Riverfront BBQ offers hefty servings, great service
SIGNATURE DISH: BBQ-loaded baked potato, pork rib-eye among restaurant favorites
By Cindi Cox
LEESBURG — One of Lee County’s few sit-down restaurants, Riverfront BBQ offers hefty helpings, great service, a casual atmosphere and good prices.
The lunch crowd was flowing steady on Friday afternoon as I gazed at the menu trying to decide what to order. There were several unique items to choose from. Because of the cold weather, chili and grilled cheese sandwiches or Brunswick stew were among the lunch specials. The salad bar also looked appetizing. I settled for a baked potato smothered with pork BBQ and cheese instead.
When my lunch order arrived, I was surprised to see the size of the order.
Riverfront BBQ Owner Dale Saunders sat down and talked about the history of his restaurant.
“We started out 11 years ago in downtown Albany,” he said.
The former location was at 105 West Broad Ave. For seven years, Riverfront BBQ thrived in downtown Albany.
“We had great success in Albany, but we live in Lee County and decided to move the restaurant here,” Saunders said.
The current location is in a strip of small businesses off U.S. Highway 19 at the south end of the county. Restaurant hours are 10:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday.
Saunders said he believes every menu item at Riverfront is a “signature dish.”
“We take pride in offering great food. I am a perfectionist,” he said.
Saunders said the most popular menu items are lobster, catfish, steaks and BBQ.
The pulled pork or pulled chicken baked potatoes are also favorite lunch items, he said.
“The idea came from a regular customer at our Albany location,” Saunders said. “He ate there frequently and suggested we try it one day. We worked on it, and it has been on our menu ever since.”
Saunders said there are several reasons Riverfront BBQ has become a popular dining spot.
“First, we give a lot of food for the money,” Saunders said.
The restaurant is usually at 100 percent capacity on any given day during the lunch hour, said Saunders.
“This business has been really good to us,” he said. “Most of our business is repeat customers. I know most of them by name.”
Riverfront BBQ currently has 33 employees. Cooks Don Edwards and Reggie Staton work their magic in the kitchen.
Before leaving, Saunders wanted to cook up one of his favorite dishes — a fried pork rib-eye sandwich on Texas toast. He encouraged me to try it for myself, but I was already full from the food I had ordered.
Now I have added incentive to go back.
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