Southern River Walk — Restaurant in St. Marys

Every time I have visited Southern River Walk, they have always knocked it out of the park! My first visit was a few months ago and I just had drinks with my family and a few family friends on the outdoor patio. The service was incredible! The drinks are above average for a bar and grill (just don’t expect world class mixologists to be mixing up your old fashioned’s and margaritas, obviously). The live music was great too! My family and I had a blast having a few drinks, hanging out, and vibing to the music.

This past week, my wife and I spent our honeymoon in St. Marys (we’re not locals… yet) and stopped here for dinner our first night in town. We ordered fried pickles, the Santa Fe Burger, fish and chips, and margaritas. The fried pickles were dang near perfect (you’d be surprised how many restaurants screw up fried pickles), my Santa Fe Burger was GLORIOUS—cheesy, juicy, and super flavorful (my only complaint, if you want to call it that, is that the “guacamole” was really just Holy Guacamole avocado spread; it’d be perfect if they made a homemade guac or even just used fresh smashed avocados with a little seasoning). My wife said that her fish and chips were THE best she’s ever had, and we downed our margaritas FAST because they were so good. Plus, all of our items came out in a timely manner and our waiter was incredible! He made us laugh, had our drinks refilled right before they were empty, cleaned up our empty plates after we were finished, and really elevated our experience. I wish I remembered his name to add to this review and could shout him out. :(

We had such a wonderful experience that we decided to grab lunch there on Thursday. The dining room was empty, it being a weekday in a small town, but there were a few guest on the patio and it didn’t stop this crew from turning over exceptional food and service. A HUGE shoutout to our waitress, Ariel, for making us feel so welcomed, chatting with us about the town, refilling our drinks quickly, and clearing the table of trash (straw wrappers) and empty plates promptly. This visit, we ordered the buffalo chicken tacos (I subbed the lettuce and tomatoes for coleslaw) with sweet potato fries and the mac and cheese, and a BLT with fried okra and corn nuggets. Once again, the food did not disappoint! Some of the BEST mac and cheese I’ve had from a restaurant.

If you’re looking for good food, good music, and exceptional service, COME HERE! They take southern hospitality seriously, and we loved every second of each experience. Can’t...

OMG! Chaos city. At least the food was good. The rest was a disaster. We were greeted and seated promptly. The hostess asked what we would like to drink. We ordered beers. Servers were buzzing around the room, but none were stopping at our table.

After about 15 minutes, our server brought the beers that had been sitting on the sidebar since we ordered them. She explained that a server had left early and they were short. Our beers were comped, which was a nice gesture.

By this time we knew what we were in for and ordered our meal immediately. Maybe 30 minutes later a runner came from the kitchen with an order of wings which we thought were probably ours. He looked around, and not finding anyone to tell him where they should go, plopped them on the bar in front of a couple who were about to leave. Shortly after they left, the bartender tossed the wings into the trash! The next time our server zoomed by on her way to someone else's table, we told her what happened. She checked with the kitchen and put in another order.

Time passed and the kitchen brought out our shrimp entrées. I had fried, my wife had grilled. Both dishes were good, but we had to ask the runner for cocktail sauce and utensils. Both requests caused her to run back into the main dining room and back. You'd think that they would realize that diners need silverware, but that apparently hasn't sunk in here as we saw the same performance repeated for other tables.

So, after an hour we finally had some food. The shrimp was well prepared, the coleslaw decent, and I don't know enough about frits to say. I suppose it was okay. Our server came and asked if we still wanted the wings we had ordered. We told her to forget it.

All around us we saw confusion reigning. Staff clustered around the POS terminal having discussions about orders. Staff making multiple trips to complete a service. Orders coming out in parts and pieces. Not well organized at all. They're lucky they don't have much competent competition. I'm leaving tomorrow, but if I were staying, I'd...

Jumping on the SRW review bandwagon.

Stepping into Southern River Walk, I immediately felt the coastal Southern vibe the restaurant is aiming for. While it’s not an upscale spot, the relaxed decor and touches of Southern charm create a laid-back and inviting atmosphere. Soft rock hits play gently in the background, adding to the ambiance, though on my visit, the empty dining area did give it a bit of a quiet, lonely feel.

Cara, my waitress, was a delight—friendly and attentive without hovering. She checked in just the right amount, making sure I had everything I needed without overdoing it.

I ordered two dishes, both based on popular reviews I’d seen, and they didn’t disappoint! First, I tried the Crab Eggs Benedict, a twist on the classic with a Southern touch. Instead of the usual ham, this version features a crab cake, and it was a pleasant surprise. The eggs were perfectly cooked, and the hollandaise sauce was rich and creamy with just the right amount of seasoning. The crab cake itself had a great blend of spices that kept each bite interesting.

Next, I went for the country fried steak and eggs. This dish is Southern comfort at its finest. The steak was fried to a satisfying crisp on the outside, with a juicy interior that paired perfectly with the thick, smooth country gravy. The seasoning was spot-on, flavorful without being overly peppery. The grits were tasty, though I think they could’ve used just a tad more time to get that perfect creamy consistency.

The menu here is definitely tailored to those looking for a classic Southern breakfast, so it’s not the spot if you’re after a lot of dietary variety. But if you’re craving Southern staples, you’ll feel right at home.

My only minor gripe? The indoor-outdoor setup occasionally invites a lonely little fly to wander through, which is more amusing than bothersome.

Overall, I’ve had consistently great experiences at Southern River Walk, and I’ll definitely keep coming back. It’s a warm, easygoing spot to satisfy any Southern...