The Portuguese Fisherman in South River - Phone Number, Reservations, Reviews

A great place with excellent food, service, and atmosphere.

Love the chicken in garlic sauce. Always a favorite. Price is right and service is excellent. On a subsequent visit I had the pork chops in garlic sauce and just as good!.

If you want to experience Portugal in a restaurant, this is the place for you! The food here is absolutely incredible and the whole ambiance reminded my wife and I of our short time in Portugal! We ordered the “Caldo Verde Soup”, “Stuffed Flounder”, and the “Paelha”! All three were absolutely flavorful, tender, and simply delicious. The portion sizes are generous, and the prices are very reasonable for the quality of food you receive. The wine and beer selection is also impressive, with a variety of Portuguese wines that pair beautifully with the dishes. They serve local Portuguese beer “SUPER BOCK” and “SAGRES” Beer and wine from the Douro Valley! The staff is knowledgeable and eager to help you choose the perfect wine to complement your meal. Overall, dining at Portuguese Fisherman was a fantastic experience. Our server Dan was very good and shout out to Mark who was very kind in sharing the history of the place! The combination of excellent food, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a must-visit. We can't wait to return! 5 stars!

We came to this hidden palace via Xiaohongshu, a Chinese social media. It’s a home welcoming type of place that makes you relax and enjoy the authentic food. Service was great. Portions were big. T bone steak is one of the best we had.

Three of my coworkers and I went to this restaurant after work. I ordered the lobster, scallop, and shrimp dish called mariscado that comes in a broth of garlic and parsley. As soon as I got home at 9 I had diarrhea. Now it is almost 1 am and I just stopped vomiting. This is the second worst food poisoning I’ve had in my life. You poisoned the lady wearing a black hat and sitting in the first table to the right of the dining area entrance with three other ladies. I hope you feel guilty. You absolutely ruined my night and my stomach. My throat is burning and my eyes are red. I have to cancel my plans for tomorrow now. I’m just grateful I don’t have any other health complications and I am not going to die from vomiting for hours. I can’t believe we paid $178 to be literally poisoned. SEAFOOD IS YOUR THING. DO IT RIGHT. Your negligence will kill someone one day if it already hasn’t.

I came her for a party, so I only saw the party room. Nice size room, it was spacious enough for more than 100 guests plus dancefloor. The food was fantastic. I was most surprised about this, because food usually loses some of its flavor when made in bulk, but that did not happen here. It makes me excited to come back for dinner.

Excellent service. Great value. Food was flavorful. Parking is behind the restaurant

It’s been almost three years since I visited this wonderful restaurant and it’s still amazing. The food, ambience, staff, everything. The sangria is tasty, and did I mention, that the food is delicious? Some of my favorites are; broiled pork chops w/rice chips, and veggies, the ribs, lemon chicken, and the especially the chorizo. The family also loves the clams casino, shrimp in garlic sauce, and paella. I can’t recommend it enough.

I went with my friend last night. We ordered drinks at a bar table . The bartender spilled my drink all over my friend and I. Everything was a sticky mess. I asked to speak with a manager and she told me she will bring me a new drink herself . Well the same guy came back and did it all over again. Absolutely disgusting we were charged for the drinks and the night was ruined. Our server couldn’t even brink salt and pepper. I had to get and look for someone to bring it to our table. Horrific acoustics so loud you can’t have a conversation. It is a shame because the food is very good.

Fresh seafood, generous portions. Fairly expensive but has a nice pub atmosphere.

I received a tuna salad from here but all they did was open up a can of tuna and throw it on a bed of mixed greens. Food had no flavor, I fed the tuna to the cats as it was just bland tuna thats all. Sad to get a salad like this at a place called “Portuguese Fisherman”. Make sure you ask how the fish is cooked I guess, but this is a really low for a tuna salad probably the saddest tuna salad i have ever been served.

I came here for Father's Day, and I had such a great time. The espresso martini was delicious. The soup I got was amazing. The wild boar was cooked just right. Big portion on the food. Enough for two people. My dessert was a Ferrero Rocher Chocolate dessert. So rich and delicious!

A Culinary Gem in South River, New Jersey The Portuguese Fisherman is a delightful gem nestled in the historic town of South River. From the moment we made our easy online reservation, we knew we were in for a treat. 🍽️ Dinner Delights: The paella transported us to the sun-kissed shores of Portugal. The fried fish platter was crispy, golden perfection. The shrimp in garlic danced with flavor. The pork chops in garlic sauce were tender and aromatic. And the picanha—oh, that succulent Brazilian cut—left us craving more. 👨‍🍳 Attentive Service: Our waiter was a true professional, anticipating our needs and ensuring a memorable dining experience. It felt like dining at a friend’s home in Portugal. 🌟 Verdict: If you’re seeking authentic Portuguese and Spanish cuisine, look no further than the Portuguese Fisherman. Generous portions, attentive service, and flavors that transport you—this restaurant is a must-visit!

