The Hot Box BBQ

8.25.26. What a delightful find. A sweet, country market--and a small deli. We got the amazing Tri…read moretip sandwich only available in the summertime, I believe. We visited here after Armstrong Redwoods nearby. So many fun gifts and games for purchase. Quiet rooms with some people working on laptops. Very helpful and kind workers.

The family and I were in the area and were looking for a spot to eat. 2 of us ordered the Italian,…read moreone the smoked turkey and one the tri-tip. Everyone was happy with their sandwiches, the ingredients seemed of high quality. My wife was raving about the bread and pesto on the smoked turkey. My son said the tri-tip was a 5/5 and my other son and I enjoyed the Italian sandwiches. They didn't skimp on the meat, the roll was nice and soft, and the pepperoncini's were a nice touch. Ordering was easy. You get a pager to let you know when your order is ready. The cashier was really friendly and helped to get our order right. The decor is cool, farmhouse type look. I would stop in again if in the area.

The Farmhand Russian River views Dec 2024

Hot pastrami sandwich!

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Relaxing views!

boon eat + drink

4.3(1.1k reviews)

0.3 mi

We love Boon! We have been going to boon for years and it holds such a special place in our hearts…read more It's often a place where we gather for date nights, anniversary dinners and special occasions!! We cannot recommend Boon enough for anyone who may be traveling in or even locals who are looking for a locally owned restaurant. Their menu changes often and it is always a joy to see what new dishes they have each time we dine in. Their staff is incredible and the servers are great at making suggestions. The best of the best!!

As someone who has been coming here very frequently for 10+ years and called this my favorite…read morerestaurant, I have to say i'm super bummed by the changes with the chef and menu. Not only were staple long-term vegetarian dishes removed from the menu (polenta lasagna), those that remained were absolutely butchered. The vegan bowl used to be fresh produce from the garden with an incredible sauce that had depth, now it is a tasteless $28 vermicelli bowl that a child could throw together in under 5 min.. Extremely over-fried tofu, no sesame ginger sauce to be found and just a dollop of chili oil on 1/10th of the noodles. The cauliflower appetizer was completely bland and it was very unclear whether it was supposed to be raw or cooked.. We come here (often bringing friends with us excited to share the spot), because it's always been consistently amazing and a good balance of meat and veg options, but it doesn't feel like the new chef is concerned with pleasing the veg customers (though even the presentation on the meat/fish dishes we saw looked messy and unappetizing compared to the past). We gave feedback (out of care/concern, not as "karens") to those who know us there and are hopeful that they'll be heard. We're going to give boon another chance in a few weeks, but i'm not feeling too hopeful after being told we aren't the only regulars feeling the effects of the kitchen changes.

Interior

Cioppino

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Cauliflower with sriracha vinaigrette

La Bodeguita Panino

4.7(28 reviews)

0.4 mi

La Bodeguita Panino is an amazing restaurant and hidden gem in Guerneville. The restaurant has…read morepressed paninis, soups, salads, and other amazing dishes. The Tiramisu and New York cheesecake looked amazing on their website, although we were too full to get any desserts, although maybe next time. We were warmly welcomed as soon as we arrived and everyone working there was friendly. The service was excellent. The portions were generous, which was nice as well. I ordered the eggplant panini, which came with a side of fries or a side salad. The eggplant panini was fresh and delicious. We both loved our meal. My husband got the chicken parmesan panini and loved it as well. Highly recommend when in Guerneville.

I stopped in for a quick meal after a long day of hiking. The food was delicious (egg parm laz), it…read morewas reasonably priced and the service very efficient. I recommend as a clean, casual restaurant with delicious food.

Menu as of 7/29/26, pricing may be different

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Turkey prosciutto panini, side fries

Baked on the River

4.3(220 reviews)

0.5 mi

We always loved stopping there for a danish or brunch - especially on our way to Bodega Bay - when…read morethey were located right off River Road. Now that they have moved to the 3R Hotel with a dinner menu, we wanted to go check them out. They did NOT disappoint. There were 5 of us and every single plate was amazing - definitely all were 5 star meals! We also had dessert and, just like always before, it was incredible. We had the bread pudding and the strawberry crisp. Both were worth coming back for. Also, we thoroughly enjoyed the live music by Jeremy Lipson. What a great guy - very personable, welcomed requests, and his voice and talent were beyond good. Needless to say, we had a wonderful evening and will definitely be going back there again and again. And no...we are not affiliated with this restaurant in any way. I am just stating an opinion! Sorry, I forgot to take pictures, but I sure wish I had done so because the presentation was also beautiful.

