the chicken fried steak is literally everything to me. last evening i went to ivers, unsure of what to get. i chose the chicken fried steak but had no expectations. when it came to my table, it was stunning. the light from the sun gleamed off of the chicken fried steak and then i saw it- the perfect golden crispiness. i couldn't wait to devour it. i took one sniff and it was over for my beautiful chicken fried steak. i ate the entire plate in under 10 minutes. the texture was perfect, the taste was perfect, the color was golden brown. not to mention everything was the perfect temperature for me. the mashed potatoes and gravy went perfectly with the steak- again perfect consistency. i want to eat this for every single meal. i'm in love. read more

Service slow and the gravy on the chopped steak was gray and flavorless! On a positive note, my son enjoyed his blackened catfish po-boy! read more

Ivar's River Pub - Slow service and gray flavorless gravy on the chopped steak. - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Lloyd was our server/bar tender in the Beer garden and he was AWESOME! They were short staffed when we went and Lloyd made sure to still be so attentive to us and everyone else he was serving while juggling a million other things. The food was great also and we had a great time for our first visit! read more

We had a large company dinner here with about 35 people. It was a great venue and the food was excellent as well as the service. The location is right on the river and atmosphere was excellent. In addition they worked with us on price and drinks and the service was excellent. read more

I have to wonder how anyone can review 5 stars. Met a friend for lunch. We shared the brisket poutine appetizer. Teeny tiny. My goodness, the 'beef' gravy tasted like flavored cornstarch, and the cheese curds, well they were melted, hard to find and no well-known 'squeak'. I have had poutine across the US, and Canada, and this is by far the worst tasting, not even close, poutine ever. It was really bad. So disappointed. I then decided to go with the blackened chicken spinach wrap that was very dry chopped chicken with no flavor whatsoever. The chips that came with it tasted weird. If my friend did not insist on paying the bill, I would've sent the food back. The place was busy and probably a hang out for some that may have been there tubing in the river and needed someplace close to eat, or definitely do not know what good food is. Our server didn't seem to know what he was really doing. Definitely will not be going back as this seasoned cook, and retired very successful chef, would not recommend this place if you want good food. read more

Visited Ivar's on Saturday around lunch time. I think we beat the rush! Plan accordingly, the parking lot gets full. We were a large party and the staff were super helpful in getting us set up. I got the burger and fries which were good. Nothing bad but not the best. Some on our party thought the food was a bit salty but overall we had a great experience. There's a lovely view of the river and all of the folks going down it. We also enjoyed as super tasty mangonada margarita. Definitely recommend if you're visiting town. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Mangonada margarita - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Beautiful day eating lunch outside yep a view of the river. People are swimming. River is always 72. Ruby is taking good care of us. Plenty of parking. Good food. Great view. 5/5 read more

Ivar's River Pub - River view - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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The service was on point! We came in the evening around 7pm and there was zero wait time, we were promptly seated and our waiter Levi was very attentive, fast, friendly, fun & funny! The drinks tasted great! I ordered a mango and peach blended frozen margarita and they were made really well and strong! I am usually skeptical of pre-mixed and readymade alcoholic beverages, but Ivar's River Pub nailed the margaritas! We also ordered a couple different mixed shots: the Mexican candy shot (one of my favorites in general) and a lemon drop and they went down smoothly (that's always a plus!) The food also hit the spot. I got light bites - bread crisps with goat cheese glazed with a balsamic flavored topping. My friend ordered a healthy sized plate full of crispy chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with a side of gravy and green beans. Pictures included for reference. Altogether we plan to definitely return. Pleasant experience and chill environment. Thank you! read more

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Popped in for some nostalgia. The hostess sat us quickly during dinner peak time. The server was knowledgable and very attentive. The river view is still cool. The food was quite tasty and the portions very generous. Can't say enough good things about this place. The prices are reasonable and the service outstanding. Highly recommend! read more

Ivar's River Pub - Beer Garden area - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Nice place to go to and sit next to the river. The menu has a variety of items to choose from. From appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. Has something for everyone. The old fashion is amazing. Great drink if you are an old fashion fan. The prices are reasonable. The service is good. Staff friendly and helpful. Worth checking out if are looking for something different and want to check out a new place to go for a bite to eat and a drink. read more

We did couples date here and it was fantastic! Sat by the river and had a beautiful view. Service was efficient and waitstaff attentive. This was our first time but will not be the last. The food was great. We had crostini's with goat cheese for an appetizer. Ordered Cajun shrimp fettuccine and my husband had their ribeye. Both were delicious. For indecisive drinkers, they have wine, beer and margarita flights. Their menu is varied and great for even the pickiest of eaters. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Crostini's - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

