River Deli

I spend a lot of time in Brooklyn Bridge Park, and I have literally walked by River Deli hundreds of times. So I don’t understand why it’s taken us so long to actually step inside, because it’s easily one of the most inviting atmospheres in the neighborhood.
The tables in the window are downright picturesque as the sun is setting, and it only gets better after the candles are lit. Best of all (and shockingly for Brooklyn Heights and such a beautiful spot), the food is very affordable.
It didn’t blow any minds at our table, but the lasagna was substantial and tasty enough at $ 13, and the burrata was burrata (read: creamy and delicious). The mushroom pappardelle was a bit too dry, but it all washes down well with a bottle of wine and/​or a Boulevardier.
Take a date here, and rejoice that you can have a romantic dinner in Brooklyn (including alcohol) for well under $ 100. Especially since it’s cash only.

Sardinian. True to the island, as I’ve been before and this place feels like the real deal. Great vibe, open kitchen, fairly priced wines, terrific pastas. You can even make a reso for 5 or more! It’s a go to, fresh food, good value, feel good spot.

Was just perfect nice welcome good food and the tiramisu was perfect for me as I like more cream than biscuits I love also the deco old school Italian restaurant coming back soon for sure

So shocked to read all these reviews from the haters on Unilocal!River Deli is a great place for delicious food on a beautiful street.
This place is always a great go to for dinner and brunch. The meals are prepared like real authentic Italians would make and the ingredients are always fresh. Daily specials are always available plus a full bar.
It is cash only but they have an ATM and there’s another ATM nearby in another store. It’s near the pier and many parks near by.

Place is terrific. Love the fish. Wife loves the gnocchi.

I was visiting from out of town and had to have a NY Italian meal. just delightful! I had the eggplant on crostini for an appetizer then the Sardinian pasta dish for my entre. The tomato-​based sauce was light, fresh, and delicious. Add to that some petite meatballs in the sauce and it’s all I could have asked for. Next time I’m in town I’ll be back.

I guess it is one of the most tastiest place in NYC I visited. Atmospheric and cozy. Was not crowded on Sunday around 3pm. I ate the tastiest spaghetti on Earth here, I think.

I keep coming back, love it!
It’s so gorgeous, very nice décor. That floor, green and white tile. I want it for my home! It lives in a corner street in a beautiful neighborhood. Super romantic, I bring dates here. The food is
solid each time plus they have a delicious selection of drinks and wine. Seriously: food+atmosphere+drinks= go to dine at river deli. I have never been let down. It’s near my place, this restautant is an extension of my home for the past 3 years.
Apparently, Unilocal hid or erased my review about this place. I wanted to write it again because this place deserves it.
Cheers!

Every time I walk through the door, I get a warm greeting. I have tried everything
from the menu including the specials *which are written on the blackboard right above the kitchen! There is no wrong in this menu, but my favorite appetizer is the
burrata and my fav pasta is the malloreddus.
Good wholesome Italian food. I feel I’m getting fed by someone’s grandmother. I travel a lot and for me this place feels like a transplant straight from Europe to Brooklyn. Straight and clear, no fuzz nor wannabe fine dining. It’s tasty and the bar has everything you will need. Great selection of wine! I personally love the Cannonau. Ask the bar tender, he is cute and very good at what he does, apart, he is from Parma… Nice! Nice! If you’re a stuck up, don’t go there. This is a very relaxed vibe type of a place. As well, there is the occasional cool young celebrity coming in like this place has always been there. Love it!

I came here the other night with a friend. It wasn’t too busy and the atmosphere was nice and mellow. We were seated, offered water and given menus. A few minutes later, a female server took our orders briskly. Not terrible but certainly far from warm. Throughout the course of our meal, we heard the same server inform the tables on either side of us of the daily specials. For some reason, we had not been granted this service. After the meal, I saw the specials board on a wall behind me and addressed our server:
ME: Are those today’s specials?
SERVER: Yes.
ME: I didn’t know about them.
SERVER: We have specials every day.
ME: I wish I had known about them.
SERVER: (no comment, no eye contact, walks away)
My friend and I are not white. The tables on either side of us had white patrons. This felt very very strongly like racism. We will not be returning, which is a shame since we live a block away.

Very tasty food, nice salads, good appetizers. Great for a small group, sharing stuff. I found the service to be attentive, the atmosphere cute, the prices very very reasonable! Espcially for Brooklyn Heights. And yes, cash only.

I often go there and I really like the owners and the employees ! Always respectful and welcoming !!! The food is amazing ! This is real food with authentic product ! I will suggest the buratta (not sure if the spelling is right) !!!

