This review is strictly for the bar, as we didn't try the food (although it looked good).
We sat at the funky barstools with the legs. Pretty awesome. One bartender working a full bar on a Saturday afternoon, but we were quickly greeted and drinks were poured.
Well, in my case, a bottle was opened... I wanted cider. But still.
Friendly staff, cool, laid-back atmosphere, good drinks, good prices.
If I lived a little bit closer, this would definitely be my neighborhood bar.
I really do like this place but there are a few issues. I love the space, and that fact that the joint is big and open. There are usually plenty of places to sit without feeling cramped. The leg bar stools are weird. The ass trays are ugly. One time recently there were random chickens running around outside. Let's just say the place has a certain appeal.
My complaints are two:
1) my friend and I got cut off by the bartender during one visit. I suspect because we were dancing, albeit we were the ONLY people dancing, however that does not warrant being cut off. I am a 15-year veteran professional party animal and this is one of like, 4 times I've  ever been cut off. And come on this is New Orleans, the standards here for acceptable drunkenness are a lot more lax than say image-conscious, "I never get too wasted", frat-boy Denver where I crashed around like a wasted bull in a china shop and never got cut off. I was at about a 5 on a scale of 1-10 drunkeness on this particular night at Rivershack. I've been a 23 many, many times at many, many bars. We absolutely in no way needed to be cut off. REALLY.
2) We always leave when the band shows up and no it's not because we are music-haters, it's just that the band is so fucking loud you go from being able to have a conversation to like, causing permanent damage to your hearing. There are bars where you can hear yourself think, and there are bars where you can't, but very abruptly toggling between the two shocks the system a little too much.
I used to stop by here quite often. It's got good onion rings and alligator sausage and the spicy bloody mary's are really good too. The bartenders are all friendly and although the drink prices are higher than a lot of other places, it was a place that I recommended to people looking for a good laid back bar to hang out with friends or coworkers and grab a drink. I don't know what has been going on in the past few months but every time I've gone in lately the bands have been so loud that  you can forget about having a conversation with anyone.  There may only be 10 people in the bar at that time but the bands seem to think that they're playing in an arena. Multiple customers complain but it doesn't seem to do any good.  I'm tired of leaving w a headache  and there's too many good bars out there.
Review Source:The River Shack, an outpost of culinary excellence. Â Not always phrases you would associate with each other. Â Although, they did merge successfully this evening. Â They had a five course wine and food pairing on a recent Tuesday night. Friends who often stop in a for drink and a burger told us about it.
Dinner started off with a small glitch. Â Whomever had been assigned the task of bringing the white table clothes had left them behind. Â (What is a wine dinner without white linens for the tables?) Â As we waited, (there was about 20 of us who signed up for the dinner), we were served flutes of Prosecco. Â The sparkling white wine made up for the wait. Â Dinner started with Lobster Thermidor (minus the shell) and a brandied bisque paired with a chardonnay. Â The meal was now off to a great start. Â That was followed by a Cajun style soft shell crab over kimchee and baby bok choy paired with a Sauvignon Blanc. Â It's getting even better. Â The third course was a sliced duck breast medallion over confit paired with a pinot noir. Â With the quality of the food, I was beginning to wonder where I was. Â The main course was a lamb t-bone with a small cheddar shepherd's pie, English peas, and baby carrots. Â This was paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon. Â Perfect. Â Desert followed, a dark chocolate and pistachio stack. Â Here you had a choice of a cream sherry or a brandy. Â I took the brandy.
If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would have doubted the words of anyone raving over the meal. Â The chef apparently enjoyed himself making the meal. Â It was great. Â I was stuffed. Â I understand they plan on doing it again in a couple of months. Â We'll be back.
