Rivershack Tavern
3449 River Rd, Jefferson, LA, 70121
Rivershack Tavern Menu
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Address :
3449 River Rd
Jefferson, LA, 70121 - Phone (504) 834-4938
- Website https://www.therivershacktavern.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 12
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Music : Live
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Thu, Fri, Sat
Coat Check : No
Smoking : Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jessica R.
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.
(2)Ben F.
I came here with my boss's boss for lunch and we had great po-boys for lunch. From the outside this place looks very unassuming and I passed up on it many times. I was so wrong. The service and food here are great. I will definitely be back for a crawfish boil!
(4)Jason K.
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.
(3)Perrey L.
I've eaten here twice and thoroughly enjoyed myself both times. The first time I rode down River Road with the bf on our bikes, taking a study break from exams for some berled crawfish. 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. I had a reuben, which was very good. The second time I came for lunch with a group form work. It was vibrant and busy. We ordered the fried mushrooms and the fried ersters to start and they were both fantastic. 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. 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).
(4)Lindsay A.
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.
(3)David B.
Interesting dive bar near uptown. It's only a couple minutes from Carrollton and St. Charles, but it feels like you've driven out to Breaux Bridge. It usually has good live music and first-class people watching. I haven't tried the food but I've heard good things. Favorites are: music, atmosphere
(3)Bryan S.
Great burger joint if you are passing by on your lunch break. Be warned the place starts getting real busy on Fridays as the end-of-the week Happy Hour crowd of locasl start dropping by to start off their weekend drinking.
(4)Allison J.
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.
(4)Justin R.
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!
(3)Derek R.
Great dive bar on River Road! Good bar food, a funky atmosphere, and just a fun place to go. Usually a band plays on the weekends. Featured on the Food Network - Diner's, Drive-Ins and Dives. Cheers!
(4)Alan S.
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.
(5)Gill M.
I love this place have to visit every time I'm in town! Hot sausage po-boy yum! Great service..cold beer what more could a man ask for!
(4)Jackie A.
The seafood platter is really tasty and big enough to share. I also liked the boiled crawfish and the fried pickles. I wouldn't come here just to drink or see a show, but the food's pretty good. It's more like a dinner and 5 more beers type of place.
(4)Mike K.
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.
(2)Jen L.
The Rivershack was indeed a grocery once upon a time, maybe in the 1940s. But it's always been a bar in my lifetime. It's a solid neighborhood bar with decent food (expanded beyond the typical bar menu). They only get 3 stars because the decor is too self-conscious, with it's ashtray collection and funky barstools. They just need to take a deep breath.
(3)Cork C.
I love stopping here to pig out after a long ride along the levee. It is always full of hospital workers, but there is space for everyone. The beer selection is pretty good and their burgers were tasty.
(4)Shannon S.
"The Home Of The Tacky Ashtray" is the way this dive bar describes itself. I'm not a smoker and unfortunately with all the ashtray love this place can get smoky at night so that is a big minus for me. The barstools are an entertaining sight to see and I won't describe them so you will have to see them yourself. This place also makes some mighty tasty food and has some pretty great lunch specials that range from Southwestern influenced to NOLA classics like turtle soup. They have some good burgers and other typical bar grub but the lunch specials typically kick it up a notch or two (or sometimes more). They also frequently have live music and although the space is a bit tight for dancing they will move the tables out a bit more if there aren't too many people sitting in them. I've always had a good time at the Rivershack and make it a point to keep it in my occasional rotation as both a good lunch spot and a fun nightlife/music venue.
(3)William R.
Great place for great food and good drinks.I went for a friends birthday get together and the food was delicious can't wait to go back.the burgers or to die for.the alligator sausage was awesome.
(5)Todd O.
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!
(4)Chris C.
I'm a big fan. The draft beer selection is good and the beer is served cold. The locations is great, right across from the Mississippi River levee bike path. They also have a nice outdoor area to eat. The clientele is nicely mixed and very casual. You can always find a contingent from the nearby Ochsner hospital. It gets four stars for the great food. Every sandwich I have tried is good. Last night I had an 'ANITA FLICKS' - roast beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, a dash of horseradish and Creole mustard on toasted rye. Mmmmm good! The fries were a little undercooked. A great touch is the homemade spicy mayonnaise on each table. Love it. They have live music on Th/Fr/Sa nights. The book a nice variety of bands and the place is large with tall ceiling, making it good for music.
