You MUST go here!! Don't even keep thinking about it just go! The food and service are on point but the ambiance around the river is very cool. You feel like you are in the river because it's right there. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Hush Puppies are delicious! - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Drove in from San Antonio to meet halfway with my brother coming from Austin, good middle point. Location is great with the river-view off the patio seating. Simple dining room setup has a bar feel to it with regular tables and bar seating. Melissa took care of us and was good to make appetizer & entree recommendations. We opted to start with burnt ends & brisket nachos that she said were both popular. Burnt ends were had really tasty teriyaki based BBQ. Some pieces were more lean and some were more fatty, which isn't my personal preference. Brisket nachos were simple but tasty. Recommendations for dinner ranged from BBQ plates, pulled pork sandwich & others but opted for the blackened salmon with mashed potatoes & broccolini. Did not regret the choice. Service was nice, quick & attentive for refills throughout the meal. read more

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I ordered the seafood platter and it was delish! Location and vibes are both great too. They also have nonalcoholic beers/cocktails to choose from. Would definitely go back. read more

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

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Holy shit I've been here for 2 hours and gotten no food, must've ordered an hour ago. I have a fan blowing right into my ear the entire time. My waiter forgot to give me a straw. This place fucking sucks, don't come here. I'm only staying because this smoke show walked past my table read more

Ivar's River Pub - No food - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Amazing food and service it was also kid friendly ! There was a photograph that took our picture and gave us the picture for free. Was a lovely evening read more

The food was absolutely fantastic!! The Queso Con Pico Cheesesteak is a must! Lydia was always checking in on us and always making sure drinks were full. She really set the vibe of our dining experience. Will come back again!! read more

Sorry for the poorly lit pictures. The flash on my phone refused to work with me. I came here with a few friends for some food and drinks. We had a lot of fun. I would say that I wish that the lighting was a bit brighter. There was music playing and people dancing, so the atmosphere was lively. The bread pudding was absolutely one of the best desserts I have ever tried. 5 out of 5 for sure. The place was packed when we were there, but our waiter JoMack was a complete rock star! Several other wait staff seemed to be moving at a snail pace, but our waiter was everywhere constantly. He was funny and personable, and I would probably go back just to see him again. He was great with our group, and we really appreciated how kind he was. read more

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I never gave Ivar's much thought. I did not have great expectations for this place. But boy was I wrong! We went on a Sunday. It was 68° after being in the 30s and 40s for over a week. We sat out on the deck and we could see the world was alive again with everybody in the park and in the river. We started with an old-fashioned, which was really good. We had the fried mushrooms and the burnt ends. Both were amazing. The fried mushrooms were the best I ever had. The outside was nice and crunchy, but the mushroom was not at all mushy. Was perfect. The burnt ends were just as good. I forgot to take pictures of our meals so shame on me. I got the macaroni and cheese with the brisket and barbecue sauce. It was better than I could have ever expected. The combination sounded great but the flavors mixed so well. I would dip a piece of brisket in the sauce. Someone else at our table mixed the barbecue sauce with the whole dish. My husband got the turkey dinner. The only criticism I will have is that I believe it was smoked turkey, which we are not a fan of, but he still enjoyed his meal. The service was was great. I just can't wait to go back and try another dish. I think the next thing I'm going to try is a Burger. read more

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Great atmosphere, great food, service was friendly and helpful! The only thing was that there were some flies flying around I would still go again! read more

Every time I visit the San Marcos river I always see people enjoying themselves here and I finally decided it was my turn to try it out! Ivar's offers a beautiful view of the river and if you're lucky you'll catch a gorgeous sunset! They have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Immediately upon arrival we got seated, and our sever Nick was awesome! The menu has all sorts of food options from breakfast, pastas, burgers to BBQ! I chose to go with the blacked chicken pesto. It was good but a little on the dry side for me, I wish they had added more pesto sauce. The star of the show was the BBQ brisket Mac and cheese my boyfriend got. Oh my god it was delicious, I wish I would've got that instead lol! I don't like bbq sauce so I was so happy they brought it on the side and not on the meat already. If you're ever at the San Marcos river give this place a try you won't regret! read more

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Nice ambiance, good is mediocre. One thing I can't stand is the electronic paycheck at your table and the waiter stares at you when you are leaving the tip. Especially when it starts with 18%. read more

Worst experience I've ever had, terrible wait staff and a 2 hour wait estimate that changed every 20 min. They don't take reservations so unless you're willing to wait 2 hours don't go here. read more

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

The staff, fun homey atmosphere and events are so great. The paint parties, karaoke and Water Safari are just some. The food is really good. My favorite is the Blackened Salmon. Puppers are welcomed outside and the river views are so pretty. read more

