Waterview Grill to replace Rio Tequila Cantina on Portsmouth waterfront this spring
PORTSMOUTH — Waterview Grill, a lobster, seafood and grilled food-focused restaurant, is planned to open this spring, replacing the now-closed Rio Tequila Cantina overlooking the harborside tugboats.
The Labrie Group earlier this winter announced Rio, its downtown Mexican restaurant closed for the winter season, would not reopen in the spring as the ownership team worked to open a new waterfront concept. Brothers and entrepreneurs Michael and Peter Labrie also own Jimmy’s Jazz & Blues Club, the nearby River House restaurant and the Atlantic Grill in Rye.
The changes coming to Bow Street had been teased by the Labrie Group, with signs hanging from the windows inside of Rio reading, “Something new is coming soon.”
Labrie Group director of operations Ken Lingle said the plan is for the Waterview Grill to be open for business the first weekend of April. No renovations are taking place.
“We have a great view of the historic Piscataqua River and we’ll be taking advantage of all the great seafood that comes from the ocean and the river,” Lingle said.
The announcement of the Waterview Grill’s opening ends the 37 Bow St. commercial space’s decades-long run as a Mexican-themed restaurant. Prior to Rio operating in it from the spring of 2022 until the start of winter in 2023, the space was occupied for 32 years by the popular Poco’s Bow Street Cantina, co-owned by John Golumb and Marlisa Geroulo.
Golumb and Geroulo’s announcement that they were selling Poco’s came as the business faced lasting staffing challenges during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Justin Rivlin, general manager of the nearby River House, will serve in the same capacity at the Waterview Grill.
“I’d say probably towards the end of 2023,” he said of when the Labrie Group decided to close Rio and pursue a different theme. “We were headed towards hibernation in the wintertime. Obviously this area gets pretty quiet during the winter and that option fell on the table of, how can we fully realize this space? Part of Rio was carrying the torch of what (former Poco’s co-owner) John Golumb had done in that space for so long, but now we hope to relaunch into something that we think we do really well, which is local seafood prepared in a modern way.”
The menu for the Waterview Grill is still under development but will include lobster dishes, shellfish and other seafood, grilled items and sandwiches.
“We want to make sure it’s well-rounded so that if a family is down here on the historic waterfront, it appeals to everyone,” Lingle said.
While it will feature a cocktail menu, the restaurant will offer craft beer from local breweries and a wine list, beverages that weren’t necessarily sought out at Rio.
Seating will remain the same, with the space able to accommodate just under 200 guests between the outdoor patio, bar and indoor tables, according to Rivlin.
“There’s a wide variety of selections on the waterfront here, including River House. What we hope to accomplish is an experience where a guest can come in, whether they’re traveling or local, and find really elevated and excellent service, approachable food, a really fun cocktail menu, and hopefully leave having had a really enjoyable time,” he said. “The waterfront is a big attraction for people coming into the city.”
Visually, not much will change in the Rio to Waterview Grill changeover. With the new name comes a new sign that will hang outside the Bow Street building, while the interior will see few changes.
“I’m really excited about this space and think that once guests come in to check us out and once we get our staff rolling for the summer season, it’s going to be a great addition for Bow Street,” Rivlin added.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Waterview Grill to replace Rio Tequila Cantina in Portsmouth NH