Charleston.com Takes A Flavorful Fun-filled Tour Around the RiverDogs' Concourse & Segra Club

Jeff Walker, Food & Beverage Writer

The crack of the bat, the roar of the crowd, the sun going down over the Ashley River, and fireworks in any given Friday night, it's baseball season in Charleston and the three time Carolina League reigning champions the Charleston RiverDogs are the main attraction. Of course there's a lot more taking place than a ball game. There's Charlie the RiverDog entertaining the kids, a rare sighting of Bill Murray, and roaming public address announcer Ken Carrington hosting whacked out promotions. 

And that's just on the ballfield side of the action. Out on the concourse, the food and drink grab star billing. Food is fun has been the overall mantra at Joe Riley Stadium aka 'the Joe' for decades much to the delight of Mike Veeck, the past president of the RiverDogs and now Executive Advisor to the Chairman. And the tradition continues under Food & Beverage Director Josh Shea, and his willing and imaginative staff.

While the actual ball players might be around for only a season, moving up and down the minor league system, the menu is more of a veteran team with fan favorites returning year after year, as rookie items are hoping to make the food & beverage squad. The edible line-up is as old as the game of baseball itself, with hotdogs, burgers, peanuts, and popcorn at the top of the batting order, and cold beer and ice cream respectively designated hitters for adults and the kids alike.

Without question the long standing Dog World is an all-star food destination. It's where you'll find your Average Joe Dog or it's big brother the Footlong. Both come in basket (with pretzel bites) or combo (plus soft drink) options. For $3.50 more you can add fun style to your dog, making it a Bulldog (nod to the Citadel) by smothering it in chili, cheese, and diced onion, or creating the ever popular Homewrecker complete with bacon, coleslaw, pickled okra, pimento cheese and a drizzle of BBQ sauce. All your southern favorites. 

One dog that is certain to be an up and comer is the Second Place Duck Dog, which salutes while delivering a dig to the Down East Wood Ducks, the very team the RiverDogs routed to win the championship in 2023. It's basically an all beef Hebrew National dog layered under tender pulled duck and topped with coleslaw, cracklin' and a slather of Carolina Gold Mustard. The Ducks 'fowl play' (pun intended) brought about a 'winner' (misspelled wiener) for fans at the Joe. Indulge!

Want to really tantalize the taste buds, than chow down on the Breakfast of Champions aka a waygu all beef hotdog tucked inside a waffle bun before being blanketed under eggs, bacon, grits, and syrup. Ooh la-la! Vegans have long enjoyed the Smokin' Carrot Dog. Tender with just the right amount of crunch. Dog World is a one stop concession for the whole family. You can grab a cheeseburger, a brat, cotton candy, soft drinks, cold beer, wine & canned cocktails. It is literally the bullpen for ballpark food & drink.

Just around the bend you'll discover another family friendly food & drink location. The State Fair kiosk carries a variety of grab n' go carnival favs, including $4 hotdogs & corndogs, cotton candy, funnel cake fries, pop in your mouth snacks such as peanuts, popcorn, Cool Ranch Doritos, alongside $3 sundae cones and ice cream sandwiches. 

Two of the coolest things at the State Fair are the new $6 Horchata Bites which is a sweet and cinnamon-y fried caramel treat sprinkled in powdered sugar. Great for kids of all ages with a sweet tooth. For the older kids (21 & over) it's a great place to walk away with a 25oz cold beer for a cool $11, a Porch Pounder wine or canned cocktail for $7 and $5 respectively. Awesome ballpark prices!

Just inside the side entrance gate is the Dog House where fans can find several low country favorites. Their all-star lineup includes the Average Joe or their namesake RiverDog (slaw, pickled okra, & BBQ sauce) alongside a Cooper River Brat, a smoked pulled pork sandwich, and kid friendly chicken nuggets. Non-meat eaters might savor the Southern Black Bean Burger draped in avocado corn relish. Maybe grab a souvenir fountain soda cup for $6 and enjoy $3 refills during the game. 