Amazing brunch experience here! Super friendly female server - detail oriented. I had to try the…read moresalmon chowder, which was outstanding that was rich, but tanginess to balance it. My son had the Swedish pancake, and it was delicious too. My picky husband LOVED their biscuits & gravy. He said that dish was "elite" with perfectly smooth gravy (unlike some restaurants that serve grainy gravy). Inside was cozy & welcoming with lots tables. We'll definitely revisit in the future.

Garden butterfly

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Blueberry Blast

Piknik Town Market

4.3(55 reviews)

0.3 mi

Piknik was formerly known as a different restaurant on the main drag of Guerneville, but they are…read morestill serving up awesome biscuits as well as a great selection of gourmet snacks and beverages. Piknik is mostly known for great coffee and biscuits, including biscuit sandwiches and other scrumptious pastries. We tried a few things, which included the banana bread, a biscuit breakfast sandwich, and a few coffees. I was very impressed by the biscuits. The texture is great, and the crunch on the outside is perfect. The sausage, egg, and cheese were a great complement. The coffee was good. My grandma enjoyed the cappuccino, which she often says is difficult to prepare properly. The banana bread was also impressively moist, even after a few days, as we ate it for breakfast during our trip. The staff here was super nice and hospitable. I enjoyed the ambiance, too. Piknik is both a cafe and a market, so they have lots of great gifts to browse as you're waiting for coffee and food. Certainly worth a stop for a quick breakfast if you're in Guerneville.

One of 2 breakfast places open before 9am, Piknik acts like it... I completely forgive a long wait…read morewhen busy. AND I expect to get my food correctly when I do finally receive it... Got the turkey sandwich and it was a travesty. I had no idea it would come hot-- that should be noted. I told the cashier I was packing it with me for the river. I don't want sticky Dutch crunch bread and HOT lettuce... I guess my bad for not asking. But then the turkey... one single sad slice running the length of an 8" piece of bread. For $16. Absolutely absurd. I only waited as long as I did to get a premium sandwich. After all that, they didn't even wrap it to go and I had to plop the sticky mess into a box myself. Thanks. Giving 3* because they have cute snacks/drinks and the smoked salmon and biscuit for the "Sea Biscuit" were well done. It didn't have the promised shallots though, and all the capers were concentrated in the middle. Not a super pleasant surprise. Don't offer food you can't make correctly while busy. And fire that blond guy who was walking around like he'd never seen a kitchen before.

People watching is pretty dang good in Guerneville.

Breakfast burrito.

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Equator coffee for the win!

Korbel Delicatessen & Market

4.2(189 reviews)

1.6 mi

This was my second visit to Korbel, and it is a quintessential stop while in the Guerneville area…read more The vibes are perfect. Inside and outside seating in and around the beautiful property of the Korbel winery. There are heaters on the patios for cooler weather and water/bussing stations spread throughout the complex. The sandwiches and deli options here are top-notch. The Legacy was perfect, filled with tender tri-tip. The Vintner is filled with delicious chicken salad, and you can't go wrong with any of their bread choices. Best of all are the scrumptious dessert choices. The carrot cake was great, but the dream bars were truly dreamy. The service was great through and through. All around amazing stop for lunch, very reasonable prices, and a must-visit spot in Guerneville.

