The State is a welcoming gastropub in Riverside, CA, where thoughtful food, a lively bar program, and a comfortable dining experience come together in a way that keeps guests coming back.
Located at 3800 Main St, The State brings the best parts of a neighborhood restaurant and a modern pub under one roof, offering a space that feels relaxed yet polished.
Whether you are stopping in for brunch, settling in for lunch, meeting friends for dinner, or enjoying dessert after a long day, this is the kind of place designed for easy meals, great conversation, and memorable nights out.
With a casual, trendy atmosphere and table service that helps every visit feel smooth and attentive, The State creates the kind of experience that works just as well for solo dining as it does for group gatherings.
One of the biggest draws is the breadth and quality of what The State serves. Guests can enjoy comfort food, small plates, bar-friendly dishes, and food at the bar, along with a strong selection of beer, cocktails, and other alcoholic beverages.
Its great beer selection and great cocktails are clear highlights, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking to unwind with a drink that feels well chosen rather than ordinary. Happy-hour drinks add even more appeal, while the menu’s range makes it easy to find something satisfying at any time of day.
Whether you want a casual bite, a full meal, or a few plates to share, The State delivers the flexibility and flavor that define a great gastropub.
The State also stands out for the ease and comfort it offers every guest. Accessibility is a priority, with a wheelchair-accessible car park, entrance, seating, and toilet, helping make the restaurant more inclusive and convenient for everyone.
It accepts reservations, which adds a welcome layer of planning for busy evenings and special outings, and it offers takeaway, dine-in, and delivery for maximum convenience. Guests can also pay with credit cards, debit cards, or NFC mobile payments, keeping the experience simple from start to finish.
Backed by a solid 4.20-star rating from 151 reviews, The State has earned a reputation for being a dependable and enjoyable place to eat and drink in Riverside.
With its bar on site, restroom access, and a strong mix of atmosphere, service, and menu variety, it offers the kind of dependable quality that makes choosing where to go feel easy.
Popular Items
Frequently ordered and highly recommended items at The State
Our Story
Welcome to a place where great food meets warm hospitality. We believe dining is more than just a meal - it's an experience to be savored and shared.
Our kitchen is dedicated to creating dishes that bring people together, using recipes that honor tradition while embracing innovation.
Photos
A glimpse of our restaurant experience
Food & Drinks
Hear from our valued guests
Fabulous place. Not crowded on a Monday evening. Our server was very attentive, had great recommendations that were all terrific. The food and drinks had odd combinations that work together well. Everything we ordered tasted so good. Will be back for sure.
Delicious! We had the Smoked salmon Eggs Benedict and the Smash burger and they were both incredible. Really good fries as well. Atmosphere was cozy and fancy, with dark woods and Brick, and well appointed light fixtures. I will be back
We tried several dishes at The State in Riverside, and overall, it was a pretty good experience with just a few misses. The mac and cheese with shrimp was delicious—rich and flavorful. It’s definitely a dish meant to be shared. On its own, it can get overpowering and salty after a few bites, but as a shared side, it worked well. The shrimp tacos were tasty and worked better as an appetizer. If you're hungry, three small tacos won’t be filling enough for a full meal. The bourbon barbecue burger was a highlight. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked perfectly—juicy and flavorful. It came with a salad and a crispy, not greasy onion ring that was absolute perfection. The roasted chicken with vegetables was surprisingly good. I’m not usually a fan of chicken, but this was tender, moist, and paired with a light, flavorful sauce that really complemented the dish. Now for the miss: the French fries with shredded meat and cheese were not it. It felt like a pile of ingredients thrown together. The texture and taste didn’t work for me at all—I wouldn’t order that again. For dessert, the crème brûlée came in a cute reddish pottery dish and was fantastic. The top was torched perfectly—crisp without tasting burnt, and the custard underneath was creamy and sweet. Parking was easy—we parked at the Wells Fargo building nearby where the first 90 minutes are free. It was just a five-minute walk to the restaurant. Our server was excellent—friendly, attentive, kept our drinks filled, and offered great meal suggestions. Overall, the ambience was nice and most of the food was delicious. I’d definitely go back—but skip the meat fries!
I’m a Riverside local and decided to try The State after walking by one day. The service, food, and vibe is great!! The poutine and meatballs were delicious. I paired it with a tasty red wine, Cooper and Thief, not too sure if this is top notch wine, but it was half off so it worked out! My lady loved it as well! We will be returning!!
Very nice modern restaurant located on the Main Street pedestrian mall. Renovated historical buildings with high, industrial ceilings and modern lighting and fixtures. The menu consists mainly of small plates with a few reasonably priced entrees. Food is very good and the service friendly and attentive. A standout among many restaurant options in downtown Riverside.
