Food was excellent David was a great server Food came out quickly Great place to get something to eat, the restaurant is in a old house makes you comfortable read more

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Went there for ate dinner and there are some good plates but one of shrimps with grit is very delicious! read more

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The Good , the Bad and the Ugly. Short bullet points: Way overpriced for what you get. Atmosphere beyond 0 stars. Wait staff rushed, stressed. Not a date/anniversary place. Chaotic vibes. Writing this review as constructive and hope that others view before dining to making a decision. Long review: First the GOOD: My wife chose this place because it was our anniversary last month and it seemed like the perfect place. We were seated right away. This was on a Tuesday in July mind you not a Friday night. we were seated as close to the kitchen entrance as we could without having to help wash the dishes. Our waiter was friendly and seemed to know the menu by heart. We ordered a cocktail each based on his recommendation, and both were great. My wife asked about what he recommended on the menu for an entree and he said the catch of the day which was grouper. I ordered the steak off the menu with no pricing. We both got house salads which it came with it and I think another side. I had the mashed potatoes. The food came in ample time. I know a lot of people on the reviews were talking about how the food was bland. The problem is from most people that go out to eat often including fast food and they salt the hell out of everything, and you taste nothing but salt. So the dishes to me were very well seasoned, you could taste the food and not overly salted. I thought the portions were more than ample also. To add we did not get appetizer, and we did not get a dessert. We did however get one glass of white wine with dinner. Now the BAD: Where can I start. The atmosphere. Do not go there for date night, please do not take her/him/them there. They have an ambience all right and its of a mom-and-pop breakfast diner. The tables mostly are wood booths , absolutely no attempt to warm the place up at all. No flowers no candles. It's very loud , the sound carries. And no attempt at turning the lights down.There are fish mounts and old photos on the wall and it sort of remined me of where they bring out newspapers and you go at it on crab and shrimp boil. I have been to southern manor houses turned into restaurants on many occasions and it has been beautiful, but you have to do it right. The waiter though friendly was not attentive at all. It was not primarily his fault as I had the feeling he was waiting on several large parties , but we are guest also, or were. I turned my glass up empty several times and he walked right by. The place seemed to fill up quickly and people were just hanging out the door, God help them they don't know any better. I just felt like it was a quick mess, hurry up and eat so the next group could "come on in!" THE UGLY: We asked the waiter for the check, My wife got it first and then there was silence and a strange look on her face. I said what's wrong ? She said the bill is $200.00 . I said well honey you are worth every penny... (that is not what I said but she is) i thin I said we can go back to the kitchen and help. Thank goodness we only go out on occasion. Main point: First we did not order 5 bottles of wine for this. My steak entree was $60.00 . It was not worth $60.00 to me. If you are going to charge those prices then you should have offered something more in return such as a view over the water you would never forget, A quiet tucked away table, low lighting and attentive staff. The food was not the issue nor was the bill, it was the contrast between the services rendered and value added. the gap was too far apart. We won't be going there again, and we will tell our friends. One last comment: In my opinion tourism is a double-edged sword, this area needs it, but it can also hurt. The 919'ers will pay anything for anything, "I'm on vacation who cares swipe , swipe away'. Thus, a menu with no prices. And also, as fewer and fewer people prepare meals at home anymore and in turn eat out constantly, they have no idea what good food really taste like and the value that it has in so many different ways. I'm joining you all and starting my own shrimp burger stand. Not really ... and pave your parking lot while you're at it. read more

Wonderful service, great ambiance and good food. Best dinner we have had on our visit to Emerald Isle area. The sweet potato muffins are delicious!! read more

I really wanted to like this place, but it fell flat. The service staff were kind and attentive but I definitely felt rushed though the restaurant wasn't full. The menu looked great, but I was surprised that the only option for a fresh catch of the day was on top of a salad. There were several specialty dishes, but many at our table felt they were very under-seasoned. The jambalaya came out looking like soup and was very bland. The pasta dish was buttery but had zero salt. It was like the restaurant was trying to be finer dining but the execution was off. It was fine but not great. They only sell wine and beer. Three dessert options. Again, not a bad meal, but I was surprised at how good the ratings were given our table's food, so maybe we were there on an off night. read more

Good food for the area. Expensive. Not somewhere I would go on a regular basis but definitely for a special occasion.

