New River Grille Has Family-Friendly Dining

Near the border of Summit and Chatham, the River Grille is now open.

Owners Peter Schwab and Eric Moody have revamped the old Town Tavern with new tables and chairs, a stained wooden bar, a raised and open dining room and an exposed brick wall.

The kitchen, which is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offers a variety of menu options, generously portioned, and a fully stocked bar ready to serve whatever you may be drinking.

Appetizers range in prices from $4 for soup of the day to $10 for Prince Edward Island mussels, lump crab cake made with parmesan risotto with lemon herb beurre blanc, or seared ahi tuna served with pickled ginger.

Wings are priced at $8 for a dozen and come with an option of one of eight possible sauces, including honey barbeque, srirachi barbeque and the appealing-sounding Dante's inferno sauce.

Salads are $8 or $9 each, and vary from the sweet and tangy mandarin oriental salad with a nest of baby arugula and mandarin oranges to the candied almond, strawberry and goat cheese salad, topped with a strawberry balsamic vinaigrette.

Sandwiches range from the classic reuben to chicken parmesan, though the portobello, fresh mozzarella and grilled chicken sandwich was especially delicious. They can be served as a traditional sandwich or as a wrap, and are all priced at $10.

The River Grille also offers both sliders and traditional hamburgers, and a build-your-own-burger for $8 with additional toppings extra.

Entrees range from $12 for a half rack of St. Louis-style ribs and $18 for a full rack. They also have baked penne and pappardelle pasta for $14 and $16, respectively, and $16 for grilled hanger steak or pan seared salmon.

Moody said that the restaurant operates with a staff of eight bartenders and two chefs besides himself. Schwab said he had a prior chef who used frozen foods, but that Moody makes everything fresh. "It really makes a difference," he said.

Schwab also said the restaurant has music most weeks during the summer, usually on Thursday or Friday nights. During the school year, he said they also have concerts on Saturday nights.

The new River Grille is located at 34 Rover Rd. in Chatham Borough and is open from 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily, with the kitchen closing at 10 p.m. Happy Hour specials are on from 4 to 7 p.m.