We visited Rick's On the River on a Saturday evening around 5 o'clock after boating for the day. We were very hungry and were worried that Rick's was gonna be very busy. I was able to walk up and find a table immediately for the six of us as the restaurant seat yourself. There is a sign on the table that you can spin to let servers know that you need service, you get the menu yourself. There is also a wheel that shows you how long it will take for you to get your food. Luckily the wheel said that the wait time for food was 20 minutes. The restaurant had a live band, which was cool but a little bit loud from where we were sitting. Our servers came and took our orders very quickly. The food did come in about that 20 minute window. I would say the food is decent, but they have a lot of options and the prices are very fair. This is a waterfront restaurant with live music, you really can't beat the atmosphere. Decent food seems to be is on the cake. This place is a well oiled machine and worth a visit! read more

Rick's On the River - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Visiting Tampa. A friend had a boat and we were headed out. While waiting stopped at Rick's. Sat outside and was immediately approached by a "host". Not because he wanted to assist us but because I was drinking a coffee and asked me how long I plan on drinking it. Me thinking the sign said no outside ALCOHOL and this place being how it is; immediately was irritated. But was not throwing my Starbucks away. The waitress Lindsey saved the day and my experience because she was super kind and professional and experienced. Did I tell you this original person stared at me until I finished my coffee. Which I poured into a clean cup in case he thought I had alcohol and was trying to get over. Enough about him. Just concerns me because a few reviews mention people of color receiving subpar treatment. This made me cautious. Again Lindsey was great. The food was average. Must be highly appreciated by the Locals because it was crowded. Would not recommend and of course would not visit again. read more

Chill spot right on the river, we sat outside. The vibe is chill, laid back has a comfortable local hangout feel. Plenty of seating too. It was pretty busy when we went, but service was still quick. They had live music out back, not sure if it's a daily thing. We went for food and drinks and tried a few things. The oysters Rockefeller were amazing...easily the highlight and something we'll be going back for. Hubby got the chicken tenders and fries, no complaints. The Philly wrap was just okay... a little bland, so probably wouldn't order that again. Fries and tots were fresh, popcorn shrimp was good, and the broccoli and cheese was decent but food didn't necessarily stand out. Drinks were made well, came out fast, and our waitress was really friendly and helpful. We'll definitely be back for the oysters, drinks, views, vibes and music. read more

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Food is excellent! Kat was our waitress! She was awesome! Kat loves her job and it shows! She was always smiling and so nice!! She was very efficient! We will definitely be coming back! And wanting her to be our waitress!!! read more

I literally come all the time, I was here yesterday and spent over $90. I sent like 3-5 oysters back, there was no issue. However, this girl told me there was no way I could send oysters that look like this back ( refer to the photos in the review) .. keep in mind they taste like water and you have to put salt on them for them to taste like the ocean anyway..... ... I'd rather pay the 23-29 at gaspars honestly... their oysters at least taste like the sea and not water .. I also asked for a straw and have yet to receive that bc she's so stuck up on me sending the 4 oysters I sent back. I literally gave 3 stars only bc Steven came around and checked on me! Otherwise it would have been 1 star I was literally here yesterday and spent over $90 on OYSTERS .. I also included a screenshot of that as well Then for someone to come from the back kitchen and stair me down and laugh with her is even more insulting.. I AM PAYING MY MONEY, IF THERE IS ANYTHING I DONT LIKE ABOUT THE FOOD YOUR ORESENT TO A OAYING CUSTOMER, YOU FIX OR JUST DON'T SERVE ME AT ALL... FOR YOU TO SIT AND TALK ABOUT ME TO ANOTHER PERSON ON THE JOB IS EVEN MORE INSANE. Take your money elsewhere.. I am now giving this a 1 star bc of that. read more

Rick's On the River - Literally an ant on the bar.. ......... - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

It's definitely exactly how it presents. A marina restaurant with a dive bar feel. Its seat yourself so we sat down turned the little need service sign and waited for 10 minutes as servers kept passing by. Then a group of 4 sat down and got immediate service. So not off to a great start. We then decided to move to the bar and got great service but the food did take a long time (that table of 4 got their drinks food and left by time we got our drinks). And my blackened chicken wrap came out just plain grilled chicken. Overall not a great experience but the vibes are nice. They have live music, a nice view, and a good amount of searing. Hoping it was just an off day for the servers and kitchen. read more

