The food was good, but I can only give three stars because the service was really slow and the music far too loud. We sat down to dinner at about 8:30pm, at 9pm they have  DJ (which we knew about) but the music was so incredibly loud I couldn't hear across the table and it took us 30 minutes to get the check even though we tried to flag down a server.
I've been here before so I know the service can be great, but I highly recommend going earlier in the evening for a better dinner experience where you can actually hear the person across the table.
Super fun place. Â Went here on a Friday night, and luckily snagged a 2 person table by the window, sweet! Â The place was packed! Â Â We were immediately approached by our waitress (very friendly) to take our drink order. Â Â As per usual, I ordered a cider (Magners) and it was great. Â We decided to order an appetizer, some vegetarian tacos, which were delicious. Â The interior of this place is what you come for, but I was amazed the the service and food was up to par as well. Â It really is an interesting decor, I've never seen anything like it and can hardly begin to describe it here. Â Just go experience it for yourself. Â It's like Halloween, but not, yeah I'm terrible at this, just go. Â Â Waitress was timely at asking us if we'd like another round, but not annoying, it was just right. Â We'll be back!
Review Source:A Cambridge classic. Â You absolutely have to check this place out for the wild decor alone. Â October is the best time, but it's always interesting. Â Every other store's Halloween decorations seem pretty lame after you've seen the giant, manacled beast lunging from the wall above the bar at River Gods. Â
The food is great, and they have amazing and innovative drinks. Â I had some kind of cinnamon beer thing last time I was here that I still can't stop thinking about. Â The only downside is that the tables are a bit cramped and it can be hard getting in on a popular night.
Don't miss it.
Went with a couple of friends who love it here. I now do too. The style inside was really interesting. And cool. Some elements of an Irish place, but also just some cool stuff. DJ turns the tables from an opening up in the middle of a wall. It's cool.
They don't have many wheat beers, but the hefeweizen they had was fine.
I had a salad with bacon in it and it was incredible. Full of all kinds of good stuff, including avocado, eggs, grapes, different cheeses, and other good stuff. And my friends said all the food is good.
If I lived closer, I'd hang out here more often.
ALso, the music was pretty good. Check it out!
River Gods is quite literally one of the most confusing bars I've ever been to, but I kind of love it. Many of the chairs are covered with red velvet and there are gargoyles sticking out of walls and little stone statues and some other stuff hanging from the ceiling.
I love that they have Leffe on draft and all the snacks are incredible. It's a super quirky little (it is actually close quartered) bar that I think would probably be a cute date spot or to catch up with friends.
Came here for some drinks to catch up with old friends. Â River Gods has a great selection of beers on tap, and unfortunately I had just eaten, otherwise I would have ordered food, because it's supposed to be outrageous, especially for pub food.
The decor in here is a cross between The Secret Garden and Game of Thrones. Â Medieval and wood fairy decor abounds. Â Might have been sitting on an enchanted toadstool at the bar, not sure. Â Will definitely be back for more ethereal pub experience.
The seating can be a bit awkward, but the food is good. Â They really try and cram people in to the left of the door and it can be somewhat uncomfortable and ridiculous to try and move out of the way of servers and such. Â Luckily, we were able to move after we noticed another table opened up (right as we were getting our food).
I have only ever gotten a cheeseburger here, but the cheeseburger is good. Â Fries and salad are also good. Â I especially liked the chili peanut salad dressing. Â The food is at least 4 stars. I live near by so I will definitely consider stopping by again with hopes of snagging a prime seat.
Despite, for the past six months, living only a short walk away from River Gods, I hadn't stopped in until only recently. Big mistake. This place is really great. It has just the right amount of bizarre charm to make it completely and totally loveable. Purple walls, medieval-like thrones, angels and crucifixes everywhere? This is where kitsch meets just-my-style. NOT TO MENTION that the food is delicious. I ordered a simple cheeseburger, and it was really fantastic. The server/bartender was pleasant and welcoming, and everybody else in the bar looked just as happy as we were. I will definitely be coming back soon.