Great stop in Swansboro NC. Ate upstairs in the bar area - only 1 server/bartender taking care of the whole floor but he was able to keep up. Prices are higher than other spots so plan on $20-$40 per person. Cajun Beer battered shrimp - I would steer away from if you like crispy fried. Not much flavor, didn't have a lager taste like others I have tasted and batter was soft. Marinated Chicken Sandwich- great grill w/ marks from a chargrill and still juicy. I asked for a house salad instead of fries & was told there is no substitutions - Guess healthy was not the way to go. Overall 8 out of 10 read more

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Excellent service with delish fresh cuisine made for a relaxing fine dining experience. White Zin, Appetizer crab cakes, fresh salads with sweet potato muffins started our dining journey to perfection. Filet Mignon melted in your mouth and seared tuna was seasoned splendidly, complimented by blackened jumbo shrimp on tomato cucumber relish bed with divine sauce. Mississippi mud pie, now hubby's favorite, shared; sweetened our anniversary dinner's finale. Retired here 2 years ago and finally slowed down to enjoy a local gem; we will be back. Reservations encouraged. Ask for Jessica, she is engaging and navigates your experience beautifully. read more

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3 meals ordered, the grouper was good, the fried shrimp was not breaded and had no flavor and the 12 NY strip steak was good but it was too expensive at $49.95. read more

Not really Impressed with this place after all the reviews I have read, We went there initially because they advertise Lobster on their menu, NOPE no lobster except on special occasions we were told. the food we had was so so I had the Crab cakes and have to say that the Boathouse and Cape Fear Seafood i Wilmington are way superior IMHO. We thought they were overpriced and they really did not accomodate for Lactate intolerant people which my wife is. The service was efficient but our waiter really seemed to be Ho hum about our concerns. There was no ambience very basic rooms and seating. We will not be returning Sorry! read more

We have been to Riverside several times when vacationing in Emerald Isle. The food is good. We love the crab cakes. The staff is always friendly and tries to accommodate any requests. The ambiance upstairs is fun...it's got bar and fish/nautical decor. read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - Great blueberry martini! - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

I am trying so hard to love this restaurant. I called at 6pm on a non busy Tuesday for a take out for one person. I was craving crab cakes and this was the only place around that served them They told me after 5:30 chef wouldn't do any more to go orders. I respect that but when I got there and 2 hostesses were standing up front and only 1/3 of the tables were full I didn't quite understand. I was taken to a booth that was in the corner and away from enrolls else at first I thought it was cool cause it was private but then I felt like they didn't want a single person diner there. I told my server that I wanted everything to go and he was very accommodating. I ordered a Bloody Mary while I waited and ate some of the salad. The ranch dressing is absolutely amazing!! The salad and season alone are worth coming here. The crab cakes, veggies and potatoes came Out and this time.. the crab cakes were so not top quality. I should have went to the other spot nearby that sells them for $48 instead of the $30. Veggies were soggy. Ambiance needs touch up and the single person table is an embarrassment . read more

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This is not a seafood restaurant. it is restaurant that has seafood on the menu. Most of it is integrated with pasta or presented as Cajun cuisine. The beer battered shrimp was inedible. The thick coating was gummy and not crisp. The so called crab dip was barely warm and had little crab. Recommend you view menu before going. Only bright spot was good service. read more

The service was nothing short of perfect in regards to timing and checking up on us. The place was very clean, had an authentic ambience and very welcoming atmosphere. The food was top tier in regard to quality and taste. The scallops were to die for , highly recommended. read more