OMG!!! The best roast beef po-boy I've ever had. It was delicious. It was debris style. No brown gravy, which I was a little skeptical about...but once I bit in, I was in heaven!! It was really, really good!!! A friend had a club sandwich, she said it was good. She also got the sweet potato fries. She said they were delicious. Best she's ever had. My hubby got a catfish po-boy. He said it was very good. We really enjoyed the food. The service was very good. The atmosphere is great, too! Really fun bar with live music usually on the weekend! It's also now No-Smoking which is really nice. It's nice to be able to go out to a very decent bar and not have to leave smelling like an ashtray!
Review Source:The food is great and very plentiful. The service staff is attentive and friendly. The beer selection is excellent. Â And the music is live and well performed. What more could one ask for in a neighborhood bar? Â
I especially recommend the alligator sausage and the fried green tomatoes. Also their sweet potato fries are the best I've ever had. They are light and crispy and even taste good cold. Â Also, I discovered that I actually LIKE fried oysters.
Stopped in while on a road trip across the country. Our server was Barbara and she was totally patient with us. She recommended the roast beef PO boy, fried pickles and the soup of the day. Amazing portions and fabulous quality. Great funky place and a terrific atmosphere. You gotta try this place.
Review Source:This review deals as much with the location as the food/drinks.
I grew up a few blocks from here, as did my mom before me, so the Rivershack has always been part of my life's streetscape, so to speak. My uncle says that when he was a kid in the 50s or 60s and they drove past it, my grandma made him look the other way, it was that scandalous! The Rivershack is one of the last vestiges of when this area between River Road and Jefferson Highway was nothing but gambling dens and loose women. My mom can just remember when the nearby Catholic church held Mass in a former casino hall until building the big church on the highway. That's exactly the kind of weird crossroad that this intersection is. Those few blocks are a bit cleaner now, but the Rivershack gives us a glimpse in what the whole area once was, in perhaps a more family-friendly way (relatively speaking!) Â It really captures what was once the borderland between the City and the Country, the edge of town and the sugarcane fields, way back before this was just a late 1940s suburb. It is also part of what makes the neighborhood less suburban than the newer ones over in Metairie.
If you're getting drinks when there is no drink special (which I suppose must be the case sometimes) they can run a bit steep. If specials are on, it can be a good deal. Never been disappointed in the food, though the alligator sausage is not my favorite. Others like it, just a matter of taste. I usually get an oyster po-boy or a burger. It might be the place that made me love a hamburger with sauted mushrooms. Or is that memory just my imagination? I do know it is the first place I had an Andygator, late in college, sitting with a friend at the bar a day after one of us--can't even remember which--had split with a girlfriend. Anyhow it has always been a fun place to hang out, at the bar or at a table, on your own or with friends. The bar itself is ancient and the stools, well, they're something. For true. The decor, if that is the right word, is certainly one of my favorites in the whole New Orleans area. My dad, who only came here occasionally and then only with company, used to talk about the tacky ashtray collection. The stuff of legend. It is as tacky as they say. But my favorite item is the cutout of Sheriff Harry Lee, may he rest in peace.
Wish I could be a regular, but life happens.
Casual atmosphere with a quirky personality. The food is pretty average, nothing really blows me away. The burgers and fried seafood are good. The nachos are the biggest disappointment. The main turn off was that in order to melt the cheese they put it in the microwave, which then makes all the chips soggy and sort of bonds the entire thing so when you go to grab a chip the entire thing lifts up. Just seemed like a rookie mistake, not something a seasoned vet like Rivershack would do.
I would also not recommend mixed drinks, stick to the beer.
Casual, local comfortable shack atmosphere, perfect for an on-the-fly dinner or lunch after visiting the plantation area. The inside is cute, casual tavern/dive-style burger joint. I think we were there on a Sunday Afternoon and there was no live music, but that would have added nicely to the atmosphere. We really enjoyed the uniqueness of the place and appreciated it for the local establishment it was intended to be.
We stopped here because we saw that it had been highlighted on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and figured it must be pretty good. The po-boy was good, we ordered the River-Road Roast Beef with some fried and they have Abita on tap. The best thing was the hot wings, very spicy and tender. Not gigantic portions, but the food was prepared well and served hot. The place was not terribly busy when we were there but we did have to wait a while for service, new waitress or something. Prices pretty good too.
