North Carolina Duo opens one of a kind seafood restaurant on Cape Fear River

Fayetteville Chef Judith Cage has become a well known individual across Central North Carolina, owning several restaurants and a world renowned catering company Cage says it has always been a dream of hers to open up a “soul food seafood” restaurant. That long time dream becomes a reality Monday as she along with business partner Rashawn Moore open up “Riverside Seafood” along the Cape Fear river in Fayetteville. Riverside Seafood has been in the planning stage since last November when a well known Seafood chain closed their location leaving the building near Downtown Fayetteville vacant. With a goal in mind and the community in their hearts Moore and Cage began planning.

“I pass this building all the time, and over the years I had always said that if the building became available and I had the opportunity I wanted to get it” Moore said, The building sits just a few hundred feet away from the beautiful Cape Fear River providing a nice pairing to the delicious seafood dishes served inside the restaurant. The one of a kind establishment has a menu unlike any other, providing a unique spin on traditional seafood. The menu offers items like Seafood Hushpuppies with a house made “Puppy Sauce”, Lobster Mac-N-Cheese, and Chef Favorite the Whole Red Snapper. What really makes Riverside Seafood unique is the offering of 4 house made butter blends which are River Butter, Carolina Kick Butter, Garlic Butter, and BBQ Butter. The unique butters are served alongside the numerous Steamed Seafood platters at Riverside Seafood. In addition to the steamed seafood platters Chef Judy has also whipped up a variety of grilled and fried seafood favorites.

The delicious menu items at Riverside Seafood come from the ideas of Chef Judy herself, The Food Network star and Army Veteran has called Fayetteville home for 15 years and she has been feeding this community for much of her time here. Cage says that she knows what this community enjoys and says that she serves food that she “loves and enjoys eating” and with that she knows the community will too. Cage also has numerous other restaurants in Cumberland and Johnston Counties including her most famous “Uptowns Chicken and Waffles” which has been serving delicious southern comfort food at two locations across Cumberland County for several years now.

Rashawn Moore has lived just miles from Riverside Seafood all his life and says that his strong connection to the community has allowed him to get a great understanding of what locals want in a seafood restaurant and says he has Greatly incorporated that understanding into the new establishment. He says that he has opened up a space for all, setting the tone of Riverside Seafood to be welcoming and just a fun and enjoyable place to be.

Cage and Moore truly put the opening of the Restaurant in the hands of God as it took alot of bravery to open a new restaurant during a serious pandemic which has forced many Restaurants across the World to close their doors. Despite the numerous challenges that the pandemic brings the Duo says that they have created a very safe atmosphere installing clear dividers between booths and spacing tables more than 6 feet apart. “We want people to be able to get out to eat and we also want them to be safe doing it” Moore said. The duo says that their main priority is safety and they say that to them that goes along with the welcoming atmosphere at Riverside Seafood.

Riverside Seafood is located at 1130 Person Street in Fayetteville and is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 8 PM, Friday and Saturday from 11 AM to 10 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM. A full menu is available on the Riverside Seafood Facebook page.