Awesome restaurant... great bar,, great people, great service, and you guessed it, great food. Authentic Puertugeuse. Have had dinner as well as a private event there, and it's never missed the Mark.

Very positive experiences Octopus is so soft, tender

Excellent service, flavorful food, and comfortable atmosphere!

This place is the best we have been there so many times.Everytime we went the food.is always fantastic. We always come home with a doggie bag because the portions are big.Highly recommend this restaurant.

New to this area, I googled top 10 restaurants and this was on the list. Tired of eating out and having the same food again & again. This restaurant by far was definitely one of the BEST in Central NJ. We love seafood especially in a Portuguese setting. The Sangria was delicious!! The staff were so amazing, very attentive and even the owner came and checked on us to see how everything was. We will definitely be going back to enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and superb entrees!!

The food was spectacular and the service was the same.

It was a very enjoyable experience. The food was delicious and reasonably priced. We would definitely go back again.

Great Food and Service. A small hidden gem.

A really great place for fantastic food. A perfect date location

I was there with my family. I would recommend this restaurant to everyone. Food is amazing. The only minus I would say , portions is too big.

Great place to bring your family, business meetings or even if you want to come sit at the bar and watch the game. The environment is very cozy and beautiful. The food is beyond words for me to describe. I will continue to come back every single time because of food never fails me. Ever!

Wow! I guess I don't need to drive to Newark for awesome Portuguese food.

First time here. Food and service were great and will definitely be back to try other dishes.

Their food is amazing, staff is always attentive and they make sure the sangria is always full and you have enough warm bread to go around. They have really nice party rooms and the staff for parties is always great as well.

Been coming here for years, and always great. Pre Sandy, upstairs dining during rebuild and after rebuild. Nothing but exceptional food and people.

Walked in sat at bar waited 19 minutes for drink I understand if you are busy but you should at least be recognized Ordered surf and turf steak dry and lobster tail was suppose to be 7 ounces doubtful also the butter that came out with dinner for the lobster was half butter and half oil no taste have been there previously totally different experience will try again but not on weekend

Love them! My husband loves the fried red snapper

Local restaurant with tasty food that is well priced considering the fairly large portions. Seems like patrons are regulars and so as newcomers, service was decent/stilted but not necessarily friendly. Been back twice for takeout.

Food is excellent as always. The picadinho misto as an appetizer was pretty large and I had to take the remainder home. The chicken in garlic sauce was also very good. Can't say we ever had a bad meal or experience for the times we have been there. Loved the sangria (had the read, no white this time around). Sangria prices have gone up so be prepared to pay more for a large size pitcher. Booths are somewhat closer to the bar and that can make it a little bit noisier than sitting in the other dining room. It's a treat for us to visit there on occasion (usually around holidays), and always good to make reservations to insure you get in on time.

This is the my 4th time at Portuguese Fisherman in a year & it was just as expected. It’s my go to spot whenever we don’t want to drive too far and stay local for dinner dates. Food was good as always except mine was a little on the salty side I had the monkfish ,shrimp and scallop cooked in rice. My husband’s fried red snapper was delish! Server was attentive and made great recommendations when asked. Everyone seemed friendly which speaks to their good service. We will definitely be back soon. Will recommend.

Brought a new colleague here for dinner and was very happy with the decision. Both had the Paella which was excellent. Enough left over for a second meal. Noise level was not an issue and we were able to easily converse. Will definitely return.

I had an amazing event here ! Everything was done without a glitch as always! Food and service were above and beyond ! I would recommend this venue to anyone looking for the best party all around! Thank you to Mark who was hands on as always 💜 and the entire staff!

Awsome food and great portions. Sangria could use more fruit in it.

Great food, service and atmosphere - always enjoy this South River staple. Have been going here for over 25 years!

Always great food and amazing service. Never a bad meal.

Fisherman Seafood platter for two was fantastic and the sangria was great.

Food and service were great. Only negative was we were sitting at the last booth by the kitchen. Every time the door closed it slammed and shook the booth.

This place is awesome. Love everything about it. Food, Service, Atmosphere and the people are all great!!!

Keep ordering take out, they keep on forgetting items or simple requests like bread. Poorly packaged takeout means a mess in the car because the liquids seep through the paper bag they proudly use for take out orders. Wouldn’t recommend

Waitstaff tends to your every need, food was excellent, just an all around effort by the entire staff made for a very enjoyable evening.