Ivar's River Pub - The koozie that doesn't quit. - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Bolognese was pretty good. Didn't see any pictures on yelp yet. Happy with everything we ordered read more

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

We haven't eaten here in years and couldn't wait to visit. Burgers were good, food came out fast. Our server was Nick and he did a great job! Can't beat views of the river too! read more

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

Came for dinner, would probably come back for lunch and the view. Place was full of college kids, servers were college kids too. Service was sketchy, she checked on us once but we had to ask for refills and the check, I am sure she is used to the college atmosphere where they at, talked and drank but we wanted food and to be on our way. Really wanted to try the BBQ turkey, but they were out so we settled on other meats. Sausage was super spicy and it was tough to cut with a serrated knife, but not bad. Mac and cheese was good, beans not so much. Table next to us sent back a dish for being undercooked but they made the apology and took it off the bill with a replacement meal. Overall this seems more like a pub but no sports on the many tvs, just the "happy tv" videos of animals and pottery and such. Would be better for sports watching if that is an option or lunch on the river. read more

Ivar's River Pub - From the Pit Sausage, Mac & cheese and baked beans - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

This was such a great find for someone coming in from out of town. First the location is stunning. Not in a beautiful Van Gogh way, more in a outdoorsy way. You have to sit outside to enjoy the pretty views of the river and people watch the people fishing, canoeing and playing in the river. It is such a picturesque scene, I think most people will find it charming, except for maybe locals. Service was efficient and fine. I didn't have a problem with it. I came in with a major like migraine or some time type of low sugar issue and had my head down and ignored the waiter. I felt like crap. However, the guy carried on like a champ. I was told by my friend what to order, so I don't feel like I'm about to fall into the river and never be seen again - starch with sugar if you're curious specifically the donut holes. We got a variety of appetizers and it was all so scrumptious even for me who vacillated between my stomach hurts I feel horrible to oh I'm so hungry. I loved the food. The goat cheese. The fact the water tastes fresh and not straight from the river. All of the food was so good and the donut holes - the thing that made me a bouncy happy human with color in her face - that was all well worth it. I think when you combine the food, service, and outdoor scenery it makes for a great stop in the San Marcos area. read more

If you love cheese... Get the fried Goat Cheese ball! Tons of flavor and the bread served with it made it even better. Located on the river, so perfect spot to eat after floating. No swimwear attire allowed so bring a change of clothes. Menu Prices are affordable with a wide beverage selection. Parking is available but kind of a weird lot. Service was quick. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Fried Goat Cheese - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Great views. Service is fantastic. Drinks are on point and you can't go wrong with anything in the menu.

I was traveling and we decided to stop here for dinner. The view is fantastic and I would highly suggest sitting outside for whatever meal you're going to be there. We ordered a few appetizers like the nachos. I ordered the fried catfish Poboy with fried shrimp. The food came out very fast. Overall it was a decent Poboy. I felt like there was a lot of bread and it overpowered the sandwich. The sandwich comes with a slaw but it was pretty dry for my taste. It was hard to taste anything but the bread. The baked beans were very yummy. The potato salad was delicious and filling. I would absolutely recommend this restaurant, but I would try a different entrée. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Po Fried Catfish Po-Boy - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I came in last Friday with a friend for dinner before going to the bar. I arrived before my guest at 7:15 PM and was quoted a 20 minute wait for a table outside on the deck. Once we were seated, the server approached our table in about five minutes. We placed our drink, appetizer and main course orders at the same time. Appetizer Ivar's Trio- the guacamole for this app was fresh but lacked flavor. It seemed as if the cilantro, cayenne, lemon/lime were all missing. This part of the appetizer was simply avocado with Cotija cheese and diced tomatoes. The chips for this dish were store bought and not fresh. The salsa was fresh but when the other two large elements of the app. were such a let down, it left much to be desired. Pesto Chicken Sandwich- The sandwich was as described but the establishment had no French bread and therefore it was served on Texas toast. One Meat Plate- My guest had this chopped brisket and described the meat as being salty. The potato salad side tasted like the store-bought HEB brand. I sampled the brisket and agree it was heavy on salt and not the best showing of this item. Dranks- The frozen Crown and Coke flight was a little sweet as it relates to the cherry flavored shot. This shot in particular was more like an artificial wild cherry flavor floating a top the drink (not my favorite). The other shots in the flight were sweet but not in a manner that was off putting or a manner that would make a guest pucker. Overall, the service was great but the food had too many misses for me to rate this visit any higher than a 3 (and this was a stretch). If anything, this is an okay place to visit if in the area and if you want to see folks act a fool in the water. If looking for a 5-star dining experience, this is not it, but if you want okay food at a fair price, come on in! read more

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I love the location. It's a landmark restaurant that serves tasty food and has a great patio view of the river. Keep it going.

