riverboat on the potomac owner

Riverboat on the Potomac

301 Beach Terrace, Colonial Beach, VA

About This Vendor

Amenities + details, pricing for riverboat on the potomac, riverboat on the potomac reviews.

• Top reviews
• Newest first
• Oldest first
• Highest rated
• Lowest rated

Contact Info for Riverboat on the Potomac

• 301 or more

Wedding Vendors in Colonial Beach

• Wedding Vendors /
• Wedding Venues /
• Virginia Wedding Venues /
• Colonial Beach Wedding Venues /

Interested in this vendor?

Pricing information

Riverboat on the Potomac is a waterfront restaurant wedding venue in Colonial Beach, Virginia. Situated directly on the Potomac River, this unique venue offers couples and their guests astounding views of the water and beach. Windows line each room, casting beautiful natural light on couples and their loved ones as they celebrate this milestone.

Facilities and Capacity

The property offers couples an elegant upstairs banquet room to host their guests that accommodates over 300 people. This versatile reception area can be transformed into a magical, sophisticated space when decorated, allowing couples to hold the wedding they’ve always dreamed of. Alternatively, for those desiring a more intimate setting on their special day, The Tiki Bar and The Potomac Room are also available. The Tiki Bar can seat up to 85 people, while The Potomac Room can accommodate up to 75. The venue also features a beautiful outdoor deck, ideal for capturing enchanting wedding photographs in the sunset or taking a romantic stroll.

Services Offered

Riverboat on the Potomac strives to assist the happy couple in creating their vision as much as possible. They can provide tables, chairs, china, flatware, and more to make organizing your big day easier. Furthermore, they can take care of setup and cleanup, as well as staff the event with servers and bartenders. Loved ones can get together on the dancefloor after a sumptuous meal provided by the in-house catering team, and enjoy refreshments from the bar afterwards.

In order to make coordinating this special occasion even simpler, the venue has a choice of preferred catering menus for couples to choose from. These include mouthwatering appetizers, as well as homemade favorites such as roast beef and prime rib. The restaurant staff can deliver a fine dining experience in a variety of ways. They are able to organize buffet service, plated service, food stations, and more depending on your vision. Alternatively, you and your partner can work with the experienced staff at the restaurant to come up with a custom menu that suits your tastes.

Follow Riverboat on the Potomac on

Venues you may like

See other venues that are popular with couples right now

Frequently asked questions

Do you have a site fee for wedding receptions at your venue, what is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during peak season, what is the starting site fee for wedding receptions during off-peak season, do you have a site fee for wedding ceremonies at your venue, what is the starting site fee for wedding ceremonies during off-peak season, which of the following are included in starting site fee, which of the following are included in the cost of wedding catering, how many event spaces or rooms does your venue offer, describe your venue:, what kind of settings are available, which of the following wedding events does your venue service, what event services do you offer, what catering services do you offer, what bar services do you provide, what event items are available, what food and beverage items are available, what transportation and access is available.

Any other questions?

• Quality of service 4.5 out of 5 rating 4.5
• Average response time 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7
• Professionalism 4.5 out of 5 rating 4.5
• Value 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7
• Flexibility 4.7 out of 5 rating 4.7

Are you interested?

Explore other wedding venues in your area

Find your ideal space among popular ones and Couples' Choice Award winners.

Would you like to visit?

Riverboat on the Potomac frequently asked questions

• Cake Cutting
• Wedding Cake
• Banquet Hall
• Uncovered Outdoor
• Bridal Shower
• Engagement Party
• Event Planner
• Event Rentals
• Liability Insurance
• Chair Covers
• Dance Floor

Other vendors in Richmond for your wedding

Wedding venues.

• Barn & Farm Weddings
• Hotel Weddings
• Winery Weddings
• Country Club Weddings
• Rooftop Weddings
• Mansion Weddings
• Church & Temple Weddings
• Museum Weddings
• Park & Outdoor Weddings
• Historic Weddings
• Banquet Halls
• Beach Weddings
• Garden Weddings
• Waterfront Weddings

Riverboat on the Potomac

Museum Tells the History of Colonial Beach, Virginia (CBVA)

Cover photo: Cindy Vaughan

The Town of Colonial Beach, Virginia (CBVA) and the surrounding area have a rich and colorful history. Recovered artifacts document a Native American presence dating to 500 B.C., long before John Smith visited the area during his voyage of discovery in 1608. Nearby are the birthplaces of General Robert E. Lee ( Stratford Hall ) and Presidents George Washington ( George Washington Birthplace National Monument ) and James Monroe ( The James Monroe Memorial Foundation ), whose great-great grandfather settled the town in 1650.

