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  5. Sailboat Bend
The House on the River, Fort Lauderdale, FL

The House on the River

4.3
4.3
608 Reviews
$31 to $50
American

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 51 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 608 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."

608 Reviews
  1. 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. 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. 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. 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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  5. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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  8. 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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  9. 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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  10. Jair

    Key West

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    Wish I can give this place a better review, 30 minutes wait to get our first bottom less mimosa, then another 20 min to get the second one.. 90% OJ. Food was good over all. My son ordered a burger and was cut in the middle.. ask food runner why and he said Chef does that to check the temperature…. Really? PLOP! Just slow service. Will not go back again!
    The House on the RiverResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you for your feedback, we don't typically hear of any delays in bottomless Mimosa service. We are usually praised by how attentive we are in keeping up with our customers needs. We will certainly address this with the team. As for the burger response, I must apologize as the food runner was incorrect and will certainly be trained better on preparation. The burgers are hand formed in house. We use half a pound of angus and short rib butchers blend, time to time the sides split as we cook on an open flame based on temperature selection. We hope you reconsider and try us again, we know we can earn back your approval.

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FAQs

The House on the River is rated 4.3 stars by 608 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 51 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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