Very disappointed.”