They messed up my steak but didn't tell me that they just asked if I minded it butterflied since I ordered my filet med well after 20 min of already waiting. Once I told them that I hate my steak butterflied she panicked and ran back to the kitchen and we waited another 30 minutes. before anything came out. We were literally practically the last people in the restaurant when we got there for 8 o'clock reservations and sat right down and ordered everything right off the rip with our drinks to save time. I was almost asleep when they finally came out with everyone's food EXCEPT mine!! My son's NY strip was cold so that means they had it all waiting there getting cold waiting for mine to cook instead of just bringing everything that was done out. Finally mine came out 1 hr 30 min on the mark after we ordered it!!! Yes of course it was piping hot and tasted great but the fact that they didn't once apologize, explain themselves, or even try to tell ud what was going on but knew how to include a 20% gratuity in the bill so that I might not want to tip her because of their mistakes pissed me off!! On top of that the weather was pouring rain and with all the money this place makes their parking lot was a mud hole huge puddles everywhere mud all over our shoes and a complete shit show to get in and out of with no parking lines or any kind of organization. For these reasons I wouldn't go back read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - Seafood pasta - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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What can I say, the establishment is beautiful and the service is great. However, the food was bland looks very presentable on pictures but for what you pay for it is not worth the amount that you will pay. I only had the seafood; not sure about the steak. read more

Had a enjoyable dinner at Riverside Steak and Seafood. The hostess was fabulous. Fun and witty. We had a few laughs with her. In addition We had an amazing server. His name was Eric. He had a great personality which made our dining experience 100% better. The food was good. Not sure I would say it was worth the "market price" but the steak was cooked as ordered. The restaurant itself lacks ambiance. For a higher end restaurant the inside is rather plain and uninteresting. Not much more to say there because it was simply boring. read more

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I used to frequent this restaurant and now I don't think I will be going back. I always get the seafood pasta. It is probably one of the best dishes I have ever had. This photo is one of the very many times I have eaten the dish & it was delicious. I had family in town and we decided to go. 3 of us got the seafood pasta, after all of the raving I did. It came out so bland that I don't understand it. The shrimp were still tasty but the sauce was almost like water with barely any tomato basic cream taste to it. The waiter was very nice but wasn't sure what to do since we did not like it. He went to go the owner, who was there managing that evening. The owner couldn't care less that our food wasn't up to par. He just shrugged his shoulders and walked away. I didn't want it taken off the check, I just wanted it made right to show my family how great it really could be. We paid our full tab and I don't think we will be returning. I cannot justify supporting an owner who takes no action when something is wrong. Very disappointing. read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - seafood pasta - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Party of nine got in and served right away. Lots of people but the food was still great!

The best meal we've had in the area is at Riverside! Made a reservation for 6pm on a Friday and we're seated right away. The server was friendly and attentive and got us our drinks and food pretty quickly considering how packed it was. We sat on the first floor and it was nice but we were told by locals the second floor has a better view (ask for a table upstairs with a river view when making reservations). Now for the food: Fried oysters: Star of the show, these may have been the best fried oysters I've ever had. Not too fried or greasy, and completely delicious! Scallop nachos: meh.. not sure what the hype is about. We only ate one each and decided to save room for or main courses Porterhouse pork chop: Cooked medium, was sooo tasty and juicy! Grouper Scampi: grouper was cooked perfectly! The fish itself was delicious. The pasta was pretty tasteless and needed salt, pep, and parm to flavor it up a bit read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - Pork - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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The best restaurant on the east coast of North Carolina!!! Everything is fresh!!! Service is outstanding, and the ambiance is "family!"

We found this place on yelp and went for dinner. It was excellent! It is an old house converted to a restaurant with plenty of parking on the side. I did not see any outdoor seating. We got there about 545 and were seated but I think we took the last available table at that time. They have several craft beers on tap. I had a Red Oak and my wife had a Lone Star Pilsner both were good. We each had a salad with homemade ranch. Plus they deliver sweet potato muffins with the salad. I don't normally like sweet potato items, but these were great. I am glad they only brought out two because I think we could have eaten however many they brought. We split the crab cake appetizer. We both ordered of the list of specials... She had a grouper with shrimp. I had the shrimp jambalaya... which was fantastic. It was a large enough serving in a bowl.. with shrimp, oysters, and sausage along with all the other vegetables. It was not overly spice but had enough in it to make it really good! I would go back just for the jambalaya!! If you see this on the special list get it! read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - Main sign - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

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Steak Was Amazing! Service was really good and the owners were super nice. Very clean tables and restaurant. Would definitely recommend for a quick dinner outing. read more

Great fresh food - very good quality. Great service. Best dinner in town. Specials aren't that cheap, but worth it.