(4)Margaret D.
This place is great! My husband and I went there for dinner on a Friday night. They were blasting Metallica when we got there. Not my first choice of music , but it definitely set the party atmosphere. A live band was setting up, but we left before they started playing. The food was great! I had a really good oyster poboy with sweet potato fries and an excellent blackberry margarita here. (They have several fresh fruit (not flavored) margaritas on the menu.)My husband had the burger. It was huge and one of the best I've tasted in Nola. Our waitress told us the lunch specials are the best though, so we'll have to come back during the day for those.
(4)Allen G.
Great place to grab a drink! They have daily drink specials that are always quite nice. Wednesday is pint night!
(5)Erin P.
slightly tacky decor + really good fried catfish po'boys + good local beers + fabulous service + random rooster in the parking lot = one of my favorite places to eat when in new orleans!
(4)Ayo L.
Incredible food. Great neighborhood bar atmosphere. Expect to pack on the pounds, but the food is worth tipping the scales.
(5)D P.
Great food and crazy decor. Love the bar stools.
(4)April F.
I had the catfish poboy and my friend had a hamburger. We shared buffalo shrimp. Food was yummy. My friend loved her hamburger. Beer was cold. I'd go here again, but wouldn't make a special trip.
(3)Tommy B.
Went there today at lunch for the first time. I was hoping there was a good special happening but nothing to amazing. Bacon burger was just ok the bacon was little flimsy fries were cold. The tuna Spanish salad was ok but tuna had a funny smell. The waitress was ok but no smile even though we were smiling. They were busy right upon opening. I won't be back.
(2)Mardi C.
love this place... love the buffalo oysters.... yup, just like buffalo wings... a different owner from the original, but still a stand up nola joint. right near the bike path, and the sandwiches are all excellent, the bloody mary's too. fun and funky, lots of old timey decor, mixed with odd nola art, strange seats at the bar, but very unique, which gives this place a very "different" feel to it. poker machines, food, drinks, and live music... when out at the airport? we usually stop at this hot spot... YUM
(4)Brad T.
A friend recently turned me on to this place. What a great experience. Pro's: 1) Food is good. Crawfish is excellent when in season. Some of the best seasoned crawfish I've ever had. 2) Decent selection of beer on tap. 3) Great atmosphere. One of those places where you could drum up a conversation with just about anyone at the bar. 4) Outside area is nice option when it's cool outside. Con's 1) None.
(5)John V.
Nice dive bar atmosphere with good music and phenomenal service. I can't comment on the food as I ordered a boring grilled chicken salad (tasty, nonetheless) over the amazing food folks from my group were raving about. We had a single server for our party of close to thirty people and she DID NOT miss a beat. I think her name was Toni - a small young lady with a sporty build and an above-lip piercing - and she kept the drinks coming and orders going. Every time a late attendee arrived, there she was taking food and drink orders. I witnessed her do more for our large party BY HERSELF than any other server can do with a regular table of two to four in a more relaxed setting. In...sane! My salad was only ten bucks, but I didn't hesitate to leave her a nice tip and I'm sure the other fellas did the same at the end of the night. I'd come back just for the service even though I'm on a healthy kick and can't eat 99 percent of what the menu offers. Thank you!
(5)James M.
Great place for some really good food. Just really wish I could have had a beer (but work says NO). Had the Rusty's Ranch and it was very, very, very good. Chicken had a great flavor that made for a tasty sandwich. I do recommend to visit this place.
(5)Christopher W.
Rode my bike out to the Rivershack along the Mississippi River Bike Trail. I have passed this place many times riding my bike and this was the first time I was able to stop in and get me something to eat. The ambiance is a 10, they a great outside porch and the inside looks like an authentic cajun restaurant out in the bayou with swamp wood, Spanish moss and all. Of course I ordered the gator sausage with sweet potato fries and both were excellent. In fact they were the best sweet potato fries I have ever had. The gator sausage poboy was very tasty with a great flavor and the bread was excellent. I will definitely be coming back.
