Cute little place. Always drive by it on the way to Harrika's. It's definitely worth a stop. It's a little fancier then Nicky's. Service was great the food was quite filling. Had to take home leftovers and everything tasted well even a day after.
The crab dip had plenty of crab, but was fairly normal in flavor. The bread could of been toasted or a little harder, so it wouldn't fall apart when you tried to dip it.
The shrimp and grits were delicious. They're not kidding when they say jumbo shrimp. There was a healthy portion of shrimp, making it quite a filling dish. The blackened mahi had a bit of kick to it, but quite tasty.
They have a very good selection of beers and a decent handful on tap. There's a wine list as well for those who prefer the vino. Parking was easy and the setting, particularly on the upstair level was lovely.
Great food! You're going to drop some cash for dinner. My wife and I had a $100 ticket for two entrees and a bottle of wine. It was worth it though. If you go on the weekend call and make a reservation. I never would've guessed they even took reservations but that place is always packed.
Review Source:We really enjoyed the food here!!! Â We got shrimp nachos (they were out of scallops), and sweet potato muffins as an appetizer. Â They were both delicious. Â I had cheese ravioli which was good and my husband got the jumbo shrimp and fries, which he liked. Â Our waiter, Timmy was very friendly and gave us good service!! Â It is a bit pricey as other reviewers have said, but it's one of the best places we've tried in the area. Â Overall we enjoyed the food and the experience here.
Review Source:We really liked this place. We called ahead and told them we had a large party - 9 people - and would be there in 30 minutes. When we got there, our table was ready for us. Our server, Brandi, was very friendly and attentive. We started with the crab dip, which was good, but had maybe a little too much horseradish in it. My husband had the shrimp and oysters, and I had the house grouper. I can't speak as to my husband's dish, but mine was pretty good. Not amazing, but good. Overall, it's a little pricey, but the food is good and the service was GREAT. I'd recommend it.
Review Source:Shared many meals here with various friends/family and all have enjoyed dining here.
Always a good meal-and I just love the sweet potato muffins!
Shrimp and grits this time with side salad-plenty of food to split which is good because the price tag is high.
Drink was just ok. Â High price of food and only ok drink is what keeps it from getting a 5 star-from me.
My husband and I dined there a few weeks ago for our anniversary. I was suffering from a cold, however, the food was outstanding even with "off" taste buds!! I got the she-crab soup which is my favorite and it was cooked perfectly. Some place put too much sherry in theirs or not enough but theirs was perfect. The sweet potato muffin itself was worth the visit. I wish I could snag the recipe for those!!
My husbands steak melted in your mouth and was seasoned to perfection. My dish was a special and I would go back just to get it. The asparagus were nicely steamed with a slight crunch, just the way I like them. My fish topped with lump-crab was so delicate and light even with the hollendaise sauce. Â The portions were very large and even my husband wasn't able to finish all of his steak.
Biggest tip: The place is small so either go early or make a reservation!!!
I hope we are able to go again before we move from the area!!
The food was fantastic. We had a scallop nacho appetizer that was great. Then for dinner I had a beef tenderloin and shrimp entree (the carpet bagger) which was great! Â My wife had the New York strip which was also great. Â The best part of the meal was the sweet potato muffin that came with our salads. Â The place is small, so go early or make reservations. But definitely go!
Review Source:For the first time, we were waited on by Nick last night. As a bartender/server myself, I was blown away. And that's hard for me to say. His sense of humor, attention to detail and conversation skills were so impressive. We will be requesting him in the future!!!
We've been coming to this place for over 2 years. We live almost an hour away, but try to visit quarterly. We have NEVER been disappointed. The service & food is always consistently good, and the environment is cozy. My husband used to come to this place almost a decade ago when he lived here before, and he said it's still the same. And those sweet potato muffins?! Forget about it!!! they are amazing! My husband & I both aren't big sweet potato fans, but these things make our mouths water when we think of them. If you haven't checked this place out, please do! Their seafood is amazing
The food was outstanding. Â Our waiter was attentive, courteous and knowledgeable about everything on the menu. Â The sweet potato muffins that were served with the salad were divine! Â The homeade peppercorn ranch dressing was superb. Â Our entree were cooked perfectly. Â My seafood was cooked perfectly and there are no fried seafood dishes on the menu! Â My husband's steak was tender, flavorful and cooked perfectly. Â We'll definitely be going back.
Review Source:Just got back from dinner at Riverside. It was our first time and we enjoyed ourselves. It was 845 on a Tuesday night so it was dead in there, which allowed our server to be extra attentive. We started with the hot crab dip & garlic bread - it was DELICIOUS! Next came the house salads - I recommend the Parmesan Peppercorn dressing. Along with the salads comes a sweet potato muffin that is out of this world! Its more like dessert, but delicious. My husband got the Carpet Bagger (10oz sirloin stuffed with two jumbo shrimp & topped with a creamy burre blanc) - he really enjoyed it & would give it an 8 out of 10. I had the Grouper Andouille (Grouper on top of fettuccine with a creamy sundried tomato sauce & a side of sautéed veggies) - I really enjoyed mine as well, it gets an 8. We didn't have any room for dessert, maybe next time? This place is crazy expensive, so people usually just go for a special occasion. I recommend it.