I like everything about Rivershack... the atmosphere is dingy and gritty, just like a dive bar should be. The beer is cold and the service is always great. And the food, oh the food-- it is out of this world. Seriously, this is one of the few DDD recommendations that I actually agree with... they've got it going on in the food department. They have a ribeye night and it is not the usual paper thin ribeye either. I think it's $9? But even on a regular night it's only around $15, so still a steal. But be sure to check out the specials-- this is not your everyday bar food. So good! Oh, and don't foget the 2-for-1 happy hour and the live music.
It amuses me to no end to see all of the runners on the levee who end up here to for cold beer when they're done. I guess that's what they mean by "run hard, live easy."
This is one of my GO TO spots for burgers in NOLA. While there are better burgers in town, the atmosphere at rivershack is great. You can chill outside and stare at bikers on the levee as you sink your teeth into a cheeseburger and fries. The service is great, beer can be a little pricey and they have a decent selection of fountain sodas.
This place is great to bring friends from out of town and usually has live music. In particular there is a band called the Mustard Brothers who ROCKS THE HOUSE every time i've seen them. They mostly play classic rock (Johnny Cash, the Clash, Lynrd Skynrd, etc.) The lead singer always talks about how much of an alcoholic he is. The bassist doesn't do much. They have a huge fake BBQ with fake flames that is so hardcore. THESE GUYS ARE A MUST SEE! Definitely worth the trip to Jefferson for this burger shack and bar.
I used to go to this place all the time but not for the food. Most of the time I went was on a Saturday night, and usually they had a live band or 2. The customer service was pretty good.
The only time I ever ate the food here was when me and my father went here. The food was very bland, In my opinion it was very over rated! I still don't see how these guys made it on the food network.
But in short great place to party on a Saturday night, but not that great to eat at.
You have to appreciate the Rivershack for exactly what it is... a colorfully themed bar that specializes in serving cold brews and what would be described as just a step above comfort, bar food (thanks to some inventive daily specials).
My experience is that of the business guy looking for a quick lunch escape (but party me wants to come back on a Saturday night when there is a band). My favorite is the Caesar Salad topped with Fried Oysters... the fiber filled lettuce and generally healthy sound of "salad" helps me to forget about the deep fried, and very plentiful, oyster platter topping the plate. Its also served with a very "achovy" homemade Caesar dressing... very delicious and satisfying at a decent price.
I also love the atmosphere! Diners get the authentic feel of being at an actual "river shack" deep in a bayou somewhere in south Louisiana. Everything is rustic and true to the theme... and of course, the place is known for the barstools with different "people legs" holding them up...
BOTTOM LINE: Great place... good comfort food, good beer, great environment.
Went on Monday night and listened to great music from Troy Turner. Â Good sound system. Â Nice atmosphere and service.
The red beans and rice with sausage was great. Â Â Mellow place to eat and listen to music. Â Â The alligator sausage appetizer was excellent. Â
They have a parking lot so its easy to park.
The Rivershack is a favorite landmark on river road. Great beer and drink selection. Diverse crowd, young, old, local and otherwise. I really appreciate that . I have heard it is a great music venue too. I dont smoke anymore so that ashtray thing is not for me. The food portions are appropriately huge and the chef has the golden touch with the fryer. My guest happened to be a vegetarian and there were slim (but tasty) pickins for her to choose from.
Review Source:Fried pickles + a cold one... tacky ashtrays + bar stools with "legs"... velvet paintings (Elvis *and* Alfred E Newman?!) Oh, and who doesn't love the idea of a shack "down by the river"?
Rivershack Tavern is friendly and brash, but not at all intimidating (not sure if there are dive bars here that are scary, but where I've lived in the past, there sure have been). Add "cheap" to the mix (Happy Hour features two for one draft beers) because it's a requirement of course. Add in big platters of insanely fattening food (I mean, I had a freaking *platter* of fried vegetables. I think the waitress sprained a wrist setting it down in front of me) and holy hell in a hand basket, we've got ourselves a winner here.
