Tony Jaros River Garden

Great cheese curds! The Greenie was tasty and it was a fun neighborhood bar to enjoy a night out with friends.

Grew up NE, have lived over North for 55 years, drove Lowry Av thousands of times. First time at the River Garden. Why? No idea. We had a nice birthday club lunch and even invited our husbands. Glad we came, will probably go back CASH ONLY

We have been coming here for years! Simple hole in the wall with greenies cheap vodka and Kool aid lol this is definitely a tour de Nordeast must stop in . The atmosphere is a old ding hole in the wall the nostalgia is there

Dive bar with specialty color drinks. We went for the famous green drink, but found out they had blue, orange and others. These drinks were large in size, cheap and fun!

Wow, this place is an absolute blast! Went with a group of seven and got a table right at the entrance by the claw machine. Our server was on us right away and our drinks (Greenies!) all came out very quickly. Those drinks are no joke - we each got a different color after finishing our Greenie and were feeling very jolly indeed. We also got a couple pizzas and a basket of fries, which were crispy and well seasoned. The bar itself is quite small and narrow, and the bathroom situation was interesting, but we all had a fantastic time. This is a must visit spot.

NE Minneapolis to me still has that charm of working class blue collar neighborhoods. It’s holding on and so are many of the neighborhood bars in this area. Each having one thing in common. Keeping it simple and doing it right is a good business plan. Tony Jaros is one of these gems. Old school through and through and a survivor because they do what they do right and have kept it up for a long time. They do have a a decent food menu with some regular bar offerings and few options others may not have. But Tony Jaros does more than food. It’s that little concoction they serve called the Greenie. 5 or so bucks for a refreshing working man/woman’s cocktail that will put you in your special spot after 2 or 3. The bar set up is unique in itself with courteous, professional bartenders that pay attention and are aware of their patrons needs. In these days of ‘same oh same oh’ or ‘just don’t get it’ eating and drinking establishments being the norm it’s good to see a place doing it right. Stay true kids! Enjoy..

The Greenies did not disappoint. My friends and I stopped by and were pleasantly surprised by how tasty these drinks were! Kind of tasted like Mountain Dew but better. A little bit of an older crowd here BUT Tony Jaros is still college-student approved.

Northeast Minneapolis Home of the Greenies, we have been going for years. If your looking for a great place known for a drink, we'll this I'd the spot 😉. They are something special and have a little kick also. Give them a try, you shouldn't be disappointed.

A cash only bar! It's a small quiet sports bar. They do have a jukebox. The staff were very nice. They do offer candy bars and chips at the bar. You'll need to try their Greenie!!!

Stopped here for some St Patrick's day shenanigans. Tony Jaros is a classic Minneapolis dive bar. It's definitely tight quarters but we had obviously had to get the classic Greenie. Bartenders are so kind and it's definitely a fun atmosphere. They do offer other flavors of their classic drink. There's parking in the back. Which is great! Definitely will always recommend this spot for someone to check out if they have never been here.

A fun little dive bar to sit and watch a game or socialize with friends! Be aware that the place is cash only, but it's definitely worth it. You have to come and try their signature greenie - warning that they are super sweet and super strong but worth the try! There are also different colors with different flavors - all remind me of jolly ranchers or sweet tarts. Service was quick and easy, it was pretty empty when we first arrive and it slowly filled up. Didn't phase the bartender - seemed like a lot of regulars! Will definitely be back just for a lax drink.

I really love this place. It gives small town vibes in the city. You've got to get a greenie. No one knows what's in it, but it's a must... and after one, you'll probably get two! It's super fun to belly up to the bar with your group or snag a booth or two. It's a simple place, but the good times keep rolling. Make sure to dj on the touch tunes for an extra good time. Service is fast and nice. It's is cash only, so make sure to plan ahead.