(5)Walt M.
Good/fun atmosphere, guitars playing. Beer is cheap and cold, food was typical pub fare and good. Got a huge pile of nachos.
(3)Cynthia C.
Met a colleague for a business lunch here at her suggestion. A bar seemed an unusual place to meet for a working lunch but she had heard they had great lunch specials. There is plenty of seating but come early because it is popular for lunch. I had the fried mushrooms and shrimp bisque; she had the buffalo chicken salad. The bowl of mushrooms was massive and cooked perfectly without any greasiness at all. My bisque wasn't not creamy but a brothy version with tons of medium sized whole shrimp, very filling and tasty. My friend's salad was huge and she enjoyed it. Worth a try folks! They have a daily lunch special but we didn't have it that day as it seemed a bit heavier of dish than we were looking for at the time. I will definately return.
(4)Edward S.
I just wish this place wasn't so darn popular! it is hard to find parking sometimes! The food is good, and the drink prices are great! The staff has always been friendly and prompt. The only thing that could improve this place is more space, but that isn't in the cards. Great place!
(5)Helen L.
Went there in Friday night for dinner with my hubby. It was ok. I went there years ago back in the 80's. I mostly a dive bar to have drinks and enjoy listening to music with your friends. My hubby had the half and half and he said it was ok. Nothing special. I had the Reuben deli sandwich. That was fair not spectacular. On the other hand the Black and Tan Beer was very good, therefore, I will go there for beer and hanging out with friends.
(3)Stef S.
Always fantastic! Service is fast and friendly. Everything comes out hot and fresh. The specials are delicious and special. The food seems like the people fixing it sent it to you with care. Portions are large too. Try the turtle soup if it's available. It is very very good. They treat tourists as well as they treat locals but you can tell they love their regulars, so become one! I go there probably 3-4 times a year and each time is better than the last. Oh yah don't forget a Bloody Mary. So good.
(5)Peter T.
Busy for lunch, you'll remember this place more for the unusual bar stools than anything else. They serve standard local nola fare, including po-boys and fried seafood plates. I opted for the roast beef po boy with "de-briss" (how they pronounce it) - bits of beef in the gravy/au jus. Side of deep fried tots made the meal complete.
(3)Randol H.
This is a pleasant little bar and grill along river road. The sandwiches are good, the portions generous. A good number of local and national beers on tap, and the taps do rotate occasionally. Live music to be had on Friday nights. The decor is unpretentious, almost road house, with bare plank floors and relatively low lighting. You get the feeling that you're going to get fed, you're going to get drunk and you're going to have a good time. Friday nights will see a sea of scrubs as Ochsner staff come by to unwind after the week is done.
(4)David m.
still hot, miss this place but im tired of the heat outside dont need it on the inside beverage break.
(1)Carlotta D.
Great local's place. Always a good time and the staff is extra nice.
(5)Scott F.
This place is perfect for large group parties or if you want to have a smaller, more closed affair. The food is good, especially for a bar. Try the buffalo shrimp, meat pies, or a burger. Not much in the way of TVs for watching the game but the live music and juke box are great. The outside area is setup nicely and inside is spacious. Plenty of parking at the lot across the street. Bar tenders and wait staff are attentive and friendly. Prices are good and fair.
(4)Clem M.
Well this place lives up to the dive bar and that's great. I got a burger and sweet potato fries. The burger was just gross, might be ok for a dive bar, but it was just terrible tasting. The fries were very greasy and soggy, like a pile of mush. I expected the food to be decent, if it wasn't for the atmosphere this be a one star place. DDD stopped here, and that gives the some credibility to the dive atmosphere. I didn't see the turtle soup on the menu.
(2)Kimberly J.
Rivershack is always a good bar and grill, but come crawfish season, it's hands down the best place to go. Fridays at 4pm and Sundays at 3pm they start boiling and sell out quick. Best boil in the city.
(4)Pat M.
The definition of a dive bar, right down to the half-dressed bar stools. Don't let looks deceive. The food is delicious and they have a wide array of goods drinks.
(4)Cristy C.
