Review of River House

Update 10/28/23: This is the first time in several years eating here that I was not confident that cross-contamination might not be an issue. Since our last visit last year, there are now items on the menu that cannot be made GF. They have a new menu with GF notations of which items can be made so. They use non-GF pasta, apparently, as at least a couple of menu items can’t be made GF. No GF desserts any longer, either. The seafood chowder tasted very different this time. Good, but decidedly different. And they hadn’t changed that recipe in many award-winning decades. And I liked the old one better. I ended up taking a couple GliadinX enzyme capsules with the starter just in case. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Old review: We ate dinner here twice in two days based on reviews in this app. I’m celiac and usually find cross-contamination is my worst enemy at restaurants. I had the seafood chowder as an appetizer on both days (because it was so good the first time), and the broiled haddock on day 1 and fried shrimp and haddock on day 2. I should mention I’ve also been dx’d with SIBO (small intestine bacterial overgrowth) and seem to react to onion and garlic. I had no adverse issues on either diagnoses on either day, but did feel a bit bloated after the fried dinner for a couple hours, and bathroom results later and the next day were somewhat affected. Not sure exactly why, since there are many possibilities, but I don’t think it was a gluten problem. I usually eat plainly and these foods were quite rich. I also had a GF brownie dessert on day 1 that I never have. And who doesn’t cook without onion or garlic? So each of those possible reasons plus the fact that I never eat more than one meal out in a row anymore, it’s possible that just one meal wouldn’t have produced the same results. I’d have no problem eating here again. Just let them know you’re celiac before ordering. GF menu is extensive, but they say they can make nearly everything GF. All fried foods whether ordered off the GF or regular menu are made with GF breading, so no cross-contamination from the fryer at all. As near as I can tell, this is Portsmouth’s most reliable GF restaurant for lunch and dinner for celiac folks.

How confident are you that this establishment takes safety precautions against cross-contact?

— Somewhat

Is there a gluten-free menu?

— Gluten-free items are marked on the main menu

How much of the menu is available gluten-free?

— Some

How would you rate the taste and quality of the gluten-free food you tried?

— Good