River’s Edge — Restaurant in North Carolina

River's Edge is a surprisingly good restaurant that's part of the US National Whitewater complex. If the weather isn't good enough for you, they have indoor seating. It feels like they have much more outdoor seating than indoors, as they should - the views are beautiful. There are many canvas coverings overhead to provide some shade, but in the evening when the sun is starting to set you can catch some sun right in your face or right on your back, which makes for a sweaty experience. It is wonderful to be able to eat a good meal while watching zipliners, enjoying the folks attacking the rapids right below you, or listening to a band performing right across the canal from where you sit and enjoy your food and drink. The atmosphere is top notch, even if your timing isn't ideal with the setting sun.

The food is quite amazing for a location like this, as I would expect mostly overpriced fast-food-type choices when you don't have any other options except this or leaving the complex. Instead, you are presented with a diverse and healthy menu full of delicious options, including clearly labeled vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free choices. In our experiences there, the kitchen is very accommodating to any dietary or taste needs.

My typical go-to is the Mediterranean Bowl. The falafel is always fried up well with that classic middle-eastern seasoning. Crunchy on the outside and well maintained on the inside. The veggies taste fresh. The rice is fine, but probably there's too much of it. The hummus is nice and traditionally prepared with good flavor and texture. The highlight of the dish is the whipped feta, which is a really unique take on delicious cheese and gives a fabulous tartness to the dish. I usually add the grilled chicken as well, for extra protein, and that is quite good. I once changed it up and ordered the smoked pulled chicken instead - that was just okay. It lacked any smokey flavor. I'll stick with the grilled chicken going forward.

The service is generally just okay. There are a lot of tables outside, so the wait staff usually seems spread pretty thin. When a server is with you, they are very attentive to your questions and for taking your order. However there have been multiple times we've been waiting on refills of water or needed an order correction and it takes quite some time to get someone's attention.

Overall, this place is great. Wonderful food with great views, River's Edge gives you an excuse not to leave USNWC too early...

Years ago I use to really enjoy the food here. The last few times I have eaten there the service and the food has gotten worse. We arrived last night to eat dinner and then stay to listen to the Band. The restaurant wasn't busy when we arrived at 6:30. We walked up to the hostess station and the girls (3 of them) just looked at us. Finally I spoke and said "hello, two please and could we be seated at a table with an umbrella or out of the sun " Two of the girls just looked at each other and smirked and the third finally said, "I will help you find a table in the shade follow me". We were seated and then it took another 10+ minutes before anyone approached our table. There may have been a total of 4-5 other parties seated when we arrived. When it was finally time to order, I requested a vegetable as a side or a side salad offering to pay any upcharge for the exchange, as all the sides were, pasta, potatoes, beans, fries or fruit. I have to limit sugar intake and preferred something green. I was told that there was just no way that she could request the kitchen to accommodate the request. They didn't have side salads, and the only other veggie (collard greens) is only served with the entrée it is ordered with. I was shocked. Whatever, moving along. I ordered a "Plain Jane" burger in a lettuce wrap instead of on a bun (Tomato, Lettuce, Onion and cheese came on the burger) I requested pickles also. I mean who makes a burger without a pickle?! I was told there were no pickles that could be put on a burger, that the only pickles that were available were the fried pickles and the kitchen gets really upset and doesn't accommodate special requests. I was tempted to get up and leave at this point because I was flabbergasted. The burger came sitting on a bed of Lettuce, no condiments and a side that I didn't touch. It was edible and My husband also got a burger on a bun and his was fine (my only reason for two stars). A beer and an iced tea (refilled once) plus our burgers, and our bill was over $40!!! I now see why the restaurant wasn't as busy... the amazingly terrible service all around would put anyone off. That was our last visit to...

Where to begin... The only reason why I'd give this place a two stars is because of their location. They're pretty much the only restaurant in the White Water Center area. Weather permitting, you can sit outside and look down at the concert stage and the white water rafting. This place being a restaurant, however, is a hard pass: you are better off making and bringing your own sandwiches and eat them by the water, which will cost you next to nothing! We were a party of seven and ordered various things from the menu. Two of us had the tuna poke bowl, their standard burger, their melt sandwiches and another salad. I had the poke bowl and lemme start by saying that for the $17 they charged for this bowl that consists of no more than 3 oz of mediocre tuna, no flavoring and just excess rice and quonia, it is certainly not worth it! The melt sandwiches and burger were just decent, but again, nothing special! One of us had a strict dietary restriction and upon consulting with the waiter, she said they can make the request, since they had all of the ingredients in the kithchen. OMG, not only did they mess that order up really bad but they also were gonna charge us the premium for this request. Sure, an establishment can have its own rule of what can be served or how much it'll cost but don't promise something that you can't deliver and let alone charge premium for that. And sure they didn't charge us, but no one tried to make it right either. This White Water Center area is geared towards an active lifestyle so you'll think of runners, bikers, mountain climbers, white water rafters and people who are involved with yoga so the least you can expect is a health-conscious option for those crowds, so hint for management, if you care at all, is to have a "built-your-own" option where people can make your own salad or burger with whatever proteins, carbs, or any other dietary restrictions and charge accordingly. The service was uber slow and price was a bit on the high side for what it's worth, so a two star for the view was plenty generous...