Love a good neighborhood bar. Great vide of the water. Outside bar is fun and lively. Bartender/waitress was busy but attentive and told us what people liked and what was good! I loved the fish sandwich and the onion rings. read more

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You cannot bring your pet there on the patio so save the time . Came all the way from Wesley chapel and no able to Come in due that I bring my little Winnie dog read more

Good location on the river, poor smell. I can understand why people love to hang out at Ricks on the River. It's a great location along the Hillsborough River with plenty of outdoor spots to have a beer and soak up the sun. The food was pretty good - the fries were quite tasty. It's a tad bit expensive for what you get, but the portions are generous. The wait staff was friendly and efficient. My main concern - and it's always a concern at outdoor places in Florida - is with smoking. My suggestion is to sit at one of the tables at the far end of the patio. The other issue is the strange smell in this place, someone should look into it. Waves of unpleasantness. Rick's is fun, the neighbor around it looks a bit runned down now. Just for reference. Thanks read more

Stopped by here - everything was exactly how I expected - plus a new server named Grace she did an amazing job- thanks again

Out in Tampa, how about we dock the boat on a slip and we came to Rick's and it's got like live music three bars oysters everything we're just not here for food just the drinks baby my mai tai did not have the rum. The piña colada did not have even a cherry. This place is though the vibe they have live music that are people dancing so lots of fun just don't go for the drinks you didn't eat so I can't tell you about the food. read more

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The food was great! Nice laid back restaurant with great service and a spectacular view! We would definitely come back again!

A perfect river side stop! We enjoyed a quick bite after a boat ride yesterday. The service was prompt and the staff were all friendly. They had live music which was super fun! The coconut shrimp were not the best in the whole world, but they were certainly tasty and the prices were pretty reasonable. The chicken Caesar salad was delicious, and the cheapest I've seen in a while. The blackened chicken was juicy and seasoned excellently. The location is the perfect stop for boaters. read more

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Friday, April 10th - Never again We visited Rick's on the River on Friday, April 10th for a girls' outing, and what should have been a fun night turned into an incredibly uncomfortable and upsetting experience. One of our meals -- the deviled crab -- was served with shells in it, which is completely unacceptable and a serious safety issue. Because of this, we felt we should not have to pay for that item. The moment that ruined the entire night was the manager's response. The manager, Stephen, handled the situation in an aggressive and hostile manner. A billing issue of just $8.89 escalated far beyond reason. Instead of resolving it professionally, we were threatened, prevented from leaving, and the police were called. What made the situation even more troubling was that the manager's behavior felt discriminatory and racially biased, which made the encounter uncomfortable and alarming. Whether intentional or not, the way we were spoken to and treated was inappropriate and left us feeling disrespected and targeted. Calling the police over $8.89 and escalating a food safety complaint in this way is completely unacceptable. A calm conversation could have resolved everything, but instead, the situation was unnecessarily escalated and ruined the entire outing. No view or location is worth being treated like this. We will not be returning, and we strongly encourage others to think twice before dining here. read more

Great for live music on the water on a Friday night. Good service from Rosie made a difference for us too! I recommend. read more

Rick's On the River - Really great tasting Chicken Tenders tossed in medium - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

A great outdoor sitting area. Very nice. A great place to look out at while enjoying a meal. The beer selection was lacking. The food was not great. Good at best. The Reuben sandwich was a disappointment. There's a right way to do a Reuben and this place ain't got it. The fish sandwich was ok ... nothing special. The service was good. Very clean place. read more

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Big menu with dependable apps and meals. We really enjoyed it all. The service, food and location. Definitely will go back. read more

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Great HH and right on the water. We went there prior to getting on our boat and had the grilled oysters. They were amazing and the price was great! They have a huge bar area and the fact that I love talking to strangers lol it's the perfect spot. They also have an outdoor seating area with views of the river. read more