Judging by how many billboards we passed along I-35 South, Ivar's has built up a following in San Marcos. While the location is prime, the food is average, at best. Pulling in around noon on a trek down to San Antonio, the place was packed with a long wait for a table. No matter: there were plenty of seats at the bar. The menu was pretty standard: burgers, BBQ, and some heavier dishes. I went with a chopped brisket sandwich, which came with sides of potato salad and slaw. The brisket was well seasoned and not over smoked, but buried with a too-sweet sauce; the slaw was completely bland though the potato salad was nicely creamy. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Chopped brisket sandwich - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Happened to be celebrating in San Marcos and Ivar's seemed like the right atmosphere for a celebration! It was! Drinks were frozen or icy and all the right summer flavors. Our server was very attentive and offered suggestions that were spot on. There were extra folks who bring out drinks or food, so we were never left with an empty glass or plate. Food was exactly as promised and super yummy! We chose: Burnt Ends app - pork belly, not brisket, which was surprising (the menu says pork belly, so we weren't surprised when it arrived at the table; I'd just never heard of pork belly burnt ends); anyway, they were deliciously sticky and sweet-salty with lots of good smoke flavor. The slaw underneath provided a little bit of crunchy fresh under that sticky sauce, but otherwise didn't add any flavor (didn't need to, to be fair). Goat Cheese Crostini app - This is a scoop of creamy goat cheese topped with a big ole scoop of bacon jam, surrounded by toasted rounds which are drizzled with balsamic glaze. There is EVERYTHING to love about this app . . And we did. Daily Special Brisket Smashburger - Yep. Stinkin' yummy! Just the right combo of greasy and crispy smushed up with some Swiss cheese and grilled onions. Pro Tip: ask for an extra little cup of the Smash Sauce to dip the fries (and the sandwich). You can thank me later! Brisket Mac-n-Cheese - this dish usually comes with pulled pork, but we took the $2 up charge for bbq brisket. It was creamy and rich and would have been just as yummy (maybe more!) with the pork. You do you! Pecan Pie Bread Pudding - FYI, we brought home leftover food. We had Zero business ordering dessert! But we simply could not qualify as celebrating without trying this indulgence! It did taste just like pecan pie, but with soft yummy bits of cinnamon-y bread all in it. Served warm with whipped cream--I would have preferred ice cream to cut the richness a little. Otherwise very good. Bottom Line, Ivar's has a fun, casual ambience, terrific view of the river, and you will not be sorry about your meal! We'll be back! read more

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Great food and service at very reasonable prices highly recommended eat there and enjoy the river read more

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

we had lunch there today. Excellent food and service. Brisket sandwich, blackened chicken & sliced brisket platter were all really good. Outlaw beer $2 a pint is a winner JoMac, our server is 5 star!! The location on the river just added to the great food and service thank you The Gavins From florida read more

Had a wonderful stop here while my girlfriend and I were shopping at the outlets. I've spent 18 years in the service industry and Reilly, our bartender, did a fantastic job. Very hospitable and efficient. We'll be returning next time we're back in San Marcos. read more

Service and ambience are exceptional. Food is very good! This is a restaurant you keep on your list!

With today being a beautiful day outside, and family from out of state visiting, a cousin suggested Ivar's for us all to meet. Her being a Texas State alum, she assured this place was real good. Taking her word for it, I loaded up and made the trip up from New Braunfels. Upon arrival, I met them deck outside. The deck was perched atop the San Marcos River with a beautiful view. As we met our guests, fried pickles had just arrived at the table. Shortly thereafter, a waiter arrived and provided us with menus and took our drink orders. The wife, kids, and myself perused the menu, while we waited for our drinks. The menu was two sided and had some really good dishes listed on the menu. Full disclosure - any time I go to a bar and/or pub, my expectations for food are low, as most patrons go to bars or pubs to consume alcohol. Food quality does not usually factor in the equation. That being said, I was not expecting to be wowed. In good time, the waiter returned with our drinks. The wife ordered nachos, my daughters ordered chicken strips and mac and cheese, and I ordered the Queso Con Pico Fried Chicken. I substituted baked beans for my green beans. My cousin said my dish should be nothing short of amazing, and it was her go to dish while in college. The fam and I enjoyed a very nice visit and enjoyed the scenic view that was paired with an absolutely beautiful day. In good time our food arrived. My dish was placed in front of me and it looked amazing. My wife's nachos did not look very appealing, my daughter's chicken looked typical for a kid's dish, and my other daughter's mac and cheese looked amazing. This was shaping up to be a great meal to complement a great visit. My first bite, a disappointment. Every bite thereafter, equally disappointing. The breading was overabundant, and the chicken was dry. The queso blanco that topped the breading was blah, and heartbreaking. The mashed potatoes had a funky texture and were bland. The baked beans, however, were very tasty. I did not bother trying my wife's nachos, but I did see that my daughter took one bite of her mac and cheese and pushed it away. I stuck my fork in and tried them for myself, and they were terrible. No cheesy gooey-ness, and no flavor. The meal overall was a let down, but as stated in my disclosure, I did expect it. I was just hoping that this would be the one place that would surprise me. Our waiter was awesome and kept our drinks full, and got us anything we needed. Not one complaint about the service. Undisputedly, this was a great place for a visit and the views. It could have also been great for drinks too, however, we were not here for that. Would I recommend here? Eh, maybe. Depending on your reason. For food, not at all. Drinks and a visit, sure. Enjoy! read more

