My husband and I have been going to Art's for approximately 20 years. Â It has a 60's vibe, dark interior, red booths etc. Â The food is great. Â They offer specials every nite, with a lobster and prime rib special on Saturday's for $26. Â The wait staff and bartenders have been there for a long time and provide great service.
They have the best burgers in So Cal with multiple choices for toppings: avocado, mushrooms, grilled onions, raw onions, jalapeno's - you name it they add it.  You can also get homemade potato chips to go with your sandwiches in addition to fries, onion rings etc.  They have 5-6 items that are not on the menu (country fried steak (really good) and mahi  maui to name a few), so ask your waitress what they offer that's not listed.
Cocktails are made with good liquor and are inexpensive when compared to other eateries. Â We ate there last nite and will be back again soon.
I agree with most reviews, the service (at first) left much to be desired, but the waitress warmed up after a while & smiled & called my wife honey. Admittedly, the personality of the waitress fits with the character of the place.
It's a dive, but ideal for a way to get the experience of a neighborhood bar w/out going to a neighborhood.
The BYOB (Build Your Own Burger) was great, & the place is worth it just for the fries (Mojos)!
They sell Hangar 24, so I have to favor an establishment that supports a local microbrew!
I recommend you have the experience!
I'll give Art's a 3 for now because I've been coming here so long (used to be a 4 to 4.5 before the internet). They had a total service and food quality "dip" for the past few years, but I decided to give them another try for old times sake.
Not bad, yelp must've done something to the servers/bartenders because all of them were pleasant and gracious. Also, the menus were different, so I figure someone new must've took over.
My steak was perfect, my wife's salmon was perfect, and even my persnickety Mother-In-Law had a good time, and her food was O.K.
Just FYI - if you're the typical, yuppie, screaming "toddler-in-tow" couple looking for a "change of pace" - don't come here. This place is, and probably always will be, a bar first, and a restaurant second. Although, the food was great my last trip, so............
We come here a lot because my husband likes the food. And the food is good and is priced well. Service isn't great though and some of the waitresses are kind of rude. They seem to get along well with "regulars" or heavy drinkers but if you aren't one of those, they treat you like an alien. And don't even bother coming if you don't order alcohol, they will really press you. We came for Taco night once and asked how big the tacos were (so we knew how many to order per person) and the waitress was RUDE and said "normal taco size" like we were idiots. Obviously she doesn't get out much, the size of tacos can vary from location to location, but still RUDE!!!!!
Review Source:Arts bar and grill was ok. The lady who served me was nice, she wasn't very helpful. I ordered the pastrami; the pastrami meat was a little tough, however I liked the fat wedge cut fries it came with. I did not like that they only serve bottle beer no draft. The lighting in the bar was dim and the place seemed more like an old fogey bar.
Review Source:Had to give a star cuz we didn't eat there! Went for breakfast and waited to be seated. Surly waitress asked if she could help us, after we stood for a minute or two, then when we said table for two, she acted as if we were stupid and told us to have a seat, both sides were open. Excuse me for it being my first time here!
Sat down, she asked what we wanted to drink, coffee and orange juice and two waters please. Waitress goes around the corner and never comes back.
Waited five minutes. Checked out yelp, saw reviews of bad service, got up and left.
To me it doesn't matter if the food is good, if the service sucks and they treat you badly, I won't wait around for the food.
Went to farmer boys across the street instead. At least the service is friendly! Will let you know about the food!
One of my favorite spots downtown. Yes, it's kind of like being served by your mom - older waitresses who don't take your guff and wear aprons. But the food is good - like diner food good. Sandwiches, soups, breakfasts are all great. Try the 1/2 hamburger special. Seriously, you can get 1/2 a hamburger fries (which are awesome seasoned wedge fries) and a cup of soup or salad for somewhere around $6-$7. Not bad! I also really love the vegetable soup and bean soup. I have never tried their dinner specials but I have seen some pretty crazy steak combos for a good price.
I am also happy to report the drinks have gotten stronger since I used to frequent the place. All in all, it's a dark bar with good food. Enough said.
Took my son for his birthday. Â thought it might be cool to go back in time since the place is way old. Â food, so so, service, mean, nasty and rude. Â they don't have to be nice because they include their tip in your bill. Â Too bad cuz I wasn't going to leave much of anything. Â They argue with you if you ask for anything. Â Way weird. Â I thought customer service meant nice, friendly, curtious & helpful - not at Art's Bar & Grill. Â Will never go back much less recommend it!
Review Source:Look if you want a bar for alcohol this is your place. If your looking for a nice evening out with your lady/man for dinner and drinks, this IS NOT your place. Long story short, food is mediocre at best (steak was okaaaayyy nothing to come back for) staff is old, crude/sassy and gives attitude back if you need something (seriously its like the old lady needed a job and fell back into her waitress days because she was a waitress in high school 40+ years ago). There are WAY BETTER places out there. Don't waste  your money here unless u just want an adult beverage. With so many options in this area u r sure to find something better even if it is Apple Bees
Review Source:30 some yrs ago a bunch of us from work used to go to Arts for Taco Tuesdays for tacos and tequila sunrise. Â Today, a girlfriend and I met for a trip down memory lane for lunch. 30 yrs ago the tacos went for $.50 each. Inflation has raised the price to $.75. Served crispy or soft and made with ground beef just as I like them. Â Things usually taste better in memories but in this case they were just as yummy as I remembered. It is still a dark, homey little bar. Â The service was good and my friend was able to fit it into her lunch hour easily. I think I will make new memories here, still love it.