The Portuguese Fisherman never disappoints. We went with friends who also consider this restaurant as one of their favorites. I had the grilled Bronzino, the wives had the stuffed shrimp, and my friend had the Monk Fish special. Each entree was excellent.

The food is fabulous and the wait staff is excellent. We’ll be back!

Excellent all around! A must try

We come here often - consistently excellent food, wonderfully attentive staff, and cozy atmosphere. This visit did not disappoint! Also great sangria!!

Reserved a table for 8 about ten days in advance. Beautiful place with its own parking lot. Atmosphere was intimate but lively. Very good looking bar area. Sat down very happy with the table in the dining room. Water and bread are brought immediately upon sitting down. Sangria and other drink orders were taken sangria was delicious. For apps we ordered the octopus, chorizo, and calamari. All perfectly prepared. Entrees included the Fisherman Platter, picanha with the sizzling garlic butter, shrimp and rice and the lamb shanks. Everything was absolutely delicious. Treated ourselves to some Portuguese specialties for dessert to go with some brandy. The owner Mark came by and was very gracious. The final bill was extremely reasonable for the high quality of food and service that we received. This wasn’t my first time at the Fisherman, but every time I go there I am reminded why I keep coming back. Will definitely repeat.

Reserved a table for 8 about ten days in advance. Beautiful place with its own parking lot. Atmosphere was intimate but lively. Very good looking bar area. Sat down very happy with the table in the dining room. Water and bread are brought immediately upon sitting down. Sangria and other drink orders were taken sangria was delicious. For apps we ordered the octopus, chorizo, and calamari. All perfectly prepared. Entrees included the Fisherman Platter, picanha with the sizzling garlic butter, shrimp and rice and the lamb shanks. Everything was absolutely delicious. Treated ourselves to some Portuguese specialties for dessert to go with some brandy. The owner Mark came by and was very gracious. The final bill was extremely reasonable for the high quality of food and service that we received. This wasn’t my first time at the Fisherman, but every time I go there I am reminded why I keep coming back. Will definitely repeat.

I have been going to the Portuguese Fisherman for many years and have always enjoyed it.

As always excellent service. Delicious food. Great value.

OUTSTANDING JOB ON THE SHRIMP AND GARLIC GREAT PLACE ESPECIALLY FOR SEAFOOD

What a gem this place was!! Absolutely loved everything that was ordered. In particular, other reviews loved the calamari, garlic shrimp and Portuguese sausage apps and I must agree. All of those apps are 100000/10! The sangria - both red and white were very good but I preferred the red. For dessert our party of 5 chose different desserts and sampled. Our favorites were the ferrero rocher cup and the special which was the pistachio cheesecake. They had a parking lot but it’s small and filled up but there’s street parking. It is very noisy in there but we didn’t mind too much. Overall I would recommend and would definitely go again.

Everything was delicious! Arthur was a server extraordinaire- attentive and so pleasant. I can't wait to come back and try other dishes on the menu. Warning... It's a lot of really good food!

Been going here for years. Never disappointed. My husband & I as well as our family & all our friends love this restaurant. The service & bar tenders are always great, the food is generous, so delicious & fresh. Like going to a friends home in Portugal with classic homemade recipes made for you.

The food was excellent. We will definitely be going back.

Food is cooked to perfection. Great place to enjoy food, family and friends

Arrived a few minutes early for reservation. Seated immediately and welcomed by waiter Tony. All courses arrived promptly, generous portions, and exceptional service throughout by Tony.

I love this place. I never get tired of going . The food is phenomenal!! The bartenders are wonderful servers too. They make you feel like your at home everytime you go there

Its our go to for date night. We do like to try new places but get let downhalf the time at this price point. Prices are great, food is great, service is great. Been coming here for about 18-20 years , somewhere along that time frame. Def a go to that doesn't disappoint with a good price point.

Great food, sangria and drinks! Arthur always takes care of us!

Great food will definitely return

Delicious food. Great service. Exactly what we expected when we picked this restaurant to meet up with friends. Portuguese food done really, really good, and good sangria too.

First time here. Very good service and food was delicious. We will definitely be back :)

Genuine Portuguese cuisine since 1976. We enjoy the shrimp in garlic appetizer and the fried calamari. I didn't care for the paella, large clams and the lobster was tough. Most entrees include chips and Spanish rice. Pricing is reasonable compared to similar establishments in the area. The food is somewhat inconsistent. The Sangria is always good. The service has been great every time we've been there.

As always excellent service, and delicious and plentiful food.