Review Source:I'm sad I didn't like this place :( the decor and the DJ was cool but the drink I had was so-so and it was so crowded I couldn't move. I wish they would turn people away at a certain point. I really wanted to like this trendy place but alas . . . Maybe I'll try it again someday and ill write a better review.
Review Source:I know, last time I gave it five stars. I came back Thursday night and had one of the most disappointing encounters in my life, despite the decor being at an all-time best.
The late night snack menu is apparently seasonal, or, at the very least, they have changed it. Okay, no problem, we'll try something new! We just want a snack after all! So we ordered the "black beans and corn salsa."
Out came something that looked like it had been under a shrink ray. There were maybe 10 chips. I didn't know whether to be angry, because charging $6.50 for that was ridiculous, or confused, because the late night menu used to be really great and I would never have expected this bullshit. Pulling this shit is worse than no late night menu at all.
Whatever, River Gods. I thought we were cool.
TL;dr Great fries, mediocre burger, interesting decorations.
Well, let's just say the seating is a little unorthodox, and they really can't fit more than a party of 5. I didn't mind, and to be honest, I didn't base my rating on this. But seriously, the ideal party is like a party of 2-4, but its not romantic enough to really bring a date here; so, I'm not quite sure what utility this place serves to be honest.
Menu is rather simple, not a bunch of stuff to choose from. I hate to visit a new place and try just a burger with fries, but that's really all that sounded appetizing to a meat eater who hates seafood. The burger was decent, nothing amazing, and the fries were above average, but for $10.50 I'm not sure I'd like to return here. Its a cool place, the staff is friendly, but its a little cramped. I also felt like there was a voodoo doll of me in the back room that they were going to play with, but thankfully I didn't feel anything weird.
Definitely been to tons of places with better burgers for $10. I guess this is the best place in the area?
"Quirky" would be the word I would use to describe this little number.
A group of 5 of us showed up around 830pm on a Saturday night. Â None of us knew what to expect - but hearing that their veg food was pretty good, we thought we'd give it a try. Â Its a very small space, so when the gentleman at the door said "I don't know how long it will be" I knew it'd probably be a while and that we should start with a drink. Â Upon entering, some serious overstimulation began to occur. Â The decor is beyond bizarre/eclectic... there was never a dull spot to look at. Â There were a number of "Oh god, what is that?" Â and "woah do you see that" muttered as we approached the bar.
We saddled up to the bar where I ordered myself a nice little "Mark and Stormy" - Maker's Mark and Ginger Beer, YES PLEASE. Â The service at the bar was extremely sub-par. Â The bartender looked at me, and then looked down at her phone, then, continued having a conversation with another bartender before asking me what I wanted. Â The drink was delish, but I was a little annoyed at how long it took the 5 of us to all order. Â
When we were seated (approx 45 minutes later), we asked for an allergy menu, which is great that they have, but not so great that it took another 15 minutes for the server to remember to bring it to us. Â We shared a few of the vegan options - the Vegan Roulade was pretty good, but nothing spectacular. Â Our server wasn't overly attentive either - but with the setup and overcrowding of the tables, I don't blame her for not coming over to check on what we needed. Â She had to squeeze and maneuver around half the restaurant to get to us where we were tucked away in the corner.
All in all, it was an interesting experience. Â I had a great time with my friends, the food wasn't half bad, and the drinks were tasty. Â But my recommendation is don't go here if you're expecting excellent service, cause whatever they've got going just isn't working.
This is a great local place-- walking distance from Central but feels like it's off the beaten path (sort of).
They have a vegetarian page on their menu which I enjoyed.
I had the vegan roulade:
Warm Wrap, Baked Veggie Cakes (Potato, Spices, Chickpeas & Vegetables), Coconut Curry Sauce, Marinated Cucumbers, Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion
Choice of: Fries | Mash | Salad $10.75
It was a little bit messy but warm and delicious. They also had a beer special: I believe it was a Wildflower wheat beer: brewed with organic chamomile flowers and organic Vermont honey. Really nice to try. :)
Service was friendly and quick. The tables are tight and the chairs are gothic and huge. The diorama behind the bar is something to see. I've been here for just drinks and it can get ultra-cozy with people dining and those standing at the bar with a drink in hand. We decided that it's best if you can get a seat at the bar or just have a meal here (to avoid any butt-in-your-face problems).