Delightful experience. Came here for their monthly vintage bike night. I had a roast beef po boy and a Bloody Mary. My friends had sweet potato fries and some beers. The drink was good, but if you keep up with my reviews, I know bloody Mary's and theirs is average. But that's ok! If you've never been here before, it kind of reminds me of The Rusty Nail but a little nicer and moire spacious. There is definitely more accommodation for eating. Plenty of tables inside as well as outside so it's good for groups.
(4)Miriam H.
The Shack now has crabs on Sunday! So fat and full! Six for $20 right now.
(5)John T.
Meh. We have work parties there a lot but for the kegs and outdoor seating. Meh.
(3)Mark W.
The food here is a couple steps above most "bar fare". I had a hamburger that was done well, not to jicy, not too dry. River hack has a a wide selection of burgers, sandwiches, and even a few salads. There is a complete selection of beers that are good quality. This is not a beer specialty place with a wide selection of commercial and craft beers, just the best of the commercial beers. The atmosphere looks like a roadside tavern that may serve the occasional ship crew passing on the other side of the Mississippi River levee across the street. This is a popular spot for the middle-aged biker gang (a lot of studded leather and chrome helmets on accountants, realtors, and bankers). It looked like a mostly local crowd when I was there on a Wednesday afternoon. Service is attentive and prompt. This place is way off the tourist beaten trail, and a pretty real experience. It is a reasonable bicycle trip or substantial walk as part of a trip to the zoo. It is just at the bottom of a levee bicycle trail that connects the Audubon Park area to the historic Kenner area. It is easy to spot the Rivershack from the levee. First roadhouse past Ochsner hospital and the Clearview bridge over the Mississippi River. I heard on the radio they have live music at night, though I have never checked them out for that purpose. This looks like a fun place to watch a game: beer, food, large screen TVs, local, real crowd, and not all tarted up with corporate marketing vibe. The dive bar description of some reviews seems exaggerated to me. In my experience, a dive bar has a few people with glowing red hateful eyes that want to stab you and roast you on the BBQ. The Rivershack is pretty civilized in that way, and more of a place for slumming as a badass. You could take the family here, have a good time, and not fear for your life.
(3)Amy S.
The food and the staff was decent, but it was overpriced for what you get. The atmosphere is fun though so it made up for some of it.
(3)Brian O.
Out of the way joint witj famous leg bar stools Drinks food and music. Many locals and regulars. Comfy outdoor seating for crawfish with misters. Ample parking
(4)Debbie R.
Anytime we are at "The Shack" we enjoy it! Lunch, dinner or drinks and dancing they have it all. Favorite food ribeye steak, tuna sandwich, vegi plate (fried) haha not diet! Great bands, fun atmosphere and friendly service!
(5)david e.
Great local place with great food! Live music on the weekends. This is a great hole in the wall place. Friendly servers each time we visit. We come here every time we are in town.
(4)Danon H.
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.
(3)Eddie C.
Home of the tacky ashtrays, back when you could smoke inside, and crazy looking barstools, the Rivershack is a easy to find and groovy looking place to hang out at if you have the time. I have been here several times during the week, but only at night and never at lunch time. That is when they have the really good food, but the looks and descriptions I have read. But when I usually come here is on the 2nd Saturday of every month when the Volkswagen car club I am a member of has the meeting at noon. During that time, there is the weekend menu in use. A much much limited version of the weekday one. Mostly burgers and sandwiches and cheese fries and apps. I have had it and it is good. Not great but not bad. There is some killer squeeze bottle sauce on the tables I highly recommend. The beer selection is good, im a draft beer guy, so I am always pleased to see something new on the tap when we show up. The prime time to come here and really enjoy the Rivershack is during the fall. There is plenty of seating outside and the servers will come outside and get more beers and take orders and such. But they don't like outside drinks, even if its a kids juice box. Kinda annoying if I am buying food anyways and they have some left over. The odd part outside is the chickens. Remember there is chickens, so if you have a irrationally skittish friend that is afraid of chickens, you better eat inside. During the hot months, there is fans with the water misters outside. Its divey looking, but not really. Has a cool worn out look on the outside. The staff can be a 50/50 of nice or rude....this is mostly because there is a few members of the group that sometimes do not tip. It sucks they don't , but the servers then treat us all as a whole negatively. That is annoying too. Especially because it isn't happening at the end of a long shift. It happens 30 minutes after they open. Not right but if there is an issue, it needs to be directed at the cheap bastid, not me. Check it out, especially when they have live bands at night, and definitely during the cooler months. Nice place
(3)Annette B.
