River Street Ale House

Bar, Eatery

1575 River Rd
Pittston, Pennsylvania, 18640-1324
United States

// CLOSED //
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.38
Reviews:
15
Ratings:
15
pDev:
8.22%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Ratings by cooch69:
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Reviewed by cooch69 from Pennsylvania

3.85/5  rDev -12.1%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4
River Street is a bar that brings back memories. One of my firsts.
It has a decent tap selection with around 12 or 15 rotation drafts with a few goodies tossed in there. There bottle selection was pretty good the last time I was there. They had a few crafts from Italy which is'nt something every craft bar has. Altogether probably around 100 or so bottles.
The food was always pretty good. They had a good crab sandwich and tuna steak.
The atmosphere is a bit laid back with a pretty big wrap around bar and a bunch of tables on the right. Some entertainment such as a pool table as well.
Nov 30, 2010
More User Ratings:
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Reviewed by VegasBill from Nevada

3.53/5  rDev -19.4%
vibe: 3 | quality: 4 | service: 2.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4
This is my first trip to this bar, the atmosphere is like zero, not cold in any way but not inviting or warm, zero.
Beer selection on the other hand is very impressive, both tap and bottle. I tried to have a few things that I do not get much of in the west so I started with a Hair of the Dog Fred and followed that with a Three Floyd's Rabbid Rabbit, this was a mistake, I had not had this beer before and the malt and spices did not do it for me, oh well. For food I tried the Roasted Red Pepper Crawfish soup, I never have soup with beer but this time it worked out, it was very good. I also had the fish tacos. I have read that the "famous" chef left months ago, so I can not compare this to before but it was very good.
Service was not good. I arrived just after opening so the bartender was restocking the beer and had no time for me, so every time I needed her I had to call out to get her attention.
Jun 27, 2010
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Reviewed by skiofpinsk from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 5
I've been to this place for dinner several times, and every time it hasn't been that crowded. The place is very open, nice dim lighting, and does not have a ton of decoration, but that's ok by me.

The draft list is always amazing, and half of it is stuff I don't even recognize. Prices aren't too bad, and are much better during their happy hour. The bottle list is very extensive, but usually I don't even get around to looking at it.

The food is amazing, some of the best I've had. The last time I was there I tried the crab and artichoke grilled cheese, and concluded it was one of the best sandwiches I've ever had. Of course, with the unusual menu and the higher quality of the food, the prices are higher, but it is definitely some of the best beer and food you will find in the area.

If you're in the area or have never tried the place, go for it. It's well worth it.
Sep 13, 2009
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Reviewed by ClockworkOrange from Pennsylvania

4.3/5  rDev -1.8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I'll be honest, I've never been here anytime other than Friday happy hour for our beer club swap/tastings. The prices for happy hour are insanely reasonable. Recently, I had a shaker glass (around 14 ounces or so) of Founders Breakfast Stout for $2.50, a shaker of Bear Republic Racer 5 for $2, and a snifter of Oskar Blues Ten Fidy RIS for $2.50. The place is really great now that they have gone smoke free. The smoke was a big PITA for me in the past. The bottle list numbers into the hundreds. You will find something to drink here, no doubt. The food is rather eclectic (kangaroo cheesesteak anyone?), but very fresh, delicious and made to order. Just be warned though, a lot of the menu items are pretty pricey for a beer bar. The plating and presentation are wonderful as well. This is my go-to happy hour joint when in the area or meeting up with the NEPA ber club. Certainly worth a stop if you are nearby.
Mar 20, 2009
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Reviewed by krisandajt from Pennsylvania

4.58/5  rDev +4.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 4
Stopped in for the first time last week for a club beer split...and I was very very impressed. First impression...absolutely full parking lot (thank goodness we drove the SMALL car, otherwise we would have been outta luck), this place will be PACKED. Walked in, and it was certainly busy...but there was still lots of room to walk around, find a seat, even claim your spot at the bar (standing room only at the bar). Pleasant atmosphere that wasn't too loud and obnoxious but still let you know you were in a bar. Beer selection was great, both on tap and in bottle. Food was...different, but what I had was very good. My only complaint was the drive to get there, but after spending a good couple of hours inside...it was well worth it. I will absolutely be making the trek again.
Jan 29, 2009
Photo of beerpyr
Reviewed by beerpyr from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 4 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I really like this place mostly because of it's Friday Happy Hour (5pm-7pm) and also the fine staff. I was there as recent as last week. Service is always good and I have been going to the RSAH for years and have seen employees come and go and come back again, so forth and so on. To date, the bottle selection is great. Ask for the Bottle List. Food can be costly so watch out. Tap selection is on the mark for BA types. The only negative is dirty glasses. I have repeatedly noticed lip stick (not mine) and grease on allegedly clean glasses. I guess you can always bring your own favorite beer glass so as to avoid any problems. I don't wish to assign blame yet glasses must be sanitized properly every time. I would recommend the addition of a "busboy" who could take the glasses to an automatic dishwasher in the kitchen or hand wash the glasses in the bar area. There is plenty of parking and easy access in the lot. Be careful when you enter onto River Street as it can be tricky. Non-Smoking is the rule. The decor is pleasant. Seating has never been a problem in my mind. They do take dinner reservations. Enjoy!
Jan 09, 2009
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Reviewed by OKCNittany from Oklahoma