I chose this local bar in nordeast Minneapolis to take my friends from Denver to on our one-day tour of must-see places. They loved it! It was noon on a Thursday and only one other patron was there at the time. Which was perfect as we could schmooze all we wanted with Brad the bartender, who happened to be the great nephew of Tony himself and filled us in on the history of the bar and their famous Greenie. It's pretty much a classic neighborhood dive bar (that takes cash only). Long and narrow, lots of bar seating, kitchen in the back ($3 tacos that day), big juke box. Locals started arriving around 12:30 for lunch, a beer, and conversation. But we were there specifically to try a Greenie (and Pinkie and Bluie). They all start out as equal pours of vodka and soda into a 16 ounce cup, followed by powdered sour mix and a finishing touch of the color mixer (grenadine, etc.). The Greenie mix is their own recipe which they bottle and sell. The friends decided it was worth paying to check luggage just so they could bring some home. :-) If you haven't been here, add it to your must-see list. But be warned ... these drinks go down easy and will sneak up on you!

Go for the Greenie or any other color but you can skip the BLT. It had two tiny pieces of bacon. The tots were fine but tough to screw up frozen potatoes you throw into a fryer.

Large wrap around dive bar open late in Northeast Minneapolis! They have ample booth and bar seating options, late night eats, and of course their famous "greenie" drinks! My greenie was a super yummy lime flavored mixed drink with vodka. They have other colors and flavorings available too such as the pinkie, Bluey , purple-y, and brownie! Fun and cheap, would also recommend bringing a deck of cards or a board game! This bar is cash only.

Tony Jaros' has been a hangout for almost 30 years, which tells you I like the joint and the bar has never disappointed despite some bartenders not really wanting to be there. The kitchen however has been up and down in recent years (I believe it is usually operated by a third party) and this review is focused on the kitchen. As of February 2023 the kitchen is simply terrible. Limited menu of burgers and factory made deep fried bar food. If the cook simply needed to open a bag and dump some food into the fryer, it was actually fried well. But properly fried Tator tots shouldn't be a measurement of someone's cooking chops, even in a bar. When you are hungry you pick a bar often because you think they have a great (or even just decent) burger. That's no longer the case at Tony Jaros' where at the moment the burgers are terrible and appear to be made with re-heated pre-cooked patty's. No one in our group was able to eat theirs. In April 2021 the kitchen began being operated under the name Darby's, but I don't recall being there before the COVID-shutdown, but the chili, chili dogs and taco Tuesday's seemed to garner positive reviews. The previous kitchen operator Geoff Hausmann operated under the name Pork & Pickle and on our visits was all over the place in regards to quality and consistency. It was in the category of could have been great but somehow didn't quite live up to its potential and closed unexpectedly in March 2021. From 2019 - 2020 Tony's tested the Burger Dive concept from Josh Thoma (co-owner at The Lexington and Smack Shack) and Chef Nick O'Leary (Saffron, Borough and many other restaurants). I didn't like everything on the menu then, but the burgers were great and everything was fresh, bold and the menu gave you a reason to go there. It created enough of a buzz that suddenly it was hard to get in. For whatever reason that closed when Burger Dive opened their St. Paul location. Prior to 2019 the kitchen was run by various people but generally sticking to a simple bar food menu featuring a daily special. Yes some of the sides and apps were simply deep fried factory-made food, but the actual burger, sandwich, soup or whatever was made from scratch and with care. That concept is what kept us frequently visiting as did the friendly staff (miss you Tara) that went out of their way to engage you. During this period we'd often go to Tony's for food and a drink, vs just a drink. That sounds like a small distinction but if I think of a place as just a drinking place, I'm not going to be there nearly as often or stay as long which translates into I will spend less money there over time. Tony's as a bar is on the small side and I'm sure that impacts the volume for the kitchen making it difficult to operate profitably and I also recognize the current state of service industry economics. But does Tony's want to be the place we hang out at for the evening or just go to after we hit one of the other great NE bars for dinner? At the moment it's a bar. Yes there's food available, but there is much better food available in the other bars in the area.

In Minneapolis and I had to try a Greenie. It was not what I expected. I thought it would be sweeter but it was good and definitely packed a punch. Cheap too. I think it was $6.50? I also tried a purple one and it was good but I liked the Greenie better. The bar seemed to be filled with mostly locals who all knew each other. Bar is across the street from Betty Danger's which was also on my must visit list. Cash only. There is an ATM onsite.