Had a fabulous experience here on St. Patrick's Day. First of all, they had no cover--which they totally could have, given that the place was tiny and packed. It was a gorgeous spring day, with the door wide open to the sunshine and breeze. The DJ was playing Irish tunes, and there was one girl of about 11, dressed in a folk costume and Irish step dancing. (The posters advertised Irish dancerS, but I have a hard time imagining that more than one dancing person could fit in the space that was available in the bar, so one dancer was just right as far as I'm concerned.)
People have said that this bar can't decide what it is -- Greek mythology mixed with Irish, Celtic crosses in the alcoves and a seaweed-draped maiden hanging from the ceiling. Well, I like it. I think it gives the place its own distinctive (hybrid) identity. So there.
We had a Guinness and a Young's double chocolate stout. Yum. And then one of the food specials of the day: Irish sausages, mashed potatoes, and baked beans. It was seriously one of the best meals I've ever had, in that greasing-your-stomach-lining-after-a-few-beers kind of way. But really, it was good, and it made me want to come back here on a weeknight when it's not so busy and see what the food and the scene are like. The bartenders were slammed but they did a great job of checking back and not forgetting about anyone. The staff was friendly and jovial, and the food came out fast.
Love this place, even if 99% of the guys in here are wearing some kind of plaid / glasses / facial hair / skinny jeans combo...
The decor is fun and changes with the seasons.. Went this weekend and there is a giant cupid and hearts everywhere. adorable.
Good looking young hipster crowd. The DJ was spinning really fun soul/funk music, just loud enough that you couldn't hear other people's conversations.
My Mark & Stormy was delicious, with real ginger beer and generously poured.
If I lived in Cambridgeport, I'd be here all the time, but I really enjoy a visit now and again! If only all "irish bars" in Boston were this fun and unique...
I don't live in the Boston area anymore - so forgive my possibly warped perspective on the bar scene - but River Gods struck me as an unusually weird bar for Cambridge. The decor was great, the DJ was great, and the drinks were reasonably priced. It's slightly tucked away, but an easy walk from Central Square. I went there the day after Christmas, so the crowd was subdued, but I'm sure that the atmosphere is usually more lively.
HOWEVER, their policy of reserving the tables for dinner until 10 PM is pretty stupid. It's such a small space with no separation between the drinking area and the eating area that it's hard to justify cramming the bar and leaving the tables empty. And as I said before, I was there the day after Christmas. I came in with a few friends a little after 9 PM. The bar was full - no seats and no room to stand. The bartender and the bouncer were very insistent on leaving the tables reserved for dinner, even though it was late, a Monday night during the holidays, and all the tables but one were empty. I complained loudly, and they let us sit at a table in the front, but only with the warning, "If someone comes in for dinner, you have to move."
Oh, sure, the place is going to fill right up at 9:30 on Monday night during the holidays, full of people spending lots of money on food! I think not.
River Gods is a bar you really want to be a regular at. And unfortunately, I will not be because I live to far...but that won't stop me from coming every time I'm up in Central Square!
Off the main drag of Mass Ave and tucked behind some residential apartments, River Gods is a little pubsy place filled with fun surprises. When I went last week, they had a massive set up for a Halloween party! There were barbies hanging from the ceiling and orange lights shooting across the walls....it was eerily enchanting!
We ordered some delicious brews. Mine was the "Jack O' Lantern" which was Shipyard Pumpkin Ale topped with Guinness. Black and Orange...get it!? It was actually quite tasty to slurp down dark then go to light. I was shocked.
We got some fries, some dips...the menu was nice for pub food and our bartenders were more than friendly! Definitely worth checking out if you're ever up in Cambridge or live nearby.
Eclectic is just a nice way of calling something/someone weird. Â Not that there's anything wrong with that. Â As it is also a way I've described myself before (and again, I'm sure).
