St. Johns Tavern — Restaurant in Crystal River

I've been wanting to try this place since I moved here. It reminds me very much of Annapolis Maryland. The buildings are all old there and truly old. They are old homes or businesses that have been made into little bars and restaurants. There's a kind of charm to an old place. People love to eat there. I do not know when this structure was built and I tried to ask someone but it was a very busy place the day I was there. So I went in and sat at the bar. There were quite a few bar stools open so I just grabbed one that wasn't right next to someone. The bar menu was interesting and it had specials for each day of the week on it. I truly wished I could have tried the spaghetti which I believe was the Monday special but it was not Monday. So I ordered the tacos which were $2 a piece and came with sour cream salsa and guacamole. I ordered three because I wasn't sure how big they would be. It was a good thing I ordered three because they actually were fairly small. The bartender told me that I could also get beans and rice for a dollar extra which sounded like a good deal so I went ahead and did that also. The rice and beans were also in what appeared to be a condiment cup, not very big. It was enough food for me even though everything was smaller than I was expecting. But I did leave satisfied and the food was good. The people who came in and sat at the bar must have been regulars. The man to my right knew the bartender's name. Two people came in after me and asked if I would move over one so that they could sit together at the bar, which I did. The tone was very much as though it was more of a casual order than a request. Not a big deal. Just would be nice if people had better manners. I definitely loved the atmosphere inside the tavern which was pretty much what I was expecting. I would like to go back another time. I will probably go back and try the spaghetti but I don't think I will sit at the bar again. It is a good place. There were lots of people there in groups having a good time and you just can't beat the atmosphere of an old building. So I would definitely recommend this restaurant / bar. Just make sure you ask how much food you get with your order because I thought the portions were a little small. Still worth going to and you will enjoy...

We dined in on 9/8/24 for lunch. Reuben was fantastic even better the Cajun fried pickles! YUMM!! This has been one of those restaurants we’ve wanted to try but have never heard anything about it that has made us go just to go. Since we were in town we tried it, AND we were NOT disappointed! St.Johns tavern brings a bang on their Cajun Fried Pickles with Cajun ranch dipping sauce that leaves your mouth wanting more! We also tried potato skins which were common, hard to screw up. Our main courses were the delectable citrus salad with its appropriately tart vinegarette and loaded with blackened chicken bites, pecans mandarins cranberries and blue cheese over Romain lettuce; A happy crunch of sweet-tartness in every bite. We also enjoyed the true lunch time hero the Reuben! Oh man, this was damn good and we would order this any time! Monster size has a soulful heaping of delicious corn beef, sauerkraut and sauce on rye bread. Not being a usual fan of rye bread, the heaping flavorful, mouth watering meat pile made this dish superb! Last but not least you much checkout the historic pictures lining the walls near the back entrance. This and the awesome complimentary bathroom essentials in the ladies room prove this restaurant cares about its town and patrons! Two blue moons and a perfectly made old fashioned later we walked out of St.Johns Tavern...

I first happened upon this awesome restaurant in Nov 2021 after attending the Stone Crab Jam. The HUGE soft pretzel appetizer and the delicious chicken salad wrap and BLT sandwich made a lasting impression, and I knew I'd be back one day. Sure enough, fast forward to 2023. My Crystal River High Class of '93 was looking for a place to celebrate our 30-year class reunion. Turned out that one of our classmates had a daughter who worked at St. John's Tavern and she recommended that we ask the owners (Greg and Noel) about the possibility of renting the private side room to their main restaurant... a speak-easy-style extension they called "The Vault." OMG... it was GORGEOUS, and we quickly booked the only date they had left on their summer calendar for our reunion event. The owners, management, and staff couldn't have been more wonderful to work with (such great humans!) and the venue was out-of-this-world beautiful. Our classmates are STILL talking about that super fun night and the super classy reunion venue. From the quality of the food/drinks to the quality of the ownership, management, and staff to the beauty of the restaurant venue itself, I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about St. Johns Tavern in Crystal River! Such a gem! Be sure to give these folks...