During Colonial times, the region was dotted with plantations and farms settled by such notables as the families of George Washington, James Monroe and Robert E. Lee. Economic activity was primarily related to fishing and farming, which remain important to the local economy. Development of the town began in 1878, when Henry Kintz purchased a 650 acre tract on White Point (now referred to simply as The Point and now the location of the Colonial Beach Yacht Center and Dockside Restaurant & Tiki Bar .) The first survey of the land was recorded in 1882; and by 1883, the Colonial Beach Improvement Company had been established by prominent D.C. businessmen for the purpose of developing the area as a summer resort town for Washingtonians.

Photo: Chris Militzer

By 1906, steamers such as the St. Johns were transporting thousands of visitors from the D.C. area to Colonial Beach, which now had a thriving boardwalk area, hotels and other amenities to accommodate the throng of visitors. The advent of the automobile led to the decline of steamboats and the resort era, as families took to the road to enjoy multiple weekend trips rather than extended summer vacations popular in the early 20th century.

Colonial Beach was the epicenter of the century-long Oyster Wars that lasted from the mid-19th Century to the 1960s. Oysters were as hot a commodity as gold and crucial to the area’s economy, until respected and well-liked local farmer and father of three, Berkley Muse, accused of illegally dredging oysters, was shot and killed by the Maryland Marine Police. This incident effectively ended the Oyster Wars and led to the creation of the Potomac River Fisheries Commission. Once the shock of the deadly oyster battles wore off, oysters experienced a “renaissance” in Virginia, says Rocky Denson, owner and chef of Denson’s Grocery and R&B Oyster Bar .

Legalization of slot machines in Charles County, Maryland, in 1949, and a 1632 land charter led to a decade-long casino era. Businessmen from both sides of the Potomac River seized the opportunity to capitalize on the lucrative venture, erecting wharves from the Virginia side of the river to small casinos built on piers in the Maryland-owned (courtesy of the 1632 charter) Potomac. Offshore, a large gambling barge, Pleasure Island, shuttled guests from the Virginia shore to its floating gaming house full of slot machines. In 1958, under pressure from civic and religious groups, Virginia officials convinced Maryland legislature to amend its slot machine law, disallowing the use of slot machines in establishments unreachable from Maryland soil, and the casino era ended. Riverboat on the Potomac  still offers off track betting, Keno, Maryland and Virginia lotteries, as well as food, drink, banquet facilities and special events.

Colonial Beach’s rich cultural history is depicted in beautiful murals on buildings throughout Town, illustrating its bygone era, and evident in the form of the remaining 19th and early 20th century architecture.

The privately-owned Bell House (once home to the father of Alexander Graham Bell) is a fine example of the Stick/Eastlake style built in the mid-1880s. A Virginia Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the beautiful Victorian was originally built in 1883 for Colonel J.O.P. Burnside, son of Civil War General Ambrose Burnside, and still stands majestically along Irving Avenue.

Photo: Dennison Street Inn

Dennison Street Inn , the former home of the first mayor of Colonial Beach, has been refurbished in period style and is now a bed and breakfast,

as is Colonial Beach Plaza Bed & Breakfast, housed in a 1900’s Victorian Mansion . 

The Museum at Colonial Beach , housed in one of the Town’s oldest structures, features permanent and changing exhibits, personal collections, photos and artifacts that tell the stories and preserve the history of our beloved town.

Content provided by Mitzi Saffos, curator, The Museum at Colonial Beach.