4.85/5  rDev +10.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 5 | service: 5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
Atmosphere was nothing special, but nothing to complain about either - except for the smoke. It wasn't terribly excessive, but I have very little to complain about here, so I need to pick on something.

Some might take exception to the speed of the bartenders, but considering what my friends and I were drinking (Stone Imperial Russian, Old Rasputin, Trappistes Rochefort 6 & 10, Weyerbacher Hops Infusion), we were much better off without being pushed by the bartenders to drink faster. That applies especially the friendly female bartender - so stunningly beautiful I doubt any of us could have said no to whatever she may have offered. The guys behind the bar were friendly as well & quite knowledgable about their beers.

Take away the 10 behind the bar, you still have the best beer bar in NEPA. There must be around 200 bottles & close to 20 on tap. Check the website for just a part of what they carry. It appears they rotate what's on tap quite regularly too - always a good mix of styles, including some hard to find brews & seasonals.

Not to be outdone, the menu (again, check the website for details) is special too - in both selection and quality. I haven't eaten in there very often, but everything I've had was wonderful.

Without question, this is the best beer bar in NEPA (and even if you could take only 25% of it, it would be the best beer bar in OK). I have only 3 complaints: 1) chilled glasses (not completely frozen, thank God), 2) you'll need a driver, and 3) the gorgeous bartender did not follow me back to OKC.
Dec 09, 2007
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Reviewed by number1bum from Pennsylvania

4.6/5  rDev +5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5
I've been to the RAHS countless times, as it is only about a mile from my house and the locale for our NEPA BC beer splits, but never reviewed. To put it simply, it's the best place to have a beer in NEPA and compares favorably with establishments in other cities, as well.

When you walk in there is a U-shaped bar to your left, and then to the right is a dining-type area. In the back are tables for your typical sit-down dining, and in the front are higher and larger tables for dining and spill over from the bar. There's also a pool table and a jukebox. The one thing I wish the RAHS would change is to make it a non-smoking establishment. It's often quite smoky in the bar area especially, and I always smell like an odd combination of smoke and food when I leave. But, you can't have it all.

The RAHS has 18 taps (I think), 4 of which are usually occupied by macros (although they consistently spell Miller Lite 'Light" on the beer menu, which I find humorous), while the rest are a constantly changing mix of imports and crafts. They move through stuff pretty quickly and there are always new offerings from one week to the next. They also have a kick the keg night on Saturday's to help move through stuff that is languishing. They do a nice job of keeping at least 1 or 2 seasonals on, and then there are always a few Belgian offerings, something hoppy, and just a nice mix in general. The one thing I wish they'd do is always have a Stegmaier selection, which they rarely do.

The bottle list is probably 150ish selections with lots of Belgian and other European representation, and then a lot of crafts, particularly local, as well. I usually go for what's on tap but there is usually something new in the cooler, as well. The beer is always fresh - whether its on tap or in the bottle - so quality is never a problem.

Glassware is pretty limited - either a brandy snifter for Belgians or a standard pint for everything else. The pints are chilled, as well, but they usually don't get too frozen because they clean and move through them pretty quickly, so it's usually not a problem. Sometimes it can water down the beer, though. They used to serve Belgians in larger, 12oz tulip glasses, but apparently the owner didn't think he was making enough on beer so they moved to the brandy snifters.

Service is great, although it helps to have 2 of the bartenders participating in our beer club/group. You never sit long without a beer, though. The food is very eclectic, with lots of interesting selections and specials, and it's also really good. Prices are very reasonable and Fridays from 5-7 are half price drafts for happy hour. Can't beat that!