Popular dive bar here in Minneapolis! Known for their greenies, but have upgraded to other colors over the years. Basically a cup of sugar and alcohol lol plenty of seating around the bar and booths, but it's a small place so it's hard to fit a big group of people. There is a parking lot so parking isn't usually hard to find! Overall I would recommend for a drink or 2, but I usually don't stay too long. It's a great stop for a NE bar crawl!

Five stars for the Greenies, environment , and experience. Three for the food from DiveBar. I know ppl have been raving about the burgers but, we ordered burger, chicken sandwich, and perogies. Non were very good. They all tasted bland. The chicken tasted like it was kind of freezer burnt before, and had way too much lettuce on it. So much that it was all over the basket. The burger and sanwhich came with a bag of chips. They were good Dutch chips! Go for the Greenie and the fun...I will try the food one more time hoping this was an off night. Update to come when I do. Loved our server even though she was busy she was great!

When in Minneapolis, you have to get a greeny at Tony Charles. The atmosphere is so old school and you feel so at home. Just love this place.

The ultimate in Minneapolis dive bars. I have been coming here since the early 1980's to drink the Greenies. The Jaros family made sure it has remained the same, even to the bartenders. Dark, dingy, good food and strong drinks at a low price, what more do you need? I have seen many bachelor/bachelorette parties come in and have a great time. Try to sit on the side of the bar opposite the door in for the best people watching. Cash only, but there is an ATM by the door.

Burger dive runs the kitchen at Tony Jaros' so this will be more for burger dive. The wings are amazing! They are huge and the dry rub goes all the way into the meat. No ranch or dips needed, just flavorful wings. We were so impressed! We went with the nacho burger since it sounded different than the other more traditional menu items. The burger patty itself was super good. However, I think I'll have to keep nachos away from the burger patty. I wasn't a huge fan of the mix of flavors and it didn't blend very well together. I am, however, interested in trying the other burgers they have on the menu. Tony Jaros' is known for their colored drinks. Ask your server for what colors and flavors they have available.

I read the Yelp reviews and I was excited to check out Tony Jaro's. However my excitement quickly turned to disappointment. Jaro's is an ideal bar to have a night out on the town with your farmer cousin from North Dakota; who MAYBE leaves their small town of 1,000 every two years for weddings and funerals in "the cities". I walked into Jaro's with a positive attitude; ready to embrace a change of scene and all things dive bar and I left Jaro's running across the street to Betty Dangers. First things first; CASH ONLY The Positives: -Cost: Everything on the menu is pretty darn cheap and covers all of the bases for standard bar drinks/ food. The drinks and food won't make you run back here, but it definitely serves its purpose. -Parking is free and overall easy to find. If you're with someone that has difficulty walking, I suggest dropping them off and then parking. -Random: Jaro's sells Pearson's Nut Rolls and Hershey Chocolate Bars at the bar. This factor kind of amused me and solidified what "type of place" Tony Jaro's is. -The staff is friendly. However, the bar is small and makes it hard for the servers to do their job. The Negatives: - Cash Only: I knew that Tony Jaro's was cash only because I read Yelp reviews before I came to the bar. My friends only had cards with them so I had to cover the bill. I'm all for cash only, but if you're a group of college students with low funds in your account; this could be a major blow. -Food: I ordered fires for $5.00. The description of the fires on the menu is as follows; "Shoe string potatoes fried golden brown to crispy perfection dusted with Lawry's Season Salt". The fries were standard cut and barely seasoned with regular table salt. The server asked for the $5 as soon as she set the fries down on the table; so I didn't have a chance to make a fuss before she walked away and I didn't see her again. At this point I was hot (it was cooler outside than it was inside), annoyed and ready to leave. This was the straws that broke the came's back and sped up decision to book it across the street to Betty Danger's. -Small Bar: The building is tiny and t's hard to move around, let alone find a place to stand without feeling like you're in the way. I sat at a booth with my friends. The people standing near me constantly had their butt's and elbows chillin' in my face which was super appetizing on a hot sweaty day when I'm trying to eat some bum french fries. Also, many of the booths are small and are airplane style seating = not enough booty space for the "growing American adult". -LOUD: What's loud are the people, not music and/ or other background noises. It was hard to hear my friends even though I was sitting right next to my friends in a tiny booth and struggled to hear what they were saying. After reading my review; I realize that I sound like a whiny, high maintenance broad who needs to get over herself. To the contrary, I love NE, I love dive bars but I'm not lovin' Jaro's; It's just not for me.