It had been a while since I've visited this Market/Deli. Our friend chose here to celebrate her…read morebday after a great hike at nearby Armstrong Woods. The grounds here are always quite lovely and a pleasure to walk past the gardens & nice redwoods to get to the deli. It was quite a bit busier than we had anticipated. It seemed that perhaps they were shortstaffed or not expecting so many people to stop by. We waited in a line to place our order- two of us decided to do the salad sampler. As it was my friend's birthday we ordered a bottle of their brut rosé. When the bubbles arrived, even though the bottle was in an ice bucket, it wasn't properly chilled. We had a glass, but were unable to finish it with the tepid temperature. As we still had almost half a bottle left we asked for a cork or some kind of stopper to bring it home. We were informed they have no such thing. I can't understand how a Winery wouldn't have a spare cork. We ended up passing on the bottle to a group of men having lunch. One friend thoroughly enjoyed the Caesar salad. The two of us that had the salad samples were somewhat disappointed. It seems I had the very last of the pasta salad so my friend was unable to get hers. Upon trying the salad, It had a very strange taste that I couldn't quite figure out. I had both of my friends taste it and they agreed it had a bit of a chalky flavor. Thankfully, when I brought this to the attention to the staff, they were able to let me switch it out. As I mentioned, it was maybe busier than they had expected and were disappointed that they were all out of water as we had just hiked 5 miles in warm weather. Additionally, when we arrived, the Deli was already out of two salads. The outdoor setting is absolutely lovely and adds a big bonus to a dining experience here. We ordered a slice of cake to share to celebrate a birthday and unfortunately, it was on the dry side. Because it's such a beautiful setting and we're guessing they were short staffed I'm rating this a 4 star experience and hoping that at a future time we will be more impressed.

Something for everyone.

Legacy sandwich and broccoli salad (@_emwong_)

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Trillium Winebar & Taproom

4.7(44 reviews)

0.3 mi

Super cool spot for drinks and apps located on the main drag in Guerneville…read more I visited Trillium for their afternoon Happy Hour and sat at the bar. What a cool spot to sit! You get to watch all of the action in the open kitchen from the bar. I loved watching staff shuck fresh oysters and prepare the other tasty dishes here at Trillium. I don't drink, but luckily, Trillium offers a great alcohol menu and a small NA section. The NA Rose I ordered was very tasty. I didn't splurge on any bites, but everything I watched come out of teh kitchen looked fantastic, and the happy hour deals are a steal! The service was great all the way through, and I just had to order a slice of the fresh coconut cake to go. It was creamy and delicious with tons of coconut flavor. Just a side note- this is not a spot for kids. I am glad I visited on my own. Great spot in Guerneville, very popular for HH and worth the visit for sure!

Delicious experience. I was greeted wonderfully and sat at the bar. It was really cool to seee the…read morecooks make the food in front of you. Enjoyed two glasses of Chardonnay with some Oysters which were delicious. Had the garlic bread which was a filler. And the shrimp ceviche was a little spicy but overall good flavors.

Outside

Cool open kitchen concept

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Dawn Ranch

4.1(198 reviews)

0.5 mi

•$$$

All I can say is WOW. From the food to the hospitality to the attention to detail I'm in complete…read moreawe of my experience. I came in for my birthday with a group of girlfriends who all have varying dietary restrictions and we felt so taken care of and that the service team was highly attentive and aware of our needs throughout dining. I couldn't recommend this place enough, my mouth is still watering over the dinner we had and can't wait to return soon.

We had an incredible anniversary dinner at The Lodge at Dawn Ranch. From the moment we arrived, the…read moreatmosphere felt warm, intimate, and romantic. The perfect setting for a special evening together. The food was outstanding, beautifully prepared, and every dish felt thoughtful and elevated without being pretentious. What truly made the experience memorable, though, was the exceptional service. As a transplant recipient, I have dietary restrictions around raw foods and fish, and the kitchen was incredibly accommodating. They graciously modified and reworked certain dishes so I could fully enjoy the experience without feeling limited, which meant a lot to us. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and cared for throughout the night. Their attention to detail and genuine hospitality made our anniversary feel truly special. Thank you to the entire team for creating such a memorable dining experience. We're already looking forward to coming back.