It’s a small Italian restaurant that always seems to be lively without ever being packed. Despite its size, it manages to be fairly loud. Or at least loud enough that I couldn’t hear a damn thing our waitress was saying. She told us about some special involving some fish, but I couldn’t understand what she said despite having her repeat it thrice. Foolishly ordered it anyway along with the Malloreddus alla Campidanese, starting with the cold cuts cheese plate and the mussels. It’s hard to screw up cold cuts and cheese, so no real complaints there. The mussels were pretty good. The fish special was weird. It wasn’t bad, but it was just a mess. It was a bit too salty and slathered in some sauce. The fish itself didn’t have much of a flavor other than the capers in the sauce. The short pasta was pretty good though.
Overall, the place is mediocre. It’s not even that loud here, but the waitress insists on whispering. There’s a bitch seat table by a wall, crammed between the bar and the front window. Avoid that seat like I did. The couple that ended up sitting there looked uncomfortably cramped. Food is good in the way MSG makes cheap Chinese take-​out good. Ok, maybe just for their specials. Don’t get their specials; order off the regular menu. Service is very much on the slow side. Spent around two hours here, without having touched the dessert menu. The best part of my dining experience is the fact that I live nearby.
Lastly, it’s cash only. It’s not expensive to dine here, but still a major inconvenience.

Excellent!!! So nice to find top tier food in a relaxed atmosphere. The malloredus and the trofie were delicious and their chicken was also very well done. I’ve never been for brunch, but I’ve heard the eggs are great. The atmosphere is really cute and romantic.
The whole place is really authentic, from the food to the wine list to the Italian staff and the cantankerous Sardinian owner.
A neighborhood gem.

Cassòla (Sardinian Bouillabaisse) beat out the short ribs we had on Thursday. Relaxed atmosphere and great cocktails (Cynar Martini, Negroni). Boys loved the lasagna and troffie al pesto (with tuna).

Solid and affordable brunch food. Got a table on a Sunday around 1pm with no wait. We split the stuffed zucchini and the pesto pasta (standout) Good vibe, great proximity to the Brooklyn Promenade. Quintessential Brooklyn brunch vibes. Cash only.

GREAT Americano style coffee and delicious egg dishes for breakfast. I tried their special Panni Frattau and it was sooooo good! It is also huge. Their other egg dishes are fresh and delicious as well as all of their pastas on the brunch menu. I have only been here in the morning and early afternoon, so I can’t speak for their dinner menu.
My only problem with this place is their pancakes. Tried 3 times. Always dry, never fluffy. Get em right!

I would give this place five stars for the atmosphere, but four for the food. The food is great. I love real Italian food because it is very fresh and not as heavy as Americanized Italian food. This place has great pasta. My friends and I love their pesto with tuna. They also have a papardelle with mushrooms and parmesan — so good! I also love their cured meats and cheese plate. They have good specials. We always order dessert — their tiramisu is delicious!
The atmosphere is so great. It is a small restaurant but in an amazing location in Brooklyn Heights. I love the way they decorated the place. They have beautiful plates, glasses, etc. The service is good. I thoroughly enjoy going to this restaurant every time.

Came here sometime in May. I posted a review but apparently it was taken down due to «guidelines»
Pissed off, annoyed patron came here with friends plus a baby. Mind you we strolled in around 4pm on a Saturday. Wanted to grab a few beers and then go off to venture. But we were turned down because apparently the waitress whom kept holding her dumb book kept telling us she was fully booked for the evening. I personally think she didn’t want to sit us because we had an infant with us. Prior to that she was just super über uptight let’s say…
Let’s be realistic here. It’s 4pm and it was DEAD. Dinner doesn’t start until what 5pm — 6pm? I use to work in the restaurant industry. We know how it is when patrons come in with an infant.
I SERIOUSLY THINK TWICE ABOUT THIS PLACE ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE AN INFANT W/​YOU. THIS PLACE MUST BE ANTI-​INFANT RACISTS OR SOMETHING.

** Cash Only **
Located right outside of smorgasburg, my friend and I walked in for a casual Sunday dinner.
Venue: (³⁄₅) located on a corner easily accessible by people in the neighborhood or visiting Smorgasburg. Cute, rustic, and casual Good for smaller groups or casual dates.
Food: Overall (²⁄₅) nothing here that stood out and the pricing is high for the food we received.
Burratta (³⁄₅) — simple Burratta but smaller in size
Steak (²⁄₅) — not quality steak and tougher with veins. I’d skip this.
Spinich Salad (¹⁄₅) this was recommended as the best. Imagine spinach from a bag mixed with olive oil and vinegar and thin slices of apple. That’s it.
Service: (³⁄₅) Nothing spectacular or bad.