The newest edition to this batting order at the Dog House is the the Three Ring Burger, aptly named for the Charleston Riverdogs three consecutive championships. For patrons the TRB is simply a all beef cheeseburger and pickles, topped in triple pyramid of onion rings before being further enhanced in BBQ sauce. What happens if the RiverDogs win a fourth title? Will they add another onion ring, or will they come up with a quadruple mini-hotdog box with four of your favorite toppings. Who knows what Josh and his team might come up with!

Just across from the Dog House is Raymond's Ramen, where fans of Asian cuisine find the Brisket Ramen Bowl (a palmetto favorite), or the spicier Nashville Hot Chicken Ramen Bowl. Snacks, soda, beer, wine, and cocktails, as well as Ramen Tacos (food is fun). Everyone enjoys a little variety at the Joe. What's new in their edible dugout you ask. How about a zesty Cauliflower Vegetable Rice Bowl complete with sweet Thai chili sauce. It will make your taste-buds pop. 

Right next door Cheesy Charlie's offers a few veteran ballpark options (Dorito snacks & cold beverages), while introducing a couple of newbies to the menu board. The Cheeto Popcorn and Cheeto Pretzels are quickly moving up the snack chart. Nice size bags of popcorn or pretzels carrying that all to familiar Cheetos taste. Easy to eat while watching the game. $6 and $9 respectively, and can last well into the seventh inning stretch. How's this for a pinch hitter, Cheesy Charlie's can also cover ANY item in the ballpark with Cheeto dust. Mind-blowing! 

Carnivores seem to be drawn into the Smokehouse, where again Charleston favorites load up the bases, with a Smoked Brisket, Pulled Pork, or Pulled Chicken Sandwich available in basket or combo form. If you're looking for a home run meal maybe order the less messy Mac BBQ Bowl teeming with a mac n' cheese base under pulled pork, collards, and sauce. For just $10 this will fill even the hungriest in your party.

Want to try something that will blow your mind, the Corn Ribs are making their debut at the Joe in 2024, and will no doubt bat 1000 before the season ends. Think of Corn Ribs as a smaller version of Mexican Street Corn, with a standard cob being quartered before being wonderfully coated in feta cheese, cilantro, herbs, and spices in a swirl of remoulade (blend of mayo, mustard, & hot sauce) to give it an added kick! Craving something sweet, try their creamy banana pudding.

While the Smokehouse is a solid home-run food & beverage destination, its beefier cousin Wicked Sausage is a grand slam for meat lovers with a ton of heavy hitters on deck, including a classic brat, smoked kielbasa, turkey and or andouille (spicy) sausages. Just like the other bases they come in basket ($11) or combo ($13) options. 

If they don't fill you up there's always the Footlong Homewrecker Brat on a stick surrounded by slaw, bacon, okra, pimento cheese and BBQ sauce. Prefer something you can just tear into and dip in luscious beer cheese, than I recommend the 10oz Bavarian Pretzel. Soft, warm, salty, and big. Kids love them with a cold Pepsi product, while big kids (adults) love them with a cold brew.

Okay, so you're the type that doesn't do burgers, dogs, and snacks. Maybe you prefer a healthier option at the ballpark. The Riverdogs have your back at the Seltzer Bar with tangy Golden Beet Salads alongside an Artisan Chef Salad. Of course they didn't call it the Seltzer Bar without reason. It's one of the few places you can grab a NÜTRL, a tasty vodka seltzer made with real vodka & real fruit juice. No carbs, no sugar, no sweetener, no preservatives and no additives. NÜTRL is a nice complement to a fresh Harvest Salad. 

One final permanent food & beverage locale is the Seafood Snackle Box, where not surprisingly the RiverDogs serve up coastal Carolina favorites such as Fried Honey Butter Shrimp and Shrimp Po'Boys in baskets with house fries. Of course they carry snacks as well, with local chart toppers like hush puppies, boiled peanuts, and kettle chips. 

At just about any food kiosk you can get soft drinks, bottled water, Gatorade, beer, wine, canned cocktails, flavored Doritos, popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy, or a $5 Icee that will keep the kids cool, happy, and hydrated during those hot summer nights.