Receiving area

Basque cheesecake

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Homemade sourdough bread

Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint

4.5(370 reviews)

0.7 mi

I came here with a group of 12 to celebrate my birthday. Advanced reservation is highly…read morerecommended. We had a reservation for 7:30pm and we never felt rushed even though we were the last diners. The restaurant closes at 8pm. Saucy Mama is The best soul food restaurant in the area. The owner, Yvette is super sweet. The food was excellent food, so many choices and so many great deals! $5 margaritas! $5 espresso martinis! 5 riblets! $70 platter for 2! What a deal! Service was generally great. There was a mix up with our drinks and some items took longer than others to come out but we didn't mind. There were several birthdays celebrating that night and every one of them were celebrated by every staff with music, singing and clapping. (It was the longest birthday song I've ever had lol). Even though it was the end of the night each staff made an effort to come out for mine which we all really appreciated. We can't wait to return! We had so much fun and enjoyed everything!

It's a busy place! The wait time were a bit longer however you could see the staff working…read moreefficiently. When you did have their attention they did not rush you or seem like they were thinking of a million things. They were amazing. The food tasted homemade. Like a family potluck because some of the food items were amazing like the hush puppies, ribs and hot links. Other items- like the Mac and cheese- left quite a bit to be desired. The restaurant itself was very on theme as far as I could tell, I'm from the East Bay so I don't know a lot about Jook Joints. Otherwise no outside seating which is understandable given their location. I wish them the best and will add them to my list of must visits when I come back!

Interior decor

Dinner for 2 set menu

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Arnold Palmer

Main Street Bistro & Piano Bar-Cabaret

3.5(566 reviews)

0.4 mi

Awesome place with good music. My order got messed up one busy night and they compensated me above…read moreand beyond and I appreciate that so much. Cant recommend them enough.

Burger and pizza were good More vibe and ambiance with the…read moremusic Pizza always was good

New York Cheesecake w/ Strawberry Compote

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Hot buttered rum and tequila sunrise

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4 reviews that are not currently recommended

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Mark S.

18

15

7

3 years ago

Tucked away by the Playland golf course, you'll find the gem that is Hotbox BBQ. It may seem an unusual spot, but every bite of their succulent ribs and explosive Volcano Sandwich proves it's worth the trip. Were this marvel parked at a more central location like the Safeway lot, it'd be swarmed with patrons daily. This inspiring, YouTube-taught, barbecue wizard deserves nothing less than five stars! read more

Greg A.

0

4

2

11 years ago

Just ate there. .. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with pickles, pineapple and chips. I received a sandwich with pineapple no chip no pickles. I think they pick and choose what they want to give you. I guess having a streetcar they can determine what they want to give you. I won't be back . They charge $10 for a sandwich, the pork was good but the service and attitude sucks. read more

Lovesweets G.

53

57

24

9 years ago

Great sandwich good mix of flavors.and the guy was friendly.parking is not good.I will be back.

William E.

0

9

0

1 year ago

very good I would recommend the Maui waui shits gassssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

The Hot Box BBQ - sandwiches - Updated September 2026

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Guerneville Taco Truck

(405 reviews)

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A Guerneville institution!…read more The Guerneville Taco Truck is an amazing spot to grab some very tasty Mexican food, including tacos and classic Mexican hot dogs! The service is great, and the guys on board this food truck will get you hooked up for some very reasonable prices. Be aware: cash only! While the tacos are great and loaded with protein and classic toppings, the Mexican hot dog is one of their specialties and very tasty! It's also a fantastic value. The ambiance isn't much as it's a food truck in a grocery store parking lot, though they do have a few picnic tables available. This is a great spot to grab and go and eat at home. I saw another review about the food not holding up if you take it away, but I completely disagree with that! Great stop if you're visiting or passing through the area!

We were driving thru Guerneville and saw this Taco Truck in the Safeway parking lot. We kept…read moredriving cause we planned on eating In N Out. ... but instead we banged a uey. I'm so glad we did. I ordered the classic - Beans, Rice, and Cheese or BRC for short along with a Mexican Coke. I also tried the green hot sauce which was just the right amount of spice. Service was friendly and fast and we popped up around lunch time and as we were waiting for our food, we noticed it became busier. So perfect timing for us! Nothing too romantic surrounding the truck, I mean, you are in a parking lot but there was a nice picnic bench with some shade from a large tree. I would def. stop by again without hesitation.

The Farmhand

4.4

(288 reviews)

8.25.26. What a delightful find. A sweet, country market--and a small deli. We got the amazing Tri…read moretip sandwich only available in the summertime, I believe. We visited here after Armstrong Redwoods nearby. So many fun gifts and games for purchase. Quiet rooms with some people working on laptops. Very helpful and kind workers.