• Holiday Rentals
• Restaurants
• Things to do
• Colonial Beach Tourism
• Colonial Beach Hotels
• Colonial Beach Guest House
• Colonial Beach Holiday Homes
• Colonial Beach Flights
• Colonial Beach Restaurants
• Colonial Beach Attractions
• Colonial Beach Travel Forum
• Colonial Beach Photos
• Colonial Beach Map
• All Colonial Beach Hotels
• Colonial Beach Hotel Deals
• Colonial Beach Motels
• Colonial Beach Campsites
• Family Hotels in Colonial Beach
• Colonial Beach Beach Hotels
• Romantic Hotels in Colonial Beach
• 3-stars Hotels in Colonial Beach
• Colonial Beach Hotels with a Pool
• Colonial Beach Hotels with Bike Rentals
• Colonial Beach Pet Friendly Campsites
• Colonial Beach Non-Smoking Hotels
• Colonial Beach Hotels with Air Conditioning
• Colonial Beach Hotels with Outdoor Pool
• Hotels near George Washington Birthplace National Monument
• Hotels near Westmoreland State Park
• Hotels near James Monroe Birthplace
• Hotels near Bayside Marina
• Hotels near Colonial Beach Yacht Center
• Hotels near The Museum at Colonial Beach
• Hotels near Memorial House
• Hotels near Washington Avenue Park
• Hotels near Osprey Nesting Platform Tour
• Hotels near Artists' Alliance at Jarrett Thor Fine Arts
• Hotels near (DCA) Ronald Reagan National Airport
• Hotels near (BWI) Balt.-Wash. Intl Airport
• Hotels near (IAD) Dulles Intl Airport
• Oceano By Trouvaille
• Karma Royal Palms
• Monteria Resort
• Jiva Resort
• Rambagh Palace
• Mango Mist Resorts
• Hotel Bangalaxmi
• Ruppi's Hotel & Resort
• White Musk Resort
• Tinton Adventure Resort
• The Khyber Himalayan Resort & Spa
• Kumararraja Palace Yelagiri
• Themis Mudhouse- An Ethnic Resort & Cultural Dining
• Govardhan EcoVillage
• Popular All-Inclusive Resorts
• Popular Beach Resorts
• Popular Family Resorts
• Popular All-Inclusive Hotels
• Popular Hotels With Waterparks
• Popular Honeymoon Resorts
• Popular Luxury Resorts
• Popular All-Inclusive Family Resorts
• Popular Golf Resorts
• Popular Spa Resorts
• Popular Cheap Resorts
• All Colonial Beach Restaurants
• Restaurants near Riverboat on the Potomac
• American Restaurants for Families in Colonial Beach
• American Restaurants for Large Groups in Colonial Beach
• American Restaurants with Outdoor Seating in Colonial Beach
• BBQ Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Chinese Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• French Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Italian Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Mexican Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Pizza in Colonial Beach
• Seafood Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Street Food Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Thai Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Vegetarian Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Best Shrimp in Colonial Beach
• Best Oyster in Colonial Beach
• Best Crab Legs in Colonial Beach
• Best Calamari in Colonial Beach
• Best Tuna in Colonial Beach
• Best Tacos in Colonial Beach
• Best Crab Soup in Colonial Beach
• Best Crab Cakes in Colonial Beach
• Best Hamburgers in Colonial Beach
• Best Scallops in Colonial Beach
• Best Clams in Colonial Beach
• Best Wings in Colonial Beach
• Best Sandwiches in Colonial Beach
• Best Salad in Colonial Beach
• Best Crab in Colonial Beach
• Breakfast Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Desserts in Colonial Beach
• Late Night Restaurants in Colonial Beach
• Restaurants with a View in Colonial Beach
• GreenLeaders
• Colonial Beach
• Things to Do
• Holiday homes
• Travel Stories
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travellers' Choice
• Help Centre
• United States    
• Virginia (VA)    
• Colonial Beach    
• Colonial Beach Restaurants    

Riverboat on the Potomac

Ratings and reviews, location and contact.

We were looking for a nice meal and there are not a lot of choices on the beach. We flipped a coin and landed here. Let's say up front that our server Heather was as cute as she could be. She was flying around and... waiting on several tables and tried her best. Signs on the table announced that they were short staffed and be patient, and we were. I ordered the large prime rib, salad and the small baked potatoes. The prime rib was huge, tasty and perfectly cooked. My salad was good but I was not told it was an upcharge to replace a side with it. The potatoes came with melted butter which was melted margarine and not good. She had the crab stuffed shrimp, hush puppies and fries. The shrimp were not great and the rest were good. An uneven performance at best but one of the few places to get a meal that doesn't involve a diner. We did have a nice view of the water. More

They call themselves a casino because they have keno and horse bets. If you are thinking slots or cards you are way off base. Most people there are over 60 ish and look to be regulars. Great bloody marys but not so great food. Nothing... to do there but watch a bunch of keno and horse races on tv. More

Hi wyattdeb, We consider ourselves to be a casino because we have a public room where gambling occurs, which is the definition of a casino or gambling house. We agree the Bloody Marys are delicious! We hope to see you again soon for a game... More

We probably go to Riverboat for lunch every 2 months. You can't beat the view from the porch overlooking the Potomac. They are always understaffed so service is hit or miss and there seems to be a lot of turn over. We rarely see the... same waiter or waitress a second time. The food is so-so, not bad, not great. I find that it is inconsistent also. Like the wait staff I suspect the kitchen staff turns over frequently since things are often prepared and presented differently from visit to visit. If you want ok food and nice view and are not in a hurry...give it a try. More