What else can I say? This place rocks and if you haven't been there yet, you should get there soon.
Aug 27, 2007
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Reviewed by PAYankeeFan from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I can’t believe this exists in Pittston. They had a happy hour which didn’t seem to end with $2 micros (man, the Urthel Quad was good on tap after a Major Tom Pomgrenate). I met some great beer fans and we split a Southampton 10 and a Cantillon Iris. They had Rochefort bottles lined up by number.

There is a bartender named Teddy who helps keep the stock updated-he showed me BFM Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien and explained how it was made.

My wife swears her chicken soup with Dogfish Head 60 was to die for. Plus, we got to use their parking lot for case splitting. Cheaper than Cooper’s and more people friendly. It was an old VFW and has that type of bar while the rest of it was completely redecorated.

Beer is available to go as well. The menu is quite interesting too and the crowd seems like a good mix of friendly people and staff. I did find it hard to park as I rolled in with my SUV from the Poconos-next time I’ll bring the eco-friendly and smaller Toyota.
Jul 21, 2007
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Reviewed by kaskanak from Pennsylvania

4.83/5  rDev +10.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
My friends and I made the drive up this way for the beer festival, so we thought we'd explore the local beer scene. What a great place River St Ale house is! I can sum it up in 8 words:

Cantillion Lou Pepe Framboise Reserve 2004 on tap!

How did they get one of only 10 kegs in the country?!

Add in things on draft like Anderson Valley Deep Enders Porter, Gouden Caroulas Classic, Leffe Blonde and the remainder of the 20 or so great micros they had on...add in the great bottle selection they had with such things as Brooklyn Local 1, Fantome Chocolat and Rogue Monk Madness, Stone Imperial Stout....add in some of the most interesting food I've seen ( tuna that you cook on a hot stone at your table )...and we have a winner. This was by far our favorite beer bar in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton area. Great atmosphere, great tap selection, great bottle selection, delicious food and a staff that seems to really like beers and really understand what a beer drinker wants in a bar. My friends and I agreed we'd make the 2-hour drive and come back again some time soon. After some stops at some ofther dissapointing local beer bars, we thankfully ended our weekend at the best in the area----River St. Ale House.
Apr 17, 2007
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Reviewed by mymrnngjckt from Pennsylvania

4.45/5  rDev +1.6%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
I was there on the Saturday before Christmas. They had a great selection of draft but I stuck to the bottle selection including Troeg's Mad Elf, Victory Golden Monkey, Franzenkaner.

DFH 90 Min $4.00
Sly Fox Sasison 750ML $10.00
DFH World Wide Stout $4.00 (Yes. $4.00. It was a misprint on their Menu but they were selling them at that price. I only had one but bought two to bring home.)
Chapeau De Troch Banana $8.00

Overall - a great night. As usual the food was outstanding. The service was OK considering the place was packed.
Dec 29, 2006
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Reviewed by muletrane from Pennsylvania

4.53/5  rDev +3.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 5 | food: 5
This my favorite bar in NEPA hands down!

The beer selection is phenominal and the food is fantastic (I had the duck tacos with a bottle of Trappistes Rochefort 10 to drink...mmm!)

Nice cozy atmosphere with a nice pool table and dartboard and a great jukebox. Comfy barstools as well.

The sevice could be alot better I didn't mind the long wait for the food because it takes time to cook food to perfection, but it does take a long time for a waitress to come see if you need a refill or not.

I will keep coming back again and again. It is a beer lover's paradise for sure!!!
Nov 12, 2006
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Reviewed by stingo from Pennsylvania

4.03/5  rDev -8%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4.5
Visited the alehouse last night for the first time and had a very enjoyable experience. It has a nice local bar feel to it, with nothing too fancy in terms of decor, though I did like the tap handles displayed along the walls. The quality of both the beer and the food were superb. I started with a wonderful pint of Spaten O'fest - how I'd missed the style from last year. Then I followed up with a couple of pints of Stegmaier's Summer Stock Lager - gotta support the home team when you can, esp when the beer's good). Following that I also reacquainted myself with Weyerbacher's delightful Autumnfest. (Sly Fox's Rte 113 IPA was also present, as was Magic Hat's 9, Echte's Kriekenbier and a few others, along with the standard macros). Moving to bottles, Sly Fox's Saison Vos was excellent and the server suggested a biere de garde previously unknown to me - Bavaisienne, which was good, but slightly harsh. While not as large as some local bars, I'd say anyone who likes good beer would find something to drink here, which is a lot to say for NEPA.