Review Source:We just got back from dinner at Riverside. Â While everything was great, the service was particularly outstanding - probably the best service I've ever had in a restaurant. Â The waiter gave us just the right amount of attention, humored our requests and opinions, and was very helpful in guiding us through the menu.
We had the scallop nachos as an appetizer, followed by house salads with sweet potato muffins (recommend the bacon dressing), and then the pico de grouper and another grouper entree in a more conventional garlic-butter sauce. Â As other reviewers have mentioned, the quality and quantity of all of the seafood was top-notch, and the blackened things in particular were very nicely done. Â What we particularly enjoyed about this place was that at first glance the menu basically seems like a gross mash-up crime against God and man. Â I think "scallop nachos" illustrates what I mean pretty well. Â However, we went where the chef was leading, and it was tasty, filling, and totally original. Â You have to wonder if the chef is crazy, or just really cynical, but I choose to imagine him or her in the back, laughing merrily as they put sour cream on top of a grouper. Â I mean...there was a muffin in my salad. Â It doesn't make sense. Â But it was DELICIOUS.
Other reviewers seem to have been critical of the decor, which is sport-fishing and hunting themed. Â On the second floor, there are huge fiberglass reproductions of swordfish, some taxidermied deer heads, pictures of people fishing, etc. Â I personally loved it. Â Then again, I came here to fish and eat fish, so maybe that's just the type of person that will feel comfortable in this restaurant. Â I also think that the quality of the food is what justifies the prices, not what is on the walls.
Exceptional. Fantastic. Delicious. Magnificent. Succulent. Aromatic. Salacious. Decadent.
These are just a few of the adjectives that come to mind when I recall the brilliant meals I was served at this fine establishment. The price tag reflects the quality, but to say it's not worth it would be heinous. For a meal of this caliber in a larger city, you would pay 20-40% more and deal with a much less casual and welcoming atmosphere.
I've had the "Pico de Grouper" and "Carpet Bagger Steak" while dining here.
To begin with, if you order a salad, it's nothing to write home about, as it's a simple side salad, but the veggies are fresh, and the blue cheese dressing I ordered was riddled with chunky pieces of blue.
But this is to ignore the true "diamond in the roughage," the sweet potato muffin.
Yes, the sweet potato muffin.
With the first bite, you are suckered into a bitter sweet experience that forces you to realize that few things in your life have been so rewarding as this little piece of heaven. As you nibble your way into the center, you're greeted by the most moist, light, and delicious little ball of doughy goodness one could imagine.
My eyes rolled into the back of my head and I exclaimed to the bar tender, who doubled as my waitress,"My God! What on Earth is this?!?" She politely replied,"Sweet potato muffin, aren't they wonderful?" as if to nonchalantly play down the experience that just overwhelmed my senses. As I further explained to her how amazing it was, she promised that she would be willing to bring me more to take home for breakfast in the morning. Southern hospitality at its absolute finest... if a southerner has any care in the world for you, they'll fill your belly. I felt perfectly at home with such hospitality. A rare treat when working on the road.
For the two times I got to dine here, the beginning of each entree was the aforementioned salad accompanied by the sweet potato muffin that could curl the toes of any consumer. This salad + muffin combo is the perfect segue to the entrees that followed.
Entree #1, the Pico de Grouper:
I'm from New Orleans, so when I get seafood I'm skeptical of the preparation, seasoning, taste, cooking methods, and freshness of the catch.
The Pico de Grouper dish quelled all doubts the moment my fork brushed against the perfectly blackened piece of succulent fish and it flaked apart to reveal the most perfectly tender and glistening moist piece of fish one could conceive. That this oasis was present in Swansboro blew my mind. I couldn't believe how lucky I was to have found this place. My expectations were that of a 3 star restaurant, but this place's kitchen could flourish in any big city.
The Pico de Grouper was served on a bed of black beans with pico de gallo and a light avocado based spread atop the fish. The fish was a perfect cut and cooked to perfection. I was shocked and resolved myself to dining here the following night to sample what the bartender promised was her favorite item on the menu, the Carpet Bagger steak.
Entree #2, the Carpet Bagger:
I'll begin first by defining a "Carpet Bagger" via google search:
1. A political candidate who seeks election in an area where they have no local connections.
2. A person from the northern states who went to the South after the Civil War to profit from the Reconstruction.
Based on the definition, one might assume that such a dish isn't native to the area. To presume that his dish doesn't belong here is preposterous at best and belies the idea that is truth, simply put, that this dish would be perfectly home on any menu in any 4 or 5 star restaurant in which I've ever stepped foot.
It's two 5oz. filet cuts of beef seared to perfection (ordered mine medium rare). Each cut is divided by two massive jumbo shrimp which are lightly pan fried and covered in a sauce that I can't describe as anything but the perfect compliment to the surf & turf. The fact that any of the 3 could easily stand on their own is a true credit to the chef behind this creation.