Ivar's River Pub - Queso con Pico Fried Chicken - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

I've been here several times. The food and service is usually phenomenal. Today I had the con pico queso chicken. Think chicken fried chicken with queso. read more

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Everything was great. Food and service were top notch. We would highly recommend a visit!

Great food, drinks, & service. Lovely views of the river and a great spot for a date or to relax and people watch. Inside has AC outside has plenty of shades, fans and outdoor cooling. Pet friendly!! read more

This restaurant is really nice and offers a lovely riverside view while dining. We walked in and were greeted by a friendly hostess, and she got us seated right away. Being our first time here, we weren't quite sure what to order for an appetizer, but took the chance and ordered the Cajun fried pork cracklin and boy were we happy we did! They serve them warm with a delicious aioli sauce to dip them in and OMG is it good! I only wish I had ordered some TO GO! Oops, I forgot to snap a picture of them too before we inhaled them all! My daughter and her BFF ordered and split the Smash burger which was the Special of the day, they both agreed that it was the best burger they have had while in SANMO! They both said that it had the best "cheese pull" ever! My husband ordered his favorite at any place he goes to, he had the seafood platter. He said it was delicious. He was pretty quite while eating, so it must've been good! I had the Queso con Fried chicken breast and I must say, it was really very good! The mac n cheese could've used the same queso they used on the chicken to add a bit more flavor, but it was good too. Overall, we will be back again! Sitting by the river and enjoying a good margarita while in San Marcos is everything you could ask for. read more

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Great food and great service. We had the brisket nachos, Cesar salad and smothered chicken. Everything was amazing! The patio was so dog friendly, we will definitely return soon! read more

Great ambiance and views. Service was great. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. And food is great. Our second time coming. First, to drop our daughter off when she started as a freshman @ Texas State; now we are here celebrating her graduation ‍ read more

Great setting , right ON the River! They are dog friendly and they have daily specials, including drink specials. The river view is so relaxing. The food came out hot and prepared perfectly. Service was good as well. read more

Ivar's River Pub - Patio visitor! - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Two out of three toilets in the women's bathroom were stopped up. I told the staff. She said, "I know." There was no air conditioning on a Texas summer night. It was cooler outside than inside. I don't even know that it's legal to serve food in a place that hot. The sliced brisket I ate was so old the texture was like beef jerky. The bartenders were meh. The one saving grace for this place is trivia that plays on the TV. The time I had with the people I met was great. Overall, I wouldn't come back; but if I did: I definitely wouldn't eat. read more

Woah!! This food is AMAZING. The service and the view are great as well! They are decorated nicely, clean, and VERY friendly. We loved everything we ordered. read more

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I really loved this place...where else can you sit outside and dine in front of the clear New Braunfels river and watch people enjoy the river. The place itself is well kept and very clean. The amount of patrons enjoying themselves speaks volumes of how much this place is conducting there business. I would definitely come back but I think I would come back during the sunset hours and just enjoy the great outdoors... read more

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Stopped in with my husband and son yesterday for a bit of birthday fun. I just wanted a cocktail and some nachos close to the water. Our young server was very pleasant and his service was on point even after we moved ourselves to a table that looked directly out over the water. I got a margarita drink flight just to get variety and we ordered the brisket nachos. The strawberry margarita was very sweet and probably dangerous as it didn't taste like any alcohol so that would kind of sneak up on you, if not careful! The mermaid margarita was sweet but not overly so. The lime margarita was ok but the mango (which I would never have ordered) turned out to be my very favorite. Our nachos came out looking amazing. Sadly, the brisket tasted just like liquid smoke and really ruined the nachos. Everything tasted like liquid smoke. We were pretty disappointed with the nachos but the margaritas, the service and the view were priceless. read more

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