Today my Mother and I went to Grins for some onion rings and a cheeseburger. We had been once before and enjoyed the experience. Today's visit did not disappoint. Bobbie, our server, we very friendly, attentive, & altogether helpful. Our food was fantastic!!! I look forward to coming again. read more

Grins Restaurant - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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Average food. I don't think the air conditioner worked. The service was good, though.

The food is good the wait staff do their job, BUT THERES NO AC IN THE TEXAS HEAT, Never been to a restaurant where I sit there and sweat!!! I wouldn't eat here except in the winter read more

Came here for work. It's a nice place with friendly staff and cheap drinks!! We had a large group and had the never ending chips and a salsa which was good. read more

I went to dinner at Grins last night (02/20/17), and I can say I have experienced much better places to eat in San Marcos and will more than likely not return to Grins again. I had never been, and all my friends spoke highly of the place, so I took some out of towners. It took about 5-minutes to get drinks once they were ordered. It took another 15-20 minutes to get our waitress to come back and take our order for food. Then it took about 45-minutes for our food even to arrive. There was a table with seven people next mine that also had seven people. They ordered after we did, and received their food before we did, and finished their meal before we even received our food. I asked the waitress for my son's food because he was hungry and I was told, his grilled cheese isn't ready yet. Well, how long does it take to make a grilled cheese sandwich? It came out 5-minutes later so apparently 35-minutes. I didn't even touch my food, just boxed it and left. Never again. read more

Me and my boyfriend went here today for lunch, it was my first time despite living here for a few months now. I got the chicken fried chicken with Mac and broccoli, it was pretty good and the portions were great. Only thing I have to say is the broccoli was a little bit too mushy for my liking but maybe that's just how I like my broccoli haha and the chicken needed some more flavor but all was well because they had seasoning salt on the table. My boyfriend had the jalapeño popper burger with onion rings. He loved it and kept insisting I try his food. I'm aware they're famous for their onion rings but besides the size they taste like any other in my opinion. Staff was nice and the place was clean. Will come back soon. read more

They should rename this place Frowns. The food was not good. Who serves margarine these days?? Gravy was poured over a gluten free entree. BEWARE. It was very hot inside also. Miserable experience. read more

Sure, it's a 5-star restaurant based on what it is. I'm not comparing it to Delmonico. Our party of three was seated promptly and our server was soon taking our drink orders. I also ordered some onion rings at that point. Drinks were delivered promptly and entrees were ordered. Not long after, a plate of HUGE O-rings sat in the middle of the table. They were hot, fresh and tasty. That's all I was looking for. The meals we ordered were chicken fried chicken, chicken fried steak and Chicken Monterrey. They were delivered in a reasonable time and all were quite tasty. The kicker, for me, was that they seem to have my grandmother's recipe for green beans. I don't often rave about the veggies, but get these if you're there. If you don't like them, call me and I'll come eat them. Prices were quite reasonable. It's troubling, though, how many reviewers seem to go there expecting a Patron margarita for a dollar. Get a clue,cheapskates! read more

The menu was pretty diverse and if you're looking for a vegetarian inclusive restaurant this is a good spot. We sat outside and they do a good job of hiding the busy street feel. Although it took 15 minutes for a waitress to take our order and my food came out wrong i just chalk it up to having a bad waitress And not blaming the restaurant. The food was good the service was just subpar read more

Great food and service. I especially like the crispy chicken buffalo ranch sandwich. The number 8 Berger is also quite good.

The service was great, great music and atmosphere. We had lunch around noon. There was no wait. I ordered the blue cheese burger. Wow! Delicious, juicy and the bacon was thick and crispy. The ranch dressing on the salad was delicious. read more

We got takeout and the food was hot and fabulous..and the girls that work there are awesome!!!!!

Waited longer than 20mins for someone to take our order. The food was awful, no favor. Girls serving tables were all rude and bitchy. Would not recommend anyone to come here. read more

Zero stars because after 30 minutes my parents and I couldn't even put a drink order in. Left and went somewhere else

There was a huge bug in my burger. After noticing it, all my friends and I stopped eating. The manager still made my friends pay for their meals. Never going back!! read more