I think I may have found one of my favorite burgers in the Twin Cities! I checked out Burger Dive (which is located inside Tony Jaros) last weekend. I opted for the special "spicy" burger that night, which had pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, bacon, onions and a spicy aioli. This thing was incredibly delicious. It was cooked perfectly and bursting with flavor. It also came with a cute little bag of chips. And, I of course had to pair my meal with a greenie. Seriously, dive bars are just the best and know how to make great food. I can't wait to come back and try more of their burgers! Just a heads up: This place is cash only, and you'll have separate tabs if you order at Tony Jaros vs. Burger Dive.

DIVE BAR ALERT!!!~ If you really like yourself a good dive bar---you owe it to yourself to check this place out.....low key---cheap---AND they have a little pizza oven and pizza ---I indulged in one of the greenies that they have and I have no idea what is in there....I was already a little toasted by the time we arrived here so I did not pay much attention---I did see some boone hill strawberry farm wine for the "ladies" that may frequent this establish that want to be classy and drink wine... The bathroom was decent enough and better than you would expect....

After seeing photos coming out of Tony Jaros' newly taken-over kitchen, Burger Dive I knew I had to get my hands on this burger. Perfectly charred burger with American cheese, minced onion, pickles and a toasted bun, the House Burger does not disappoint. The burger was worth 5 stars but the atmosphere brought the review down a notch. The booths are tiny and instead of playing music, they had Jeopardy playing in the background. I expected a more lively, fun crowd but it definitely lived up to its dive bar reputation.

What a gem in Nord East! The coolest cash only Dive bar around! Classic feel with the most excellent food! CASH ONLY! So don't be a fool and come healed! This is the coolest place!

If you haven't had a Greenie.... stop in... this bar is laid back and cash only. Have a Greenie, pinkie or one of the other fun colors/flavors of this tasty drink in a plastic cup. Make sure to have a sober cab as these are strong! Whenever I am in the area and out with friends... we have to stop!

This is no River Garden, but it is a must-hit on any NE bar crawl. It's a dive bar, make no mistake, but I appreciate it for all it is. It's dimly lit for good reason with no windows, the oval bar itself takes up 60% of the room, drinks are served in plastic cups, bathrooms are disgusting, and if there's a seat in the place that isn't split all over and covered in duct tape I haven't seen it. Go on a weekend and there's bound to be a bachelor(ette) party that walks in and asks you for a condom or a spanking or whatever is left on their checklist. They're known for the Greenie, but there's also the Bluey, Pinkie, Purpley, and Brownie (green and pink, I think?). They all taste like different flavors of pixie sticks, cost about $5 each, and will make for a wonderfully crazy night and an really awful morning. I think they're made with Silver Wolf vodka, if that explains things. I don't recommend trying all five flavors in one night, unless you're sharing. Come down to Tony Jaros' and enjoy some gut rot and people watching!

$&*%$&(*&%#! WTF is in that? Our server at Anchor recommended a few places in the area and Tony Jaros' was one of them. She told us we *had* to get a Greenie, I beg to differ. Fortunately for me, a drink at Psycho Suzi's did me in; the thought of anything remotely sugary made me ill, so I went with a beer. The manfriend, never one to pass us a suggestion, got a Greenie. The Greenie? It's gross. It's electric green, it doesn't even attempt to impersonate any real flavor or fruit; the color reminds me of Kool-Aid, Hi-C, or one of those little barrel drinks with the foil tops. I'm not sure what's in it, but the manfriend said he saw a packet of sugar, something to make it green and a bunch of booze. I've had worse - Malort's my hometown drink - and I would've thought this is what they trick all of the tourists into trying, had I not seen quite a few next to patrons at the bar. If you like dive bars, you'll feel right at home here. Wood paneled walls, a slightly sketchy bathroom and no frills whatsoever. River Garden must pay homage to the area because while I saw plenty of river, I saw no garden. If you're in the area and want something a little less chaotic than Betty Danger's across the street, pop on in. They've got food and if you're feeling masocchistic, there's always the Greenie. And if green's not your color, don't worry, they've got others.

