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The House on the River, Fort Lauderdale, FL

The House on the River

4.3
4.3
616 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Charming
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Neighborhood gem
THE HOUSE is a historic oasis where people can eat, drink and celebrate day or night in true Florida Riviera style. Located directly on the New River referred to as the Venice of America, in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale. This iconic structure is complemented by a charming eclectic use of vintage furniture with a whimsical twist, outfitted with mixed china, vibrant flowers and lush trees. The restaurant also features extensive outdoor patio seating set amongst umbrellas, making THE HOUSE the perfect waterfront destination in Fort Lauderdale. The outdoor seating is transformed into an intimate setting for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
With one step in, guests are immediately transported to a sunny place, no matter the season.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Mediterranean
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Wed, Thu 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (954) 825-2929
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    Catering for groups of all sizes with a wide array of small plate, large plate and family style platters
  • Private party facilities
    The House has a unique selection of event areas for groups from 6 to 200. Chef has created a variety of menu offerings from traditional sit down to fun cocktail party style service.
  • Neighborhood
    Sailboat Bend
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • High Tea Experience

    $45.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    The “High Tea” experience, an age-old tradition of gathering in the afternoon to share proper tea service along with a delicate tower of finger sandwiches, fresh baked pastries and fruits. Enjoy the afternoon in one of Fort Lauderdale’s oldest homes. High Tea is a sumptuous meal enjoyed in the early afternoon between traditional meals offering beautiful spreads of bite size items designed to be shared paired with a choice of tea. We host HIGHT TEA on the 2nd floor porch overlooking the new river, the perfect ambiance to add a little luxury to any casual afternoon. Experience includes: Tea Service, Tower of Finger Sandwiches, Fresh Baked Pastries and Fruit. (Bubbles, wines & spirit beverage options are available for purchase)
  • HOUSE of VEUVE BRUNCH

    Multiple dates available
    There are brunch's and there are Veuve Brunch's, come experience THE HOUSE OF VEUVE @ The House on the River ! Be part of something new on the river Downtown Fort Lauderdale with our "HOUSE OF VEUVE", where we will be featuring a "Veuve" themed brunch party experience in the west house. Design and decor set the stage for the special a la carte food menu offered along with tasty sips and of course "Veuve" by the bottle or the glass. This tasty, fun and fashionable brunch experience is only offered by pre-reservation on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. The vibe is created for outdoor dining, indoor seating is available for those not so perfect days and those that prefer to sit inside.
  • New Years Eve Midnight Celebration

    $199.00 per person

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    New Years Eve Midnight New Years Eve on the River Celebration Party Party Riverfront at our New Year's Eve Dinner Celebration. Includes Dinner, Open Bar, Midnight Champagne toast & Party favors! Seating begins at 8:30 pm I $199*. per person *does not include 7%tax & 22% service

What 616 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.3
4.3 based on recent ratings
  • 4.2Food
  • 4.1Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.2Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Best Ambiance

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Great for brunch

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Great for outdoor dining

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Romantic

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Great for scenic views

  • Fort Lauderdale Central

    Good for special occasions

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The House on the River offers a charming dining experience in a historic setting by the New River. Guests rave about the "beautiful decor" and "amazing food." The ambiance is perfect for special occasions, with "stunning views" and "great service." While some have noted service delays, many appreciate this unique venue for "brunch" and "pre-theater dining."

616 Reviews
  1. Randy

    Dublin

    18 reviews

    vip
    1.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    We ate inside because it was a little cool outside. We were placed in a room by ourselves. We had to call the waiter over twice and I had to get up and find him for the bill. The carrot appetizer was nice. The artichoke heart was a soggy mess. The trout was just okay, a bit soggy also. The pasta pear gorganzola purses were just okay. We had to ask to have the dirty dishes removed and our food was literally just left at the table not even placed in front of us. The cheesecake was dry and hard ( inedible ). The wine was excellent…thank goodness 🙄

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  2. Harriet

    San Francisco

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The restaurant, food snd staff was great! The bathrooms (women’s) was very unkept.

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  3. Michelle

    Atlantic City

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Brunch was a most enjoyable experience! Our server, Daniela, was fabulous and the food was delicious! We will definitely go back!

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  4. Maritza

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    2.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 2
    I don’t understand how this place has good reviews. The place is old and outdated. They poorly try to have the ‘Vintage Look’. There was a huge nail coming out of their poorly covered chairs and waiter had to remove it. The floor was filthy and the table kept flopping side to side. The food was subpar. We prefer the brunch and I could’ve done it better myself. The pancakes were cold and hard. The waffles were super bought with a horrible sugar coating. Just like the ones you buy at Costco or Sam’s. Everything was disgusting. I don’t know how anyone eats there. Truly. I will never come back.

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  5. Harry

    Fort Lauderdale

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very nice and different..a good place to go..friendly host

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  6. Kateryna

    Las Vegas

    7 reviews

    4.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    It was ok. Food was average but presented nicely. Vibe of the house was pleasant.

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  7. Alexa

    Fort Lauderdale

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 3 days 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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  8. Rose

    Phoenix

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 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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  9. Michael

    Miami

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 4 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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  10. Dragan

    Fort Lauderdale

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 4 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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FAQs

The House on the River is rated 4.3 stars by 616 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 43 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for The House on the River

301 SW 3rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312-1725

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Sailboat Bend
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 11:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Wed, Thu 4:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 4:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    American, Seafood, Mediterranean
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Dog Friendly, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (954) 825-2929
  • Catering
    Catering for groups of all sizes with a wide array of small plate, large plate and family style platters
  • Private party facilities
    The House has a unique selection of event areas for groups from 6 to 200. Chef has created a variety of menu offerings from traditional sit down to fun cocktail party style service.
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