Honestly... very impressed by the River Boat! We had come here another time and were less than impressed. But this time was much better. They have lots of indoor and outdoor seating. It was a nice night tonight, so we sat outside and enjoyed the peaceful ambiance of the Potomac River on this spring day. They were short staffed but still had great service. We ordered 2 cheeseburgers and a chicken salad. The burgers were HUGE and well priced at $12.75. Especially for this view. Delicious fries with a well done cheeseburger. The salad came with warm grilled chicken and was perfectly crisp. We also ordered hush puppies which were 10/10. Definitely recommend this place for a nice day! read more

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After waiting over an hour for our food, the taste and quality was sub par. They were out of half the items on their menu. Only good thing we had was the crab dip and the 1 round of free drinks due to our long wait. read more

Only thing nice about this place is the view. Their website is misleading, the breakfast bar is an over priced joke. They had 6 things on the breakfast bar, most of which was not good. It is not family friendly and our waitress wasn't very knowledgeable about something as simple as what drinks they offered. (This is putting it nicely.) Only bar juices. It was almost 10 am and no coffee brewed. Messed up our bills, and they had the nerve to add gratuity because we were a group of 6 adults and 5 children. Horrible service, poor quality food. Avoid here if you are vacationing. I would have taken pictures but never thought I would write a review. This is my first yelp review I have ever done that is how terrible this place was and ripped off I feel. read more

My wife and I decided to head to Colonial Beach for some decent seafood, but sadly, it is off season, and most of the restaurants were closed. With few choices, we decided to try lunch at the Riverboat on the Potomac. The crab cake was 50% all cake, no crab; the shrimp were cold and mealy, the stuffed shrimp were pure garbage; the green beans were from a can and mushy, and the clam chowder was a white liquid with potatoes. This was one of the worst meals we have ever eaten. Brian Gaquin read more

if you wanna know where the world's worst food is? This place. We should have turned around and left when we came in, but we were dumb and stayed. The food on the breakfast buffet was so disgusting. Powdered eggs left over from 1965, hard biscuits, water downed gravy, I can go on and on. The atmosphere was so out dated from the 90's. If this place had a great chef on payroll and a good staff and a massive remodel. It would be beautiful. Honestly, I have never been so unhappy in my entire life with a restaurant. Horse betting every where. Not a place for kids either. read more

Came here a Monday for a late lunch and the place was empty except two other tables. We ordered the prime rib, small shipwreck platter, kids Mac and cheese, and kids cheeseburger. I thought the food was pretty good. I would get the food here again for sure. Our server was also nice and friendly. He did, however, forget both our appetizers and we didn't notice until after our entrees had been out. Inside could use a little revamping as it is outdated but you can't beat the view. There is also plentiful parking. read more

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Food was okay. Service was good. Location was great! But I now know where they filmed the "ozark series " If I drank still this could be a fun place. read more

Sundays are a Happy Place at Riverboat, with "Rockin Roger" singing and playing in the lounge, from 2-6pm, and good food and drinks!

Fastest service on the beach. They might be under staffed, but the ladies there hustle so you wouldn't know it. Food is good. No flies like some restaurants. A/C is cold. Beer prices are better than most in town. read more

Came here for our Christmas lunch with my grandma and her bf who live in the area. Haven't been in years and years and hadn't heard many positives so didn't have high hopes. Honestly the food was way above my expectations. There were 6 of us. We got some drinks to starts and service was slow but there were only 2 servers and 1 person in the kitchen from what we were told. Mom got the fried rockfish bites which were delicious and a huge portion. Grandma and her bf got the rockfish and shrimp dinner (one fried one broiled) which were also large portions and very tasty. Dad got a burger that he said was good but overcooked. My sister and I got the large platter to share broiled and everything was great except the scallops which were super small (should have been more then 4) Overall things were tasty and I would go back read more

I don't leave reviews much anymore but I had to! Went today for our 15th anniversary because hubby loves keno. It was an utter disaster. Mikayla was behind the bar and should never be in the service industry. There was an older woman with glasses who came around twice but never came back. She was personable and actually TALKED to us. Mikayla never came back we had to constantly call her. We had to ask for our menus, call her back for our drinks. We never completed our meal we left soon after. She spent her time talking at the other end of the bar. We had to YELL for silverware! The food was an utter disaster. The oysters were overcooked, the flounder was raw in the center, the crab cake was inedible. The baked potatoes were RAW. Mikayla delivered the plates and walked away as we were talking to her. She didn't offer lemon, silverware, ketchup or salt/pepper. Hubby loved their ruben but as long as Mikayla is there they've lost 15 people going there. read more