One of best settings I've seen so far in San Marcos!! Went to Ivar's for an evening dinner with some colleagues and I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised. I didn't know much about the place and hadn't heard anything impressing but again, I was immediately pleased with the outdoor view of the river. The service was great. We had a decent sized party of 7 and the staff attended to us very well. Then there's the food. I ordered the smothered chicken, veggies and mashed potatoes with a side of garlic bread. It was fantastic. The chicken was seasoned and tender, the mashed potatoes had a really good flavor to them. I don't know what they added to them but man it was good. Overall, I give them about a 3.8 out 5. Definitely worth adding to your list of dinner spots. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Smothered Grilled Chicken Breast - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I was really excited to try this place after driving past it prior and seeing how the restaurant is actually on the river. I love waterfront restaurants. My husband and I came here during a weekday around lunchtime to try it out. We wanted to sit outside but it was just too hot outside. So we opted to sit semi outdoors. They have a space where you can see outside but it's also inside with a lot of fans blowing. Felt like a good compromise. My husband ordered a burger and I ordered the nachos (smaller size). I was pretty hungry and was afraid the small version wasn't going to fill me but it actually was a perfect size! It was delish. It had brisket on it and queso. Nothing earth shattering but still good. My husband's burger though...one of the best burgers I've had. So tasty. It was the Bacon Jam burger. Wow! I'd definitely come back for that. I liked it better than my nachos. We sat there and observed the people floating in the river which people watching is fun. I would come back for the burger and the river view. read more

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What a great spot in San Marcos! Right off the river so it's lunch and a show watching people go down the chute. lol. Food is good. Comfort food that tastes great and fills you up. I had the chicken fried steak plate. So good. Of course, had left overs. Definitely check this out. We will be back when we r driving through San Marcos again. read more

This was an awesome meal - beautiful river views - the Mexican Martini drink (might have the name wrong) was amazing!! So delicious - we had good barbecue - everything we had was yummy. Great place! Highly recommend!! read more

Iver's is still 5-star in our book! There is indoor seating that overlooks the river, and quasi-outside seating under shade and with a mini split a/c & fans. Due to the heat, we choose indoor seating. Luck of the draw, we got Preston as our server. There were 6 in our party, which means an automatic tip. That didn't matter, because the service we received was the best that we have had there. And, the service has usually been excellent. Kudos to Preston. Check out their daily food specials, as well as 3-6pm happy hour specials. Parking was controlled, which meant a person at the entrance pointing us to a parking spot, who also has the job of keeping out the tubers. Show him some appreciation when leaving ($). read more

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Great time. Fabulous view outside. Food was really tasty! Service was kinda mid but it was Friday night. Kid just looked like her wanted to be elsewhere. All in all- 5 stars. read more

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Went here for lunch to celebrate my brothers birthday and it was a nice vibe for college students. You could see people in the river having a good time while enjoying your food. I would say the food was "eh" . I had a burger which my server told us she doesn't recommend it because it's dry and I should've went with what she recommended. BUT if you know the burger is dry, why have it on the menu...? The fries were good though! read more

Tried Ivar's during a recent trip, and...we loved it so much we brought friends back with us to experience it as well! This restaurant is located across from the Rio Vista Park (one of the most popular access points to the San Marcos River), which means you'll have a beautiful view should you choose from their ample outdoor seating. There are multiple food options ranging from southern comfort food to more generic American options. We enjoyed a salad with grilled shrimp, as well as a blackened chicken rap. I also recommend the hydrilla drink if you're looking for a refreshing, non-alcoholic signature drink. Don't worry, if you're looking for alternatives to that there's definitely plenty of beer, wine, and cider options as well. The staff was friendly and super helpful. P.S Sorry for the lighting in the menu pictures! At night they have these blue lights on, which is the only thing I wasn't really a fan of given that blue light bothers quite a few people's eyesight. read more

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Excellent service, great time to sit on the patio, food was very good. Definitely recommend. We will be back.

The food was very yummy. A little pricy but not too bad. The view is amazing and the seating is nice. The server wasn't very good and didn't check on us a lot, but overall my experience was great. read more

Went here for a quick bite, and again, the ambience, the food the server was great everybody's friendly and welcoming. It's definitely a place to go to watch your football games baseball games. They have plenty of TV. It has a nice view outside of the lake people on their tubes and swimming. It was very relaxing. read more

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First time in san marcos, we were looking for somewhere that wasn't just burgers and over here they had an amazing selection. The brisket nachos were absolutely amazing! And their ribeye was nice and big and cooked well. Their margs were pretty big and weren't as strong nice and sweet and you could get a hint of the alcohol. The vibes were great and the river view was amazing! The waiter was super attentive and nice! read more

Service: even when it was extremely busy front staff checking in was made easy, waiting for a table was an acceptable timeframe, server was polite helpful as well as bartender. Over all staff A grade. Food was fresh and delicious, and fast. Price was more than adequate for general public standards. Over all experience A Grade. Not bad for a first timer that had military standards of perfection. Thanks Tim L. read more

Great place for family and kids. Had the chicken pasta and it was delicious. The brisket tacos were good as well.