Tony Jaros' is a small bar with historical undertones. It's been around since 1960 and based on the décor on the wall, you can tell that they value where they came from. I had never been to TJ's before, but my boyfriend told me that his grandfather used to spend all of his paychecks here. Since I knew it was one of his favorite places, I surprised him for his birthday this past weekend by blind folding him and taking him here where some of his good friends were waiting for him. He was definitely not surprised to see that this is where I ended up taking him. We all went inside the bar and I could immediately tell this what the kind of place where "locals" can be found socializing with their familiar peers. The people in the crowd were all 30+ years old. Our group was the youngest there and my boyfriend told me that that's very normal for TJ's. Like I said, a lot of history and locals. Their famous "Greenie" I had heard so much about lived up to expectations. I personally thought it tasted really good, and after having nearly 2 of them, I felt all the feels. I'm a small girl, but I know the "Greenie" is known to knock out the best of them. At $5 per cup, this concoction was so worth it. It was limey/tart and if it weren't for my bladder, I would've ordered more of them. This bar is ideal for meeting up with your friends and having a drink or two. Do not expect to come here for karaoke or dancing. You won't find it anywhere. The bar literally takes up the entire space in the middle, so people watching and talking are the two things you'll find yourself doing most.

Aiieee! It's the mean Greenie! (Compare in your head to Wondrous Punch, only substitute green flavor for red flavor and add nose-numbing fizz) Keeping Tony Jaro's packed to its green green gills on the weekends. Seems to be a bit of a must-go for bachelorette parties. At times difficult to get in the door. Only worth it if you don't have to elbow your way in the door. One time I walked in to a sea of green-mouthed people and some guys throwing chairs. I love northeast.

No soap in the bathroom and I'm pretty sure the towel dispenser thingy was on it's last leg. This place doesn't take credit cards so be sure to bring cash. Bright lighting for a bar and they do have parking in the back... We were meeting a group and the birthday person wanted their celebration here. I guess you either love or hate it here ;-)

What can I say, I used to be a greenie drinker back in the day...the eightie's...(lol).... this was one of the"Nordeast" bar stops on a Saturday night for my gal friends and me to hit! We would squeeze through the smokey-Polo-cologne-Aqua net-smelling crowd! It's a small place for a big crowd! Good place to rub shoulders and meet someone though, for a single person! Bumping into someone you knew! or seeing a familiar face and checking out all the cute guys across the bar that maybe just got done playing softball on a weeknight....yes, we went there other than a Saturday once and a while...Then we'd order our greenie or a beer! And on a good hair night, we'd sometimes have the bartender bring us a round, saying; "This one is on the gentlemen at the end of the bar, ladies!" Then, there was the jukebox at one end of the bar, rocking classics like the Stones, Springsteen, U2 the Go-Go's! Also, you had the cigarette machine at the other end of the bar ( back when you could smoke in the bars)! Probably $1.75 a pack....I suddenly feel real old! Yes, their bathroom is very small, so yiou made sure you'd have your lipstick on and everything else was just right and in place, with no need of a mirror! Hoping you didn't have to go too much, and forbidding you won't need to run in there to loose your cookies! As, I'm sure it happened a time or two back in the day...not with any of my girls, of course...we waited for the bar with the bigger restroom and then there is always the quick exit outside to the parking lot! ;) LOL! Anyway...we'd even get a pretty pinkie once and a while...yes, they had a pinkie! (Probably still do)..Beware of the greenie, very good at first, and then...the magic fizzy stuff from the envelope that the bartender puts in your drink and the sour and vodka?! will start to kick in! Then the stomach feels a little strange at first as if something is brewing..and if you had drinks earlier, such as beer, or any other concoction during the evening, (hopefully you weren't the driver that night! ) it will start to interact with each other and you will be acting a little, well shall we say, silly! And if you have more than two.....forget about it! (Quick tip for you amateurs: ALWAYS order a water in between your drinks and tip your bartenders)! Christmas time is really pretty at Tony's...with the Christmas lights they had over the bar on flocked branches? If memory serves right? Also, don't forget it's a must on old Saint Patty's to go get a Greenie...pretty packed though! So, then comes the mornning after, your head is pounding, you're dehydrated and want lots and lots of water! and you are praying to the porcelain God that you will NEVER have another greenie, or pinkie or any colored, fizzy, fun drink as long as you shall live! Was it worth it and did you learn your lesson? Will you go there next Saturday? Hell yes! Good times....and memories! I better go have ONE greenie for old times sake! ;)

