I really like this spot! It's in a quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn heights and is a great spot to get a meal. It's cash only btw. The food and Italian dishes are really good, i got the traditional Italian breakfast pasta dish which was really good. It wasn't too salty and was cooked perfectly. I also paired that with wine. The view from the restaurant is great for a drink. I'd come back! read more

There are a ton of great Italian restaurants in this part of Brooklyn. This spot was good but not amazing. The owner advised us that waiting time for a table would be about 45 minutes with a few folks standing at the door waiting to be seated. We continued to linger at the front, debating our decision of whether to leave, but were then told that a table had suddenly opened up. Sat at the bar and it felt cozy, quaint, and authentic. Their pasta is amazing and the ambience feels like Renaissance/classic Italy. I highly recommend their mushroom-based pasta dishes and burrata as an appetizer. Head to this spot- grab a glass of wine, sit at the bar and marvel at the rustic nature of this neighborhood spot. It's a great location but the ownership can feel tough and unpredictable. read more

River Deli - Bruschetta Mista - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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We had passed this place so many times - it was always poacked for brunch on the weekends! We decided to try them out for dinner, and we're so glad we did! First, a caveat: it's cash only (they do have an ATM inside) so no cards! It's a very beautiful, old-school, turn-of-the-century vibe that we love about Brooklyn Heights. We were lucky enough to get a table for two without waiting. To start, our drinks were awesome! The mixologist made a wonderful margarita and the best old-fashioned I've had literally in years! Their calamari fritti was breaded & fried to a very delicate crisp. The homemade pasta dishes were amazingly fresh too. We had pappardelle al funghi (mixed mushrooms, olive oil, parmesan) and tagilatelle al ragu di agnello (lamb ragu, cinnamon, cannanou wine sauce, pecorino) and both were out of this world with flavor and perfectly cooked al-dente goodness. Their torta al limone slice for dessert was outstanding as well. This was one of the best meals we've had in the neighborhood, and we told Morgan (manager/server) that we would return with friends. It's a must! (Just remember to bring cash! And by the way, the prices were very reasonable: all the pasta dishes were around $20, drinks $16) read more

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A big no from start to finish: at 1pm on a Saturday they were out of burgers (limited menu to begin with). Asked if we could sub a piece of toast (1!!) instead of potatoes and I was told that would be an extra charge. Stupidly I agreed to it. Toast arrived and when I asked for butter was told they don't serve butter. I sent it back. Weak latte as well. So rude and unwelcoming. Avoid at all cost. read more

River Deli is a neighborhood gem!! I felt like I was transported into an Italian family's kitchen and loved every moment. This spot is perfect for an intimate date night, or a nice group dinner! The pasta dishes were phenomenal, with each element of the dish being highlighted for its natural flavors. From the Sardinian pasta, to the funghi, and lamb ragu - each dish shined in its own way. I would order each one again and try every pasta on this menu as I'm sure they would blow me out of the water. The appetizers were less to write home about - the calamari was simple but lacked flavor. The octopus was pleasant but again, would probably order another pasta in lieu of an appetizer. The other non-pasta dishes also seemed great, so will definitely be back to try those as well! Service was average - but nothing that would deter me from coming back! read more

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This place is tucked away in Brooklyn Heights filled with so much charm and comforting vibes. The food is good, but the ambiance is what keeps us coming back! read more

River Deli - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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The food was good but the service was rushed and rude. Plenty of other places to go to in Brooklyn Heights.

Yummy and fast service! Really lovely ambiance and cool interiors with fresh flowers. The homemade jam in the panna cotta was lovely too. read more

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River Deli is restaurant located in a very nice, quiet neighborhood in Brooklyn Heights. Like most restaurants in that area, they serve Italian food. The food is not cheap, but is quite good. The ambiance is nice, casual, with indoor and outdoor seating. We ate outside one evening and had a wonderful time. The staff was friendly, accommodating and provided good service. I really don't have anything bad to say about this place except that they only accept cash. I generally try to avoid frequenting business that only accept cash. I realize there may be legitimate reasons for a business to do this but I find it is inconvenient. Otherwise, they are a good restaurant. if it were not for the cash only policy, I would give them four stars. read more

I'm willing to admit that maybe I just don't like Sardinian food (though that feels like a forgiving stretch) but the food here is just so....not good :( by that I don't mean it's bad, but just that it is never that great. Borders on so so. Is simply fine. And that's okay but it's made especially disappointing by how great of a space and vibe they have going on!! A great place to grab a drink & maybe (?) an appetizer, and the service is nice. Just disappointing food. But no one (neither my friends nor, by the looks of it, fellow Yelp reviewers) agrees with me, thus my original concession - maybe it's just not my taste. And jokes on me because I keep coming back. But had to get it off my chest PS the ragu is very strong on the cinnamon/orange and it's disorienting. Just FYI. Those flavor notes are not to be overlooked when ordering (this is something my friends do agree with me on, after learning the hard way not listening to me..) read more