The cook has some kind of magic going on in the fryer because this stuff was perfectly crunchy and tasty and how it wasn't greasy, is beyond me. Magic, I tell ya. Prepare yourself, for you may not be able to stop shoveling the fried goodness in your mouth.
So what if I were jonesing for a salad or sandwich that didn't have meat or fish on it... hell, even a veggie burger. I know, I know. Hmmm, maybe next time I'll ask them to throw that fried platter on some bread, dress it up and have me a veggie po boy. I got me some deep fried inspiration...
This a cool little place to see a band. Â The crowd is older, but that doesn't matter. Â It's a small place, but a nice hang out spot when a good band is there.
The staff is always really nice and there are pool tables, if you want to just go and hang out with friends and play a game of pool. Â My main complaint is that the place is really smoky and it's hard to handle after a little while.
Always heard about the Rivershack Tavern and one of the main things I always heard about was that it was a friendly place to go out and listen to good live music. So my wife and I decided to check it out one evening after a long day of running around doing errands.
Well, from the moment we both walked in, the people there made us feel out of place. It was like a scene out of one of those movies where the needle scratches on the record and everyone looked at us like we were from the other side of the tracks or something. I've lived in New Orleans my whole life and I've never been somewhere where the locals look at me like I'm from Mars or something. (Not that there is anything wrong with Martians.) One gentleman grumbled under his breath right at the door and made some off color remark about my wife and I being there which I didn't really care for but for the sake not making a scene and giving the place a chance, we both ignored him.
The bartender was really friendly and asked if we would like to see the bar menus which we did. The food there is reasonably priced and there is a lot to choose from. We both ordered burgers as well as two pints of Abita Amber. As we both drank our drinks and waited for our food, we turned around to watch the band play. Not sure what band they were but they seemed really good, it's just that no one was really interested in them. In some New Orleans bars, people move to the music. Even a nod of the head, at times. Not here. Everyone just kind of sat there in a trance just staring. Maybe because it was a Sunday night and people were dreading the upcoming Monday? Who knows.
The food came out and it was fantastic. Burgers were cooked just right and seasoned to perfection. Our bartender even came to check if we were good which is definitely a plus. All in all, it was an alright experience, but I had kind of hoped the place would be rockin a little more than it was that night. Maybe we'll stop by again on a Friday or Saturday night.
This was an amazing experience that was once again sparked by my  infatuation with "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives."
We ventured off St.Charles and headed out to the Rivershack Tavern. We were all really glad that we did!!! I ordered the Tex-Mex burger and it was by far the best burger I have ever had. I am already trying to find a reason to make it back out there.
The service was great and the atmosphere was awesome. There were a lot of local "regulars" filling the bar and having a great time. I would recommend anyone that's looking for a fun place to check it out!!
Interesting dive bar near uptown. Â It's only a couple minutes from Carrollton and St. Charles, but it feels like you've driven out to Breaux Bridge. Â
It usually has good live music and first-class people watching. Â I haven't tried the food but I've heard good things.
Favorites are: music, atmosphere
Unfortunately, I had an upsetting experience at Rivershack last night, to the point that I'm not sure I want to go back. Overall, it seems like a decent place. I've only been there a handful of times (it's not on my regular rotation, so not the first place I'd think of to go), and clearly people seem to like it based on their other reviews.
So last night I went to Rivershack with a few friends for the Ghost Town Record Release party. The music was great, my wine was good, and by the time we got there (we walked a gazillion miles down the levee to get there, because I for some reason decided it would be a good idea to walk from Oak and Carrollton) the second set had just ended and the crowd was pouring out. Happened to be good timing, because I enjoyed the fact that it wasn't totally packed.