I could care less about Jaro's, it's like the place has been there forever and they are so set in their ways that if it wasn't for the owners of Parlor and Smack Shack taking over the kitchen after the old KM retired I doubt the influx of younger people into the area would have ever cared about the place. The burgers though. One of my favorite burgers in the TC. They are thin patties similar to a diner style burger so the burgers all come out Medium well, they have about 5 different burgers, but I always order the Wedge, which is basically your classic burger with LTO and American cheese. Now I know most burger cooks love American for the way it melts and the presentation, but I think American cheese tastes like crap and honestly needs to fade away into extinction. Luckily they are completely ok with swapping it out for Cheddar which is my preference for burgers. It may not look as good but taste wise its no contest. There are two patties and they are seasoned to perfection. They used to have half orders of fries but took that choice away for who knows what reason because a full order of fries feeds like 3 people who also order burgers.

My first greenie did not disappoint. I got it with Grey Goose for $8. I know, why ruin good vodka with fruit juice, right? But no matter how you get it, it will be strong, sweet, lime flavored and carbonated. The no-frills dive bar seems to have a loyal following with nightly food specials and a great location on the river. I used the bathroom to wash my hands only...The service was efficient, but not friendly. It is one thing if they are having a bad day, fine, I'd rather they didn't put fake smiles on. But it is another to be annoyed with us just for being there.

My first trip to Tony Jaros' was about as I expected. A classic dive bar with a good mix of locals and a few random peddle pubs rolling in before or after going to Betty Dangers. Of course had to try the famous greenie. Not quite sure it lived up to the hype for me but it was alright. Staff was friendly enough on the friday night we were there. I recommend at least one trip to Tony Jaros' if you are a Twin Cities resident.

I am hoping that this review is also for the location in Arden Hills, in the Rosedale Center. I was there with my sister over Thanksgiving to visit our parents. We both live out of state now and were in need for a good drink and some time to put up our feet and take a break from the family stress that holidays can bring. We sat at the bar next to Nick O'Leary, who I think was the owner. Nick was an excellent conversationalist and even gave me a recipe for perogies which contrary to another review on here WERE AWESOME! They were an excellent treat after a long cold day. The bar tender was also really attentive and funny. We enjoyed his company as well. I love the fact that there is a place like this that we know we can come back to when we are in town visiting and we will both definitely be back. I hope the new location works well for them as they really deserve the business.

best service EVER, we came here and Larry made our night ! Super nice bartender and just a gentleman!

If you"re looming for a place to relax and have a drink, try here. A dive bar, in a good way. Have a Greenie or a Pinkie, they'll be consistantly good, the same as they've been serving for years Bartenders are no nonsense professionals, but friendly enough.

What's not to love about a small dive bar with cheap, cold drinks, and tasty bar food! After a ferris wheel ride across the street, we stopped in for a good, old fashioned dive bar visit. A few beers and a kettle/soda set us back $13 bones. Am-az-ing! The bartender was great, friendly and fun to talk to. We had a quick order of onion rings before moving onto our next spot, and they were fast and good. Cheers to Tony Jaros' River Garden!

Friendly servers always. If you are a single gal I suggest sitting in a booth. The bartenders are PRETENTIOUS.

