The Riverside

This is my second time eating at The Riverside in the three years I've lived here, but I heard from the owners of The Cottage Shops that The Riverside had changed owners, and that the owner was wealthy, knew what good food should taste like and had brought this experience to The Riverside.  Upon walking into the restaurant, I noticed nothing had changed in the interior.  It was still tired tables and chairs.  The decor was still fishing whimsy.  The staff though was much friendlier and more attentive.  We got to chose our own table which made a huge difference since our food didn't even fit on the table they seated us at the last time.

The menu did not look like it had changed at all, but I noticed they had some specials that actually and surprisingly looked impressive, like a varied and plentiful variety of surf and turf, for higher than average prices for a diner in Monticello but good for seafood and what you would expect for a fancy restaurant.  I don't think The Riverside is a fancy restaurant and not even close to being on par with The Sportsman, but it might be a smidge above Harvest Time, USA and Anglers.  It's the only real seafood restaurant in town.  I got the fried shrimp and rib-eye steak with rice pilaf.  I loved the fried shrimp, but the rib-eye was still sub par.  I think it has more to do with the cut of meat (too thin) than the chef though.  It's hard to cook something that thin medium rare.

Other than being able to look out at the running river (that portion of Lake Freeman), I wouldn't consider this a romantic date place.  Also, everyone in here is 55 years old and up and/or having dinner with their adult children.  Still not my idea of a regular place.

Went on a vacation to Monticello with the gf, and the Riverside was, based on everything I researched, the only date worthy restaurant in town. It's on the river (obviously) and the view is very pretty. There was an angry swan. Most people don't know that swans are angry animals but they are.
Anyway, the King Crab was good and so was the steak. Portions big enough to share.

Oh, and there were ducks there too. Ducks.