River Deli - chicken cutlet - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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Spaghetti with a Side of Disappointment: A Lunch to Forget I visited for lunch with my daughter, and overall, the experience was disappointing. The server was just okay at best. Upon noticing that the restaurant was cash-only, I was told they would accept Venmo or Zelle, which was fine. We ordered the spaghetti, asking for it without pancetta since I'm a vegetarian. The server said he'd check, and when he came back, he mentioned, "I guess they can do it, but only this one time." I replied, "That's fine, we're only here this one time." When the dish arrived, the food was good, but there were pieces of pancetta in the pasta despite my request. I politely placed them in the center of my plate once I finished. When the bill came, the server quickly moved on to the next table without much interaction. I asked if the number on the bill was the Venmo number, and he loudly announced to the other staff, "SHE'S PAYING IN VENMO," after which another staff member brought over a poorly laminated sheet for me to copy the payment details. After I paid, the server asked for confirmation of the payment and then asked where we were from. When I said "Seattle," he said nothing in response. I can't help but feel that because we were the only Black family (my daughter is 3 years old) in the restaurant, we received such poor service. The area is diverse, so I'm unsure of the reason, but it didn't feel welcoming. We were only in the area to check out the donut shop on the same block and thought we'd grab a quick lunch. We definitely won't be coming back, and I doubt we'll be missed. To any travelers who may relate to my experience, I advise spending your money elsewhere. read more

Brief pit stop on a warm autumn Saturday. Delightful little place. Warm atmosphere, very sweet and helpful staff offering good service. Can only comment on our lunch of deserts ( gorgeous) coffee and beer, just lovely. Main courses looked really good so we'll be going back. A little jem of a place. Good on you say 2 visitors from the UK read more

We listened to plates crashing in the kitchen through the whole dinner. My parents came into town for my bday and we could hardly hear each other and had to yell the whole meal. Super unpleasant. And we were squished into a table up against a wall and could hardly move. Truly unpleasant experience. We live over in dumbo and I wish we had chosen one of the many nice restaurants over here. For me the food was greasy and mediocre but I suppose this depends on your taste. The staff was not super friendly. Overall very disappointing experience. read more

River Deli is the cutest little Italian restaurant tucked away on a quiet street in Brooklyn Heights. They specialize in Sardinian cuisine. Everything was quite delicious. Sadly, our experience was tainted at the end of the meal after a rude encounter with one of the staff there. He yelled at me when I took my camera out and kicked me out of the restaurant. read more

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Excellent food and service at this hidden gem in Brooklyn Heights. The bruschetta appetizer started off our experience delightfully. I had the Malloreddus alla Campidanese, the Sardinian pasta with sausage while my friend went with the Papardelle ai Funghi. Both were prepared deliciously and presented excellent. We will definitely return. read more

This is the sweetest little Italian restaurant in Brooklyn heights. The ambiance is old school and homey. They dishes are my favorite part, it's dishes my grandmother would have served meals on. I got the branzino special and it was DELIGHTFUL. The fish was cooked perfectly. The capers added this salty goodness to the dish, I would've licked the plate had I been at home. My husband had the lasagna and my son had the mushroom pasta. Both of these dishes were delicious and well executed. I got the strawberry cocktail and that was beautifully done. I definitely recommend this place. A little hidden gem in the middle of the heights. Don't forget to bring cash as it is a cash only establishment. read more

YUM! I went with my friend to this neighborhood gem for brunch and was not disappointed. I ordered the handmade pasta and it was cooked perfectly Al dente. Furthermore, the tomato sauce was multi-dimensional and tangy in the way that just ripe tomatoes on the vine taste. My whiskey sour was pungent and fresh and my friend's drink was refreshing and sparkly in all the right ways. We are already making dinner plans to try their sampling of dishes at dinner. read more

River Deli - Whiskey sour, Bellini - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Super cute pasta place near the water ! Very cute vibes and oh it's cash only! Calamari - 10/10 Loved it! The sauce was amazing and fried well! Pappardelle ai Funghi - 8/10 The pasta was soooo fresh and delicious. The texture was amazing. The mushrooms were also amazing ! The sauce was on the lighter side so there was not too much / heavy. I would've liked a bit more flavor or cheese but the pasta itself was just so good! Not pictured: Tiramisu ! - 9/10 It was delicious!!! very filling and can be shared with two! Not too heavy and has more coffee flavor than cream !! read more