Greenies are AMAZING. And this is coming from a chick who doesn't like 'green' flavored things - Greenies transend that, they truly are that awesome. And Mama always said, "Don't you lie about awesome." Oh no Mama, I shall not... What I like to believe is that Greenies are made with vodka, green flavor, crack, and magic, and when given a deft swirl with a spoon, the flavors combine to an awesome-sauce creation that would make your grandmother weep tears of joy. Besides that, at $4.50 a pop, they are dangerously delicious. And sneaky too, so watch out. Oh, and a friend of mine who shuns drinks with rail vodka, couldn't tell with a Greenie. Take THAT Cap't PoopyPants! But, if you do over-imbibe (drunk on 100% pure awesome is a heady thing) they do have the standard greasy comfort bar foods you'd expect. But for your stomach's sake, get the bacon cheeseburger pizza, and ask your fabulous server for chopped up pickles and ranch. First time I ordered said pizza, this is what the waitress suggested. I COULD HAVE KISSED HER ON THE MOUTH AFTER I TASTED HER CREATION. So. Go here. And, you're welcome.

Every time I go home, I get a group together and head out for a greenie. Every time I bring visitors to Minneapolis, I volunteer to be the D/D as long as my car can make a stop for my friends to grab some greenies. Every time a greenie is consumed, an angel gets its wings. This bar has been around for many more years than my pitiful existence and it continues to please. 21st birthdays, softball championships, 25th wedding anniversaries, returns from Iraq - I've been here for every possible celebration, and I still only have one complaint: the bathrooms are the worst in the world. The women's is a one-stall wonder. The men's is a sink, 2-person trough, and toilet stall with no door, but this is all combined into a 4 square foot area. I've answered the call of nature in a larger outhouse, and for this reason I cannot give Jaro's a 5 star rating. But I'll bet you a greenie that you'll learn to pee before entering, consume quickly so as to not really notice where you'll be relieving yourself all night, and go home happy to watch your greenie-virgin friends vomit the gnarliest neon green puddle you'll ever avoid like the plague.

Green meanies=lime freeze pops. For those of you who don't know the green meanie is thier signature drink. It's the color of electric lime kool-aid and tastes like a lime freeze pop like the ones you used to eat a s a kid in the summer. I suspect it has quite a bit of liquor in it. Just a guess though! I have driven past this place for years and always wanted to stop. It looks like the perfect dive/neighborhoos bar. After stopping one night while bar hoppin in NE I have come to the conclusion it is. Now there are dive bars that are trendy. Many in NE qualify. And then there are true dive bars. This place to me is one of the latter. The furniture is old, the bartenders are old (yet really speedy service and incredibly nice....these are not crotchety bartenders) the food is greasy and fried and not fancy in the slightest, there's a jukebox in the cornere and sprots on the TV sets. Wood panneling on the inside and a restroom larger than a broom closet. This building is way old. This is a true dive bar. The crowd is mixed but dominated by 30's (if not older and up). This is not the typoe of place you are going to find drunk U of M kids at....thank you baby jesus. If you are looking for a true dive bar with decent prices, stiff drinks, and a place that's not pretty and you don't have to be pretty to feel like you belong in this is the place.

In a neighborhood best known for dive bars with character this is possibly the quintessential dive bar (Mayslack's is my other consideration) amongst them. It has everything that makes NE dive bars great: (1) Tight confines with only one room (2) Something unique to the bar (Greenies: A Vodka Collins with a twist--lime flavored syrup that you might otherwise find in a Mr. Misty) (3) The ability to pull in pub crawls, buses, limos, etc to keep the atmosphere lively and the bar packed (4) A wide and interesting mix of people from the tattoed, to the local pipe fitter to the polo wearing white collar professional all out to have fun on the weekend. My recommendation is to hit this bar early in the night because the greenies hide the alcohol too well (think Wondrous Punch @ Red Dragon). If you feel a slight buzz it is best to stop and move on instead of ordering another because the rest is going to hit you in a few minutes.

I mean, TJ's has never been known for its awesome atmosphere - but I went there last night and it was awful. It was incredibly crowded and took forever to get a drink. I kind of thought that with Psycho Suzi's moving this place would be less crowded, but it's as if people drove to the old location, realized it wasn't there, and all piled in to Tony Jaro's. No thanks.