We checked Rivershack Tavern out while visiting NOLA because it was featured on Triple D, and we were not disappointed. The place is super casual and down-home river funky, with an interesting local crowd. The wait staff was very friendly and the food was good, except for one thing - the Buffalo shrimp. They are off-the-charts fabulous. Oh so tender, cooked to perfection, and with just the right amount of what must be homemade wing sauce, they are hands down the best Buffalo shrimp we've ever eaten. They almost melt in your mouth. We were so enamored with this dish that we returned to Rivershack Tavern a second time before leaving town. To this day, I daydream about those scrumptious shrimp. They are absolutely to die for! The Buffalo shrimp are the reason the Rivershack gets 4 stars from me; otherwise, I'd say it's 3 or 3.5 stars. We also tried their red beans and rice, which we were told couldn't be beat, but alas, Chimes in Baton Rouge has them beaten by a long shot on the red beans and rice. Not to say the Rivershack red beans and rice was a bad dish, it was pretty darned delicious. It's just that Chimes has the best-ever red beans and rice. Next time we're down around NOLA, we'll hit up Rivershack Tavern for a couple of orders (or more) of their amazing Buffalo shrimp!
(4)Nick A.
Love the Rivershack! There is always great (or at least good) live music, and a bar menu with lots of great bar food if you end up getting a little bit too trucked. There is also usually a special that is some sort of haute cuisine, which seems odd being that there are fried pickles on the menu. The bartenders are great and fast, and my girlfriend is a huge fan of the margaritas. The crowd is a little bit older than one may expect, but honestly that makes for a great time. Lots of dancing, shouting, and stumbling around when folks get super drunk and don't have to worry anymore since their kids have gone off to college. I try to make it back once a week, even if I just stop in on Sunday afternoon for a quick beer. This place has great prices and great atmosphere, and I will often recommend to friends.
(4)Jeremy H.
Let it be known that they are now SMOKE FREE! My wife shies away from smoky places and especially when we are trying to enjoy the food. First thing is the goofy stuff hanging all over the walls from 1970's. We sat at the bar near the taps (just to get a good look). The bartenders were very friendly and we ordered and ate there at the bar. The staff recommended the Rusty's chicken ranch sandwich. It looked amazing. I got the Tex-Mex burger. The burger has an obvious flame grilled flavor and cooked to order. We followed up dinner with more drinks. We noticed more and more regulars coming in the bar for the live band. Will enjoy a nice bar and burgers again soon.
(5)Jennifer B.
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.
(4)Sara U.
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.
(3)Joi B.
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...
(4)Faith A.
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.
(3)Phillip N.
I give it only 4 stars because the food is very good. We went there after seeing it being featured on television. I was hoping to get some turtle soup but found out that they only serve it on particular days.... So call ahead if that is what you want. The food is very good. I had the seafood platter which had generous portions of fried fish, oysters, and shrimp... and the gator sausage which was awesome. As for the staff... they were very nice and were prompt with their service and attentive. Very eclectic environment with good food and friendly staff.
(4)Brian S.
Decent local beer selection bar staff is very friendly and food is amazing ! Service is quick .
(5)Corey L.
If your in the area, for lunch. This is the best place for a chef special. I have never order off the menu. I only get the special. And it is always out standing. His version of chicken pot pie, is mind blowing. Always get the cup of soup, and special.
(4)T. H.
we were looking for a legit, delish crawfish boil that offered seating and wasn't too crowded or touristy and we found it here. Sunday afternoons, they boil up fresh crawfish, corn, garlic and potatoes. YUM. we added a shrimp po'boy. gave it four stars only because of the shlep outside of the city.
(4)Ashley H.
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."
(4)Clemente C.
I find myself here for lunch whenever I'm on a tour of the area thrift stores, it's always a convenient stop for lunch. Their poboys are great and I've always loved the slightly run down look of the place. The beer selection is pretty good for the type of it is, and the prices have always been very moderate. The staff is always nice, even when it seems like I'm the first person walking through their door and they aren't quite ready to deal with it. I've only been there a few times at night, so I don't feel as if I can adequately review that side of things.
