Down by The Riverside NC; New restaurant in Lillington brings pizza, smash-burgers and good times

By Faith Hatton, posted Apr 15, 2025 on BizFayetteville.com

Logo provided by: The Riverside Restaurant & Bar

Great food, great drinks and a perfect view of the Cape Fear River can all be found at the aptly named The Riverside Restaurant & Bar.

The newest restaurant in Lillington, N.C. is located at 100 S. Main St. and is now open to the community offering handcrafted pizzas, smashed burgers and customizable cocktails.

The restaurant is the manifested vision of two restaurateurs: Riverside’s Owner Adam Gilpatrick and Director of Operations Al Perry. The two began their partnership at another successful restaurant outside of Harnett County before making their way to Lillington in fall of 2024.

“Adam opened a restaurant called Smashed Burgers & Cocktails in Holly Springs and he brought me on as the general manager there. We had an amazing year and a half, and the plan has always been to expand,” said Perry.

The outside patio provides a perfect view of the Cape Fear River for guests as they eat, along with a grassy area leading up to the river.
Photo by: GFBJ

Perry shared that the team was looking at other areas such as Fuqua-Varina and even Angier before deciding to look at areas that didn’t have as many restaurant options. Guided by their realtor, they were able to settle on their current location right beside the Cape Fear River.

The building would go on to be the perfect fit, being the home of two other restaurants in the community called Howard’s Barbecue and later Mermaid Point Eats & Drinks on the River which closed a few years prior.

“The kitchen was massive; the space had a lot of potential. We signed a Letter of Intent around late October (2024) and then we renovated until the new year,” shared Perry. “The restaurant before us did pizza, so we came in and ripped out all the equipment from the kitchen, except for the pizza oven. I have a pizza background to, so I was like, ‘Cool, I can make this work.’”

Riverside’s menu was able to expand on the smashburgers and cocktails menu from the first restaurant in Holly Springs, with the team adding pizza, subs and pasta options.

According to Perry, pizza is proving to be a popular menu item in the community, going neck and neck with the smashburgers for the most popular food offered.

Pulling from the perfected recipe at Smashed Burgers & Cocktails in Holly Springs, Riverside brought over the smashed burger along with other menu offerings. (Pictured above; The BBQ Bacon Burger.)
Photo by: GFBJ

“We brought our smashburger over; our top seller is the mushroom Swiss burger, and we use quarter-ounce patties. Our pizzas are surprisingly popular, they’re very New York-Esque style pizza. But we also do something a lot of people don't do in the area, which is slices, so you don't have to commit to a whole pizza,” said Perry.

Riverside has been serving the community since mid-February when they held a soft opening. They later had a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony with the Lillington Area Chamber of Commerce on March 8, officially welcoming them into the community.

Riverside Staff at the ribbon cutting ceremony held by the Lillington Area Chamber of Commerce on March 8. Photo provided by: Riverside Restaurant & Bar.

“The Chamber came out for the ribbon cutting ceremony and everyone was super excited about that, and as the weather gets warmer, we’ve consistently gotten busier,” said Perry. “I think the biggest thing is, we’ll get a lunch crowd, and many of the people we get for lunch will come in with their families for dinner, which is exciting. So, we get to learn some faces and meet some families in our community.”

In the future, the restaurant plans to open the space up for event rental, bring in live music and take advantage of the open space along the river. Perry shared that the team already has their first event planned for the Easter holiday called Eggs & Kegs taking place on Saturday, April 19.

“We have a few events that we’re excited for. We’re planning our first Easter egg hunt for the community. You don’t have to buy anything, you don't have to spend any money here, you can just come out and enjoy the morning with us. It's for those 10 and under and we're going to cover this whole grassy area with as many eggs as we can. Also, we're doing a bunch of beer specials, hence the kegs part. And then we’ll have live music, a local artist Allison Radcliffe,” shared Perry.

With inspiration from New York and a respectable cheese-pull, Riverside's customizable pizzas come in slices for those in a rush.
Photo by: GFBJ

Perry shared that one of his main goals for the restaurant is to become a go-to space for residents.

“This building used to be a barbecue place way, way back in the day by the name of Howard’s Barbecue, and it was a staple in this community. Everyone has fond memories and have told us they’re glad someone is doing something with the space now. We’re hoping for the same thing, we’re hoping for people to make memories here,” shared Perry.

The Riverside Restaurant & Bar is looking to expand their staff, which is currently around 20 people. Management is trying to fill positions for cooks and serving staff able to work on nights, and weekends.

The Riverside Restaurant and Bar is open Tuesday- Saturday from 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Riverside also offers crafted cocktails and mocktails for choices when you come to visit. One of their signature cocktails, the Georgia Peach Lemonade, can be made without alcohol, turning it into the Peach Punch Mocktail (pictured).
Photo by: GFBJ

To learn more about the restaurant, find job openings and view their menu, check out their website here. And keep up with new announcements on their Facebook page here.

Inside, outside or a little bit of both. Come enjoy the view in the Riverside green room.
Photo by: GFBJ

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