Very Disappointed with service and food today. Drove from Fredericksburg to come enjoy a nice meal only to be charged $20 for just a child to eat. Ordered hush puppies and a dozen chicken wings as our appetizer. The butter was rock hard. Asked for... melted butter which never came as well as a refill that never came. The chicken wings where cold in the middle. When our food arrived the crab stuffed flounder wasn’t even room temperature and the crab stuffed shrimp was lukewarm. When the chicken wings came out cold I initially thought it was the cook’s fault. But as the evening went by our waitress mentioned our food was ready but it didn’t bring our food out for several minutes. I also watched a cook bring food out and set it on the bar only for the waitress to take several minutes to take it to the table. Have to say not pleased about driving from Fredericksburg to Colonial Beach to spend $20 on 3 drinks, an order of hush puppies, Kraft Mac and cheese and a bun less hot dog. More

I have found the food to be small portions and overpriced. Service is slow, and service is worse; only because they only have two girls working the dining room, bar and etc. for about 100 people. Recently had the wings, growly overcooked and difficult to... chew. I had to send them back as they were that bad. The nacho platter was good. They did away, to steam line the menu with the shrimp basket, which was excellent. More

This place is unique. Enter the building in Virginia, take ten steps and you are over the water and in Maryland. You can bet the ponies and play Keno in the Maryland side. The Virginia entrance has but one Virginia scratch off machine. I know... they tried to get slots installed but locals voted it down. ‘Tis a shame. We went for the food over the water and it was fantastic. Both of us got grilled scallops with cheese and they were great. Highly recommend this place for the food for sure. More

We just spent Friday and Saturday, Dec. 29 and 30, eating lunch and dinner at the new Riverboat. My parents came to visit form Shelby,NC and we all had a grand time. It took a long time to rebuild "THE BOAT" but it came back... better then ever! Thank you to all the owner, employees and just what a great time. Shirley and Catfish Lee More

I went to the Riverboat last night with my friends to celebrate my birthday early so everyone could come. We sat at the bar and had a great time. They had a good amount draft beers and a couple different ones I've never had before... like Goose IPA. The bartender was courteous, speedy and knew her stuff. We order a bunch of the finger foods and they were delicious. As we were leaving we grabbed a couple handles of whiskey and bourbon from there in-restaurant liquor store. It was a great way to spend a birthday. More

Went to the High Tides 100 yards away first but was invisible to them. So we went to the Riverboat where we sat at the bar , ate chicken tenders that were great. The bar maid was great. Music on the tv in front of... us (instead of sports.) Glad the High Tides didn't want to wait us. More

Waited at least 20 minutes for a waitress to come over to us, even though there was only one other table occupied. The crab balls had so much old bay seasoning on them that I sent them back. My daughter's fish was also way overseasoned,... as was her shrimp. Way over priced and just plain bad food and service!!!! More

Food was overpriced, limited selection, not prepared as ordered or in accordance with the menu, filet mignon was tough and had a toothpick hidden in it and service was slow. I tried the place because I purchased a coupon for it. The coupon was supposed... to be same as cash yet they put restrictions on it. Atmosphere leaves much to be desired, it is definitively tailored more to gambling than dining. More

Hi Jason. Thank you for taking the time to join us and leave your feedback. I am sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy your time with us. That said, I do appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention. We will take them into... More

While it might be a good idea to have OTB, this place needs help. We couldn't bring ourselves to give them our dinner business. The servers are rude and don't seem to know which one is waiting on which table leading to confusion and lots... of interruptions. Our waitress had no idea what kind of beers they had on tap. Training needed More

We are very sorry to hear about your experience in our restaurant. Our customers are our number one priority. The behavior you observed is not typical of the experience at Riverboat and most certainly not what we teach our staff. We will use this opportunity... More

We went to see the comedy show and it was excellent ! However, we didn't eat before we came because we were going to have dinner there - BIG MISTAKE! My husband ordered a drink in the bar area while we chatted with the comedians... and I didn't order anything because I was going to wait until we went in and sat down. We were sitting in there for about 45 minutes and no one took our order so I got up and went to get a menu . Still no one came over .The 3 servers walked around us , beside us, and in between but NEVER took our order! We were there for 2 1/2 hours!!!! No one ever asked if we wanted anything! Had it not been for the comedians we would have left after 1/2 hour of the lack of service. We have been to alot of shows around the country and have never had this happen.My suggestion would to be get a wait staff that is good for business not what you had last night ! We will not be coming back.Very disappointed ! More

