Go For The View And Stay For The Food! Riverhouse Reef & Grill, Palmetto, FL
There’s a reason why the Riverhouse Reef & Grill has been voted “Best Waterfront Restaurant” six years in a row by the Bradenton Herald. When you’re lucky enough to score an outside table like we did on a recent visit, the view is spectacular!
I had been to the restaurant a year ago with a large group. It was winter and our party was seated inside. On that visit it was hard to see the view, but I do remember that the food was very good. This past month we had some family visiting, so we decided to make a return visit and this time we requested an outdoor table.
The weather was on the cooler side (by Florida standards) on the evening of our dinner. We were seated at a fire-pit table, which our server turned on, and it was a dramatic and delightful way to keep warm.
Our party of six had no problem finding something to like on the menu. The extensive menu caters to just about anyone’s tastes. There are numerous soups and salads to choose from, and the dressings are all made from scratch. There are raw bar items, fresh fish like grouper and mahi mahi as well as meat and poultry dishes. You can have your pick of sandwiches like a Po’ Boy or an Ahi Tuna BLT. For the vegetarian, there are several items to choose from including a Grilled Portobello Sandwich and Portobello Tacos. Side dishes include delicious favorites like house-made chips and my favorite, sweet potato fries.
Our server was very patient with our group as we had a lot of questions and a few special requests. I ordered the Island Tacos (Portobello) with the sweet potato fries as my side. The portion of two tacos served with slaw (I opted to skip the cheese), was very filling. Two of our party ordered the Lobster Pot Pie, which looked absolute amazing. A large soup crock was served with a big square of coated puff pastry on top. They said it was delicious and not too creamy.
The outdoor seating area is a lively area. As we dined and watched the sunset, it was fun to see some of the local party boats pass us and wave.
If you’re looking for a fun place to take your out of town visitors or just looking for a relaxing evening on the water, you really need to check out the Riverhouse Reef & Grill. They are open daily, with specials, happy hour and even a Sunday brunch. Call 941-729-0616 for a reservation or visit them at their website here.
Photos by Heidi Schild