Reviews of River Oaks Restaurant (Restaurant)

Kim Harden

There were three of us for this girls' night out and this was an excellent choice for a low-key delicious dinner and drinks. Martini, Manhattens, burger, crab cakes and ice cream were thoroughly enjoyed by all. Service was fantastic! We will definitely go back again!

Michelle Windbush

Ethan was the waiter and he is excellent. The food is delicious.

Frankie Wade

Atmosphere was great. Service was spot on - there when needed but not obtrusive. Food was TERRIFIC. Best meal I've had in sometime - Hawaiian Snapper with a superb sauce, mushroom & goat cheese croquettes, sweet squash gelle', green beans - and creme brulee shared by all! Best part was not feeling overfed. Just delightfully sized servings!

Bill Burtch

Good food and service. The day we were there the fryer was out depriving us of their great fries. Everything was excellent.

Camille Young

We celebrated my sister's birthday here. The service was great and the food was FANTASTIC!!! The atmosphere was warm, inviting and not stiff. We had a fabulous time celebrating my sister. Thank you Michaela for being so kind and patient in my reservation process. It meant a lot! I will be back and my team that's visiting Memphis in a few weeks will be dining here, as well.

David Worrell

The food was excellent and our waiter was fantastic.

Amber butler

The beignets are yum

Benjamin Freedman

Food was decent but the service was sub-par. The two blondes behind the bar were talking about their guests which I found to be unprofessional. Hotel guests staying at Four Points are not given the quality of service they should. Also, they reserve places at the bar and then remove the reserve signs when you ask to sit at the bar. I wouldn’t go out of my way to eat here again, however the Tuna Tartare and Corn Chowder were excellent.

Ryan Shin

Their chef's choice pasta is awesome! Taste great! Don't visit too late you can't get what you want

David Bahniuk

Great food. The chef is fantastic. Good atmosphere and service Great for business or a special occasion

Christina Mable

Beautiful fresh cooked food and professional staff. Great for catering, private parties or a romantic dinner.

Scott Bosarge

One of the best in Memphis. Great wine list and a diverse Chef Driven Menu. Daily specials are consistently good. The Spiced Steak and the Pot Pie are standouts!

Jeff K

Crab cakes, Filet Mignon both absolutely amazing

Barry Rich

Great service. Small menu of interesting plates. Both items, lamb chops and short ribs, well executed.

Andrew Adams

Awesome food! One of the best restaurants in Memphis.

Lamar McCubbin

This place is fantastic. The lamb sandwich is stellar! The chicken tortilla soup is stellar. The chef is stellar! I don't know if I could ever not eat here. What a great menu and the staff is very attentive and professional! I love this place!

Sonia Johnson

Excellent wait staff

Rene Randall

We have dined there many times over the past few years. It is our favorite restaurant in Memphis, due to the high quality of the food and the service. It is operated by Master Chef Jose Gutierrez, who was previously head chef at Memphis' #1 high-end restaurant, Chez Phillipe at the Peabody. Jose is always there, always in charge, and is very friendly. My favorite entree is the Crispy Organic Lemon Chicken Paillard. It is a large, thin piece of chicken, lightly breaded, then sauteed. If you order it, ask for extra butter sauce on the side. I also get the pan seared halibut, The french fires (frites) are outstanding. On Wednesdays only, the special entree is fried chicken that is fabulous; if you happen to be there on a Wednesday and like fried chicken, you should consider it; it is not the heavily spiced chicken you get at some places. It is delicately flavored and superbly cooked. For desserts, the fondant cake is good, the key lime pie is fantastic, and the creme brule is the best in town.

Troy Knutson

Awesome dinner, not so classic Caesar salad was wonderful, filet mignon was tasty and the creme brulee' was fantastic.

Daly Thompson

Very good ! Excellent Duck Breast ! Chef Jose is an old Mentor of mine !

Judy Atkins

It’s where the locals go. Fine dining with a casual service element. Jimmy and Jaime are great! Check out the ratatouille- amazing!

Kimberly Wallace

High end dining, but a casual atmosphere. Pricey and a limited menu. We each ordered a pork chop which came with a small salad. Our side was a chunk of pork belly, which neither of us found appetizing enough to eat. I asked for broccoli, but they were going to charge me more. Definitely not worth the $146 it cost us.

