After 24 years in the food service industry, Sean Jones has fulfilled a lifelong goal of owning his own restaurant with the opening of Riptide Taproom and Grille on July 16. 

Jones learned the ropes in all types of establishments, from Mom and Pops to corporate franchises.  With his parents Roy and Donna Jones as co-owners, he’s created a pub style menu with fresh burgers and sandwiches, all of which pair well with, you guessed it…beer.

“We purposely designed our menu items to pair well with certain beers,” said Jones. “And our staff has been educated to be able to help customers select some great pairings.”

The menu is designed for quick service and features fresh North Carolina beef. Jones said the burgers are always fresh, never frozen, and he offers locally sourced produce whenever possible. 

As for the beer selection, there are 30 beers available on tap and 46 different bottles. About one-third of the beers are from North Carolina, including brews from Good Hops Brewery on Dow Road in Carolina Beach and Broomtail Craft Brewery in Wilmington.

The 4,000-square-foot restaurant seats 80 inside and an additional 60 on the deck. There is also an outdoor bar that serves bottled beer. There are plenty of TV’s for those who wish to watch sports, including the NFL package, and some video games as well.

Riptide Taproom and Grill is open daily from 11am to 2am and is located at 103 N. Lake Park Blvd. in Carolina Beach.

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