When the band started playing the last song of their very last set (I think it was close to 1am), I did what I frequently do when I'm out listening to awesome music, and I took the band's tip jar around the bar. The band appreciated it (as they always do), and three or four of the ten or so people who were still there contributed $1 or $2. When I got close to the bar, one of the bartenders angrily demanded that I NOT do that, because the manager doesn't like that sort of thing. She was really mean about it, but I assumed it was because she was getting yelled at by her boss, and that I'd violated some major rule of conduct.
I've never in my life been yelled at for passing around a band tip jar at a show (with no cover!), so I was completely taken aback. It seemed like a REALLY BIG DEAL, because the girl was pissed, and so I apologized and went and put it back.
I felt awful, so I went back to the bar and asked her (Natasha, I believe her name was) if I could speak to the manager, so that I could apologize. She was like "the general manager isn't here, so I'm the manager on duty, and you can NOT be asking my customers for money because it makes them uncomfortable and makes them want to leave" and so on and so forth. The thing is, she could've said this to me nicely, or at least in a polite, civil manner. Instead, she chose to be a total bitch. Seriously, it almost made me cry, which is kind of lame, but I really don't like to be yelled at. Especially when I think I'm doing something nice. You know?
Here's the thing: at this point, the band was pretty much done playing, there were like ten or fifteen people still left at the bar, and even if I had made people so uncomfortable that they wanted to leave, they were probably closing the bar soon anyway. And who gets mad about tipping a band for a free show? It was the bartender chick's attitude that was making her customers uncomfortable to the point that they wanted to leave, and after getting yelled at like that I highly doubt I'll end up going back to the Rivershack. It sucks, but there's certainly no lack of other places to go. I'd really rather not run into her again.
Tex mex burger(thick bacon,saute onions,mushrooms and pepperjack cheese) rocks! Â Great chill atmosphere. Shank you(hot sausage patty on top hamburger patty with choice of cheese) burger is equally as good and I was surprised how juicy the alligator sausage app was. My next order will be an alligator sausage poboy! Yum! Â I love the light hearted personality of the place with its "legged" Â bar stools and memorabilia on the walls and ceiling. Â Lots of fans and high celings so its never smoky :)
Review Source:I love this place! Excellent alligator sausage. It goes way back for me and my old production colleagues. We threw a memorial for our old friend Klutz at the rivershack, he loved this place too. Shot his ashes out of a mortar tube with a little fireworks show for family and friends. Miss you Klutz!
Review Source:I've eaten here twice and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times. Â The first time I rode down River Road with the bf on our bikes, taking a study break from exams for some berled crawfish. Â Turns out they didn't have the berl going that day, so we skipped that, although the bartender was totally down to bring us a cold serving of yesterday's batch... no, thanks for the offer, though... I think we ended up having fried mushrooms (or was it pickles?) and a couple of sandwiches. Â I had a reuben, which was very good.
The second time I came for lunch with a group form work. Â It was vibrant and busy. Â We ordered the fried mushrooms and the fried ersters to start and they were both fantastic. Â I then had the buffalo chicken finger salad, which was of such gargantuan proportions that I didn't (as per usual) scarf the whole thing down. Â One caveat to that visit - the service was sloooooooooooooow.
In a nutshell, this is a fun place to go and get a cold beer and some delicious bar food. Check it out, but not if you are in a hurry to get back to the office (= IN ALL RESPECTS A PERFECT LUNCH SPOT FOR A TYPICAL WORKDAY).
I've been coming here for over 7 years and I can't believe I'm just now writing a review. It's become such a regular place for me when I'm in New Orleans that it's like I've taken it for granted and haven't Yelped about it. Shame on me!
I may be staying in the French Quarter but you can bet I'll make the trek to The Rivershack at least once each time I return to NOLA. The fried pickles here are perfect and the burgers are tasty. I love bringing people here for the first time because it's way out of town in what seems to be BFE. But it's this hoppin' place with good beer and a lively crowd. If there's a band, get there early for a table. Otherwise expect to stand your whole visit there.
Lunch is pretty good too. I always leave with a full belly from one order of whatever and go right back to bed.