We got there about 4 minutes late for our reservation and the manger called my phone for what I can only imagine was to check to make sure we were still coming. That's fine, I get it. I'm sorry I was late. We've eaten here many times and it has always been well above average food and always great service. I was always glad to pay for what we got. I've lived here for all of my 37 years and have caught and eaten pretty much everything the salt water has to offer and a lot of stuff that others turn their nose up at. Tonight we both ordered soft shell crab. When it came to the table the first thing that I noticed was that it was not a blue crab. What I do know is that this species of mud crab that was served is not commercially harvested in this area, but they are farm raised in other parts of the world. It also didn't taste like a fried blue crab and I'll leave it at that. I won't be ordering that again and I'm not sure if I'll be going back to order any seafood, obviously not knowing what I'll be getting when the plate hits the table. Yeah, it was a "soft shell crab." No, it didn't taste like any "soft shell crab" I've ever had. read more

My husband and I ate there last night with two other couples a total of six people. We went there specifically for the burger which we heard was amazing. Four of us ordered the burger and the waiter came back and told us they only had three so someone else had to order something different. This was at 6 PM on a Saturday night. Service was OK at best. Food was OK. The server forgot several things when bringing our food including the bacon on one of the burgers, (bacon wasn't even slices it was bacon bits and they up charge 1.50 for them) and took quite some time to bring them back to the table. Also, the restaurant was extremely hot. I was visibly sweating the entire meal. When we received our bills, all of us were charged a 20% gratuity. I don't mind tipping when service is good but to automatically add 20% to three checks when service was not great is unacceptable. We will definitely not be going back. read more

Riverside Steak & Seafood - Charged 20% gratuity - Seafood Near Me - Swansboro, North Carolina

Great food and great service are waiter was very attentive to our needs and even recommended a salad dressing that would go best with our entree, I believe his name was Timmy or Tommy but whatever his name was he should be your employee of the year! Excellent Job by all! read more

Considered one of the "nicer" establishments in an area devoid of a real Foodie scene, Riverside is a place that you will get good food and service all the time (just maybe not great, depending on the night you go and what you order.) Located in a nice (large) old home near the water, it has plenty of parking. Menu is large with a good selection. Full bar, good wine list, ok beer list. As for the FOOD: OK, they have an Amazing appetizer that seriously 2 people can share. --6 scallops on a chip doesn't sound like a lot, but there is a lot going on this plate. order at least 1 for the table to try out: THE SCALLOP NACHOS! There were 10 of us, so we got to try different items. But that's the thing here, there are some seriously good gems on this large menu surrounded by "ok" items. You have to go multiple times to find them. I ordered a Special ( blackened Grouper) which was "meh" and a very small piece for Grouper. (most portions here are quite large, so keep that in mind to save room for the Mississippi Mudpie for dessert). I tried a piece of NY Strip ( steak) which was cooked good, but needed seasoning ( hello, steak is the easiest! all it needs is some FRESH cracked pepper and salt before cooking!) P.S. you MUST try the sweet potato muffins!!!! Some entrees come with one, if not order a basket Again, I do recommend this place, but maybe it's time they drop some "meh" items off the menu. The rep and atmosphere are already in their favor. read more

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Dined here for the first time last Saturday. Wife had Tuna with Grits. Tuna was perfect rare cook. It was a large portion. The grits were creamy and rich. Excellent dish! I had Jumbo Soft Shell Crabs. I could deduct a star here but won't. The crabs were very small. I wouldn't have served them. They were perfectly battered and cooked. Very delicious. The accompanying sauce was too sweet so I didn't eat it. I suggest a spicy tangy aioli for crab or even a good homemade tartar sauce. In spite of the size and sauce I enjoyed the crabs. My accompanying boiled potatoes were bland. I will order a different side next time. Our server was excellent. read more