I think the decor is weird at River Gods, because even at Halloween, you can't tell what's their typical digs and what's not. Â At any rate, the decor is certainly one prominent feature that defines the space. Â Ultimately, it doesn't matter how you feel about it, because the food, the music by DJ (the sound quality somehow doesn't drown out a conversation -- LOVE), and the funky projection screen are all contributing.
The food selection is a huge range, well described by Erica S. Â I've had the fries with garlic aioli, the bolognese, and the burger, but have learned that veggie cakes-a-dab'll do ya. Â Their house red selection: granache, is a beautiful choice and as the volume increases with every pour, so doesn't the speed at which the vino is consumed. Â A beautiful thing.
A perfect neighborhood dinner spot, no space to stand.
I used to know this tiny, delightful girl who wore bizarre clothing and often dragged home worthless crap from the street because it was "beautiful". At first glance, it would be easy to assume this chick was pretentious or attention-seeking or any number of things, but in reality she was a sweetheart and she truly meant all the wacky stuff she said.
This bar reminds me of her. Tiny, for sure. Dressed in bizarre clothing? Oh yeah. This place is draped and hung and decorated in all manner of beautiful, worthless crap. But it's cozy and downright nice to be around.
The food is a little overpriced, not huge portions either, but it's good. The fries aren't great; a bit on the dry side, but the BBQ chicken sandwich and the steak tip sandwich are both great and you can swap out the fries for a salad anyway.
Friendly bartenders, decent drinks. A good mix of lifers and young'uns. A projection TV for watching sports that seems out-of-place amidst all the fairies hanging from the ceiling. And maybe a DJ hiding in a hole in the wall.
Nothing about this place really makes a lot of sense but I really like spending an evening in their weird bar-chairs, drinking Mark & Stormys.
A nieghborhood pseudo dive bar with a hip clientele, a DJ spinning, and a suit of armor, high backed chairs, and a bog goddess suspended from the ceiling for decoration? Â Not just a fun place, but the kind of place you can't wait to introduce a friend to.
Delicious food, if you're willing to come early and wait a lonnnng time for it to come out. Â Creative mixology yields delicious drinks. Â
This is also a great place to meet people, but since it's a "neighborhood place," it does close a little early, even for Boston.
Do you know who the River Gods are? I had no idea, I had to Google it and it turns out that they are part of Greek mythology, and not the easy to remember or pronounce parts. Pretty cool, look it up sometime.
Anyway, I like this place a solid 3 star experience. Absolutely acceptable spot to grab a relatively good bite of food and a relatively fresh pint on a nice afternoon after work. The decor seriously needs a little help, I mean some of the stuff in here is cool but it is really all over the place. I can't tell if they are going for a 'tribute to the river gods' or a 'we like cool stuff' sort of thing - either way it's a little hurtin. The space itself is sort of cramped, well OK really cramped, even when the place is half empty so if you are claustrophobic take a deep breath and don't go all Rain Man in a corner like I do. Looks like they do all sorts of events here to, that would also be fun especially if you like to make fun of all the claustrophobic Rain Men in the corners.
French Fry World Tour Stop #1
I went to River Gods this week with my old roommate/bad influence, and picked the place because of the fries. All the food's good, sure, and River Gods is a more-than-respectable bar, but there's a reason that a full third of the hundred-plus reviews already posted mention this one item specifically.
I'm going to run out of adjectives on this little World Tour of Places To Eat French Fries And Fuck Up Your Arteries ("World," here, meaning "Cambridge,") but that's a fundamental quality of the humble french fry. Potato: julienned, fried. Such a simple foundation for such infinite variation.
At River Gods, a $5 serving of fries is big enough for two, and comes with a garlic aioli dipping sauce that actually tastes enough like garlic that you don't have to give your fries a bath to taste it.* The fry:condiment ratio is excellent and the fries don't get soggy if they sit around for a while when you decide you want, for example, to eat your tofu and salmon skewers and not-especially-fancy cheese plate first. Â The number of over-crispy leftover bits is respectably low.