I made a reservation well in advance to celebrate my son's 21st birthday at this restaurant. However, upon arrival, we were given an inappropriate cramped table close to the bar instead of a more spacious and suitable area that we had requested. To make matters worse, the order for 4 lobsters was a complete letdown. Despite being promised 1.5-pound lobsters, they were significantly smaller than advertised. It was disappointing to receive such undersized lobsters compared to what was initially promised. Adding insult to injury, the wait for our food was incredibly long. We endured over 2 hours of waiting before our meals were finally served. By the time we received our food, we had already spent a total of 3 hours at the restaurant, leaving no time for dessert or a proper celebration of my son's birthday. Overall, the restaurant's failure to provide the requested appropriate table, the misleading description of the lobsters, and the excessively long wait time made this a highly unsatisfactory experience. I would strongly advise against choosing this establishment for any special occasion or even a regular dining experience. The lack of attention to detail and customer satisfaction was disheartening, and it significantly impacted the enjoyment of our celebration.

My wife ordered the Red Snapper dinner and got food poisoning. The Portuguese soup was very bland and the vegetables were mediocre at best. However, the bread and salad was excellent. Bar was lively.

Disappointing. Sausage appetizer was excellent. Seafood over linguini was overcooked. Wife's mushroom pasta dish was boring. We asked for a quiet spot but were seated in a noisy, crowded booth area with sports TVs. Will not return.

Food was excellent as always. Courses were expertly spaced and the staff was attentive without being overbearing. Would definitely recommend for a great meal or a special occasion.

Very average meal. Food could have been hotter. Prob won’t return

My favorite restaurant. Always outstanding. Staff is very accommodating

Excellent staff, excellent food, just a really great restaurant, which is why we keep coming back!

Classic Portuguese fare and atmosphere

Service and food were excellent. However, there was a group of people that was extremely loud and obnoxious, and nothing was said to them. They were so loud that it was extremely difficult to have a conversation.

It was very busy when we went on Thursday, 12/15/23 at 5:30 p.m. Putting that aside, there was a party of 4 who sat in the booth in front of us who were crazy loud and obnoxious. We couldn't hear each other because of this. An apology was made and they were moved to a different location. If this was our first time there we would have gotten up and left. All times that we went there to dine it was pleasant. We would go back again because the food and service are great.

Food and service were fantastic! Room was very loud, hard to hear conversation across the table. Won’t stop us from going back though!

Paella was delicious, as was an array of appetizers our group shared. The red sangria, too, was so good!! There were 14 in our group, and everyone was pleased! Highly recommend

Dad and I Lost our minds over this meal lol. Can’t wait to come back and eat the entire kitchen

The best New York Strip steak I've ever had; get it served Fisherman style with their own garlic butter topping and served on a sizzling platter! We've been going to PF for many years as a tradition to celebrate birthdays and anniversaries. There is simply no better seafood restaurant in my opinion!

What a find. Love the food and drinks. The lobster was very sweet. Service is excellent and the waiters are always smiling. Highly recommend

The food was delicious we had the angus rib eye. The sangria and the service were excellent!

My husbands birthday had dinner. Shoved all the way in the back . Was tight. But food was good and service was great

Second time here so was looking forward to dining here again. Only issue was that my Fisherman Platter wasn't broiled enough or seasoned enough this time. Should have sent it back immediately. Will indeed give it one more try as my husband loved his steak.

Always top notch delicious food and very friendly service. One of my favorite restaurants. Go there at least once a month. Usually get almost every appetizer on the menu and do a buffet of apps and then dinner. So so good.

Food is always great, service is very good, always a positive experience

Always a wonderful experience and consistently excellent food. Highly recommended.

Great food. Friendly staff. Very efficient. I try to go at least once a month

Abundance of food had enough left overs for another meal.

Outstanding! Seafood Paella and Calamari are amazing! Plenty of take home!

Always delicious fresh food!  And the sangria is really good too

My friend and I had lunch here on the weekend. It’s our first time trying Portuguese cuisines as well as this restaurant. We absolutely love all dishes we ordered here. We’d like to recommend this restaurant to our friends who’ve never visited it. BTW, there’s a free parking lot behind the restaurant only for their customers.

Ine word...GREAT! THE FOOD IS DELICIOUS !!!

Portion was small service was lacking and there was a fly in my drink

Great food Great service. Great sangria. Wait staff is very attentive.

Was a wonderful experience service was great as well as the food

I was dismayed when one dish, on the specials menu, contained calamari although it was not listed in the description. I would never have ordered it as I do not eat calamari. The dish was tasty - a mariscada in red sauce with cannellini beans - but I left over half of it because of the calamari. Please list ALL of the ingredients.

Our go to place. Never disappoints. Great food, great service and great value.

Genuine portuguese experience in USA. Was happy to find one

Excellent food and service. Beautiful restaurant. Let us wait for 2 people in our party who were running late. Highly recommend