Reading the reviews on here, I'm really astonished people have been here. I thought I'd found a secret bar. lol. Apparently not. Stopped by here last year, in the middle of the week, in the middle of winter, around 6 or 7pm because I was meeting up with a friend at the tattoo parlour nearby. To kill time and to warm up, I went inside TJ river garden. The thing I remember most was the lighting...for some reason it reminded me of greenish hospital lights....Anyway, it's tiny with the bar in the middle of the room occupying most of the space in the front. Further to the back appeared to be some tables. The place was mostly empty, besides me, the only other guests were three older ladies in their fifties, sitting in the back tables and talking quietly. I've never been in such a desolate bar before -but with barely anyone there, I thought for sure I'd found a secret gem of a space! lol. Not knowing about the bar's reputation & special drinks, I just ordered a regular beer and some soup and crackers. Service was matter of fact and cordial. Having read the other reviews on here, I definitely would like to go back to visit TJ river garden once more to try one of their famous drinks. I'll make sure to go there in the middle of the week, in the middle of winter again so that I won't have to deal with a crowd, as it sounds like this is definitely a popular spot on the weekends for partygoers.

Come here on a weeknight and you'll find an array of NE regulars watching whatever sporting event happens to be playing at the moment. Come on a weekend and you'll be met with howling bear-men in aqua-blue polo shirts and khaki shorts, working up the courage to hit on their friends wife. A fun contrast if I don't say so myself. The Greenies are one of the most well known drinks in the Twin Cities, and rightfully so as they are a mighty swell little drink. You will also see a batchlorette party here, and no, there is nothing you can do about it. I assure you, there is a bachlorette party here during every hour of business.

This is my favorite dive bar! Greenies, pinkies, cheap beer and a great atmosphere! Great drinks, lots of laughs and plenty of people watching. I've been here a few times during wedding season and you could practically be a wedding crasher...actually, scratch that, make it a bacchelorette party crasher. So much fun! Greenie = green elixer of amazingness...like hi c, jello powder, and kool aid had a three some. A great spot to have a night cap! My favorite dive bar in MSP!!!!

Tony Jaro's is one of my favorites! You could probably find me there every Saturday night between 10 and midnight. And if you hear Sexy Back come on, it was probably my friends and I that picked it. The Greenies are pretty deadly if you have more than 2 which means that you can get pretty drunk for about $15 if you have 3 of them. You have to be sneaky in order to steal a table or booth for a group. Fast service if you can manage to find your way around the throngs of other bargoers. Not a place to stay all night but definitely worth going for a few greenies. I find that if you don't stay for too long, you don't have to use the bathroom so that solves the gross bathroom problem.

I walked in here with my girlfriend.... After someone told us to come here and order a greenie. The bartender was RUDE. I would never come back here in a million years. Not sure why he had a problem with us.... But we were the only women in here, Just saying.

I was across the street with my drinking companions and someone shouted, "time for greenies!" Having never heard of this drink or the bar across the street, I assumed she was talking about the dog treats. I was like what the f ***? I was already three sheets the wind, so I tried this drink out. Normally I steer clear of the crazy colored shots or drinks at the bar because they are vomit inducing, at least in my case. I actually stole my friend's greenie because he had a beer in his hand. After downing one I remember drinking another. I am glad I stopped at that second one, because I hurt the next day. This place was fun, except for the random wasted guy that followed our group inside and continued to hang out with us. He was most likely harmless, just annoying. The bar does have a funky layout, but

This place stands out from the other dive bars in Nord East because of the greenies (and blueies, and pinkies that have been added). Always crowded, strong drinks, and a diverse mix of customers always makes for a fun drop in. Now if only they would add Orangies.....!

Great place to start out the night (especially if you can wait to use the restroom at the next place)! They are famous for their greenies, but I'm here to tell you it's the blueies that are the best... And yes the flavor is different, it's not just a color change! I'm pretty sure they don't have anything else on the menu - so if you aren't into super strong drinks that get you drunk really quick - this probably isn't the place for you. They also have a sweet jukebox machine on one side to play all your favorites and a cash machine, since they only take cash!

Came here right after Betty Dangers and the food was horrendous. Tried the mini corn dogs, cheese curds and the chicken strips and all of it was ick. On top of that they wouldn't let me wait for my ride inside when the place didn't close for another 20 minutes. So I had to wait outside in the cold for my uber. Never coming back here again. And you shouldn't either.

Becca is absolutely awesome. She made our evening. We had a great time. The bartender helped us find shots that fit our (cash) budget, and then the rounds of greenies were delish. Again, Becca was so great.