To sum up:
**** Serving Size
*** Condiment Novelty
**** French Fry Fortitude
**** Quality Control
*I say "aioli" because that's what the menu calls it, but y'all totally know "aioli" = "mayonnaise" so quit acting all grossed out when I ask for a ramekin of Hellman's the next time we eat together at a Local Casual Dining Establishment. I'm just kicking it Belgian style, so simmer the hell down.
I could not possibly say enough good things about this place. The food is amazing, the atmosphere is better. I think this might be my favorite date spot, ever.
I'm also a sucker for their Tuesday nights. Wii night, film night and YouTube night?! C'mon! YouTube night (or River Gods TV I think) is amazing. They DJ the whole night with rare concerts and random videos off of YouTube, it's super fun.
Their veggie burgers are the best ever. It's astonishing. Also good are the french fries (with amazing garlic aioli), the skewers (Chicken, Shrimp, Beef or Tofu: Mix & Match!) and the dips.
You know your dinner is good when it involves beer, a suit of armor, and sitting on a throne made of carved wood and scarlet velour.
The decor is dark, kingly, and packed with religous symbolism, making River Gods feel like a medieval paradise-- though I gotta believe that the food here is a hell of a lot better than it ever was during the Middle Ages. The menu can be best described as eclectic: options range from cheeseburgers to pizzettas to vegan skewers with peanut sauce. The veggie burger is herb-encrusted, the Korean hand rolls are divine, the Lesser God Salad is fit for the HIgher Gods, and the fries are served with a garlic aioli that is sure to you make you cum. Ahhhhh....!!!
The music flows naturally from indie rock to reggae to club beats and gangsta rap, always managing to maintain the mellow, social vibe. I've been to a Guitar Hero 3 night here, too, and got to play Guitar Hero on a huge wall screen in the middle of a bar filled with gods and suits of armor. Does it get any better?!
Only at River Gods does the decor change its mood depending on the season (and perhaps the mood of the staff)-- around Halloween they had S&M-looking Barbie dolls hanging from the ceiling with black vinyl; now that it's Christmas time, they have twinkly stars.
Really though, back to me getting to sit on a throne during dinner (okay, so its more like a fancy, high-backed chair, but it sure feels like a throne to me)... how cool is that?! Come for a pint, come for dinner with a friend, just come! But save room for me. It's wee.
If not for the mural depicting some sort of demon (or a God, perhaps?) on the side of the building, you would easily assume River Gods is one of those average neighborhood bars...
As I walked in from the blistering cold (I know it's only November. But I'm not used to this 30 degree weather) with my date I noticed the aesthetic leans more towards the Goth/Religious side, with subtle flares that I found to be quite interesting. These included a collection of beautifully crafted crosses, on a mantle above one of the windows as well as hanging figurines of what appeared to be Jesus and the Virgin Mary  on the bathroom doors that represented the Men's and Ladies' rooms... respectfully. Sac relig??? I don't know...but I liked it.
We were seated all the way in the back left corner next to a tiny organ that didn't work, but held our condiments for dinner very nicely. A display of full body armor was propped directly on the right of our table, which I then had to move because I was unable to pull out my chair all the way. It was surprisingly very light. Which lead me to believe any man wearing this in battle would surely be destroyed. Â The seating arrangement wasn't ideal because of the tight squeeze between the people seated next to us and Sir Lancelot but because the table was so small, it was very conducive to having a friendly convo with someone while trying to drown out that of others around you.
One look at the menu and I fell insanely smitten, not your average bar food at a ridiculously affordable price. I decided on the vegan skewer and she got the pizzetta with mushrooms, pesto and mozzarella. The skewer was full of delicious veggies (potatoes, mushroom, peppers and zucchini) and laid on two fried pieces of tofu. It was perfectly cooked and had a great flavor, as did the tofu pieces. It also came with two tomato based dipping sauces (one spicy and the other mild). I snagged a slice of the pizzetta, which I thought had a great balance of cheese, sauce and crunch. Â The pesto, was exceptionally tasty.
After dinner, we just chilled and talked over a few pints of Guinness. The music they played was quite enjoyable. The Shins, Sigur Ros and Deathcab for Cutie filled the air, although at times a little loud. Ill over look that however, just because it's not everywhere I'm able to listen to some of my favorite bands while dining out.