After all that beer I had to balance with food, right? The cheese fries were definitely a cut above your run of the mill variety. These had a smoky dry flavor that was immediately appealing (and got me to eat the entire huge portion lol). Next from the apps list was a sushi taco - a brilliant idea in its own right, and well executed. The best though was the chimay duck chili - highly recommended as it is a unique and tasty concoction. Then lastly, an "oreo" beignet - oreo icecream on what tasted like fried chocolate cake - delicious, even if my stomach didn't appreciate the richness of the food.

Service was decent, though the time it took to prepare the food seemed a bit long. (Free dessert (beignet) because they had to be prepared fresh - there are worse things to wait for). But I think the numbers will go up with repeated visits...

...which means I will definitely darken the door of this place again, and you should too. With an excellent, exotic menu, and a good bottle and tap list, the River Street Ale House definitely deserves a look.
Sep 10, 2006
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Reviewed by cro250klr from Pennsylvania

4.5/5  rDev +2.7%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 5
This place used to be an American Legion post. What a change! NEPA is not noted for places like this. A really knowledgeable dude named Ian used to order all of the beer. Alas, all good things must come to an end. Ian, along with a friend of his, have since moved on to Florida to open up an establishment of their own. I believe it's called Brother Tuckers. His incredible know how for ordering beer, however, has seemed to have been passed on and adhered to. At any given time there's at least 250 beers to choose from. While there are a number of places that I've patronized with a larger selection, none are in NEPA. And, I doubt if any have gone through as much as this place.

As I mentioned, this place used to be a Legion post. Maybe six taps. The usual BMC selection along with some local brews. Genesee and Stegmaier. Shots of cheap whiskey and brandy. That was the norm. The place was sold to two brothers and a complete interior renovation took place. $$$. The half dozen taps turned into nearly 20. The jukebox was out and XM was in. $$$$. A new bar was built. New stools, tables, pool table and TV's. A new kitchen, with a chef that's world class. Kobe beef, ostrich, kangaroo? Yeah, they have that! $$$ Pravda vodka, yes. Jaquins, no. Then came the beer. Rochefort 6, 8, 10. Westy! Yes, Westy! All the Trappists were covered, as was most of Europe. A great selection of American micros. And yes, they even catered to those NOT in the know, BMC. These guys spent a ton of change to make an incredible change. Word got out and people started to come.

As fast as this place caught on, it was taken out even faster. The Susquehanna river is right across the street. One day, in the blink of an eye, it was inside the Ale House!
To the tune of three feet deep! The beer and food was lost. The interior was wiped out. $$$$ What seem like a total loss was just another hurdle to be had. Hats off to the brothers. They came back better that ever!

As it stands today, this is the only place in the area that has some of the most exotic food that I have ever had. Anything you can think of will be served up by Dave, the executive chef. And anything that your palate might desire can certainly be paired with a great beer. The wine selection is so-so, but, then again, this is an ale house. The draft beer is continuously rotated. Nearly every visit offers something new on tap. Friday night offers some great draft specials. Saturday evening is 'Kill the barrel' night. The ligthtest barrel is discounted until it kicks. This insures that no beer sits and gets stale. I've caught Wyerbacher Quad, St. Bernardus 12, Leffe Brune, Weinstephaner Korbinian and other greats, to name a few, on the Saturday night special. Great beer, at a great deal, in a really nice atmosphere.

As I said earlier, NEPA isn't really an area known for a place like the River St. Ale House. However, the respect for good beer in the area seems to be spreading and I think/hope that this place will stick around. If your in the area, it's worth looking up.
Apr 13, 2006
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Reviewed by ggaughan from Pennsylvania

4.65/5  rDev +6.2%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4.5
My brother turned me on to the River Street Ale House about 2 years back. From what I heard of this place a few years before that, it was a sketchy place to go but that was before they got an excellent beer selection. Each time we go here they have a very good food menu that includes some bar standards but also some very interesting sandwiches and entrees that are bascially stuff you would find at an adventerous restaurant, not a good beer bar.

The beer selection here is the real treat. The bar is a very nice size and they have plenty of tables in the restaurant area. I am always suprised to see a few new beers to the place, each time we visit. My first visit my brother got a bottle of Westy 12 and drank at the bar and also brought one home. They often have a good selection of Trappist beers and other common and harder to find Belgian's. They also have a very nice selection of local PA beers and regional beers. I have never been disappointed with the selection here and I plan on heading there around Christmas and finding some great beers on tap and in bottle.
Dec 14, 2005
River Street Ale House in Pittston, PA
Place rating: 4.38 out of 5 with 15 ratings