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Such a cute spot within an old deli right by the water! My friend lives in the area and had talked about how much she loves River Deli, so we came here together for dinner and I was not disappointed! All of the dishes we ordered were so tasty! They are on the smaller side when compared to general American restaurant portion sizes, but they are also not as expensive. We ordered the burrata, trofie with pesto, and spinach ravioli followed by the chocolate mousse. It was all so fresh and delicious! We ordered a bottle of wine as well. The service was a good balance of checking up on you without being overbearing, which was nice. It is cash only and they don't take reservations for tables of less than four people I believe. It's a super small establishment, so account for getting there early or waiting a bit. Overall, beautiful location, good food, and good bang for your buck! read more

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food was delicious (in the moment, we'll get to that later) and service was great... I did however get food poisoning from the branzino, which I should've realized in the moment was very undercooked :( read more

Great neighborhood spot. Cozy ambiance, but the food has never blown me away. Service is solid.

Such a spectacular local gem. Vegetarian options are plenty, wine is wonderful, and staff are friendly and helpful. You feel tucked away in your own little spot in Brooklyn. Will be back! read more

Cash only, but ATM inside! Dog-friendly outdoor seating. River Deli is your local neighborhood spot for tasty Italian for great vibes, and you should not expect huge portions of home-cooked style dinners or inventive dishes geared towards millennials. We've dined here once, outdoors on a lovely summer evening, and gotten takeout another time. Both times, River Deli hit the mark. My seafood linguini special and mushroom pappardelle were comforting, and the husband enjoyed his chicken cutlet and lasagna. I also thoroughly enjoyed the grilled octopus appetizer (grilled perfectly- succulent and not rubbery). They may look enticing, but I would skip the cocktails here, as they tasted pretty one-dimensional (instead, head over to Elsa or Bohemian Bar after dinner for cocktail perfection). read more

This place blew me away. I came here by recommendation from a friend of mine and I'm happy I did. The ambiance is really lovely and the service was very good. The food though, my god. Everything was so perfect and delicious. I had the bruschetta starter and the lasagna for my entree. There were a few different types of bruschetta, like a sampler of sorts. I loved all of them..the eggplant maybe I didn't love, but I didn't hate it. The lasagne however...I haven't tasted anything like that since I was actually in Italy. Also the drink I had two of was really good. I don't remember the name but it had strawberry and Prosecco in it. I will be coming back here several more times to try the other menu items read more

River Deli - Lasagna - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

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I'd heard such great things about this place and have walked by it a bunch. Always loved how cozy and old fashioned it looks, like a step back in time, and feels seriously Italian. However, the food doesn't. Everyone's on here raving about the mushroom pasta but I had to have them add extra cheese to give it any flavor, and even that didn't work. The eggplant-truffle oil appetizer I also don't recommend - the oil really overpowers all the veggies. The best dish is, by far, the sausage pasta. Served in a delicious red sauce with little balls of sausage, this is so far and away the standout. Won't be coming back here, but glad I tried it. Curiosity fulfilled. read more

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Stopped in for a drink to wait out traffic and get warm. It's toasty in here! Perfect! They don't have hot chocolate but they do have all the coffees. And cocktails. Im going for calming experiences these days, so I went with the Beehive- rye whiskey, ginger syrup, honey, lemon, St Germain. It was light and lemony. Very light. Then the bartender said wait!! I missed an ingredient! So he redid the drink and added the very important St Germain. Definitely needed it. Great drink when it was complete. The vibe of the restaurant is Italian cozy chic. Tiny wine carafes on the tables hold little bouquets and sit next to lit candles. The bench seats that line the large pane glass windows are dotted with pillows. The bar is the focal point of the dining room and it is a beauty. A weathered wood top with round wooden bar stools and purse hooks every couple of seats. The floor is checkered green and white. The kitchen is across from the bar and open. You can see all the action. There's a beautiful floral wallpaper on the back wall that reminded me of a grandma's place. The menu looks like solid Italian fare. Had I not just snacked at the vegan market up the street, I would've tried the pappardelle ai funghi. Sounds decadent! For now I'll sit out a bit of traffic and enjoy this warm spot and my beehive to the max! read more

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Delicious meal at River Deli. They consistently deliver excellent quality food based on the uncountable times I've been here. Highly recommend the ravioli, zucchini and the tiramisu if I had to pick my favourite dishes. Service is always efficient and friendly. Would note they only take cash but they have an ATM indoors but just something to keep in mind if you don't want to pay an extra atm fee. I've found they're pretty efficient and they do take walk ins - thankfully the wait has varied between 10 to 45 mins when I've generally been which is far better than many hyped up Italian restaurants which are impossible to book. Finally the area is beautiful so definitely walk around willow town while you wait for your table! read more

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Absolutely phenomenal Sardinian restaurant. The classic Sardinian pasta dishes are all that I want in life. I've been several times and eaten outside with my dog, and when I went without my dog, they actually asked where she was! Staff is very attentive, food is totally delicious. They should make the grilled octopus appetizer part of the regular menu. CASH ONLY, but there's an ATM on the premises so NBD. read more

