The River Café
contemporary
River Café Oysters
warm lemon glazed Beau Soleil oysters, caramelized sweet onion,
Speck ham, Siberian sturgeon caviar (Hot Foie Gras)sourcing signal
sautéed duck foie gras, Pell Farms strawberry and caramelized Vidalia onion crepe,
toasted pistachio, strawberry gastrique (Foie Gras Terrine)
Hudson Valley duck foie gras, warm griddled toast batons,
duck prosciutto, shallot jam, spiced maple cider reduction (Wild Shrimp)
Pacific blue shrimp, Peekytoe crabmeat croquette,
yellow and red watermelon, Finger Lime vinaigrette (Rabbit)
pancetta wrapped roasted rabbit loin, artichoke and rabbit lasagna,
oven dried tomato pesto, rabbit jus (Melon Salad)
Zerbinati Melon, Palazzo Family burrata, baby gem lettuce,
red endive, white balsamic vinegar, toasted ciabatta (Gnocchi)
sautéed ricotta gnocchi, slow cooked Porcini mushroom Bolognese,
mushroom chips, Parmigiano Reggiano (Agnolotti)sourcing signal
handmade pasta with corn and stracciatella filling, foraged Chantarelle mushrooms,
Wagyu Steak Tartare (hand cut Kobe style beef with quail egg,)
Cognac gelée, traditional garnish, toast points
Octopus (Portuguese octopus seared a la plancha,)sourcing signal
heirloom fingerling potato, arugula leaves, classic Romesco sauce
Caviar Servicesourcing signal
Caspian Golden Osetra, Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii, (Germany)
MAIN COURSE (Lamb)
roasted Colorado rack of lamb, merguez sausage, “stuffed” baby eggplant,
English pea purée, natural lamb reduction (Beef)sourcing signal
char grilled Niman Ranch strip steak, red wine mushroom marmalade,
Russet potato and celeriac gratin, purple asparagus (Venison)
pan roasted venison loin, cracked green peppercorns,
Duck
crispy duck breast, lavender spice crust, duck confit and farro risotto,
Bronzino (Mediterranean Sea Bass, Wild shrimp crust,)
stuffed artichoke, Taproot broccoli, artichoke and olive oil sauce
Lobstersourcing signal
poached Nova Scotia lobster tail, baked lobster Thermidor gratin,
Tuscan kale, crisp salsify, fondant potato, Meyer lemon sauce (Dover Sole)sourcing signal
sautéed fillet, sunchoke, lemon brown butter,
Black Sea Bass (wild Black Sea Bass fillet, lobster bouillabaisse broth,)
Rhode Island clam and poached lobster with baby spinach
melon meringue (Chocolate Brooklyn Bridge)
dark chocolate Marquise, passion fruit ice cream,
banana macadamia ganache, banana spuma (Raspberry Soufflé)
‘Sweetest Batch’ raspberries, vanilla bean ice milk,
five American cheeses (and seasonal accompaniments)
$25 supplement as menu item – $42 as additional course
Blandy’s Madeira Dessert Flight
5 Year Verdelho *10 Year Bual *5 Year Malmsey
each paired with petite sweets
$25 supplement as menu item – $42 as additional course
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SAVE & ACCEPT
Dress Code: For Gentlemen, jackets and shirts with collars are required, ties are preferred. Casual jeans, athletic attire and footwear (like sandals) are not permitted in the restaurant.
Menu as captured Sep 1, 2026 · source ↗
Tied with 1 other venue on equal evidence.
We hold 623 venues in New York, NY and could score 353 of them. Positions are counted against those 353.
v1.7.4 40.7/100 = sourcing 16.6/50 (named-farm 2 distinct [niman-ranch (brand-program/solid) x0.38, pell-family-farm (producer/solid) x0.85], named-region 2 distinct, attribute 2 distinct of 4 [class=provenance-adjective x0.50, class=species-name x0.00], buzzword 0 distinct; +15% corroboration lift from sourcing press) + farm partners 11.2/20 (best: pell-family-farm at 57.7, linked by a named-farm claim) + registry 0.0/12 (none listed) + press 12.9/18.
sourcing
Pell Farms strawberry
Named farm“Hot Foie Gras sautéed duck foie gras, Pell Farms strawberry and caramelized Vidalia onion crepe, toasted pistachio, strawberry gastrique”
on the menu · source ↗
foraged
Attribute“slow cooked Porcini mushroom Bolognese, mushroom chips, Parmigiano Reggiano Agnolotti handmade pasta with corn and stracciatella filling, foraged Chantarelle mushrooms, black truffle fondue, fresh Australian black truffles shaved tableside Wagyu Steak Tartare hand cut Kobe”
on the menu · source ↗
heirloom
Attribute“hand cut Kobe style beef with quail egg, Cognac gelée, traditional garnish, toast points Octopus Portuguese octopus seared a la plancha, heirloom fingerling potato, arugula leaves, classic Romesco sauce Caviar Service Caspian Golden Osetra, Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii,”
on the menu · source ↗
Osetra
Attribute“Portuguese octopus seared a la plancha, heirloom fingerling potato, arugula leaves, classic Romesco sauce Caviar Service Caspian Golden Osetra, Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii, (Germany)”
on the menu · source ↗
Dover Sole
Attribute“Lobster poached Nova Scotia lobster tail, baked lobster Thermidor gratin, Tuscan kale, crisp salsify, fondant potato, Meyer lemon sauce Dover Sole sautéed fillet, sunchoke, lemon brown butter, crispy squash blossom with roasted cauliflower and toasted almond Black Sea Bass”
on the menu · source ↗
protein
Niman Ranch strip steak
Named farm“Beef char grilled Niman Ranch strip steak, red wine mushroom marmalade, Russet potato and celeriac gratin, purple asparagus”
on the menu · source ↗
produce
Vidalia onion
Named region“caramelized sweet onion, Speck ham, Siberian sturgeon caviar Hot Foie Gras sautéed duck foie gras, Pell Farms strawberry and caramelized Vidalia onion crepe, toasted pistachio, strawberry gastrique Foie Gras Terrine Hudson Valley duck foie gras, warm griddled toast batons,”
on the menu · source ↗
seafood
Nova Scotia lobster
Named region“yam Bronzino Mediterranean Sea Bass, Wild shrimp crust, stuffed artichoke, Taproot broccoli, artichoke and olive oil sauce Lobster poached Nova Scotia lobster tail, baked lobster Thermidor gratin, Tuscan kale, crisp salsify, fondant potato, Meyer lemon sauce Dover Sole sautéed”
on the menu · source ↗
Book on the restaurant's own site ↗link checked Aug 24, 2026
Authority & awards
- MICHELIN Guide 2026: Selected ↗
MICHELIN Guide
Award
Local authority
- Best Views at NYC Restaurants | Eater NY ↗
Eater NY
Local authority“s/best-dumbo-brooklyn-restaurants-nyc) The River Cafe A beloved establishment for nearly five decades, this restaurant nestled under the Brooklyn Bridge continues to offer opulent American fare ranging from wagyu tartare to caviar to a madeira-paired dessert flight. It’s a popular spot for wedding proposals, so it’s no surprise that the outdoor dining setting feels romantic. Wh”
mentions sourcing
Lifestyle coverage
- The Best Restaurants In Dumbo & Brooklyn Heights - New York - The Infatuation ↗
The Infatuation
National lifestyle“tineDaniel2520Krieger25201248) 7.9 The River Cafe 1 Water St., Brooklyn, NY 11201 $$$$ American DUMBO Perfect For:Classic EstablishmentCorporate CardsDinner With The Parents[Fine Dini”