Riverside Grill grand opening and ribbon cutting on Saturday
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce invites the community to celebrate the official grand opening and ribbon cutting for Riverside Grill on Saturday, July 18 at 1016 South St. The celebration will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with the official ribbon cutting at 2:30 p.m.
The event is open to the public. Guests can enjoy special food offerings, enter to win gift cards and T-shirts and help welcome one of the area’s newest dining destinations. Parking is available in front of the restaurant or across the street.
Owned by James “Jim” Elliott, Riverside Grill is the result of an unexpected opportunity that began while he was vacationing in the Piscataquis County region. Originally from St. Petersburg, Florida, Elliott retired after a 29-year career in law enforcement. During his visit, he discovered the restaurant and entered a contest to win it. Although the contest didn’t lead to ownership, it introduced Elliott to the previous owner and ultimately opened the door to purchasing Riverside Grill.
An avid outdoorsman who enjoys camping, fishing, hunting, hiking, boating, and cooking, Elliott was drawn to the region’s natural beauty and welcoming community. Along with his 16-year-old daughter Morgan, he is excited to make Piscataquis County home as he begins this new chapter as the owner of Riverside Grill.
Riverside Grill offers a diverse lunch and dinner menu featuring burgers, shaved steak, fresh seafood and what many customers already consider some of the best onion rings in the area. Guests can enjoy shrimp, scallops, fish, lobster and whole belly clams, along with an extensive selection of gluten-free options. To better serve guests with gluten sensitivities, the restaurant also uses a dedicated fryer to help minimize cross-contamination whenever possible.
Elliott credits much of the restaurant’s early success to the warm welcome he has received from the Piscataquis County community. Since opening, Riverside Grill has joined the Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, supported local organizations through donations, and prioritized purchasing products and services from local businesses whenever possible. Looking ahead, Elliott hopes to keep the restaurant open year-round while continuing to improve the property, expand parking, enhance the kitchen and grow dine-in service as community support allows.
“Riverside Grill is more than just a restaurant,” Elliott said. “We want to be a place where both locals and visitors feel welcome. We hope to serve as a gateway to the region by connecting visitors with other local businesses and attractions while becoming an active partner in the community. We feel incredibly blessed to be here and are grateful for the support we’ve received.”
The Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce encourages residents, visitors and fellow business owners to attend the celebration, meet Elliott and his team and help welcome Riverside Grill as one of Dover-Foxcroft’s newest local businesses.