This restaurant caught our attention because it is probably one of the biggest buildings in Colonial Beach right off the boardwalk and sits over the water. Once inside, the seating/bar/dining room are all extremely dated and not well taken care of at all, very dirty. We considered leaving right then and there but decided to try an appetizer and drink. Menu was super small, and the appetizers we got looked like they were freezer food from the grocery store. Mixed drinks were just ok, way overpriced for the atmosphere and size of drink you're getting. Waitresses seemed disinterested, were sitting at one of the tables at the front of the restaurant just talking, took a long time to attend to the table. Will definitely not be going back unless they do a major upgrade. read more

Ordered the "jumbo" shrimp stuffed with crabmeat...better description would be mini shrimp stuffed with filler & a few pieces of crab. Guess we should Have figured that a gambling venue would not really serve quality food. read more

If you're in Colonial Beach, there are not very many choices for restaurants. I've been going here for over 10 years and have been to all the eateries. The Riverboat is a good choice in nice weather because of the lovely patio outside and the gorgeous view of the Potomac. It's also cool that once you step into the restaurant, you are technically in Maryland. The place itself is a little dark and dank. It has off track betting and keno, for those who like to do some gambling. I'm not into that side, but prefer to head to the restaurant down the hallway, or enjoy the balcony. They also have an arcade room. The food is pretty good, but nothing to rave about. I've had the mini corn dogs, the burgers, salads and more. Last time I had the pastrami on rye, and while it was ok, the bread was a bit soggy (gotta drain that sauerkraut). The loaded fries are delicious, we ended up getting two orders and devouring them. I've also been here for the brunch buffet which had lots of choices, but again fair food. I'd love to see them kick it up a notch to compete with High Tides down the street. read more

Riverboat On the Potomac - American Near Me - Colonial Beach, Virginia

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This place is located in a very convenient location and this is the only good part about this restaurant. We ordered quite a few food items and some were not available. The service took very long time. Lastly, the food was in low quality. So if not for the convenience, I would recommend other places. read more

Positive : view is nice Negative: BATHROOMS DISGUSTING! EXTREMELY slow service, nothing on the patio to keep birds away while u eat, not the cleanest place, the flounder was to soft, burger was frozen bot fresh, green beans canned, most places have umbrellas on the patio seating in case the sun is beating down on you. No umbrellas. Floors and seating areas were DIRTY from previous patrons and never got cleaned the entire time we were there. A couple came in and had to wipe the crud off their own seats. First time in the area , Wont return here. read more

The Riverboat on the Potomac has beautiful views, a great menu, and yummy food. Their Valentines dinner for two was amazing. While they may have stumbled in the past, April and staff are doing a great job. Give them a try...If you are a sports fan, the Gaming room is great - TV's comfy chairs, and betting. read more

Service was slow. I felt like I was waiting forever but I was also very hungry. The food was solid. The chicken tenders were not good. The 1/2 lb steamed shrimp was really good and so was the fried shrimp poboy. Really great ambiance and live bands on Sunday. We ate outside and the birds didn't bother us read more

Get the flounder platter...fries will go first. Very busy for Sat, but services from Gabby (waitress) was great.

Terrific find, the riverboat has a bit of everything. Dining, drinking, sports betting, keno room and even a live musician playing in one room. A bit worn and a bit ragged but the food was terrific and the service even better. We had a great time exploring the beach and feeding the gulls. read more

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Very slow service, food was ok. You should also be aware that you can bet on horse racing here and there are 40+ TVs showing the races, and set expectations accordingly read more

Enter through the Boardwalk on Colonial Beach, sits over the Potomac River so technically in Maryland. Offers off track betting for horse races and a pretty strong drink at the bar. That's where the enchantment ends with me. All the employees are miserable and are quite vocal about it. Bathrooms were clean but oddly decorated. read more

Riverboat On the Potomac - Sits in the river, so off track betting and Maryland lottery available. - American Near Me - Colonial Beach, Virginia

Great location right on the boardwalk with a great view. This is the gambling scene at Potomac Beach. We were there around 9 p.m. during the Potomac River Festival, and it was dead. Perhaps 9 p.m. is too early, but that's when the karaoke was supposed to start. We didn't see any karaoke. It might've been more fun with a group of friends who were drinking and gambling, but for just my sister and me, we weren't impressed. The exterior is really quite an eyesore, too. read more

Riverboat is a complete dive. If I could give it zero stars I would. Leaking ceilings. foul carpet and gross furniture. We waited for an hour and we were never served our breakfast that was ordered all with only two other tables in the dining room. It's absolutely clear that Riverboat owners dont care about regular dining as they put all the money into the new sports betting Room. Never again will I walk into your establishment. read more

