We've been to both and they both have lots of positives going for them but also, as one might expect from new ventures, some bugs to iron out.
That said, for now, we think Chop House has a significant edge on food quality (albeit, you pay more there), service and overall experience. The building is beautiful and the rooftop is a great experience too. Consistency on meat prep and cooking was their main issue the first time we visited a few weeks ago but we didn't see it as a deal breaker. The sides, deserts and bread were excellent. Complimentary valet (dinner only) is recommended if you don't want to look for parking otherwise.
River and Post food is adequate to excellent but not yet at the top of its game across the board. Likewise, the service. They also had a few operational issues which we believe were a result of biting off more they could chew opening week. I will say their rooftop bar (check out the sliding canopy over the outdoor deck) has one of the best views, at least after dark, of the Jacksonville skyline and river we have ever seen and the downstairs dining decor is uptown. While they have valet parking, they also have plenty of self serve parking behind the building which is nice.
Either should be enjoyable as long as you go in with the right expectations for newly birthed restaurants.
We think both are great additions to Jacksonville's food scene and hope, with time, they will smooth out all the rough edges and be mainstays for years to come. Jax really needs places like these to succeed and it's important we support them as long as they do their job
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