Long awaited, I finally had a chance to go here. (With my roommate.)
We walked in and asked the guy at the door how long it would be for two people, because it was packed, on Wednesday. He looked around and said, "No wait." Then brushed the crumbs off the table with his dirty meat rag, and gave us our menus.
It was fairly loud in there, and we were packed in tight with other people, basically sitting at their table. Do NOT go here with people who are awkward in loud or crowded situations. They will be pissed at you.
While waiting elbow to elbow with another table for our food, we discussed what beers are best to mix in a shandy. Bass? I don't know but it was really interesting and gives an idea as to the flavor of this place. We sat on a booth and high-backed chair to the left as you come in.
I ordered the filet mignon steak sandwich topped with caramelized onions and boursin. Dear gods (ha!) was it good! There were actually little steak tips in there, and at first that made me kind of mad, but then I realized how much easier it was to bite the sandwich than gnawing through a chunk of steak. The boursin cheese on top was like a creamy, cheese ooze from heaven and was the touch that made the sandwich (which came with choice of potato or salad) worth the $10.75 I paid for it.
My roommate got the pizza with mozzarella, mushrooms and pesto. The wafer thin crust was a perfect combination with those ingredients, and the slice I ate was perfection for the style. Not necessarily the best pizza, but a gourmet creation all its own. delicious.
We both ordered Long Island Ice Tea, which for $7.25ea were delicious, perfectly mixed, and strong, strong, strong.
This is a great place to come during the week for a pretty nice dinner, if you are comfortable with the atmosphere. Yeah!
Cambridge is in no short supply of pubs with a punk sensibility (B-Side, ZuZu's, Abbey Lounge), but I argue that River Gods may be the most deck. Though I have not frequented this Cambridgeport establishment as much since my pal Aoife (a former River Gods DJ) moved to Brooklyn, I always eagerly anticipate a River Gods trip.
The decor is a comfortable assortment of mismatched chairs (from throne-like to a right-handed school desk) and mellow lighting. Beware that the bar is small and fills up fast, and it's a hard rule that you cannot sit at a table unless you are ordering food. But know that their food is astounding. There are many meaty options, but as a vegetarian, I recommend the The God Salad (mixed greens, tomatoes, carrot, beets, avocado & egg served with crispy toast points) and the Veggie Burger (baked herb-crusted vegan burger topped with your choice of american cheese, housemade hummus or spicy kimchee) served with amazing french fries. You must try the french fries!
DJ's start spinning music around 9pm, and there is a varied line-up, from 70s soul to modern rock to depression-era blues to futuristic electronica. There isnt much room to dance, but the music fuels conversations, such as, "What's up with the mermaid hanging from the ceiling?"
River Gods is my neighborhood bar. Â The key to enjoying the place is to go when there are not a zillion people fighting for seats/bartenders. Â The atmosphere is dark and wooden and creative. Â The menu is small but has some very tasty choices -- the cheese plate and the steak sandwich are my favorites. Â There is sometimes a DJ, who is usually playing music too loud to people who don't care and just want to talk to each other without yelling.
Don't even bother if it's packed; you will hate it and come back here and write a 1-star review because no one gave you the time of day. Â That's what happens when the best bar in town has about 20 seats. Â With any luck, the owners of River Gods will take over three or four worthless Irish/sports bars with 4x the space, and then people won't be reduced to waiting in line for a place to wait in line for a drink.
Mermaids and barmaids, shandys and Peak organic. Good times to be had by all. Especially if you're amused by the kitsch and random, giving this place a personality and uniqueness that I treasure. There's a lofted little DJ booth, where they control not only the sound, but visuals too. The last time I dropped in they were playing YouTube videos on request. "Black Anthem" by Jumbodude was mine, but it was ignored. I wanted to make the patrons feel shame from the Hot Topic line. (Just see the damn thing). Did I mention that the music is actually quite good? Well it is. Prog rock, various electronica.