The shrimp were succulent and juicy. The steak was delightfully red at the center and pink/red to the edges. Both the shrimp and the steak could've easily stood on their own as the only item necessary to make for an exceptional meal, but you have the blissful experience of all 3 coming together to scintillate your palette and leave you with cravings even upon completion of the dish.
I had grilled vegetables to compliment each of my entrees on the 2 nights I dined here and even they were cooked perfectly. The squash, zucchini, and carrots were all just firm enough and not necessarily crunchy and very well seasoned.
I enjoyed Sweetwater 420 with each meal and suggest you do the same. If you want to be well taken care of, enjoy your meal upstairs and have Laura take care of you!
Food quality was great. Menu entrées were pricey, as expected and desired. Issues were two things. First, the owners are confused about the kind if place they are; the entrée price suggest classy and the food quality is there, but the menu also has chicken wings and such. They need to update their menu and go high end. With that they could update the decor and atmosphere some to something that matches the menu prices. Second, while billed as a steak and seafood restaurant, the night we went they were out of NY strip, salmon, and scallops. That was ridiculous. Coupled with our serving not knowing the wine list, it made it a 'just ok' experience that wasn't worth the price. I'd happily pay $100 for a dinner for two, but the expectation is higher.
Review Source:Everything was fantastic. The scallop nachos appetizer is a delightful surprise (we've recreated them at home since then), and the homemade sweet potato muffins are served warm and delicious. I had the blackened YellowFin Tuna for my meal; it's presented on a bed of Havarti grits--I'd never had grits until I came to NC, and I'm a fan!--which is a great pairing.
The portions are gigantic, well worth the price. I confess, I couldn't quite finish my meal, which does not happen to me often. The service was polite and friendly, and the decor feels upscale while still being bright and sunny.
DELICIOUS!!!! To my surprise scallop nachos are AMAZING and if I had known I would have ordered this as my main dish instead of an appetizer. You may be wondering how it is served. Well, there are five large freshly cooked tortilla chips, topped with black beans, salsa, cheese and a seasoned blacked scallop. Yum!!
For my main course I had the mahi mahi served over pasta. It was perfectly cooked and moist.
Until now, we had never eaten at Riverside, though we have been by it several times in the past few years. Â Being we had just left a funeral for a relative, we did not feel up to the typical fried seafood fare so we decided to give these guys a try. Â
This was a Monday evening, off season and after 20:00, so I was sort of surprised to find them open. Â As we entered, we were promptly greeted by a young lady at the desk and then seated. Â She said they had a bar upstairs, complete with TVs etc.. but we decided to opt for the quieter locale.
Our waiter, Tim, appeared promptly and produced a small card with the special's from the main entry board - all quite helpful in addition to the main menu. Â He also had 3 other items which were not on the card which all sounded right up our alley - both salmon dishes.
As we scanned the menu, we noticed the absence of much fried seafood. Â In fact, they have a few platters of shrimp and oysters but it became quickly evident that they are competing in a whole different venue. Â So if you are looking for a fried seafood bonanza, you may not find it here. However, you will be rewarded with a varied menu ranging from fish to salads, to steaks to pasta all sounding wonderful. Â We both opted for one of the specials and the waiter was glad to alter the dish more to our liking. I got a nice fresh blackened salmon garnished with grilled shrimp, laid on a bed of cucumber pickle relish - wonderful. Â The dish had excellent presentation, was served on a black plate with an attention to detail we had not expected. Â The fish was cooked to perfection and melted in my mouth. Â The whole red potatoes were served on the side and were also well executed.
The other dish, called Salmon Oscar, was a salmon topped with a generous portion of crab meat served on a bed of asparagus which was also cooked to perfection!  The crab meat was sweet, tender and rarely have I had better.  The asparagus was actually quite a surprise as few people cook asparagus correctly and these stalks were perfect.  For this  dish, we asked to drop the hollandaise sauce and substitute in the cucumber pickle relish from the blackened salmon dish.  Both melded perfectly and Tim gladly made that change! Â
Our meals were also served with a generous salad which was good, fresh, and well prepared. Â We also were able to sample the sweet potato muffins and they were tasty with a nice hint of salt- gotta love those sweet potatoes!
Overall, the only caution I have is for the area, Riverside is on the upper scale of pricing, but I did mention earlier, they are really in an entirely different venue than most others in the area. Â Expect to pay $25-30 / plate w/o tip which for the food served and presented would be a steal in Raleigh, Charlotte, Atlanta, NY, San Francisco or Chicago. Â
Should you have a craving for some excellently prepared food, or need a location for a special evening out with your family or friends then I suggest you give these guys a try - I do not believe you will be disappointed.
Cheers.
I've eaten here a few times now while on business at Lejeune. Â The food is good and the special's are plentiful. Â Everything on the special's board sound fantastic. Â I've had a tuna dish and a salmon dish and were very pleased with both. Â It's nice to get a not-fried meal down here.
Review Source:
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