Review Source:i love arts dont come in with an attitude and wait staff are wonderful. ive been gong here for taco tuesday since .75 tacos for about 12 Years some of the best and cheapest tacos around. interriir does need to be redone but i go to a place to eat for the food and it seems clean enough
Review Source:you want to have the best steak of your life for $13.75?
done. Â just go to art's. Â a friend an i ventured there last night after a work related happy hour. Â we were trying to decide where to go and our boss was like 'i like art's'. Â i must confess that i had driven by here at least a million times without ever going in. Â even though i've been everywhere else downtown.
based on the exterior i think i was under the impression that it would be like an applebee's or something. Â don't ask me why i thought that. Â i was thinking loud sports bar. Â i was oh so wrong...
it was a throwback to the golden age of hole in the wall bars. Â very dark. Â and very cozy. your seating options include a beautiful wooden bar or are mostly red naugahyde booths. Â the circle kind that you just don't see any more. Â the kid that force you to get close with your date. Â
as far as the service, we had no problems. Â you seat yourself and then they come to you. Â the waitress was really great and she told us about other specials they had throughout the week and encouraged us to come back again. no, she wasn't the bend over backwards, i'm here to be a servant for the customer type. Â she was more like the don't take no mess type. Â but you know, sometimes it's all about attitude. Â the CUSTOMER'S attitude. Â if you're good to them, they'll be good to you.
they have a surprisingly extensive menu that includes, among other things, breakfast options, you know for those of us that like to dispense with the superficial pleasantries of the day and just get right to it. Â
i'm a red meat kind of a girl, so i went with the ny strip (which i believe was 14oz). Â the thing that really set this steak apart was the thickness. Â the cut was impressive. Â it was at least 2 inches thick, not to mention perfectly cooked. it was served with cheesebread and a salad. Â i should note that the bread was made with real melted cheese not the powdered cheese topping. not that i don't like that...i'm just sayin'. Â also, on fridays you can get a steak and a lobster tail for 24.95. AND on saturdays + wednesdays they run a prime rib special for 11.50 (i think).
oh...i'm so there.
For years this hidden GEM has served me well. It's a great place to go relax & have a drink. It's always dark inside. The drinks are well priced. The food is awesome. On Tuesdays they offer .75 tacos. Have Bloody Mary & anything on the menu. You'll love it. For you smokers there's a nice patio in the back!
Review Source:Hole in the wall bar. The breakfast menu is limited. No pancakes, what the heck! The two egg breakfast sampler was good. Bacon was not overcooked and the sausages were nice parties which complemented the gravy from the biscuits and gravy. Bloody Mary could have had a bit more spice, the pickled green bean was a nice change instead of celery. Lots of Sunday football fans, so they are doing something right. Plus lobster and filet mignon for 29.95 is a great deal for dinner. Will have to give it another try.
Review Source:I find any restaurant/bar sketchy if they make it hard to see inside because of lack of lighting. By the time your eyes have adjusted and you've realized this place is a dump, the food is almost ready and your just kind of stuck.
Besides the vampire-level of darkness this place maintains, the food is actually pretty good. The few times I've been here, I've left satisfied. Hot dogs are what they do well here, also had the chicken sandwich a couple of times. Place is mostly a bar and since i can't go back to work buzzed, I think i will update this review when i get to experience the bar culture after work.
I love Art's. I go there at least once a month with a good friend. He loves their martinis and I enjoy their selection of beer. The food is good - he had a nice steak today, and I had a tasty grilled chicken sandwich. But, what I enjoy most is the atmosphere. If you're old enough to remember the TV show "Cheers" - it's that kind of place. The waitresses remember you, they're personable and fun. I'm already looking forward to my next visit. I posted two pictures - one of the tiles in back which were mentioned in previous reviews and one with just general information.
Review Source:History Lesson. Â Many years ago Art's was forced to move due to the reorganization of Riverside. Â Most of the reviews were pretty accurate. Â I didn't see a mention of St. Patrick's day. Â Art's has an Irish flair and on St. Patrick's day it is the bomb. Â Yes the servers seem cranky - if you look carefully you will see it is simply part of Art's "local flavour". Â I try to visit on St. Patrick's Day early mid afternoon when it isn't crowded. Â Wear green so you don't get molested - well you might get molested anyway. Â Truly an overall fun experience. Â Thank you Carl B. for providing more historical information. Â Free parking about 1/2 block away. Â Don't park in the adjacent fast food lot. Â If you go alone, you won't feel alone for long.