My wife and I choose on the restaurant, The State after walking around downtown Riverside. We were not disappointed. The service was excellent from the moment we walked in the door. Our server was very friendly and attentive. We noticed all the staff were respectful and provided great service. The drinks and the food came promptly. We ordered the chicken and steak, which was delicious. The entrees were flavorful, high quality and excellently prepared. The State had a great vibe with a nice bar area. It is a great place to come with any size group. We appreciate the great experience at The State. If you are looking for a superb place to eat in downtown Riverside, definitely check it out.
The State – Riverside If you’re anywhere near Riverside, The State is an absolute must-go. From start to finish, the experience is packed with flavor, craft, and comfort done right. The evening kicked off with their perfectly constructed Old Fashioned—balanced, smooth, and expertly crafted. It’s one of those cocktails that instantly tells you you’re in good hands. For food, the Artichoke & Spinach Grilled Cheese paired with the Tomato Basil Soup is an unexpected standout. The sandwich is rich and flavorful, with the creamy artichoke-spinach blend melting into each bite, and the soup adds that warm, bright, aromatic finish that makes the combo unforgettable. The Wagyu Pork Meatballs arrive next in a spicy tomato sauce that’s layered with Italian spices. Every bite is tender, bold, and full of depth—comforting yet elevated. But the true “don’t even think about skipping it” item is the Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce. Warm, decadent, and draped in that rich bourbon caramel, it’s the kind of dessert you keep thinking about long after the last bite. In short: excellent cocktails, standout dishes, and a dessert worth the trip alone. The State is a must-visit in Riverside.
Absolutely delicious! The wait staff was fantastic. Aufrey H is the best waitress!! (She looks like Sookie from theTrue blood tv show!) Best tacos, my favorite was the Philly steak taco and the blackened chicken taco. For vegetarians, I would recommend the vegan taco with a garlic aïoli! For drinks, we had the house margarita and an IPA. The house margarita is superb!
On our way back from the beach we made a detour to Downtown Riverside. It’s always one of my favorite stops if I can make it today while walking past some of the shops, The State caught my eye. We already ate lunch earlier in Redlands so we decided to check it out and get some drinks at the bar. It was beautiful inside and I knew instantly I would love it. I’m not really a fan of beer or hard cocktails so I ordered a margarita. When I asked the bartender what their best one was, he explained it to me and it sounded delicious. He also let me know it was $25 which I appreciate ahead of time in case I wasn’t trying to go crazy but hey, I’m on vacation. I did tell him I don’t like the taste of super strong alcohol so he did adjusted a little bit and even took a few bucks off which I appreciated even though I didn’t ask him to do that so that was kind the bar seats were cozy. When we got there, there was quite a few people at different tables, but it was still easy to talk. The music was in a good level and I just really love the vibe in there. I made it a few other spots nearby and I’d say this one was the best just from their bar alone.. service was great the entire time and prices were fair. Happy hour specials were good and they had one for every day of the week. They even had Tuesday eight dollar margaritas unfortunately for me we came on a Monday lol
We stopped by on a Sunday afternoon. We were seated quickly. We started with the Fried Brussel Sprouts, they were really good and the goat cheese was delicious. The pineapple Mimosa was refreshing.I had the Spinach Artichoke grilled cheese with onion rings, my companion had the Drunken Pig burger. My sandwich was amazing, and the onion rings were perfect. For dessert we tried the Beignets with a berry coulis. They were so good, the sauce was wonderful. Service was superb, many people came to check on us during the meal. We will be returning soon.
Common questions about The State
The State is located at 3800 Main St, Riverside, CA 92501, United States, Riverside, CA, United States.
You can reach The State by calling +1 951-728-3330.
The State has a rating of 4.2 out of 5 based on 151 customer reviews.
The State features the following accessibility: Wheelchair-accessible car park, Wheelchair-accessible entrance, Wheelchair-accessible seating, Wheelchair-accessible toilet.
The State features the following service options: Takeaway, Dine-in, Delivery.
The State features the following highlights: Great beer selection, Great cocktails.
The State features the following popular for: Lunch, Dinner, Solo dining.
The State features the following offerings: Alcohol, Beer, Cocktails, Comfort food, Food, Food at bar, Happy-hour drinks, Small plates, Spirits, Vegan options, Vegetarian options, Wine.
The State features the following dining options: Brunch, Lunch, Dinner, Dessert, Seating, Table service.
The State features the following amenities: Bar on site, Restroom.
The State features the following atmosphere: Casual, Trendy.
The State features the following crowd: Family friendly, Groups, Tourists.
The State features the following planning: Accepts reservations.
The State features the following payments: Credit cards, Debit cards, NFC mobile payments.
The State features the following children: Good for kids, Has changing table(s), High chairs, Kids' menu.
The State features the following parking: Free street parking, Paid parking garage, Paid parking lot, Paid street parking.
Business Features
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