Best Romantic Restaurants in Tarpon River

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.

First time at this restaurant and cannot wait to go back. There are so many wonderful items on their menu I have to try. We had Butter Lettuce Salad, Stuffed Squash Blossoms, Spaghetti Carbonara and Pork Chop Milanese. Everything was delicious. The Staff was very nice and attentive.

Our only disappointment with the restaurant was not having visited it sooner. Living in the neighborhood, we bypassed it many times before venturing out on a Monday night. To our amazement, the food, the ambiance and service were beyond expectations. Our server, Thomas, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. His recommendation of a variation of our usual unfiltered sake was right on. Walking us through the menu, we selected the tuna tower, the Korean barbecue with rice, the grilled octopus and the crispy duck entre. All were excellent but the octopus and the duck were particularly noteworthy. Having worked in Turkey for many years, we can appreciate the correct way to tenderize and char grill octopus. Here, it was done to perfection. Likewise, the duck was crispy on the outside yet still moist on the inside after being sliced and quartered. The outside seating was not overcrowded like many similar venues, and the volume of the music did not preclude us from having strained conversations. While pricey by some Fort Lauderdale standards, it was well worth. Lastly, we were pleased that are open table reservation was promptly honored notwithstanding a busy restaurant.

Jeff and the rest of the team make the best experience from delicious sushi that can’t be found anywhere else, to a friendly atmosphere that makes for a great time every time - highly recommend.