Review Source:Couple of things before you go to Art's: one have time on your hands, two like dark/low lighting, and quirky/cranky servers that grow on you. Â Formally known as The Circus, the original tiles are out on the back patio, it is a great bar and grill to check out while in Riverside. Â You can get a beer, hot dog and fries for about $10 - my lunch of choice.
Really relaxed atmosphere and a great place to go with people you already know, I would recommend it for a first date kinda thing. Â Other menu items are good and prices are ok. Â Great place for a happy hour with co-workers.
I was house shopping with my roommate and decided we should get a bite to eat before we headed into the scary unknown world for real estate. He told me this place used to be called The Circus, one of the first gay bars in it's day. Anyway, back to the review.
We came in on a Sunday morning around 9:30 or 10:00am. I was hung over, naturally, but he had spoken so highly of the Bloody Mary's that I drug myself out of the car and into the bar. The bar tender was a dear. The crusty, endearing old man type who calls you "honey" and never lets you see the bottom of your glass. Â Thank goodness!
I ordered the 6oz filet Mignon bloody, egg whites, sourdough toast, hash browns and fresh fruit. All that for about $7.00! At that price I was a little nervous, but I was hungry enough to eat a small child so I went with it. I also got a Bloody Mary, with pepper. He made it with Peppar Absolut and the mix was amazing. The treat at the end was the pickled green bean it was garnished with.
The steak came out as bloody as I had ordered it which was impressive. It was velvety smooth, had a rich flavor and texture and bled when I stabbed it. Glorious! The potatoes were great and my egg whites were actually whites, not egg substitute like most places try to slide by me. The fruit was SO fresh. The strawberries had the perfect balance of firmness and give as well as a delicate sweetness. The sweet bartender returned with another Bloody Mary "For your headache pumpkin" and left me to finish in peace.
All in all the bill was under $20.00 and I was stuffed. After all the house hunting we came back for an early afternoon beer before heading back to A-Town.
The first time my husband and I rolled into Riverside, before we officially moved here, it was a Sunday night, we were famished, and didn't know our way around town. Â It seemed sensible to us to head downtown to look for food. Â We were naive then.
We parked the car downtown and wandered around, finding nothing. Â For some reason Farmer Boy's was closed or seemed off to us, so we wended up at Art's. Â We'd never been more hungry, and despite the slow service that others have mentioned, it was the best food we have ever had in our lives. Â
Now I occasionally go there for lunch, when I have time to take an extra long lunch. Â Their burgers are good, as are their hot dogs, and their beer selection isn't bad at all. Â Those lunches made me re-evaluate my rating for Art's, and I would never bring anyone there who wasn't looking for a rough townie bar vibe, but that first time there puts Art's in my heart.
When you're there, walk out the back way and check out the circus tiles in the back. Â I guess the story is that they're from an old restaurant in town.
My friends and I were looking for a simple bar for drinks and to watch the game. The smell in there is horrible, and I'm not over-exaggerating. It took the waitress 5 or six minutes to approach us, even though there were only two other customers in the bar at the time. She did not seem friendly either. We stayed for one drink, then decided to find another bar. I will not be going here again.
Review Source:Art's Bar & Grill is a staple in Riverside, and has been for decades. The decor and lighting inside, however, are as old as the building itself. Spuds Mackenzie still guards over the bar!
The food is served plainly, but quickly. Portions are moderate to large (but not enormous), and the taste is almost always great. Best of all, the prices are almost ridiculously low. My favorite meal there is the Art's Special Steak (with salad and cheese bread), a shrimp cocktail, and a gin & tonic or two. All together... $13.
To those who don't know where to go when you walk in, just grab a seat on either the bar side or dining side. Perfect for groups of up to six or so.
Myself and my fiance were looking for a new place to eat at and wandered into Arts Bar and Grill looking for a cheap meal and a couple beers. We walked in from the sun into this dungeon and were surrounded by people who looked to have been in the bar, without leaving, since 1992.
Spying a few waitresses within a few yards sitting down and talking to patrons and not knowing the rules of decorum for the place we waited to be acknowledged and seated or simply told to grab a seat. Ya know, what waitresses are supposed to do at the very least to make some newbies feel comfortable?
We waited for a few minutes in full view of the wait staff and no one said anything. Feeling the intense stares of the old men bellying up to the bar we decided to count our losses and get the fuck out of there before we got shanked for being pro gay marriage.
I suppose it should be fine for people looking for a dive and some beers, but we couldn't stand the vibe of this dump.
its one hundred n forty degrees and thats standing in the freezer section at ralphs.. you guessed it, you're in riverside.. so what now? Â i'll tell you what. Â what is you get your saline soaked self over to art's right off university and have one (or 3) of them fine coldies they been storing in that wall size freezer of theirs. Â sure art's wouldn't be mistaken for an uber lounge or some blokish themed psuedo-pub, rather art's delivers serious libations and a key playlist mixed in with some decent american faire. Â order the jalepeno cheese bread and make sure to tip the swell staff that treats you like a regular the first time you walk through their door.. rivah-siYEEED!
Review Source:
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