Excellent old school spot in Brooklyn. The malloredus sardi alla campidanese (pasta with sausage and tomato sauce) is amazing, as is the chocolate mousse for dessert. I also got the pappardelle ai funghi, which was good, but I'd probably try something else next time. We also got the eggplant and burrata appetizers, both of which were very good, but the burrata was the standout. Not going 5 stars quite yet, but I expect to be back and I could easily be pushed in that direction. read more

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As a BK Heights resident, River Deli is one of my favorite things about living here. It's a hidden, cozy gem right by the water. It's a beautiful spot for a date or a fun weekend brunch hang. There's a solid range of appetizers, cheeses, pasta dishes, and main courses, with classic Italian dishes as well as Sardinian specialities. The lasagna and tagliatelle are great, but my favorites have to be the ravioli and malloredus Sardi. The pasta has such an interesting shape and the sausage is a delicious addition! Cash only, but there is an ATM on site. read more

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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. read more

River Deli - Burrata by candlelight. - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

Customer service is not too bad. But there food is too way overpriced. They will give you regular boiled pasta with butter and they will charge you $25 for this. Guys are you crazy?) absolutely not recommended this place, if you see it just ran away))) read more

Had Sunday family dinner here. Shared the bruschetta Mista and had the tagliatelle al ragu' d'agnello, both of which were excellent. Had a taste of something good for dessert but forget what it was. read more

What a nice hidden gem! After getting off the ferry at Pier 6, instead of heading straight to Atlantic Ave., we headed toward the Brooklyn bridge and then a right onto this quaint tree lined street. The menu is simple and reasonably priced. We shared the steak and eggs and it was cooked to perfection and not tough. The staff is really very pleasant and everyone seemed to be happy to be here. The decor exudes the feeling of a small Italian cafe, or your Grandmother's house, right down to the bathroom. I want to return to try some of the pasta during dinner. A nice little treasure that will be a new stop when I ride the ferry to pier 6. read more

River Deli - Steak and eggs. Fine for sharing! - Italian Near Me - Brooklyn, New York

I recently dined at River Deli...the staff was extremely helpful explaining the regular menu and the daily special. The ambiance was pretty good, and the food was delicious. This small restaurant is no pretentious with their food. Is a simple traditional Sardegna cuisine that live up to any expectations. Cash only but they do have an ATM inside. read more

Warm atmosphere and some good cocktails that we have tried. Really overpriced for kids portion of simple buttered macaroni. Also, please, pay attention to the restroom and how sticky the door is. read more

Imagine my surprise when a friend recommended I try a Sardinian restaurant in New York! Being a native Sardinian I was a bit skeptical at first, but River Deli proved to be authentic with genuine flavors. We had a glass of Nieddera and dived right in the Malloreddus sardi: yummy! The ricotta cheese cake was a great way to crown our meal. The prices are very fair and the owner is really kind. read more

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A neighborhood favorite. My husband and I had this place on our list for a while. It was super nice out so many people were sitting outside. We decided to sit inside as it was a bit chillier than expected (all COVID protocols are being followed). FYI they don't take reservations. The service was a bit slow and inattentive as there was only one person hosting/taking orders/serving, but we understand right now most places are going through tough times. We have been making a conscious effort to support our local businesses so decided to finally try River Deli. We shared the stuffed zucchini and each one ordered a pasta dish. The zucchini was delicious, the cheese on top was a bit much for my taste but I loved the filling. Carbonara is not an easy one to get right. This one was good but nothing out of this world. Could have used a bit more salt. It might not had been as silky but honestly it was a tasty dish overall. Our favorite was the Malloredus Sardi alla Campidanese. Growing up in an Italian family, that brought me back to my mom's cooking when I was a kid. It was a very comforting dish and great for a Fall day. We ordered coffee to top off our meal - espresso is OK. Keep in mind they are cash only! Good experience, definitely a very pleasant atmosphere. It's a good option in the neighborhood for a nice meal. We were positively surprised by the check - 2 glasses of wine, 2 pasta dishes, zucchini, 2 espresso = around $85 before tip which is pretty good for the standard in the area. read more

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Had 2 different pastas for brunch. Delicious sauce. Service was good. Sat indoors-cozy atmosphere. Would go again

Sat down for outdoor dining after passing by a couple times on evening walks. The outdoor seating fills up around 7 pm so try to come by before then. Note that this place is cash only, though there is an atm inside. The pasta here is awesome - we got the pesto tuna pasta and the lasagna. Pasta tastes fresh and flavors are bold. The tiramisu is also delicious for dessert. Skip any dishes that include bread - the texture of the bread is a little chalky and the bread itself lacks flavor. read more