Food at the Joe is a cornucopia of flavors, similar to what one might get at the the festival, the boardwalk, or at a county fair. There's Scoops that serve up ice cream and Pita Pizza that offer up unique pizza bites. No rhyme or reason, just everyday comfort foods, with an extra measure of 'food gone wild' just to keep it interesting.

Enough about the food already. As clearly noted, you can come across liquid refreshment at just about any food stand, however if you're 21 or over and prefer potent potables laced with alcohol than the corner of the stadium just under the bleachers parallel to left field is a adult beverage triple play. 

There you'll find Wicked Weed Foul Pole Porch dispensing IPAs, sours, and rotating flights of craft beers. Around the corner is the ever popular Beer Garden. No they don't grow beer, but they do serve up domestic and craft beers including Charleston's own Palmetto Brewery. For $15 you can enjoy a craft beer flight. On the flip side of the Beer Garden is another local favorite, the Sweet Grass Vodka Bar, where mixologists pour one of Charleston's home-grown vodkas. 

Head back down towards State Fair and you'll discover another triple threat of adult beverage stations with Joe's Spirits carrying top shelf liquors and signature cocktails. Just steps away the Craft Beer Bar serves domestics, crafts, and flights, alongside the Joe's signature local craft beer, Bellyitcher Ale from their partner at Rusty Bull Brewery.

Just a suicide bunt away is the Twisted Hard Iced Tea stand, where diehards can get Bud & Michelob, while the ladies sip on Porch Pounder Wine. Just like folks gravitate to different food items, every fan has their liquid refreshment of choice, and at the Joe they aim to tickle every fancy, and please every palate. The RiverDogs invite adult patrons to drink responsibly. 

If a company or business wants to treat their employees or clients (10 or more guests) to an upscale night at the Joe, than consider the Segra Club, sitting high above the first base and right field line. You're going to spend a little cheddar (pun intended) but it comes with a whole lot of perks including reserved padded seats outside the club level that is covered, private bathrooms, an air controlled oversized dining room complete with lounge tables, comfortable sofas, flat screen TVs, a private bar, and more. 

While the food on the concourse is awesome, the food inside the Segra Club is akin to an MVP experience. We're talking unlimited food including a burger and hotdog station, custom dessert bar with a handful of sweet treat options that include confections from Charleston Chocolatiers.

But wait that's just the starting lineup. Your Segra Club visit comes with unlimited beer and wine as well as an ever evolving deluxe menu that might feature smoked turkey, prime rib, steamed vegetables, fried rice, and a whole lot more from exceptional chefs. Fine dining at the Joe! Unheard of, but a signature home-run experience nonetheless.

The beauty about the Segra Club is it's not just available during baseball season, you can rent it for private events 365 days out of the year. Imagine hosting a wedding, the reception, a bridal party, or a corporate event at the Segra. You can feast on custom menus all the while enjoying an epic view of the historic city of Charleston. 

While the club caters to and is best suited for larger groups, individuals attending a RiverDogs game can bask in the amenities, however it's not something done last minute or on gameday. It's best to schedule ahead of time if father and son, husband and wife, or you and and your buddy want to take part. Heads up. Segra is a slang term for obtaining victory. So if you want to score a win for your company, a friend, or family member, maybe book a night at the Segra Club.  For more visit https://segraclub.com/

Whether you're an old school ballpark fan who enjoys hotdogs, peanuts, and cold beer, or a step outside your comfort zone person who likes to give their taste buds a thrill ride, the food and drink at Joe Riley Stadium during a Charleston RiverDogs game provides a plethora of possibilities. Let your imagination run wild next time you take in a game at the Joe. Can't make it to a RiverDogs game, but crave the variety of foods the ballpark has to offer, maybe have their food truck cater your next event. 

In case you're wondering the RiverDogs still host $1 beers on Thursdays, available throughout the ballpark all night long thanks to Budweiser. If you want to use your Joseph P. Riley Stadium GPS to navigate all the concession locations than just visit https://www.milb.com/charleston/ballpark/foodmap