About Riverside

Good food has a way of bringing people together. Riverside Butcher Co. grew from a love of cooking and a belief that Damariscotta deserved a neighborhood shop where finding something for dinner could be a pleasure—with carefully chosen ingredients, helpful advice, and something new to discover.

Our Story

For owner August Avantaggio, opening Riverside was a way to contribute to the town where he grew up and chose to raise his family. Damariscotta has long been a gathering place for the surrounding communities, and he saw an opportunity to create a shop that would become part of everyday life here.

There’s a family connection, too: August’s grandfather owned a market in Newton, Massachusetts, in the 1920s. A century later, Riverside carries its own version of the neighborhood market forward, bringing a personal approach to shopping for good food.

That spirit extends beyond the butcher counter. House-made meals, international provisions, hard-to-find ingredients, and wines from around the world share space with the meats at the heart of the shop. Each offers another starting point for a good meal, whether you’re cooking from scratch or letting us do some of the work.

Our aim is simple: to be a place you trust, where questions are welcome and you leave looking forward to what’s for dinner.