Janet Vivancos

Cozy atmosphere, excellent service !

Dietmar Zilling

Nice ambiente - tasty and amazing food - fantastic , super and pretty service! Stunning... I appreciate it very much!

Tara Davidson

Food was delicious, service was wonderful. I'd call ahead to make a reservation if you're planning on going

Robert Childers

Great food.

Diane Hodges

Terrible service, bland atmosphere, not even light music. Uptight and I mean UPTIGHT! The food did not seem chef prepared. Aiole that tasted like ranch and ketchup, my guess that's what it was. Pomp and circumstance without substance.

Tom Jones

Always attentive service. Daily fish specials are sublime. Outstanding, dependable restaurant.

Jonathan Wright

They make sick employees (some contagious and some not) come to work and cook customers food

lauranda redmond

I was invited by a friend to eat lunch. I had been told that they had the best pastrami sandwich (Hot NY Deli). And yes it was absoutely great. The decor reminds me of the upscale resturants you would find in New York and on some of the side streets of Magnificent Mile in Chicago that we had an opportunity to dine.

lynn greer

Great service. Good food.

Cathy Simmons

I've had everything on the menu and it's all superb. The best burger and fries in Memphis. The salmon with cauliflower risotto is amazing. Service is the best. Chef Jose rocks the kitchen!!

Cooper Livingston

Worst meal I've had in my week in Memphis. The chicken was hammered into road kill. Tough and chewy. Everything was bland and over priced for diner pretending to be a restaurant.

Irma Jeffrey

Food was on point as usual. Service not so much. Overall, the experience was good.

Deirdre Pledge

Dinner was amazing and our server was very attentive.

David Thompson

I really enjoyed this place. The staff really understands the menu, how to match the wine. Hot and great portion size. No rush, no stress very much enjoyed the food. Go with a friend and make a good dinner night of it.

Paulette Green

My husband and I had lunch there on yesterday and our meals was wonderful. We enjoyed the service and the atmosphere.

Debbie Yoakum

Great food and service!

Jermaine Williams

Very upscale nice atmosphere great friendly staff

Steve Powell

Great food, service, and atmosphere. In town on business and ate at the bar. Had the halibut which was delicious and paired beautifully with a glass of Cakebread Sauvignon Blanc

Carol Silkes

The food was as wonderful as the service! I have been in Memphis for 8 years and regret not eating here eight years ago.

Jamaica Woods

I have been wanting to stop and eat in here for years. I'd pass by all the time, but never stopped because it looked like the type of place I needed to be "gussied" up for. I happened to have a work event in the neighborhood this day that I felt I was dressed appropriately enough to stop in, so I did. I was not disappointed! The food was very good! I had the Chef's TV Dinner from the lunch menu, and every course of it was so delicious. My server, Brian, was very, very nice. He made up for the lackluster greeting I received from the hostess as I entered (That's my only point of improvement. She wasn't mean or nasty, just not attentive. She just never smiled, and even as she reset tables, she just looked sad). Nevertheless, I loved the food, the waiter, and I didn't have to be dressed up like I thought. It was laid back and a mixed crowd. Which I suspect is the case too with the dinner crowd. Families from the hotel near by, and dressed casually made me feel more relaxed. Great experience overall, can't wait to make this a special date night restaurant!

Paul Kang

This review is for a unbelievable meal that my wife and I enjoyed a few years ago. This was when paella was no longer on the menu and I could not find a Memphis-area restaurant that served authentic paella. A Google cache search revealed that River Oaks used to serve paella. My wife called to ask if they still served paella and a staff member spoke with Chef Gutierrez, who agreed to procure the necessary items in advance and cook us a custom off-menu meal of paella and other wonderful items that I can't remember now. The staff were wonderful courteous when we arrived and were escorted to our table. This is absolutely a fantastic restaurant led by a great head chef and team and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a special experience.

William Mason

Fantattic cocktails, wine and dinner

Geurys R. Rojas Marte

Great food.

Hayes Hora

This restaurant has a great atmosphere and their food is very unique. I enjoyed a fried lime chicken with some Greenery and was very impressed with the texture and flavor of the chicken. The shift does a very good job with presentation and seasoning.