What an absolute gem. Gives Wisconsin supper club vibes. Started with the fried oyster app... delish! Had the tuna & grits special, husband had the grouper, my parents had the ribeye sandwiches, kids had lasagna & ravioli. All entrees were top notch, 5 stars. The ribeye sandwiches were entire ribeyes! We were expecting a small piece of steak! So great. Finished the night with the Mississippi mud pie (made in house) and key lime pie. Our server Kristine was the sweetest, most attentive server we've had in a long time. Seriously such a great dining experience! read more

Pleasantly surprised to find this restaurant to be one of the best Swansboro has to offer. Passed it many times over the years but never stopped until now. Great food, good service and seating in the upstairs was relatively quiet compared to downstairs. Reservations a good idea. The lasagna is made on site and the crab cakes are just slightly browned. Worth a stop. read more

We arrived at 8:35 pm on a Saturday night and the hostess advised us that they were closing at 9, but we could still be seated. Angela was our waitress and man was she meant to be a waitress! She was friendly, chatty, but not too much, and sweet. Service was impeccable. We ordered the following: -crab dip- this was the only thing that didn't blow me away. Although the garlic bread came out soft and very good. -scallop nachos- scallops were perfectly cooked. The tortillas were clearly house made and the whole dish was something you wouldn't find elsewhere. This was a show stopper. -grilled chicken parm- the chicken was juicy and smoky. My son was a big fan -salmon Oscar- I don't particularly like salmon, but my husband said it was great -shrimp and grits- soooooooooo yummy. The shrimp were perfect and the grits were great too. We left full and satisfied. We are so happy we came here our first night in town so that we can stop back before we leave. Angela advised to call and make reservations as they are usually packed and operating at only 50% capacity due to COVID. read more

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If you are in Swansboro, THIS is the place to go for an incredible meal. We kayaked into town from our air bnb and walked to the restaurant. We had a reservation for 6:30 and were seated immediately upon arrival. Our server Crystal was attentive and very helpful throughout the meal. We were torn between two appetizers, and she recommended the grouper fingers which came out piping hot crispy, and with the tasty aïoli sauce. I ordered the Cajun tuna per Crystals recommendation, and it was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of spice! The sweet potato muffins were to die for and complementary with our meal! It was a quiet place to enjoy dinner, and the food is exemplary. Definitely try this place out if you're on the coast! read more

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Excellent food! Excellent service! Excellent ambiance! The building has character and is clean and well organized. We plan to return. Very accommodating and delicious. read more

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Really cool ambiance. It feels like like you're at your grandmas house for family dinners. The sweet potato muffins are moist and unique. Worth the trip alone. You can't choose a bad entree. We go there frequently and have never been disappointed read more

Excellent menu, service and food! It's definitely better than anything you'll find on the beach if you don't mind a little drive.

This is a long time staple in the EI and Swansboro area. The food is reliable and ok. My friends each enjoyed their meals as did I. You are given healthy portions. The waitstaff was busy but incredibly friendly and helpful. The noise level is great on first floor. We were seated in bar area in front of tv which was not ideal. I would return again. read more

My husband and I decided to try Riverside for an early birthday dinner. We made reservations for upstairs by the window and sat in a booth. The tables by the window had a better view of the water so next time, I'd definitely ask for a table by the window upstairs. The decor and ambience of the place is so cute and comforting. My kids would've loved all the big fishes hanging on the walls. After reading so many reviews, we tried the scallop nachos for our appetizer and it was so good! My husband got the 12 oz sirloin with crab meat on top, and I got the lobster ravioli. Both were so delicious. Next time, I will have to try the grouper over linguine and clams. Timmy served us that night and he was wonderful! He took care of us and we cannot wait to be back! Maybe we will bring the kids with us next time. read more

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Unique building from the 1800's. It was an old "unmarried female school teacher" boarding house originally. The original floors were trashed by the hurricane last year but the new oak floor is nice. Everything is great here. Fresh local caught fish aside from salmon. Great steaks. Mud pie dessert for two is wonderful. read more

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Food was great! I really enjoyed the grouper. The service was top notch as well ! We will be back