Sadly, we left without eating, the place seemed quite depressing, dark and empty. Maybe we'll try again during season. The riverboat theme...and being in Maryland once you board and Virginia when you step outside is an interesting quirk. read more

I'm surprised this place only has 2 stars, I had a great experience. I ordered a shrimp basket with fries and cole slaw and my hubby ordered snow crab legs and everything was delicious. Beautiful views and great service. read more

Thoroughly disgusted with the service at this place. Server was clueless, disorganized, and inattentive. That's just the tip of the iceberg. It took over an hour to get our food and almost that long to get drinks. On to the main event - a group of rude idiots, one absolutely horrendous a-hole specifically, RUINED the entire show. I cannot imagine how miserable of a person you have to be completely trash everyone's evening. The management of this place did NOTHING to control the situation and literally allowed it to happen. I guarantee we will never return to this place and I'll make sure to advise everyone else to avoid it also. read more

We had a great Thanksgiving lunch at this restaurant they had a special Thanksgiving dinner it was great and the price was very low for the amount of food we recieved. Our server was amazing she was very friendly and helpful we sat at their terrace at first but it was too windy when we asked to go I side she was happy to move us inside. The entire staff was friendly and welcoming. I will definitely be back for my next trip to Colonial Beach. You guys ROCK!!!!! read more

The worst experience I've ever had at a restaurant. The service was very slow and the food was not that great. My rare steak was well done, the green beans were tasty but cold, the baked potato was good but how do you mess up a baked potato, the fried platter was cooked too long crab cake hard and the shrimp was crusty.it took at least an hour to get our food. They only had one cook which is stupid. The bartender landed a hand but still the service was poor. The best thing about the restaurant was The view. I don't understand how they're still in business I guess the best part of it is the horse racing. Customer service could have been better and let us know one cook one server one bartender we would have left so I guess that's why they didn't let you know. read more

This place is garbage. Food is so bad and the servers have no clue what's going on. Do not come here

We had walked in and didn't really like the ambience. It kind of smelled like cigarette smoke and it appears to be a gambling/horse racing place? Against our better judgement, we ordered carryout to take to the beach, thinking "how bad can fried food be?" Well, it was bad. My sister's club sandwich was soggy, untoasted, and just not good. It also did not include the bacon or cheese as advertised. My crab cake sandwich did not come with the fries we paid extra for. They get two starts for at least trying to remedy the problem and the hush puppies were good. They replaced my sister's sandwich and my fries but the fries were not fried fully and were very soggy. read more

We went to seat ourselves and there wasn't a clean seat in the place. When we saw a busboy cleaning off a table he said it was reserved for someone else. I went to use the bathroom and it smelled like feces and there was a cockroach upside down on the floor surrounded by a lot of tissue. No service, dirty restroom, dirty tables, no seating available. Didn't want to risk eating there and getting sick. If I could I would put 0 stars. read more

Good location, but wish we had gone somewhere else for many reasons.... We went in about brunch time to get a late breakfast. There was ONE PERSON in the whole place (which really should have been a sign...), at the bar drinking margaritas on a Tuesday morning. We ordered Bloody Mary's to start as we looked over the menu. It took 15+ minutes to get them. And they really were not worth the wait or $7. Saying they were mediocre would be over selling them. And I am really unsure if they had alcohol at all, or if it was just tomato juice with a garnish. So we finally get to order, I get Chesapeake Eggs Benedict. I ask if I could have hush puppies with mine instead of home fries, and if they could come out first. Waitress says no problem. 15+ minutes later we get the hush puppies, and the weren't awful. 5+ minutes after that we get our meals. And mine is DEFINITELY not right. There is no crab, no old bay, and the hollandaise sauce is the consistency of mustard. When the waitress finally comes back to check on us, I tell her I don't think mine is right. She then said crab was extra. When I asked how this was a "Chesapeake" eggs Benedict, she looked confused and walked away. She did bring back crab for my meal tho. When we finally get the bill, I am surprised to see there is a $5 charge for hush puppies in Addition to our meals and drinks. I asked the waitress if they came with our meal why were we being charged extra? She said they "would have been more added to the meal, so I saved you money". WTH??? There was no mention of it being an up charge. At this point I was honestly so irritated with the whole experience we just paid the bill and left. I do not recommend this place at all. It was an awful experience and expensive. I really wish we'd gone somewhere else. read more

