CLOSED FOR WINTER - RESUMING EARLY APRIL!
We look forward to the return of sunshine and BBQ! Keep watch here and on our Facebook page for updates!
OUR STORY
After 18 long months of complete renovations, we managed to turn an empty shell into our own lil’ BBQ haven and held our very first pop-up on June 8th, 2025.
While terrified and equally excited to share the flavor profiles I’ve long loved, the positive feedback has been so motivating. We’re still introducing ourselves to the community and will continue to let popularity and demand determine our days and hours.
Everything we serve…from our mains to our sides to our craft BBQ sauces…is prepared daily in-house using fresh produce, quality ingredients, and premium meats. All of this combines to create a vibrant taste and amazing flavors.
Our menu will rotate and feature special items as we continue to showcase a variety of coastal BBQ flavors from the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean, the Carolinas, and beyond.
Thank you all SO MUCH for your ongoing support and kind words. We’re in it for the long haul and look forward to bringing even more coastal flavors to the local area.
Whether you order online or visit us to dine in, we look forward to welcoming you to Riptide Coastal BBQ and all of the positive vibes we work hard to deliver!
RIPTIDE BBQ Q&A
WHY ARE YOU ONLY OPEN A FEW DAYS A WEEK?
While I absolutely LOVE this place, it’s in addition to my real job and my family. We’ve always been family-first, and with our daughter in her senior year of high school out of state, we need to work around her academic obligations.
Throughout winter, we’ve opted to be open Saturday evenings for Babyback Ribs Night and Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays for lunch from 11am until 2pm (or until we sell out).
We will be open additional days and for longer hours this coming Spring and Summer.
WILL YOU EVER BE OPEN EVERY DAY?
No, but hear me out. 🙂
First, we’re not a franchise or a chain restaurant with a deep bench of managers and employees. We’re a family that has called Seneca Falls home for 15 years, and “family first” has always been our mantra. As such, there will be occasions when we close due to family needs or commitments.
Second, because everything is prepared in-house, we need to set aside days for prep, ‘real job’ obligations, and relaxation (ha! what’s that like?).
HOW DID THIS ALL COME ABOUT?
The super fast version? It’s been a dream of mine to have a food truck as a lil’ side hustle since I first worked on one at 10 years old. I loved every second of it and that nostalgia never left my mind. Fast forward several decades, I decided that life was too short to go through it with the regret of never starting. So, merging my love for coastal flavors with my love for slow-smoked bbq, I decided to let the dream guide me.
Unfortunately, there were more than a few hurdles:
- While I could stand fully upright in a food truck when I was ten years old, I’m 6’8″, and I simply couldn’t stand up fully in the trucks I visited.
- Food trucks are typically seasonal, especially in our climate, and I wanted to be able to go all year ’round.
- With a food truck, you still need a commissary kitchen…a place to store and prep and call your home base.
These in mind, I decided to keep the food truck concept, but do it in a building so that I could 1) stand up straight; 2) operate all year; and 3) have everything in one place. So, while our hours and pop-ups and processes will mirror those of a food truck, we hope to eventually expand to typical restaurant hours. Demand will tell.
(I promise this was the super fast version).
WHAT IS COASTAL BBQ?
In short, it’s BBQ based on popular flavors from island and coastal regions around the world. While nothing can compare to the kind of authenticity you’d enjoy while standing on their beaches, we’ve long been inspired by their cuisine, techniques, and ingredients. And *this* is what we try and share through our slow-smoked BBQ.
Our rotating menu will feature dishes and flavors from the Hawaiian Islands, the Caribbean, the Carolinas, and more…even Louisiana when we heat up our iron kettles to prepare jambalaya. Our coastal BBQ will bring delicious flavor profiles using only fresh produce, premium meats, and in-house seasonings, sauces, and marinades.
DO YOU HAVE THE BEST BBQ IN THE WORLD?
Three of the most controversial topics out there are politics, religion, and BBQ…not necessarily in that order. We’ll certainly work hard to slow-smoke our way into your hearts with fresh produce, prime meats, and coastal and island-influenced flavors, but there are hundreds of amazing BBQ joints around the country, including several in our own area, and they’re all inspirations to me.
BBQ is subjective. No matter what’s served, or by whom, some may say it’s too smoky, whereas others may think it’s not smoky enough. Some may think a dish is too spicy while others are wanting even more heat.
At Riptide Coastal BBQ, you’ll experience our own twist on coastal and island favorites. Flavors will range from citrusy to spicy, from sweet to heat, from smoky to savory, and from mild to tongue-melting.
We’re excited to bring our concept to you and hope you embrace our dream just as much as we have.
DO YOU OFFER DELIVERY?
Not yet, but we do plan on adding this soon. We need time, because when we do start offering delivery, we don’t plan on using third-party apps like Door Dash or Grub Hub. The mark-ups are pretty crazy in relation to the reliability, and we’d rather provide value whenever possible, so we’ll be sourcing our own delivery options.
DO YOU OFFER CATERING?
Yes and no. Yes in the sense that we can provide and package anything from our catering menu for your occasion or event with enough notice. And no in the sense that we don’t offer full-service catering. We can have all the trays and boxes ready for you, but the serving, plates, and utensils would be up to you.
DO YOU OFFER GLUTEN FREE OPTIONS?
All menu items (except the buns we purchase) are prepared without any gluten-containing ingredients. Even our honey cornbread is gluten free, but you’d never know it. 🙂
Please note that while our pre-packaged treats and chips are also gluten-free, they may contain other potential food allergens (i.e. nuts, dairy). See each product’s packaging for full details.
DO YOU HAVE INDOOR SEATING?
We sure do! We have three tables that can seat up to 5 guests and an additional two tables that each seat 2 guests. You can also order takeout, curbside delivery, or catering.
We do plan on adding a few outdoor tables and chairs when the weather cooperates (which isn’t too often in the Finger Lakes).
Be part of our journey!
Since the day we first brought a 2×4 into the space to begin our build, we’ve had one thing on our mind…you! We hope to earn your kudos and recommendations through delicious slow-smoked BBQ, fresh sides, and housemade sauces.
We hope our laid back vibe and friendly service will earn some smiles…even when the lines are long or our food is sold out. We’re kinda navigating this journey together…so please bear with us as we get our ‘sea legs’ and determine how to adjust our opening days and times based on interest and demand.
We look forward to welcoming you and we look even more forward to having you with us as we learn, grow, and perfect our processes.