The family and I were in the area and were looking for a spot to eat. 2 of us ordered the Italian,…read moreone the smoked turkey and one the tri-tip. Everyone was happy with their sandwiches, the ingredients seemed of high quality. My wife was raving about the bread and pesto on the smoked turkey. My son said the tri-tip was a 5/5 and my other son and I enjoyed the Italian sandwiches. They didn't skimp on the meat, the roll was nice and soft, and the pepperoncini's were a nice touch. Ordering was easy. You get a pager to let you know when your order is ready. The cashier was really friendly and helped to get our order right. The decor is cool, farmhouse type look. I would stop in again if in the area.

Baked on the River

(220 reviews)

We always loved stopping there for a danish or brunch - especially on our way to Bodega Bay - when…read morethey were located right off River Road. Now that they have moved to the 3R Hotel with a dinner menu, we wanted to go check them out. They did NOT disappoint. There were 5 of us and every single plate was amazing - definitely all were 5 star meals! We also had dessert and, just like always before, it was incredible. We had the bread pudding and the strawberry crisp. Both were worth coming back for. Also, we thoroughly enjoyed the live music by Jeremy Lipson. What a great guy - very personable, welcomed requests, and his voice and talent were beyond good. Needless to say, we had a wonderful evening and will definitely be going back there again and again. And no...we are not affiliated with this restaurant in any way. I am just stating an opinion! Sorry, I forgot to take pictures, but I sure wish I had done so because the presentation was also beautiful.

Amazing brunch experience here! Super friendly female server - detail oriented. I had to try the…read moresalmon chowder, which was outstanding that was rich, but tanginess to balance it. My son had the Swedish pancake, and it was delicious too. My picky husband LOVED their biscuits & gravy. He said that dish was "elite" with perfectly smooth gravy (unlike some restaurants that serve grainy gravy). Inside was cozy & welcoming with lots tables. We'll definitely revisit in the future.

Three Cultures Kitchen

4.5

(42 reviews)

Wonderful fusion of interesting flavors. This is not a burrito bar. It is much more elevated. Great…read morestaff. 100% worth the money.

Three Cultures Kitchen is fantastic. This new-ish, family-owned eatery is unique and delicious!…read moreStart with Sopes, get the Mole Negro Chilaquiles and the Chili Relleno. The refreshing Horchata de Cantaloupe drink was awesome! (The entire menu is excellent.) Great service too. Located at 16218 Main Street in the heart of downtown Guerneville where Road Trip used to be. Open for lunch and dinner Thursday- Tuesday. Check them out for late night tacos Friday and Saturday 10pm - 12am.

Genero’s Delicatessen

4.7

(37 reviews)

We ordered the Pool Boy and the Dottie & both were the best sandwiches I've ever had! What a…read moreperfect addition to the Barlow- and such an amazing family owns this gem! We can't wait to go back and try all the sandwiches on their menu.

It was a little tricky finding this place. It is a little hole-in-the-wall among other…read morehole-in-the-wall eateries in the busy, busy Barlow. On Yelpers' recommendation I ordered 2 turkey Po'boys for my wife and myself. (I was told by the clerk that they are their most popular item... no dout there.) I also got 2 "half-pint" potato salads and 2 artichokes, all to-go. I noted that there was no seating in the deli itself, just abundant umbrellaed tables outside. The wait was not long. When we ate them at home, my wife said it wasn't worth the price... We both agreed they baked a mean baguette. They came double wrapped, which is good because they were messy to eat. My wife said there was as much "shredduce" (new valid term for shredded lettuce) as turkey. I agree. The added hint of potato chips was interesting. My wife said we wouldn't be going there again. (She's the boss, so again I agree.) The potato salad was $5 for a few morsels. It was heavy on fresh fennel, which was different and good... but pricy. We have yet to try the $6.50 each marinated artichokes. So 4 stars seems apt.