Possibly one of the worst eating establishments in San Marcos bar none. It's a SYSCO food establishment, so nothing on the menu is original. The staff is vapid, the hiring of waitresses, obviously sexists (no waitress above 125 lbs and in short shorts/ low cut shirts, no male waiters). Now I'm no prude, but it's obvious when the ladies are advised to dress a certain way, or at least when that culture is evident. The menu is is extremely boring and somewhat over priced for the type of food you receive. It's burgers, chicken fried steak, cob salad, yawn. A lot of awkward space in the restaurant, needs to be redesigned for better flow, table placement. The decorations are sad ugly dusty hats of various kind. There's no theme to the restaurant, is it purposely made to be boring. I go here and immediately feel miserable. I've been here more than once and I always said I will never go back. Last time I went was because Thai Thai was closed and I couldn't think of another place to eat. There was a fly in my water and the restaurant was filled with flies that day (this is inside, not on the balcony/deck). The waitress said she's get me a free dessert, I said how about chips and queso since they were the same price, and she said she didn't think her manager would allow that. My hamburger came, thin and gray- yellowish iceberg lettuce. Fries were as pale as a full moon, obviously out of the bag SYSCO type fries. It's simply dumbfounds me how such an establishment with a great location and nice balcony/deck can fail. Bad food, bad service. Anyone who actually likes this food would give a five star rating to a hot pocket. If you like to contemplate suicide, think about the problems of humanity or harp on the problems of this country, go to Grin's, only there you will see it's much worse. read more

Grins Restaurant - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Having lived in San Marcos for quite a while, Grin's is a place I've been to a few times. I was always told the food was bad, so I stayed away from it, only ordering drinks whenever I went. I had a few friends heading that way for lunch today so I decided to tag along and check it out for myself. The booze is always decent here. $5 buckets of Coronitas and $1 frozen margaritas make that department a little easier on the wallet. They also have a decent patio for those nights where it's just too nice to be inside. The service is also usually pretty good. The place is well stocked with pretty, young Texas State students who tend to do a lot better than your common student waitress. The service is much better than a Bikini's or similar place. The problem I have with this restaurant is that the food is pretty terrible. We got "the triple dipper" for an appetizer. It is tortilla chips and a combination of salsa, queso and guacamole. The chips were decent but it was like $7 dollars (which I thought was a little pricey.) I orded a burger and fry for my meal, the perfect litmus test for any traditional American restaurant, I didn't get to pick my cook temp option, but I made a few customizations to the burger and sent in the order. The food came out relatively quickly (about 10-15 mins) and we dug right in. The burger was decent but very sloppy. I thought the patty was a little bland, probably made of low quality meat. They slopped on the bbq sauce pretty hard (probably to cover for the bland meat.) The fries were TERRIBLE. Generic bag fries that tasted like sticks of pure starch. Bland and disappointing, I could only choke back a few (and I LOVE french fries!) When all was said and done, I didn't finish the burger and I didn't touch the fries. I was so unimpressed with the food, I didn't even want to bring it home. That's kinda saying something. If my friends were all coming here for some drinks, I'd probably join them. If they were coming for lunch/dinner, I would make like a red state and "opt out" of their program. Nothing I would be interesting in doing again (unless it was free.) read more

Honestly, I don't think San Marcos would be the same without them... Essentially part of the fabric of this college town, this greasy spoon is a must. No, it's not the greatest burger you'll ever have... Or even the greatest onion rings even though they are monstrous, but they're not bad... And San Marcos just wouldn't be San Marcos without grins read more

Well, I can sum up my Grin's experience really quickly for you: Been once. Not going back. Hair in the batter of my chicken finger. Vomited in the parking lot just thinking about it. No lie. Plus, the service was slow and inattentive; the decor was depressing and musty. I did, however, enjoy the company of good friends. But that good company and I will certainly be dining elsewhere. read more

Why does this place exist? It's misery dressed up as a restaurant. Pros: It's air conditioned Cons: The food is not good - I feel like I can make everything on their menu at home. It's odd because when the food comes out it doesn't look half bad but when you actually try to eat it, that's another story. I had 3 bites of my food and gave up. If you sit outside you will get attacked by mosquitos Wait staff is inconsistent read more

Went in for dinner and drinks. I noticed walking in there was a sign taped to the door informing customers that out-of-state ID's would no longer be accepted as proof of age. Thought it seemed extreme, but didn't give it a second thought. Turns out someone in my party had an out-of-state ID. Without looking at the picture or the age, the server wouldn't accept it. She didn't examine it for authenticity or take any further steps to corroborate identity. What's worse, she didn't ask for an alternate drink order, she just brought them a water. There are other establishments in San Marcos that work around the out-of-state ID situation (which isn't a crime by the way, so it's pretty harsh of Grin's to treat non-Texans as if they're trying to get away with something) by asking folks to show a credit card with their name on it. This ban on ID's seems an extreme policy that I'm sure will prevent people from coming to Grin's. Aside from all that, the food is okay-ish. Nothing to write home about. Service wasn't great, either. Won't be back until that sign comes down. read more

