River Cafe, NYC
 

The River Cafe has been suggested as a romantic place for dinner. I've looked at their website and I can't find pics of the place, just of the food. Can I have your opinions? Good food? Nice service? Romantic? Music? Dancing (though I'm guessing not)? Is it a pretty place?
Anything you can tell me about it would be helpful. I've looked at the menu and they have a nice looking 3-course dinner for seventy-something dollars, which seems quite reasonable. Do you love this place? Hate it? Talk to me, baby.

HDM I've taken my wife to The River Cafe many many times. We were there less than a year ago for dinner. Go to www.webshots.com and search for The River Cafe, Brooklyn, NY and you will find two pictures but they don't help much. It's the most beautiful view of any restaurant in the U. S. I have been to. The food is outstanding but nothing as great as Daniel, Aureole, Jean Georges et al but very good. Try to get a table next to the window so you can watch the boats and look at the NYC skyline while you eat. There's a small bar to the left and a small dancing area with a piano most of the time. It's very romantic. I took my wife there for her 40th BD. I really love it a lot and I'm from the South. Good luck.

Another place to get a quick answer is www.chowhound.com. You have to register but it's free. Go to their New York message board and click on Brooklyn. Very helpful.

Thanks so much, Ike. I know there are so many great restaurants in NY but I think this one has the 'feeling' that I'm looking for. I'll definitely look at the websites you suggest.

hdm, I have a photo of the entrance to the cafe that I took in August. If you want I can e-mail it to you, let me know at cga*twcny.rr.com (replace the * with a @ symbol)

I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only are the views outstanding, but the entranceway is as well. There is an amazing array of fresh flowers upon entering the restaurant. The food and the service are top notch.

The view is exquisite and dramatic. The food is quite good - not the best - but certainly worth the price. And thr service is excellent.

There is no dancing. (Very few places in NYC - except dance clubs - have dancing due to arcane laws requiring places with dancing to have special cabaret licences.)

Thanks, everyone. Based on your comments and the reviews I've read, I just went ahead and made a reservation for December (!).
The food gets pretty good reviews and I know there's better food to be had elsewhere but it's really the atmosphere I'm looking for and I think this is it.
Thanks again!

Is the Boat House Café romantic?

hdm: Take a look at www.bargemusic.org This is a river barge tethered right next door to River Cafe - which is also a barge although you wouldn't really know that from the inside. The view is the same. Ask for a window table. BargeMusic web site has nice photos that indicate the view. BTW: if you like music, I highly recommend a concert here after your meal at River Cafe. Its delightful.

Hi TC,
thanks, I did look at the Barge Music site but the calendar only goes up to November. I won't be there till the week after Christmas. I'll check again in a month or so to see if they've got December's schedule. It's a great idea.