Jennifer Pittore

Great menu, fabulous service. The atmosphere is cozy and would be great for a date night. The menu has variety and is not overwhelming. You will not be disappointmented

matthew mckean

Great food and fast service

John Czarnetzky

Excellent as always. Highly recommended.

Jim Brooks

Great food and service

Thomas Campbell

It was just ok. We ordered the Crab Cake appetizer which was good. My wife ordered the Watermelon Salad and the Red Snapper. The she enjoyed the salad, but said the Red Snapper was very bland. I had the Not So Classic Ceaser Salad and Wagyu Beef Tenderloin. The salad was good, and the Wagyu itself was good, but the mushroom and horse radish stuffed (single) pasta were not. It really sidelined the dish. The cocktails were strong. No complaints there. My biggest complaint would be how cramped the seating was, especially at the 2 top table by the front window. This area was not designed to house a table and chairs. The outcroppings(?) around the window took up a lot of room and made for an uncomfortable dining experience. Overall the food was disappointing for the price and reputation of the chef. The bill was just under $200.We did order one appetizer, 2 salads and 2 entrees. I feel the food could have been better.

Anthony Hill

Food was nice but for the price it's just not worth it - easily 60-70 per person for an entree and a couple glasses of wine. Come on - knock my socks off for that price! I've traveled extensively and this is not what you expect for that price point.

Wade Harrison

Excellent service and meal, as always.

Adam Thompson

Have the kids meal! The sirloin burger (get it loaded with the egg) followed by the Mojo cookie and ice cream is one of my favorite meals in Memphis. Simple, fresh, and delicious comfort food. Enjoy!

Gregory Blumenthal

Excellent food and wine. Attentive service.

C C

Nice atmosphere. Food is good and nicely presented. Good service. Decent wine list.

Mona Sappenfield

Not a better Friday fish special anywhere; any Friday night! Never disappointed in the dish, the service staff is friendly and attentive, and Chef Jose is delightful. Best bet for consistently great dishes in Memphis all week!

David Pryor

Food was excellent, service was Very Slow for lunch but will definitely be back.

Rebecca martin

Chef Jose did our daughters wedding and it was fantastic. Colleen, Becca and Jimmy are top knotch. Highly recommend for either dinner or catering events.

D Has

Unbelievably good food. Service can be a bit slow but still a great place for a date. Great wine selection.

Zsolt Kemecsei

This place is as surprising as it can get - why would anyone expect a place in the parking lot of the Four Points to be good? But they are wrong! After a local friend suggested, we went to River Oaks to have a quick after work dinner. When we entered at 5:30PM on a Thursday, the hostess had to think where to seat us.. well that's something... Then we ordered the charcuterie platter with awesome meat and pickles. For main dish we got the duck confit which was as European as possible. Amazing dish - you guys should get that on Thursdays. The chocolate fondant almost beats the best one I had in Europe, it is simply perfect. Would go back here any time!

shawanda h

Delicious

sng1002001

This is not a French restaurant. The kitchen crew must have a bad day the evening I dine there. Many tables have to wait over an hour to get their main entrees. The filet mignon that 3 of my friends ordered were all well done instead of medium rare they ordered. I had the steak & frites. The fries were so salty that you think they used salt to fry the potato. McDonald's has better fries in this instance. Found out the chef and sous chef were away so the kitchen crew might decide to do their own food rendition. The saving grace is that they offered free dessert. The creme brulee is good and big portion. One order is good enough to share with the table. May be I will visit again next time I am in Memphis. But I will check ahead to make sure the chef is in.

William Delgadillo

A fantastic restaurant. I had there salmon dish, and it was definitely five stars. It comes with asparagus and a cauliflower risotto, The salmon was perfectly cooked and had a delicious glaze on it. The service is excellent, And I'm looking forward to going back there again the next time I'm in Memphis.

Christopher Inman

Great place! Great food! Great selection!

laura omell

Always Fabulous Food

Jeffery Sagester

Food was phenomenal. Atmosphere was really good. We were by a loud table of wine drinking middle aged women, which sucked. But not their fault. Wait staff (Brian) was great, drinks were stiff. 5/5 will return.