(4)Peter J.
Fresh, tasty po'boys, crawfish boil and a good selection of beers (though no Belgian Tripels) with outdoor seating next to the levee - how can you go wrong? Turkey burgers too, BTW
(4)Teri Y.
LOVE this place! Great drinks and the food is amazing! Had the crawfish boil - delisH.! Also the buffalo oysters - take a wonderful louisiana oyster, bread it and fry it, then put buffalo sauce on it and serve it with ranch dressing...OMG!!!! We ordered 4 more! Service was not great - only a handful of ladies for a very busy tavern - all working hard, but no time to answer a question without them looking at you like you ruined their night. Doesn't matter - Id go back ...actually come to think of it, I did - went twice in one week!
(4)Robert L.
Have been here several times for both lunch and dinner. There are plenty of other places in the area to have a decent dinner. Rivershack in the evening is basically just bar food that is average at best. Where they shine is at lunch when the chef works his magic. The three star rating is for dinner. For lunch I would give them five stars!
(3)Brigette A.
The food is great and very plentiful. The service staff is attentive and friendly. The beer selection is excellent. And the music is live and well performed. What more could one ask for in a neighborhood bar? 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. Also, I discovered that I actually LIKE fried oysters.
(5)Kris A.
Tex mex burger(thick bacon,saute onions,mushrooms and pepperjack cheese) rocks! 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! I love the light hearted personality of the place with its "legged" bar stools and memorabilia on the walls and ceiling. Lots of fans and high celings so its never smoky :)
(5)Roger B.
The River Shack, an outpost of culinary excellence. Not always phrases you would associate with each other. Although, they did merge successfully this evening. 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. Whomever had been assigned the task of bringing the white table clothes had left them behind. (What is a wine dinner without white linens for the tables?) As we waited, (there was about 20 of us who signed up for the dinner), we were served flutes of Prosecco. The sparkling white wine made up for the wait. Dinner started with Lobster Thermidor (minus the shell) and a brandied bisque paired with a chardonnay. The meal was now off to a great start. That was followed by a Cajun style soft shell crab over kimchee and baby bok choy paired with a Sauvignon Blanc. It's getting even better. The third course was a sliced duck breast medallion over confit paired with a pinot noir. With the quality of the food, I was beginning to wonder where I was. The main course was a lamb t-bone with a small cheddar shepherd's pie, English peas, and baby carrots. This was paired with a Cabernet Sauvignon. Perfect. Desert followed, a dark chocolate and pistachio stack. Here you had a choice of a cream sherry or a brandy. I took the brandy. If I hadn't experienced it myself, I would have doubted the words of anyone raving over the meal. The chef apparently enjoyed himself making the meal. It was great. I was stuffed. I understand they plan on doing it again in a couple of months. We'll be back.
(4)Amber C.
No amount of tacky ashtrays and kitschy atmosphere can make up for terrible frozen food and poor service. I guess it was my mistake for ordering seafood, I just assumed in New Orleans you should be able to make good catfish and fried shrimp instead of a single piece of frozen cod and a few shrimp for a 15.00 platter. I also suffered food poisoning later that evening. Our first waitress was good but I guess it was shift change because the next girl had the worst attitude and acted like it was a chore to refill any drinks since it took her away from hanging out with her friends.
(1)Jarrod F.
This place was very cool and the food was good too. I had shrimp and oyster po boy that was killer and lots of Abita, for anyone who hasn't had that beer I would give it a try because one it is tasty and two it is brewed in Louisiana. I will for sure go back to this place next time I'm in the big easy.
(4)R K.
It's been smoke-free for over a year now, and what an improvement! You can eat there now and taste the food and not have to shower when you go home. The food is good bar food -- burgers, sandwiches, and the occasional surprisingly gourmet special. Burgers are the best bet, salads are the worst. Huge beer selection. Friendly and familiar service.
(4)Matt R.
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.
(4)Lisa H.
