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Waterfront Experience
According to Peter VanDerNoord, the Riverhouse Reef & Grill’s
style is casually elegant. There’s plenty of outdoor, waterfront
seating on a covered brick patio that runs along the restaurant’s
perimeter. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows and doors make the
restaurant’s interior open and airy.
There’s a large indoor bar, as well as the outdoor Snook Deck,
which seats 25. The Snook Deck has its own feel, with a smaller,
limited menu, live music Thursday through Sunday, and a relaxed
west so the sunset views here are amazing.
The Riverhouse’s menu is expansive - nine pages in all counting
Angus steak and burgers, to wings and the popular Hawaiian
pineapple salsa.) But the restaurant specializes in seafood.
“We’re a seafood restaurant,” VanDerNoord said. “At the end of
the day, seafood is what it all comes down to.” Still, VanDerNoord
did note the Riverhouse’s Famous Island Ribs.
“We have got the best ribs in Manatee County,” he said. They’re
prepared by slow-grilling high-end, dry-rubbed pork baby back
ribs until the meat falls off the bone. The ribs are then served
with a sweet Hawaiian-style pineapple-papaya barbecue sauce.
VanDerNoord’s gotten many ideas for his menu from trips he’s
taken with his family. In Key West, he learned what makes a
good po’boy, for example, and today, the Riverhouse’s Shrimp
Po’boy is a top seller.
in the Keys and in the Bahamas. This is partly why he insists
and other seafood.
The restaurant’s drinks list includes a wide array of martinis,
margaritas, frozen concoctions and signature cocktails. There’s
a wine list, local craft beers and sangria. Interestingly, the
restaurant offers Argentine Tincho Service.
Tincho is a refreshing, effervescent drink, popular in Buenos
Aires. The Riverhouse’s recipe consists of Torrontes and
Sauvignon Blanc wines with a splash of Sprite, served chilled
over ice with fresh limes.
“It’s great with seafood,” VanDerNoord said of the tincho. “We’re
the only ones I know of offering it.”