I went to The Riv Bar after my first official shift as Drywall Captain. My arms were full of joint compound. My soul was humming with gypsum. I just wanted to have a drink, get to know my new surroundings, and maybe not think about the mattress I abandoned in Stony Rapids that still visits me in dreams.
The beer was cold. The music was fine. But then… the floor shifted.
At first I thought it was just the bass. But no—the carpet rippled like it was made of hot gravy. A man in a reflective vest walked by holding a snow shovel full of mashed potatoes. I asked if this was normal. He nodded solemnly and said, “Only on Tuesdays.” It was Thursday.
I sat at the bar and ordered a second beer. The bartender handed me a glass that was already half full of regret. I drank it anyway. Suddenly, the pool table split open, and out crawled a raccoon in a tuxedo who challenged me to a thumb war and whispered in Latin. I declined. He respected that.
A woman with no shoes and a karaoke machine sang “Total Eclipse of the Heart” backwards. People clapped. Someone threw toast. I still don’t know where it came from. My table vibrated. A lemon rolled across it. I felt seen.
I went to use the bathroom, but the hallway was gone. In its place was a fog machine and a door labeled “Not Yet.” I took that as a sign.
Eventually, I paid my tab with a five-dollar bill and a drawing of a chair. The bartender accepted it without blinking and gave me a receipt that simply read: “You were here. You are still here. You may never leave.”
3 stars.
One for the beer.
One for the toast.
One for the raccoon, who I think is now my emergency contact.
Would I return? Probably. But not sober. And not alone. The Riv is not a bar. It’s a test. Pass or fail is up to you.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
Dwayne Buffett
This is my favourite lunch spot. Best steak sandwich in Saskatoon hands down and cooked to perfection or I think Colleen beats the cook! I often take my wife, my staff and visiting sales reps . Never disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
David Wollman
Nice place for breakfast. I would recommend it to anybody 👍🏼
Brandi Abele
Used to be a very nice, higher class family restaurant. Now - a bar with a very rough reputation for sketchy clientele, but relatively cheap prices. Just so you know what you are getting. This area of Saskatoon used to be rather nice, but the area character is changing generally, especially around Idlewyld Drive.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Braden W
Went here with my girlfriend a few months back and got discriminated against. Being First Nation and all we had to prepay our meal because we weren’t regulars.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Michael Hunter
The food was delicious and the service was better, I can't wait to come back for more!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Laura Marshall
the food and service both excellent I would absolutely go back because the entire experience was amazing and highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Johnny McCallum
I lost $200 playing slots
Donalda Lozowchuk
I would like to thank the staff of the Riv for making mine and my daughter's birthday party the best. Also, a shout out to Joslyn for hosting the karaoke ?. Our party had the greatest time which we will talk about for years. The food was soo good, we all enjoyed what we ordered. I speak for everyone in saying it was a positive experience. Thanks again to the amazing staff.
Dietary restrictions: My husband has a dairy allergy which the staff took I to account.
The food was fantastic as usual! Service is excellent. I truly like this place, and I will come back again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Richard R
Tremendous service food was great homemade from scratch good value for money first time being here very good atmosphere here playing pool drinking coffee on a saturday night and everyone is drinking coffee and singing karaoke! Good people good food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dean Linton
This is a nightclub/karaoke bar. It can be a rough bar at times, but it is just an urban bar. Drunk prices are cheap!!!
Riv rev it's a new rev thorton sakebow new owner
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went to The Riv Bar after my first official shift as Drywall Captain. My arms were full of joint compound. My soul was humming with gypsum. I just wanted to have a drink, get to know my new surroundings, and maybe not think about the mattress I abandoned in Stony Rapids that still visits me in dreams.
The beer was cold. The music was fine. But then… the floor shifted.
At first I thought it was just the bass. But no—the carpet rippled like it was made of hot gravy. A man in a reflective vest walked by holding a snow shovel full of mashed potatoes. I asked if this was normal. He nodded solemnly and said, “Only on Tuesdays.”
It was Thursday.
I sat at the bar and ordered a second beer. The bartender handed me a glass that was already half full of regret. I drank it anyway. Suddenly, the pool table split open, and out crawled a raccoon in a tuxedo who challenged me to a thumb war and whispered in Latin. I declined. He respected that.
A woman with no shoes and a karaoke machine sang “Total Eclipse of the Heart” backwards. People clapped. Someone threw toast. I still don’t know where it came from. My table vibrated. A lemon rolled across it. I felt seen.
I went to use the bathroom, but the hallway was gone. In its place was a fog machine and a door labeled “Not Yet.” I took that as a sign.
Eventually, I paid my tab with a five-dollar bill and a drawing of a chair. The bartender accepted it without blinking and gave me a receipt that simply read:
“You were here. You are still here. You may never leave.”
3 stars.
One for the beer.
One for the toast.
One for the raccoon, who I think is now my emergency contact.
Would I return? Probably. But not sober. And not alone.
The Riv is not a bar. It’s a test. Pass or fail is up to you.
Atmosphere: 3
Service: 3
This is my favourite lunch spot. Best steak sandwich in Saskatoon hands down and cooked to perfection or I think Colleen beats the cook! I often take my wife, my staff and visiting sales reps . Never disappointed.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nice place for breakfast. I would recommend it to anybody 👍🏼
Used to be a very nice, higher class family restaurant. Now - a bar with a very rough reputation for sketchy clientele, but relatively cheap prices. Just so you know what you are getting. This area of Saskatoon used to be rather nice, but the area character is changing generally, especially around Idlewyld Drive.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 3
Went here with my girlfriend a few months back and got discriminated against. Being First Nation and all we had to prepay our meal because we weren’t regulars.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
The food was delicious and the service was better, I can't wait to come back for more!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
the food and service both excellent
I would absolutely go back because the entire experience was amazing and highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
I lost $200 playing slots
I would like to thank the staff of the Riv for making mine and my daughter's birthday party the best. Also, a shout out to Joslyn for hosting the karaoke ?. Our party had the greatest time which we will talk about for years. The food was soo good, we all enjoyed what we ordered. I speak for everyone in saying it was a positive experience. Thanks again to the amazing staff.
Dietary restrictions: My husband has a dairy allergy which the staff took I to account.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Fish and Chips
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was fantastic as usual! Service is excellent. I truly like this place, and I will come back again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Tremendous service food was great homemade from scratch good value for money first time being here very good atmosphere here playing pool drinking coffee on a saturday night and everyone is drinking coffee and singing karaoke! Good people good food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is a nightclub/karaoke bar. It can be a rough bar at times, but it is just an urban bar. Drunk prices are cheap!!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Not a place for children
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Loved it
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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