Took my cousin who was visiting to Rick's so we could enjoy the nice weather and views! Even with only two servers for the whole outdoor patio, they were very nice and very attentive! They served with great efficiency and always checked in on us to make sure we didn't need anything else We were really full by the end of dinner! Might have ordered too much food for just 3 people to share. Chicken wings and coconut shrimp were crispyyy. Oysters were small/medium sized but it fulfilled the craving for me. Sandwich would have been better with grouper if they had it available. I think it's seasonal or only sometimes they have the grouper. Catfish was okay but not something that blew my mind. Come for the chill and laid back vibes. Not for bougie, fine dining. read more

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Busy riverfront restaurant. Fun noisy atmosphere. Lots of boaters here. Live music. Had a buffalo chicken sandwich and my hubby had the fish sandwich. Good quality. Prompt service with lots of refills on my tea! read more

Rick's On the River - Buffalo chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I got an order of the loaded fries for $10 and received a child size portion that was covered in some sort of nacho cheese that tasted horrible. Unfortunately trying a new spot was a very bad idea this time. read more

Catfish basket was very good & it was a crowd for a Friday right after work but everything was everything! read more

Rick's On the River - Yummy catfish basket - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I honestly wasn't expecting it to be this bad. The food was some of the worst I've ever had. I've never had shrimp that tasted freezer-burned until now -- the greasy breading tasted just like cheap fish sticks. I couldn't even eat it and had to send it back. To be fair, the friend who invited us did warn us, saying, "Be warned, this place's food is really bad." We went anyway to celebrate her birthday and keep up her tradition of getting oysters at Rick's on the River. I tried to give it a real chance. Their margarita tasted like straight margarita mix -- no real flavor at all. The fries were completely tasteless. To top it off, they had a high school rock band playing at max volume, so loud you couldn't even talk to the person next to you. Seriously... BE WARNED. read more

Not likely to return. We've lunch there yesterday - Saturday. The location is great, on the Hillsborough River, with plenty boat slips at 1:30pm. It has indoor and covered outdoor areas. We sat out. All tables are for max 8 people, benches with no back support. The service is slow, both drinks and food - got our food exactly an hour later. Our girl is gracious and lovely. The few waiting staff I saw, are young girls who wear tight outfit (not unifform). I would expect them to be sporty but instead, I feel lifeless. I yielded to a tall girl after bathroom. She opened the door and just left. Ok, maybe she was juggling two drinks on the tray ... I would use my body to hold the door for the next person IF my hands are occupied ... The foods: average bar food. I've Little Neck clams, the two pieces of toast are delicious. Chicken wrap is good. As we were leaving, a band came to set it up. One member wore a Brookly NY leather jacket honoring the fallen heroes on Veterans Dat. I asked him if he was from Bly and he replied a big YES -:). Then asked me if I'm from Thailand or Philippine. I replied, Africa. "Really?" Really sir. Thanks for these who have served. read more

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The food was not all that good it seemed like they need to change the grease service was not too bad we never got to ask if we wanted any dessert or anything like that she gave us a bill and walked away atmosphere was good I probably will not go back read more

First time here and the did was great. I like oysters and had six that were really yummy. The service was really friendly and attentive and the ambiance was really casual. Really enjoyed the experience and will be back read more

Rick's On the River - Oysters Raw - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We seated ourselves as instructed and raised the Service Needed sign. Fifteen minutes later, no one had visited our table. As we were getting up to leave to go elsewhere, a waitress finally appeared. Strange way to run a restaurant! read more

Service is sloooooow and Happy Hour prices are a joke. For the most part our food was good.