While the view is epic and I love the easy going vibe, I expected better service and quality for the price point. Our server brought our drinks but then took quite awhile to return for our order and then we sat with empty glasses until the food was ready. My meatball sub had soggy bread and overcooked meatballs. However, I was a fan of the pesto on the sandwich. If there is anything I would rave about, it would be the burnt ends. read more

Great location on the river with open air patio. They have quite a few menu options and the kids enjoyed!

This is a charming place right on the waterway. Great service, super attentive-- we had Francesca and she was amazing. The food is great for the value, something to please everyone. Get a scooby shot if you're drinking! Beware there is karaoke on Sundays 6-9-- the talent does not meet the passion, we survived. Cool spot, allow time to find parking. Reservations have to be made more than a day in advance. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Our view from the table - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Food is okay. Service is okay. Best thing is it's close to the river. No wet clothing allowed. Fun to sit where you can see the water. If busy, parking can be a problem. Fun and lively. read more

Great spot for the family right next to the river. They have a great big patio outside with fans so you can enjoy looking at the river. Food was decent elevated bar food. We enjoyed the salmon salad and much more! Our servers were also so attentive! And we were a fairly large group. read more

Ivar's River Pub - spinach salad with added salmon - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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We had the best Memorial Day here! They were busy and yet we still got the best service! Lloyd really took care of us and made our experience! Couldn't recommend this place more! read more

Went on April 12 2025 The place was hopping but we were seated quickly Our service was stellar and we LOVED the fact that you could watch the river and chill It is kind of loud but not too bad The FOOD was AMAZING Hot and Delicious Definitely a return destination read more

So delicious! Go hangout with Kelly. She is the best. The crawfish was delicious from here. I look forward to the next weekend that they serve it! read more

Ventured away from New Braunfels for a change and found this great pub right on the San Marcos river. We shared the goat cheese crostini - delicious - as a snack. Payton took great care of us! read more

Ivar's River Pub - View of the San Marcos river from the restaurant's outdoor seating. Gorgeous! - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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If I could do no stars I would. Waited almost 45 minutes for food on a non busy day. Drinks had no alcohol and instead of just correcting it, the server took it personal and blame the bartender on it being his first day. Food tasted like bar food, over seasoned turkey, burger was bland. Then we waited almost 30 minutes after we were done with our meal to just pay out, mind you she was everywhere on the floor, talking with coworkers and hanging out around the bar. Server had 4 tables and I feel like after I said the drinks weren't good she refused to check on us. Never got a refill on my water despite asking twice. Will never be back! This place has gone down hill. read more

The food here was delightful, the brisket was well cooked, seasoned perfectly, complimented by the cooked bun. The fries, oh my the fries were so good, crisp but soft as you bite into them as bbq fries should be. The pulled pork beans were the right amount of sweet and savory. That's the Brisket Bbq plate. BBQ Mac and Cheese was filled with flavor and the pulled pork was juicy and complimented the Mac and Cheese really well. Very fulfilling, portion was a good size. The ambience, we sat by the window facing the river, overall very relaxing. Not too loud today at least. Service is where they could have had us at 5 stars. Being in the food industry I know how it is, but come on, we were portraying very positive energy but it wasn't reciprocated, and I saw certain gestures that made me feel like a burden, although we were the customers. The server did seem to be working hard though so all is well. read more

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The fried pickles are delicious, perfectly breaded and cooked. The Ivar Trio is amazing, queso, salsa and guacamole. Queso is excellent as is guacamole. Good salsa. Chips were great reminded me of El Fenix in Dallas. I had cheese steak sandwich and asked to add jalapeños. A bit stingy on them but a damn good sandwich! Others in my group got burgers. All said they were great. Another got meatball sub, another winner. This is definitely a great place to have lunch. We will be back since we just dropped off our youngest for school. Go Cats! read more

Came in town for our girl's Texas State graduation that wkend and ate here. It was good. The queso is delish!! I got the seafood (fried catfish and shrimp plate). My shrimp were fried nicely but my catfish was fried hard and greasy tasting. But overall, it was nice. Great view! Right on the river! Try them out if you're in San Marcos or near by. read more

Food was okay. We had the "homemade" meatballs and chicken parm. Chicken parm wasn't even flattened out, was just a huge breaded breast. Cheese was not melted & sauce tasted like it came from a jar. Meatballs did not taste homemade. I also had a margarita, it did not taste too much like a real margarita, seems like a miss for Texas. Don't expect the greatest food here. Service was also a bit slow, but they did seem pretty slammed when we went. read more

The food and the service are outstanding! The view onto the river is awesome and overall a great place to spend an evening!