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    The Riv

    3.3 (48 reviews)
    InexpensiveSports Bars, American
    Open • 6:00 pm - 2:00 am (Next day)

    The Riv Photos

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    Steve P.

    Greatest dive bar in East Lansing! The Riv is known for Burgerama, which is every Thursday afternoon, which they have specials on beer pitchers and burgers. Burgerama will be filled with drunk college kids. The beer selection is limited to 10-12 taps, but they have something for everyone. In recent years they've seem to get rid of waitstaff and everything is ordered at the bar. The food is actually decent at the Riv, which I'm impressed. Their Burger menu has really stepped up its game! The bar does smell of stale beer, but it's a great place to go before a game.

    Odd use of space

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    17 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    18 years ago

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    7 years ago

    Rama is fun but not when you wait 3 hours only to have the bouncer let his friends in over you

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - The Riv

    Review Highlights - The Riv

    “While Thursday nights are the best nights to go, it can get very crowed, and there may be a large line.”

    Mentioned in 8 reviews

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    Dagwood's Tavern & Grill - bacon burger

    Dagwood's Tavern & Grill

    3.9(152 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    •$

    I have enjoyed Dagwood's for nearly 60 years. As an MSU student, I thought it was a very "classy"…read morejoint back then: Michelob on tap and beer mugs that had a unique handle; a curve connected at the bottom with a gap of about half an inch at the top. Big time, baby!! In those 58 years, the exterior has not changed except for a patio on the back side. The men's room is really small; much like Texaz Grill in Phoenix!! No door on the toilet stall to this day. Seating area has same setup; booths and tables appear to have been replaced over those years. Dagwood's offers 10 or more draft beers today. The classic MIchelob is absent. I had ham and bean soup, cheeseburger and fries. The soup is homemade and just what I wanted. Burgers are all smash-style; cooked to order and still juicy. To me, the fries are the hit; hand-cut fresh potatoes fried to order and great! Saturday afternoon was a little spotty but they got the job done. Dagwood's is a classic college dive bar with good food cooked behind the bar for all customers to see.

    I can remember the first time I was here back in 1992 (yes, I'm old), I don't think I ever had a…read morenon-fast burger before, but I can tell you without a doubt this burger single handedly changed the meaning of my existence. Fresh meat, flat top grill that has been well seasoned over decades (I'm assuming it's not new) of use. I think one of the reasons I've been so thrilled with the recent smash burger uprising is because they remind me so much of these style of pub burgers. Coming back 30 years later, I can't say that much has changed. The burger was still delicious, the service was still solid and if you love dive bars and old classic pubs as much as I do, the decor was solid and pleasing. You get what you see here, there is nothing fancy, but everything is great. If you love burgers (or wings which are also yummy but drumstick style) this is an absolutely underrated spot to get a basic bacon cheeseburger and fries. As you can imagine, they have a good selection of beer and liquor along with tradtional pop. Can't wait to come back and get another burger soon.

    Photos
    Dagwood's Tavern & Grill - Showing off the kitchen

    Showing off the kitchen

    Dagwood's Tavern & Grill - Cheesesteak, American Deluxe Burger with Fries

    Cheesesteak, American Deluxe Burger with Fries

    Dagwood's Tavern & Grill

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    The Riv - sportsbars - Updated September 2026

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