Rivershack is tacky ("Home of the Tacky Ashtray", way too much crap up on the walls, and those funky bar stools) but I like it. I have been here several times while out on River Rd. and I find it to be a great last minute hungry place. As in I never really set out to go here, but end up here because I'm hungry and I know I can get good food and cold beer at a decent price. I haven't been out for any live music yet, but I hear that it's a great place to hear some local tunes. Monday night Abita, Red Beans, and Blues sounds like my kind of night. Actually, I had red beans there on Lundi Gras. I went out for Cowbell but they were closed so we kept on to Rivershack. Their red beans with sausage special was pretty good. (needed a touch of hot sauce but that's standard for me). The beer was awesome (NOLA Hopitoulas) and I took a few sips of a Poncharita (fresh strawberry margarita) which was very tasty.
Bottom line: Kitschy bar place with above average bar food, decent prices, and live music available most nights. Maybe not worth going out of your way for, but a definite stop if you're close by.
Good bar with equally good food and cold beer. Funny barstools too!
When crawfish season rolls around, this is where you need to go. You get a huge platter of crawfish, while they last, for an inexpensive price. And boy oh boy are they good! They also have really great fried pickles! Yum!
i have never been here really late, but the place is usually really busy. And it seems to be a regular occurrence to have a live band. If you are driving down Rive Road, stop in for some hot fried pickles and a cold beer!
This place is great. Â Not the place to go if you're trying to lose a few pounds, but a great place to go get some great food and listen to music.
They have live music here several nights a week. Â Abita, beans and blues on Monday night is excellent: red beans and rice and live blues music can't be beat. Â They also have live music on weekend nights.
The food is great across the board, although like I mentioned earlier, not really on the lighter side. Â Fried pickles, fried green tomatos, sweet potato fries, all good starters, especially with their special "shack sauce" to dip them in. Â For main courses they have good burgers and po boys, as well as a chicken sandwich that's fried and loaded with cheese and bacon. Â Delicious.
This place is a little out of the way, right across from the levee just west of Causeway, but hey, the hard to find places are the best anyway!
I'm a big fan. Â The draft beer selection is good and the beer is served cold. Â The locations is great, right across from the Mississippi River levee bike path. Â They also have a nice outdoor area to eat. Â The clientele is nicely mixed and very casual. Â You can always find a contingent from the nearby Ochsner hospital. Â
It gets four stars for the great food. Â Every sandwich I have tried is good. Â Last night I had an 'ANITA FLICKS' - roast beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, a dash of horseradish and Creole mustard on toasted rye. Â Mmmmm good! Â The fries were a little undercooked. Â A great touch is the homemade spicy mayonnaise on each table. Â Love it. Â
They have live music on Th/Fr/Sa nights. Â The book a nice variety of bands and the place is large with tall ceiling, making it good for music.
The Rivershack was indeed a grocery once upon a time, maybe in the 1940s. Â But it's always been a bar in my lifetime. Â It's a solid neighborhood bar with decent food (expanded beyond the typical bar menu). Â They only get 3 stars because the decor is too self-conscious, with it's ashtray collection and funky barstools. Â They just need to take a deep breath.
Review Source:My relationship with the Rivershack began with deception: The outside of the building has a bunch of old "Grocery" signs, so we stopped in looking for a few groceries on our bike ride. Â Turns out it is strictly a bar/restaurant. Â We came back another time (without the false pretenses) and had a good time. Â The burgers are pretty good but I'm sorry, I won't write a poem about them. Â They have "funky" decor, which includes the odd crap on the walls as well as bar stools which resemble human legs so that when you are sitting on them it appears as if you are are standing and have the legs of a plumber! What fun, I know. Â Anyway, if you are biking on the riverpath it's worth a stop in. Â If anything it's a place to earn back some of those calories you wasted by biking. Â Prices are OK, about 10-ish american dollars for the burgers.
For what it is, I award 3.3 stars to the rivershack.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