Shabby as HELL! Perhaps this place is acceptable for Colonial Beach residents, but it would be BURNED TO THE GROUND if it were in northern PG County. Visited to attend a birthday party being held in a private room, and all I can say was "Ugh!" At first glance I was taken aback by how DATED the place was... it needs a serious decorative overhaul. From the tables, chairs, the bar and bar stools, to the paint and flooring... everything was just ridiculously old, and the whole place just looked dingy. Again, clearly the people of this area finds this acceptable, otherwise how can they possibly stay in business? No way i'd plan a birthday party here. There was a bar in our area, and I asked the bartender for a daiquiri... which I received in an 8 oz plastic cup... with WHIPPED CREAM on top. Seriously, whipped cream? Since when is whipped cream placed on daiquiri's served in a tiny plastic cup? Absolutely LAUGHABLE! And if that wasn't bad enough, damn thing cost $7.50! WTF??!!!! Why oh why did I come to this place, hungry? *sigh* $30 got me a "Seafood Platter," that consisted of 4 regular sized scallops, 4 regular sized shrimp, 1 flounder and 1 horrible-tasting crab cake... for THIRTY DAMN DOLLAS!!!! And I had to place the order with the bartender, because I had no idea who or where the waitresses were. And get this... She asked if I wanted fries or a baked potato as a side, and I was under the impression either/or was the ONLY side... Nope!... The platter came with a baked potato and cabbage, yuck!!! I hate cabbage! And it wasn't mentioned on the menu. Seriously, who the hell pairs cabbage with seafood?? Never again. read more

We enjoyed lunch here. Our server, Heather, was so sweet and awesome. The view is beautiful. Would definitely recommend a visit. Both the Virginia and Maryland sides of the restaurant. read more

Waited at the front door for a good 10 minutes before anyone noticed. Got seated and waited 20 minutes before anyone helped us. There was only 2 waitresses working, 1 way harder than the other and I felt bad for her. She was very nice but stressed it seemed. Absolute worst food ever. I ordered the super fries- cheese bacon and a side of ranch. They were put under the broiler and forgotten about!! Burnt and the bacon tasted very old. Ranch is so generic l, again- awful tasting. I got the shrimp basket which comes with fried shrimp and fries. HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. 5 jumbo over cooked fried shrimp and fries for $10. Yes, $10. Insane! My husband ordered the club sandwich and he said "I'm not sure how you can mess up something as simple as a club but this is awful" Would never ever ever eat here again. read more

Riverboat On the Potomac - Burnt cheese fries. - American Near Me - Colonial Beach, Virginia

Unfortunately, the nice view of this water front restaurant did not match the quality of the food. I ordered the Crab Cake entree with a side is hush puppies. The hush puppies were tasty and the Crab Cake was OK but fell a little flat. I would say that it was too shredded; getting lump crab would have been nice. The canned green beans that I didn't know I was going to get on my plate ruined everything for me. For a white table cloth restaurant, anything canned is a no no. The server did not know the menu, did not taste the menu, did not offer us coffee, or dessert. Unfortunately, a meh experience. read more

The view at the Riverboat is spectacular. I wish I could say the same about the rest of our experience. We visited on a beautiful Saturday afternoon when there was hardly anyone around. The outdoor seating area was great. The weather was gorgeous and the view was to die for. I could have sat there for hours talking in the sights. The food was okay. The seafood was good, as was my Reuben. However, the soup and vegetables tasted like they had come from a can, with the vegetable (green beans) looking pathetic and tasting 'funky.' My wife could not eat them. The price of the vegetables was removed from our bill, but only the waitress apologized. It would have been more appropriate if the manager had come and talked with us. What happened after dinner sealed the deal. My wife used the ladies room and recognized one of the other waitresses also using the facilities. This person left and returned to work without washing her hands. We also noticed this waitress smoking outside the main entrance of the building (less than 25 feet from the front door) upon our arrival. Needless to say, we will not be visiting the Riverboat again. read more

The food was mediocre at best. Crab dip and hush puppies were good but the salads were from a bag and the shrimp was delayed due to not being thawed out enough for it to be served when other meals were served. The food was way over priced for the quality. The waitress was nice but I would not recommend eating here. read more

We spent good money to see a comedy performer here, and looked forward to a pleasant evening. The Riverboat had no security to control some drunken and obnoxious members of the audience who kept trying to make the show all about them. The performer repeatedly asked for assistance from the venue, including asking them not to serve the main guy causing problems more booze, and to not allow him to return from the bar to his seat, but they served him anyway. On his way back, he again disrupted the performer. This went on until the performer left the stage. Now the Riverboat wants to blame the entertainer for their lack of control of people acting like drunken jackasses. They are accepting no responsibility at all for their failure to handle this properly. NEVER again. read more