March-2024 Cooperative Living-REC - 29

DINING WITH PEGGY
A River Runs Through It
Waynesboro restaurant runs the gamut with
creative burger off erings
by Peggy Hyland, Contributing Columnist
Got a restaurant for Peggy to review?
Let us know at editor@co-opliving.com.
I
n the heart of downtown Waynesboro, we stepped into the
relaxed atmosphere of Th e River Burger Bar. Th e shiplap
walls echo the nautical theme, with fi shing poles, nets and
river photos. Th e casual, family-friendly atmosphere was as
welcoming as the staff .
Th e creative and innovative menu echoes the nautical
theme. Th e Davy Knot was a huge Bavarian-style pretzel.
As it baked, it split itself
into a big smiley face,
which brought smiles to
our faces, especially when
dipped in the delicious
beer cheese dip. It was
divine: zippy, creamy
and rich, a perfect
complement to the salty
pretzel. We also dug
into the Reel Wisconsin
Cheese Curds, which
came with a zesty spicy
ranch sauce.
I could not resist
Reel Wisconsin Cheese
Curds and the Davy Knot
Pretzel
the beet salad, which
featured mixed greens,
earthy beets, dried
cherries, Craisins,
pumpkin seeds and
goat cheese. A delectable
balsamic vinaigrette tied
it all together beautifully.
Beets and goat cheese are
a match made in heaven,
and the combination of
dried fruits and seeds
elevated the dish. Th e mix of textures and tastes was the
star of our meal, and my meat-loving companion polished
it off before even trying the pretzel.
Since burgers are the house specialty, we both chose from
The Chilito Hot Dish
Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Beet This Salad
Reel Wisconsin Cheese
Curds and the Davy Knot
Pretzel
The Chilito Hot Dish
Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Beet This Salad
their imaginative off erings. Few Southerners can resist the call
of a good pimento cheese spread, and we were no exception.
I opted for the Bacon Pimento Burger, with the patty topped
with bacon, pimento cheese spread and grilled onions. My
companion chose Th e Chilito Hot Dish, with the pimento
cheese spread, Fritos, grilled onions, jalapeños and houseco-opliving.com
made
chili. Th e veggie chili was warm and comforting, with
just the right amount of spice. Th e Fritos added a nice crunch,
and the fresh jalapeños added a little kick. Our sides were
crispy house-made potato chips and onion rings, which
were generously battered and fried to crunchy perfection.
Th e River rotates its desserts weekly, featuring the
off erings of local bakeries. Th e very popular Red Velvet Ice
Cream Sandwich was sold
out, but we were very
happy with the Apple Pie
Egg Rolls. Crisp and fl aky
crusts surrounded the
delectable apples, with
generous spices and a
dusting of powdered sugar.
Th ey were made in-house,
served à la mode, with
a luscious caramel that
balanced out the sweetness.
Th e service was
Reel Wisconsin Cheese
Curds and the Davy Knot
Pretzel
The Chilito Hot Dish
Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Beet This Salad
Reel Wisconsin Cheese
Curds and the Davy Knot
Pretzel
The Chilito Hot Dish
Apple Pie Egg Rolls
Beet This Salad
friendly and fast, without
feeling rushed. We were
there between the lunch
and dinner rushes, but the
midaſt ernoon is still very
popular. Th ere are a few
TVs for those interested in
sports, but not enough to
be distracting to the rest
of the crowd. Th e beer list
emphasizes local off erings.
Just minutes from I-64
and the entrance to the
Blue Ridge Tunnel, Th e
River would be a perfect place to stop in for a break from
driving, a relaxing bite while shopping downtown, or a big
burger aſt er a long hike.
*
Th e River Burger Bar
137 N. Wayne Ave., Waynesboro, Va.
540-943-3339
Monday/Tuesday/Th ursday/Sunday 11 a.m.-8 p.m.;
Friday/Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
theriverburgerbar.com
March 2024 * Cooperative Living * 27
http://www.theriverburgerbar.com http://www.co-opliving.com
March-2024 Cooperative Living-REC

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