FAQ

While I absolutely LOVE this place, it’s in addition to my full-time job and my family. We’ve always been family-first, and with our daughter in her freshman year of college out of state, we need to work around her academic and athletic events and obligations.

Due to catering demand, we hold occasional pop-ups, so days and hours will vary. We highly recommend that you sign up for email updates to always stay in the know! By adopting more of a pop-up style, we can keep our overhead low, our portions high, and our prices more affordable!

Yes! We have now integrated with DoorDash so we can start offering local delivery. You can find us on DoorDash during our open pop-up hours so be sure to follow us for upcoming dates and menus!

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 being a two-person operation, we’re unable to provide on-site meal service.

Click here to view our Group Orders/Catering Menu

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 more than 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?).

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:

1. 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.
2. Food trucks are typically seasonal, especially in our climate, and I wanted to be able to go all year ’round.
3. 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’re stationary unless off-site for a remote event.

(I promise this was the super fast version).

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, I’ve long been inspired by their cuisine, techniques, and ingredients. And *this* is what I 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…especially 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.

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.

All menu items (except the slider 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.

Because we only do on-site and remote pop-up events, we do not have indoor seating. When serving from our location at 105 Cowing Street, you’ll find plenty of benches and also a nearby park should you wish to find a quiet place to sit and eat. It’s a beautiful location with lots to explore within walking distance.