Hi Usandthebeach, We are very sorry to hear about your negative experience. We will address this issue with our wait staff. Thank you for providing us with your feedback. Best, Penny F., Owner

So I went there today, and the view is great however, there's no staff at the door to assist with seating. I actually had to ask. So once I sat down it took forever for a server to notice. I ordered a pasta special and... waited 30 minutes for it. What came out was a pasta that had clearly been sitting for a while, was reheated and not even fresh. Even worse it looked like it was made and mixed with the sauce. The presentation of the meal was terrible I will submit a picture of it. For a 30 minute wait on pasta I expect some sort of a presentation and a fresh meal. Anyways the manager came by and gave it to me for half price because quite frankly I was afraid to order anything else for fear of receiving something that was just as bad or not fresh. How hard is it to mess up pasta? The place is in dire need of remodeling the carpet is dirty and the overall decor a drab, only the view saves it. More

What kind of person puts that much money into a business, but cares less about what would make their customers have a better dining experience. Customers walk into this huge building with no person to greet them and show them their dining options. They have... no sweet tea, though so many customers want it. They offer no drink specials on holidays that most bars partake in, Penny, the owner, cares only about the gamblers, and the gamblers alone. She is not open to new ideas that would increase her business and sales. She has the food there because you need to sell a certain about of food in order to sell the alcohol. Nor, does she want decent staff. If you are not sitting at the bar in your work unniform after you clock out, then you do not fit in. , NO CLASS!! More

RIVERBOAT ON THE POTOMAC, Colonial Beach - Restaurant Reviews, Phone Number & Photos - Tripadvisor

• Service: 3.5
• Atmosphere: 3.5

Your browser is not supported for this experience. We recommend using Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

visitors guide

Sign up for our

Enewsletter.

• Colonial Beach Tourism
• Colonial Beach Hotels
• Colonial Beach Bed and Breakfast
• Colonial Beach Vacation Rentals
• Flights to Colonial Beach
• Riverboat on the Potomac
• Things to Do in Colonial Beach
• Colonial Beach Travel Forum
• Colonial Beach Photos
• Colonial Beach Map
• All Colonial Beach Hotels
• Colonial Beach Hotel Deals
• Colonial Beach
• Things to Do
• Restaurants
• Vacation Rentals
• Travel Stories
• Rental Cars
• Add a Place
• Travel Forum
• Travelers' Choice
• Help Center

Restaurant and Off-track Bettting - Riverboat on the Potomac

• United States    
• Virginia (VA)    
• Colonial Beach    
• Colonial Beach Restaurants    

“Restaurant and Off-track Bettting” Review of Riverboat on the Potomac

We decided to try this restaurant in Colonial Beach VA. The most interesting to me was parts of the building were in MD and parts were in VA. There was signage to show you. The restaurant was a little dark for me. I guess the many TV screens for the betting were a little weird for me. The food was just average.

• Excellent 44
• Very good 40
• Terrible 23
• All languages
• English  (150)
• Portuguese  (1)
• English (150)
• Portuguese (1)

10 - 14 of 151 reviews

We had lunch here while visiting the beach. Great views and the food was decent. Staff was friendly and it didn’t take too long to get our food.

If you're going for the food, save your money. Their food is nearly as good as your average fast food restaurant. You can, however, get an alcoholic beverage. Off track betting is the only thing this place has going for it.

Went here on a weeknight, only one other table in the restaurant yet someone else had to come give us a menu to look at because our waiter had not come in to see new people arrived. Soup came and it was just about spilled all over luckily would not have been on us. Soup came out COLD...had them take it back to heat it up one came back good and hot the other barely warm. Then due to a storm in the area the kitchen lost power so food was taking longer than should have. Understand nothing can be done about that, but with how the whole meal went at least comp the soups would have been nice. But nope. Don't think will be on my list of places to try a second time.

Food was good, large portions, had to take some home. The only problem we had was that the management needs to either hire more people or if they are available, schedule more. There were only 2 waitresses covering the dining room and the outside seating. The poor girls were actually running at times because they were so busy. Would visit again though.

Travelers who viewed Riverboat on the Potomac also viewed

Been to riverboat on the potomac share your experiences, owners: what's your side of the story.

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

Browse nearby

• Colonial Beach, Virginia /
• Riverboat on the Potomac /
• Riverboat on the Potomac menu

Riverboat on the Potomac Menu

Menu added by the restaurant owner february 18, 2024.

Menu added by users April 20, 2023

Menu added by users February 23, 2023

Menu added by users July 19, 2020

Menu added by users September 07, 2017

Menus of restaurants nearby

View menus for colonial beach restaurants.