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Portuguese Fisherman, South River, NJ

Portuguese Fisherman

4.6
4.6
1319 Reviews
$30 and under
Portuguese

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 23 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Established in 1976, We are one of the oldest Portuguese and Spanish restaurants on the east coast. Attentive service, delicious authentic food, generous portions and refreshing sangria—these are the hallmarks of the Fisherman. Since our opening in 1976 we have consistently upheld the traditions of fine Portuguese and Spanish dining in central New Jersey.

A variety of fresh seafood and fish, as well as organic meats, all made with the finest ingredients available, await you at our tables. Our seasonal menu and daily specials include delectable dishes prepared to satisfy many tastes.

We invite you to visit us in the historic town of South River, New Jersey.

Order delivery or takeout

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Portuguese, European, American
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (732) 238-5188
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Manuel Alves
  • Catering
    Off-site catering is available. Please visit our website for inquires.
  • Private party facilities
    The Restaurant features welcoming spaces accommodating parties ranging from dinner for 20 to a formal wedding for 180.The Restaurant offers two different spaces to hold private events: One banquet room can hold a maximum of 60, while our ballroom can hold a maximum of 180.Visit our website for inquiries.
  • Neighborhood
    East Brunswick
  • Cross street
    Water Street and Ferry Street
  • Parking details
    Two private lots and street parking available.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • 3rd Annual Easter Brunch at the Fisherman

    $10.00 - $75.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Apr 20, 2025 only
    1:00 PM
    Our 3rd annual Easter Brunch takes place in the upstairs Ballroom. 4 Courses with Unlimited Wine and Sangria Included. Appetizers, Soup, Buffet Dinner, Viennese Table w. Chocolate Fountain. DJ Entertainment and Dancing. Egg Coloring for the Kids. Large Parties Welcome. Any table size over 8 maybe separate tables though.
    3rd Annual Easter Brunch at the Fisherman Photo

Offers

  • Wine Wednesday

    Multiple dates available
    Wed - 11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
    33% OFF BOTTLES OF WINE AND FULL PITCHERS OF SANGRIA. With an already cost effective wine list, you can't go wrong trying some phenomenal new wines. Some bottles under $15!

What 1,319 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Middlesex

    Neighborhood gem

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Portuguese Fisherman is a beloved South River eatery known for its "excellent food and service." Diners enjoy the "delicious food," "amazing atmosphere," and "great sangria." With "generous portions" and a "friendly staff," it's a favorite spot for both locals and visitors. The restaurant consistently offers "authentic Portuguese cuisine" and a welcoming ambiance.

1,319 Reviews
  1. CristyD

    New York City10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is by far our favorite restaurant. Impeccable service, every single dish is delicious - the steak is truly my favorite. Run don’t walk you ARE going to love it - promise

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  2. Marcia

    Washington DC7 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Excellent food! Noise level was pretty annoying. Hard to have any conversation

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The big curved booth they sat me and my Fiance in was so cozy. The shrimp in garlic appt and home made Sangria was delicious! The grouper and the seafood dishes were so flavorful and plentiful that we couldn’t finish it all!! The server Arthur was so sweet, and the host Philippe was kind and accommodating. They brought us a parfait of Pistachio ice cream and sang Happy Birthday to my guy!! When the bill came I was so pleasantly surprised! The amount and level of food and service was affordable! I thank them for making our celebration so special and intimate! I’d recommend this place to everyone!

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  4. Todd

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 1, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food was delicious, and the service was very good.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    New York City1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 28, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    They had live music. We were there to just have a family dinner. Music was too loud. Should have other room open for the people that don’t want loud music while eating dinner

    Is this helpful?

  6. E

    Baltimore2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great paella! Was there for Wine Wednesday and received a discount on sangria. Great time was had by all.

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  7. Staci VIP

    New York City10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Always delicious food and great service! Garlic shrimp was on par! Potato chips always the best!

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  8. Suzette VIP

    New Jersey12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Party of 3 Made dinner reservations Authentic Portuguese food! Complimentary bread loved the flavored butter! Hubby enjoyed the special: Barril monk fish and shrimp with rice Just like the meal we enjoyed in Nazaré, Portugal last spring! Enjoyed my stuffed shrimp! Daughter Picana Portuguese style was awesome! Sarradura was a delicious sweet treat to end the night! Plenty of parking No happy hour at the bar Thank you for a great dinning experience! Server: Joel

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  9. Cathy

    New York City6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    My Wife and I had dinner at the Fisherman tonight. She ordered her favorite stuffed shrimp and I had the Friday special of Monkfish with rice and shrimp and clams. My dish was incredible it was absolutely delicious. I hope the Fisherman adds that dish to the regular menu. Also my Wife absolutely loved her Stuffed Shrimp and of course the dessert we selected really finished a great dinner. We highly recommend the Portuguese Fisherman when looking for a great night out.

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  10. LINDA

    New York City1 review

    4.0

    Dined on February 20, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I recommend this restaurant because the service and staff are thoughtful and excellent , the food is plentiful and good. We had stuffed flounder, paella and cod dinners. The dessert was flan and was yummy.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Portuguese Fisherman offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (732) 238-5188.

Portuguese Fisherman is rated 4.6 stars by 1319 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 23 times today
Experiences are available.

Order delivery or takeout

Google Map for Portuguese Fisherman

11 Jackson St, South River, NJ 08882

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Water Street and Ferry Street
  • Neighborhood
    East Brunswick
  • Hours of operation
    Dinner Wed–Sun 12:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Portuguese, European, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Two private lots and street parking available.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Manuel Alves
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (732) 238-5188
  • Catering
    Off-site catering is available. Please visit our website for inquires.
  • Private party facilities
    The Restaurant features welcoming spaces accommodating parties ranging from dinner for 20 to a formal wedding for 180.The Restaurant offers two different spaces to hold private events: One banquet room can hold a maximum of 60, while our ballroom can hold a maximum of 180.Visit our website for inquiries.
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