Duke’s
Riverside
Webpage: http://www.dukesriverside.com/index.html
Locations: 313 S. Front St., Wormleysburg, Phone: 717-737-1313
1715 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey, Phone: 717-533-5541
Atmosphere: Casual / Bar
Entrée Price Range: $10-$24
Rating: Good food, fairly priced. Highly Recommended.
Review by Aaron
Duke’s Riverside offers a huge menu and a great view
pleasing to your appetite, your eyes, and with reasonable
prices, your wallet, too.
On a recent Friday evening this summer, a group of old friends
decided to head over to the deck at Duke’s Riverside
in Wormleysbug for dinner and some drinks. Not surprisingly,
the nice weather brought out many other patrons and we knew
we would be waiting for a table for a little while during
the normal dinner rush and weekend happy hour. We ordered
a round of drinks and waited patiently. About a half-hour
later, we were led to our seat alongside the edge of the deck
with a great view of the Susquehanna River and City Island.
Ok, maybe it wasn’t a great view, but it was a view
nevertheless; something most other area restaurants simply
cannot offer. Our server was prompt in bringing us menus and
taking our drink order.
After our drinks arrived, most of us were still unsure what
we were going to eat, due to the sheer number of choices on
the menu. (Can you say “ENORMOUS?!”) By the time
the waitress came back again, I had narrowed down my choices
to two or three and waited until last to order, still unsure
what I was going to have right up to the last second. For
the group, we ordered two appetizers: Brew City Beer Battered
Onion Rings served with New Orleans style Romalade sauce ($5.75)
and Duke’s Famous Hot Crab Dip (served warm with French
bread, $7.50). I was very hungry, so I ordered a Bowl of Chili
($4.25) and Chicken Caesar Focaccia ($6.95). Others in our
small party ordered: Coconut Shrimp Salad ($8.50), Chicken
Caesar Salad ($9.95), French Onion Skillet Steak Sandwich
($8.25) and for the child in our group, a hot dog and French
fries.
All of the appetizers and dinners were very good, if not
excellent, portions large and visually appealing. However,
the French Onion Skillet Steak Sandwich, which the menu describes
as: “An 8 oz. center cut steak on Tuscan bread in caramelized
onions and provolone cheese, drizzled with our famous French
onion soup” was by far the best of the night. We all
shared a sample of each other’s entrées because
each looked and tasted so good, and by consensus, found the
steak to be a meat lover’s dream dish. The picture on
the menu is a very accurate representation of what is served
and the flavor was excellent, like a steak dripping with French
onion soup. We also enjoyed the side orders of potato salad
and French fries served both Home Style and Duke’s Seasoned.
If only there was room for dessert, we all would have loved
to try an item or two on the menu, but it was not meant to
be. We were all thoroughly stuffed and couldn’t even
consider it. Next time we’ll have to skip the appetizers
and do dessert instead because they all sounded so tempting
and delicious.
The appetizers and food were both prepared and served very
promptly, and I must note that service throughout the night
was very good in spite of how busy the restaurant and bars
were, both inside and outside on the deck. Hats off to management
and staff for pulling off such an accomplishment in the restaurant
business. I would recommend Duke’s Riverside for that
reason and also for being kid-friendly, clean, and thoroughly
satisfying to everyone at dinner that hot summer night.
Notes:
Credit Cards Accepted; Bar / Smoking Area; Wine List; Modern
Décor; Friendly Staff; Take Out; Kids Menu; Outside
Deck / Bar Area.
|
