Restaurateur Lindsay Bennett closed the doors of Press Wine Bar in June to reimagine her Shore Drive space as a bayside burger bar. Riptide Burgers & Tiki Bar opened just weeks later and traded wine glasses for bright blue tiki tumblers and cheese charcuterie for mouthwatering meats.
Riptide’s menu is as cool and coastal as its atmosphere. Flanking the front page is a host of beach-inspired cocktails including the creamy Painkiller and tequila-laced El Diablo. Next are surf ‘n' turf nosh options ranging from coconut shrimp, sesame crusted ahi tuna and jerk chicken to fresh salads, ‘cued up coastal skewers and of course, burgers. Handhelds are anchored with fish, chicken, vegetables or fresh ground beef from Lynchburg’s Seven Hills Farm. The burgers are grilled to perfection and smeared with an assortment of housemade spreads like pimento cheese, peanut butter, jalapeño pepper jam and bacon jam. Some are even stuffed with chorizo, crab cakes, pork rinds and more.
Bennett’s menu is sure to cater to local charities as well. Order the savory Kemps Ridley burger topped with bacon jam and herbed mayo to donate $1 of your meal to the Virginia Aquarium Stranding Response Program.
Riptide Burgers & Tiki Bar is located at 2301 Red Tide Road, Virginia Beach and opens daily at 11 a.m. For more information, visit Facebook.com/RiptideVB.