Happy hour, every hour is the best part of this place. Waiting staff are friendly, but the food is not worth the money. The environment and the theme is neat. Good place for drinks, not a meal. read more

$1 frozen margaritas at happy hour. 8] Okay, so they're likely made with a gross, syrupy freezer mix, but Grins is not shy with the tequila and, I feel, hits the mark they're aiming for--cheap food and good times for college kids. Grins is not fine dining--frozen and fried food--but here $3 can make for a pretty happy happy hour. Vegetarian? Hearty brocoli & cheese soup, hand-battered jumbo onion rings, and ye faithful veggie burger w/ all the toppings win for best veggie faire here. read more

This is good, cheap Americana cuisine, from the Shinerbock battered chicken fried steak to the huge windmill fan in the foyer. I was satisfied with my burger which had grilled bell pepper and pico with jack cheese. The side salad is nice as well with their homemade southwest vinaigrette. Thank you for crunchy, delicious romaine instead of horrible, watery, boring iceberg. They also serve homemade rolls. The happy hour kicks ass, cheap cheap drinks Mon through Thur 2-close and Fri Sat 2-10. 99 cent margaritas and sangrias, and 2 bucks or less for imports and domestics. I was impressed to order a strawberry margarita that had real strawberry puree in it. Super sweet and pretty weak, but c'mon, it's 99 cents. Service was attentive, but it was a late lunch and the place was empty. Opt to sit on the patio, if the weather is decent. read more

Driving back from San Antonio to Austin on Memorial Day today we took a detour through San Marcos specifically to stop for burgers at Grins. I've been eating here for over 20 years and my wife (TSU Grad) for over 30. Today it was just me, the kids and their grandmother. We were not disappointed. The burgers were great. The weather was perfect and we had a nice shady table out on the deck. Perfect. That's not to say that there has never been a disappointing visit to Grins - it can be hit or miss sometimes - but the satisfying visits far outnumber the mediocre ones, and we always go with the right set of expectations. I think some of the reviewers miss the point of this type of restaurant. We don't go there for great food. We go there because it's a really cool, fun place to eat where the food is more than adequate. It has a great mix or students and boomers, often at the same table. Wait staff is mostly college students, usually upbeat, friendly and competent. It just has a good, down home vibe. There is nothing quite like it in Austin, so sometimes we like to just take a drive down to San Marcos to eat there - just because. Or we stop in when we're driving IH35 through San Marcos anyway, like today. Or we loop back through when coming home from a visit to Wimberley. If you've never been, give it a try. read more

So when I was in high school (2000s) our UIL coach brought us here after our competitions. I liked it so when I attended college here I would bring my parents and it was good. Well now Im working and am sad to say its not as good as it once was. i got fish tacos and they were so gross I couldnt finish them. Did not have friendly service either. Will not go back again read more

We stoped into Grins the night before touring Texas State. Wow! As a gluten sensitive person, I can tell you that their fajitas on corn tortillas were THE BEST I'VE EVER HAD!!!!!! Grins is now at the top of my list in San Marcos. Plus, the waitress was outstanding! She wanted to make sure we were pleased with our food!!!! read more

I heart Grins. Maybe it's cause I have had my favorite company every time I go, but I LOVE this place. They have the BEST cheeseburgers! With a good portion of cheddar cheese and perfectly cooked bacon, I eat till I feel like a tick on a hound! I prefer to go on off hours due to the place being so freakin busy during lunch and dinner times. The waitstaff has always been so friendly and attentive. Any waitress that can spend 10 minutes conversing about tattoos, is a good enough for me! It also helped that she checked on us perfectly! I hope to go back many more times. read more

Grins is true to classic San Marcos. They have good food, a great and friendly staff, and are accommodating to large groups. As an alumn, I have a special place in my heart for establishments that have been there before the big San Marcos boom, but I always appreciate establishments that work so well with larger (teenage) groups because they are not always the easiest! I will definitely be back! read more

We used to eat at Grin's fairly frequently during our days at SWT. Now, every time we're back in San Marcos, we stop by. The hand-breaded chicken fried chicken is great, and they have some of the best gravy you'll find. The chicken fried steak is decent, though my last one was overdone. Thankfully the gravy helped me finish every bite. My wife likes the southwestern chicken salad, if you're looking for a lighter dish. Be warned that the lot parking, while ample, can get pretty steep. read more