Saucy Mama’s Jook Joint

4.5

(370 reviews)

I came here with a group of 12 to celebrate my birthday. Advanced reservation is highly…read morerecommended. We had a reservation for 7:30pm and we never felt rushed even though we were the last diners. The restaurant closes at 8pm. Saucy Mama is The best soul food restaurant in the area. The owner, Yvette is super sweet. The food was excellent food, so many choices and so many great deals! $5 margaritas! $5 espresso martinis! 5 riblets! $70 platter for 2! What a deal! Service was generally great. There was a mix up with our drinks and some items took longer than others to come out but we didn't mind. There were several birthdays celebrating that night and every one of them were celebrated by every staff with music, singing and clapping. (It was the longest birthday song I've ever had lol). Even though it was the end of the night each staff made an effort to come out for mine which we all really appreciated. We can't wait to return! We had so much fun and enjoyed everything!

It's a busy place! The wait time were a bit longer however you could see the staff working…read moreefficiently. When you did have their attention they did not rush you or seem like they were thinking of a million things. They were amazing. The food tasted homemade. Like a family potluck because some of the food items were amazing like the hush puppies, ribs and hot links. Other items- like the Mac and cheese- left quite a bit to be desired. The restaurant itself was very on theme as far as I could tell, I'm from the East Bay so I don't know a lot about Jook Joints. Otherwise no outside seating which is understandable given their location. I wish them the best and will add them to my list of must visits when I come back!

boon eat + drink

(1.1k reviews)

We love Boon! We have been going to boon for years and it holds such a special place in our hearts…read more It's often a place where we gather for date nights, anniversary dinners and special occasions!! We cannot recommend Boon enough for anyone who may be traveling in or even locals who are looking for a locally owned restaurant. Their menu changes often and it is always a joy to see what new dishes they have each time we dine in. Their staff is incredible and the servers are great at making suggestions. The best of the best!!

As someone who has been coming here very frequently for 10+ years and called this my favorite…read morerestaurant, I have to say i'm super bummed by the changes with the chef and menu. Not only were staple long-term vegetarian dishes removed from the menu (polenta lasagna), those that remained were absolutely butchered. The vegan bowl used to be fresh produce from the garden with an incredible sauce that had depth, now it is a tasteless $28 vermicelli bowl that a child could throw together in under 5 min.. Extremely over-fried tofu, no sesame ginger sauce to be found and just a dollop of chili oil on 1/10th of the noodles. The cauliflower appetizer was completely bland and it was very unclear whether it was supposed to be raw or cooked.. We come here (often bringing friends with us excited to share the spot), because it's always been consistently amazing and a good balance of meat and veg options, but it doesn't feel like the new chef is concerned with pleasing the veg customers (though even the presentation on the meat/fish dishes we saw looked messy and unappetizing compared to the past). We gave feedback (out of care/concern, not as "karens") to those who know us there and are hopeful that they'll be heard. We're going to give boon another chance in a few weeks, but i'm not feeling too hopeful after being told we aren't the only regulars feeling the effects of the kitchen changes.

Handline

3.9

(768 reviews)

The best! I love it…read moreso much I always take a photo of my table With the assigned service number!!!

Always a good time at Handline, the food is amazing and they have a great outside so i can bring my…read moredog. I do find it annoying that they charge for everything, if your taco comes with a sauce but you want a little extra there is a charge for it.

Russian River Pub

4.1

(497 reviews)

Good food great service from Wendy Like the outside picnic…read moretables The green salad was really good

Friendly, welcoming staff in a rustic setting. Had been misled by someone's review photos to think…read morethere was a view of the river from the outside seating area. There isn't. We ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, onion rings, and an order of fish and chips, alongside two flavored lemonades. Chicken was unremarkable--unseasoned, not marinated; unfortunately a bland and slightly tough piece of chicken. Came on a nice brioche bun with the caramelized onions being the best part of the dish (and meal). Our fish and onion rings were overly greasy. The fries were tasty and seemed fresh but unsalted and wilted beneath the fish and could have been crispier. My partner thought the sweet flavored lemonades were from a mix and there was no pulp. No pics. Seems the de rigueur order here is chicken wings, which we don't order. Would be a great place to hang with friends for drinks and conviviality; very casual vibe. But foodwise, our experience was very middle-of-the-road.

Iggy's Burger

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