You might want to try the eats too. Standard bar fare. The latkes and salmon salad is a strange but well executed dish. Excellent with Peak Organic. Grab yourself a throne and chill for the earlier part of the evening. After ten, the place is going to be hot poppin' like a Cairo market. The best 70's do I have ever seen was spotted here. This place is proof that hipsters grow up too.
The bar lady at River Gods is the goddess of Long Island Ice Teas. Sooo good, sooo strong and sooo bad for my head this morning. Her bar skills are just one of the many fabulous things about this bar - fabulous design, fabulous crowd, fabulous music and fabulously close to my house.
The staff here know their drinks and to go with that crowd here know their music. On some nights you can spot half of Cambridge's best DJs in here, lapping up whoever is spinning from the pulpit. They also do an ipod night so you can play your tunes. Also, whoever does the interior here deserves praise as well - strung up mutilated Barbie Dolls for Halloween was inspired.
In theory, this should be my most favorite place ever--what with the goth themes, gargoyles, high-backed thrones, the tiny DJ booth, the lack of my favorite liquor [Wild Turkey, in case you were wondering]--in theory. And I do like it.
But I sometimes this place can be annoying. I went there with my boyfriend and his roommate and we were told we couldn't sit at a table because we weren't getting food. That's fine. We hovered around one bar stool with our jackets on it and minced around for a bit. This couple started talking to us and then said that we could have their seats. The door guy rushes up to us and says that we can't have those seats because some guys he let sit at a table sans food deserve to sit there because they were there first and aren't getting food.
Ridiculous.
My boyfriend stuck his keister on the seat and his roommate balked at the bouncer and I stood feebly by just out of earshot of this entire dialogue. The door guy let us sit there.
I decided that my drink for the night would be a Manhattan cause they seem manly enough to get hair on my chest and tastes like lighter fluid. I do like this bar, but it's so tiny that it's hard to be comfortable here, but at the same time, I feel completely comfortable here. I think the key is sitting down, and the key to that is: early. I mean, I only sit on my ass for 8 hours a day, I don't want to stand. hmf.
I've been back here a handful of times and had pleasant experiences. Except that one time when this egghead was arguing with me about what movie was on the projector there. He kept saying "Dawn of the Dead," but I've seen that movie enough times that I have all the death scenes memorized [I'm sure this will come in handy some day]. But ah no, it was "Day of the Dead." And I've almost gotten stuck many times in one of those high-backed chairs. I don't really know what my problem is.
The best part is walking home from the place and looking into that first floor apartment with the large windows a few spots down. They're always watching sports or movies. And they have a dog! I think they're exhibitionists.
Yelp just told me that if I like the CambridgeSide Galleria I might like River Gods, too.
I'm not sure that's a fair assessment, but nonetheless, I do like River Gods. It's become a very fashionable place to go in the four years since it opened (actually, it really kind of became that overnight), but the people who own and run River Gods have always been friendly and welcoming, and I've always appreciated that.
When it opened, I thought, "finally, someone's being creative and intersting with bar design in Boston." Sadly, the trend failed to catch on, and River Gods still stands out by showing just how unimaginitive most area bars are by comparison.
The food is excellent and creative. The fries are legendary. There are always new and interesting concepts as far as DJing, with video components as well on many nights.
It does get crowded, which makes it a little tough sometimes. I'd be there more often if I could have it all to myself. But I'm still glad River Gods arrived on the scene, and hope they stay around a long time.
The food IS delicious, but taking out maybe one of the gigantic medieval thrones would make it an infinitely more pleasurable experience. I'm so tired of staring at space wasted by poor seating design while hungrily waiting for a table or even a beer.
It's clear how badly a place like this was needed in the neighborhood by the crowds that are always packing the tiny bar and waiting for a table. The service either needs to get friendlier (the lone waitress is consistently rude about the fact that you'll have to wait interminably for a table) or they need to get more space. Â River Gods has the potential for greatness and falls short, it seems, on purpose.
Note to River Gods mgmt:
Take out the giant thrones and let people sit down!!!!!!!! Or quit trying to be a restaurant and be a cute bar with good music. You don't have room for both. Or, as it would obviously be profitable, get a second location for food and let the bar be.
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