It's a good location if you like the water and boats. It's a dive bar more then a restaurant. Unique inside and large outdoor patio seating area. Menu is ok nothing stands out as a wow. The oysters were decent size but the main meal was lackluster and the onion rings and fries lukewarm. Not a great experience at all. Service was good after they finally noticed us sitting at the table. read more

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It was my first time coming here, while the ambiance was great, there was a disconnect. There was no one in the front to greet or seat us. We had to find our own seats, odd but ok. When we did sat down, our server Madison was amazing, Attentive and sweet. My friends ordered margarita and i had a mojito. Mojito was ok, watered down, didn't really taster the alcohol. We had half dozen Jacked up oysters and half dozen Rick-a-fellar. Jacked up were amazing, spice from jalapeños added a great spice. Overall, it's a fun place to check out at least once. read more

Rick's On the River - Jacked up oysters: very good, jalapeños were a great addition! - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I found Rick's on the river back in August and have been back over 10x since, and I don't even live in Tampa! It is honestly my favorite restaurant of all time and it makes me just so happy to be there. Sitting outside is an absolute must to observe the beautiful Hillsborough river and people watch. I typically sit at the bar if I'm by myself but when I bring my friends sitting right next to the river at a table is never a bad time. I've literally never had a bad experience with service the people are always so nice and the food comes out so quick! My only request is to please bring back the coconut chalices I absolutely love that souvenir cup and need to add more to my collection. As for the food, the oysters are an absolute must. Top 10 oysters I've ever had in my entire life and it's actually the only thing I ever order. You cannot beat a dozen oysters, a side of fries, and 2 whiskey diets for under $40. I always drag my friends here and they never regret it, some great feedback I got was from the burger, fish dip, and loaded fries so you truly cannot go wrong here. We went for the first time on a Friday night so we got to hear the live music this time which I've been wanting to do for a while now. Ricks on the river I'm genuinely your biggest fan I love you and never change please!! read more

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I ate here recently with a dining partner. We had a cheesesteak and a salad with blackened fish. Both were excellent. The salad was fresh and the blackened fish was as spiced just right, fresh! The cheesesteak was terrific (for Florida). Fresh roll, tangy provolone, freshly grilled peppers and onions, and delicious fries. The cheesesteak came out piping hot! Service was very good. The view of the river is nice. read more

It was a beautiful Saturday, arrived via the boat docks, came in for a snack and a beer. We got the last slip and the place was packed. End up getting some food and no I did not take any pictures, forgot to. The staff is very friendly and everybody was having a great time. Stay just over an hour and then we drove off. Definitely come in if you have time it's always fun to be here! read more

A perfect dive bar on the river! Great location. Lots of space. If you're looking for a place to hang out at in the water come here!!! Good food, good drinks. A full bar and plenty of staff to help out. We stopped in after I got back from my work trip for some Friday evening fun. Some cold beers and appetizers. Very busy for an early Friday evening. Diverse crowd and a band setting yo to play for the night. Check this place out if you haven't already. If you have come back and enjoy this place! read more

Rick's On the River - 2 ice cold beers! - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Go for the drinks and river view not for the food. The drinks are good and reasonable in price. The service is friendly and quick. It's nice to sit on the river on a pleasant day and watch the boat traffic. But eat before you get there. The food is boring low end bar food. The burger tasted like a bubba burger. The oysters are never fresh, they just look old and brown. If you have to eat get the wings. Wings are hard to screw up. Enjoy the view drink the drinks. read more

Seafood was great and fresh! I had some of the oysters which was amazing and the shrimp po boy. The po boy was overflowing with popcorn shrimp and so delicious. It was a really big portion for the price as well. Would also definitely recommend getting the Cajun fries. Service was good and had lots of outdoor seating. read more

Rick's On the River - Shrimp po-boy - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Our server was so great! Grouper cheeks were very good. We also liked burger and fish sandwich.

Very nice place to go and enjoy the view! I like how easy the service method is and the food came in pretty fast Next time, I will like to try the oysters to see if they are good! read more

Rick's On the River - New American Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The food was to die for! The onion rings was the best I ever had! I loved the atmosphere! You could tell it was a locals hangout which I loved! Our server, although I don't remember her name but she was pregnant at the time was so kind and sweet! read more

Fun dockside dive bar vibes with lots of outdoor shaded seating and large bathrooms, we hit this spot after a boat day. Service was a bit slow outside but waitress managed a large group of us well. The frozen drinks didn't taste strong but bar food was tasty, particularly the coconut shrimp and the tots. No frills but a good spot to stop in after a long day on a boat. read more