Took a trip from Austin to San Marcos yesterday to get some Manske rolls at Gil's and decided to stop at Grin's for dinner. We got a table immediately and a waitress came quickly to get our drink orders. We decided to get the 7 oz. burger combo, as a friend said they were good, and I asked if I could substitute onion rings for french fries with the combo. My waitress said sure, that there would be "just a small upcharge." The burgers came. It was okay - a little dry, and the bun was way too big for the patty so there wasn't a good burger-to-bun ratio which I find very important. Our waitress never really came back and I had to flag her down to refill our iced teas. The problem came when we got the bill and instead of a "small upcharge" for the onion rings, we were charged for a half order at $5.79. So all in all, with my burger and the order of onion rings, my meal cost over $15. Definitely not worth the price. We were ready to get out of there and head to Gil's for Manske rolls so we paid the bill without causing a stink, but we won't be going back to Grins. read more

Have been here many times and have enjoyed every waitress. Today we had a great waitress Hailee. The grilled chicken was recommended by our waitress and I would definitely recommend. Our food cane out quickly and hot the chicken was amazing! Our waitress was very helpful and friendly. Great atmosphere and felt very welcomed by waitress and all staff. read more

Grins oh Grins. You have a way of drawing me to your $1 margaritas time and time again. I like to stick to appetizers that compliment my sangria margarita nicely. The artichoke dip, salsa, queso or chips are always winners. Entree wise, hmph. Well you can never go wrong with their hamburger or chicken fried steak or chicken. The waitstaff aren't always the most attentive but last night we had Megan Havener and she was one of the best waitresses I've had (not just at Grins). Carly Watkins is also really great but other than those two, I feel like the girls serving me are annoyed when and seem to hate their job. Of course I'll be back, how can one say no to $1 strawberry, sangria or original margaritas and laid back atmosphere? read more

The staff and atmosphere are always exceptional and make for a good experience. I've been here a handful of times (3) However every time I leave feeling a bit dissatisfied. My friend had mold on her Turkey Bacon Sandwhich (I uploaded just now to yelp) which is mortifying for an operating restaurant. If you want cheap food and good deals, by all means go here. read more

Grins Restaurant - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

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I enjoyed my experience at Grin's primarily bc of our waitress Lo. She was amazing! Loved her. We had a huge group and she handled us so welllll I rated them 4 stars bc the food is meh but I do love grins and their happy hour! read more

Confession time: I love Grins. (Also, I always call it Smileys on accident.) When to go: After you float the river and you're famished What to get: A burger, a sandwich, a baked potato. I don't really care what you get. Nothing is spectacular, but everything I've had has been good (except the $1 margarita...but it was $1, so no complaints) What's good about it: It's cheap! And it's local to San Marcos. I always try to eat somewhere I can't eat at home if I'm visiting some place, and this fits the bill. Maybe I've got this wrong, but I think it's a big Texas State place, and I think it's fun to check out college places. What to expect from the staff: I've always had decent, friendly service. It's usually college kids, and they do a good job. read more

5 stars for happy hours prices until midnight The Shiner Chicken Fried Steak rocks. read more

Grins is a good place to go when in San Marcos because they have options for everyone. Now this place is your typical beer & burgers joint.. but has grilled chicken and healthy options sprinkled in. I normally get the grilled chicken w/ grilled onions & mushrooms, with mashed tators & steamed broc. The plates aren't expensive and they have awesome .99 cent margeritas!!! Their hot sauce & chips are decent and though.. the guac is no bueno. They do take bobcat bucks and so this place is normally filled with tons of students. The customer service/waitresses are completely young folk that go to the college. Even though this isn't the top place in SM, I still think there is a sense of Bobcat pride in this place (maybe it is just me??)... They get busy on Sundays after church, but don't normally have a huge wait. I plan to eat here a lot more once I am in San Marcos for school. The quality of food is good enough to keep my belly happy :) oh and.. average ticket for two people with drinks is a little over $20.00 bucks. read more

Place wasn't all that everyone says it is. Fries sucked. We got the fish tacos and they wee horrible. We went for the margs and. Damn. Come on man. Those sucked as well. Nothing was really good about this place in all honestly. Save your money and go someplace else. Yall win on view though. read more

Grins Restaurant - Worlds biggest onion rings - American Near Me - San Marcos, Texas

Went there yesterday and tried the lunch special, chicken fajita pita with a side of caesar salad and it's not good. The food is very bland, I wish the vegetables in the pita were sautéed to give it some depth, the 6 slices of chicken breast is dry and bland. The best things about the lunch: the pita by itself and the server did an excellent job checking in on us. Grins needs to update their menu and please season the food. read more