Pretty darn good bar food, although I hear that the chef offers some special each day that are closer to a fine dining experience than you would ever expect to get in what's basically a dive bar. I wouldn't know, because my server never told me about any specials :( The tacky ashtrays are a relic of the past since the bar is now non-smoking. Sitting outside on a Friday evening, I was saddened that my waitress apparently forgot about me after picking up my plate and dropping a beer on the table. After almost an hour of visiting with friends (and having one of them grab me a beer from the bar) I moved inside, where the the waitress did apologize. When I switched from beer to soft drinks, the waitress offered to close out my tab since "soft drink refills are free". Well, that didn't prove to be the case because she pulled a Houdini again after I paid the check and I ended up at the bar paying $2.50 for a diet coke. The service was definitely subpar. I can overlook many things - mistakes happen in kitchens, servers get sidetracked, but to be completely ignored not once but TWICE in the same night? Blech.
(3)Marielle S.
This a cool little place to see a band. The crowd is older, but that doesn't matter. 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. My main complaint is that the place is really smoky and it's hard to handle after a little while.
(3)Kay M.
I'm giving it 4 stars because I haven't had the food yet. That said, I have been there a couple times and dig the ambience. It's got a great dive bar appeal with friendly servers and pretty cheap beer. They also have pretty cool stools at the bars- check them out! There is a small outside area you can sit at.
(4)Chris P.
Had the worst Roast Beef po boy I've ever had. I've never not finished one, but could barely put down the first half. The roast beef was dry and tasted like chemicals. Most likely won't come back here, that's a shame...
(1)Jeremy M.
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!!
(4)Ryan C.
Fun bar to kick back at and relax while listening to some live music or hanging out on the new patio. Good drinks and friendly staff. Interesting stools so be careful where ya sit, it could be quite comical. Stop by and check it out.
(5)Abraham W.
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.
(5)Bryan F.
I really like this place. The food was awesome and the ambiance is pretty neat. Very old building and just a neat little place to grab something to eat! I had a seafood combo and really enjoyed how fresh it was.
(5)Christina S.
This place is definitely a neat place to stop by. I did expect the food to be a bit better. However, it wasn't bad at all. But, I don't think it was quite worth 4 stars. The service was excellent and the atmosphere is very cool. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I would definitely recommend trying it out.
(3)Greg B.
This place is great. 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. Abita, beans and blues on Monday night is excellent: red beans and rice and live blues music can't be beat. 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. Fried pickles, fried green tomatos, sweet potato fries, all good starters, especially with their special "shack sauce" to dip them in. 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. 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!
(5)Rose Marie N.
The Fried Pickles and Fried Alligator were awesome! Great place to stop and have a drink and listen to some music most nights.
(4)G.G. L.
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!
(5)Cyd B.
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.
(3)Barney B.
Cup of the soup and the special. It never fails. The best lunch in the city.
(5)Kenneth A.
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.
(4)Russell W.
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. Turns out it is strictly a bar/restaurant. We came back another time (without the false pretenses) and had a good time. The burgers are pretty good but I'm sorry, I won't write a poem about them. 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. Anyway, if you are biking on the riverpath it's worth a stop in. If anything it's a place to earn back some of those calories you wasted by biking. Prices are OK, about 10-ish american dollars for the burgers. For what it is, I award 3.3 stars to the rivershack.
(3)M D.
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!) 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.
(5)Dave S.
The menu gives you a very good choice .....daily specials too......I was in the mood for a burger. It was grilled to perfection....and I am a burger snob!! Wait staff was excellent ....Michelle waited on me and she couldn't have been more attentive. Decor is very eclectic....next time I will try the special ....whatever it is.....I don't think you can go wrong with anything here.!!
(4)Jenna Z.
I love this place! Live music, great food...always a good time! Okay service isn't always great, but as long as I get my food I'm good. My fav burger comes from here, Tex Mex (topped with shredded pep jack, bacon, grilled mushrooms & onions) & steak fries. Fried mushrooms with Shimmy sauce is a must (fried pickles good as well).
(5)Joe W.
Went on Monday night and listened to great music from Troy Turner. Good sound system. Nice atmosphere and service. The red beans and rice with sausage was great. Mellow place to eat and listen to music. The alligator sausage appetizer was excellent. They have a parking lot so its easy to park.
(4)