Nicole Jolaoso

What an exquisite meal! The bread is so good! I had the salmon and my date had the lamb (with green mashed potatoes that were SO DELICIOUS!!!!!!!). I had the apple purse for dessert and he had the key lime pie. We love good food and have eaten at many Memphis restaurants. He's from Nashville and said this is the best meal he's had in Memphis. I wish I could remember our servers name. She was fantastic. I really appreciate Chef Jose's eye and palate for fine details.

John Wellhausen

Great food and service

Dee Harper

Nice Classy place!!

Debbie Mitchell

Excellent food and service. Great for both business events and personal special occasions.

Eric Lassiter

Had lunch today and was completely satisfied. Watermelon salad and crab cakes are amazing. Key lime pie was delicious too!

His Dudeness

The food was amazing. I had the Short Rib with Butter Nut Squash Puree The Short Rib was incredibly tender and tasty. My wife had the Filet Mignon which was awesome too. We shared the Apple Purse with Pecan Ice Cream and Rum Caramel...delicious. Jesse was our server providing great service and recommendations. We went for our 36th Anniversary. I made reservations well in advance and asked for a nice quite table. We arrived early in the evening. There were plenty of tables. The Hostess did not check our reservation and sat us at a tiny 2 top which I hate. When I asked to move, I asked for a corner table. When we approached the table, a lady at the next table went on a rant about she wanted the table. THE HOSTESS TOTALLY BLEW THIS SITUATION. She's not there to be pretty. She needs to use her brain...pay attention. I'm sure there were hostess notes regarding our special occasion. We'll still go back. Hopefully, management will read this and properly train their hostess.

Amy McDangerfield

Had a really wonderful experience with a few colleagues. We haven't had the greatest luck with food in Memphis - hard to find options with good veggie sides, that aren't BBQ-levels of heavy. River Oaks delivered and then some with beautiful salads accompanying deliciously cooked meats that were good not because they were drowned in sauce but because they were thoughtfully prepared. I was also convinced by the divine key lime pie - my weakness. Service was great, prompt and polite. Highly recommend!

Rebecca Fraser

Wonderful place for lunch! Waiting staff excellent Make a reservation-to be sure of a table

Kevin Kuhn

Small restaurant and service was a 4/5 - but the food was great!! Be aware that the bar area can fill up fast so don't make too big an assumption about showing up early for a drink

Tony Branson

Terrific service and delicious entrees were enjoyed by all..Thanks!

Vincent Nabozny

Great food and service.

Regina Woods

Pricey But Delious Food

Billie Black

This place is amazingly fantastic! Way better than Houston’s for those of you who like to frequent there. But she does an awesome job of making each plate a beautiful presentation. When your plate comes to the table you automatically feel special like it’s your birthday. Sad but true I haven driven by this place 1 million times but never again.

Dana Paschal

One always has an excellent dinner experience at River Oaks. It is the go to place when offering a suggestion on where to dine.

Mark B

I had been here for lunch a few years ago and was not impressed. It's an awkwardly located restaurant. I went back last night and was very disappointed. We had to wait about 45 minutes for all our entrees to arrive after ordering. And we didn't even have bread for our table. Also, I was disappointed in my coq a vin. I could not taste the red wine or the brandy. Although the chicken was cooked fine and the veggies were nicely done, the hallmark of a good coq a vin is the sauce, and the sauce was sadly lacking. The waitstaff seemed super overwhelmed too. My friend also did not like his beef tenderloin. It looked tiny, and for $30 plus, you should get a larger main course.

wis laughlin

One of my favorite restaurants, the place where you want to take a girl you need to impress! Master Chef Jose Gutierrez keeps you interested and satisfied with new and delicious dishes. The steak frites was wonderful with french fries so good that I had to fight my petite date for them. Speaking of which very little of her grilled salmon was left over. The steak was cooked just as I asked (that seems to be a problem in other restaurants). Finally we ended with Creme Brulee and fresh coffee, perfect compliments to each other. Delightful!

Eshwar Ravindran

Great ambience. Excellent service.. Lanb shank was so tender and juicy

Poppy

Delightful service and excellent cuisine.

cenglish46

excellent service, excellent food, great wine list! My wife and I love to stop by for a glass of wine, bar tenders are excellent.

Joseph Weinzierl

Service was excellent and the food was delicious.