Add a nice meal and a cold beer to the mix.

That's the Cotton Patch's secret, and overall, the formula succeeds. We visited the quaint little riverside eatery on a recent Wednesday evening, when radio station WBBQ personality Mike Thomas adds yet another fun element to the mix: a game of trivia.

The restaurant features patio dining, which is where the trivia game unfolds when weather permits. About a dozen wrought-iron tables are set up outside, with an industrial-strength fan doubling for Mother Nature when necessary.

The menu includes appetizers (think breaded and fried), soups, salads, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, eight entrees, side dishes, kids' meals and desserts. A large bar serves up domestic and imported draft and bottled beers, house wines and cocktails.

We opted for the unbeatable everyday special of an appetizer, two entrees and two desserts for $24.95. (Unlike many restaurants, the Cotton Patch includes all menu offerings in the special.)

We kicked things off with nachos supreme ($5.95), a huge plate of tortilla chips covered with chili, shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers and sour cream. This was a great crowd-pleaser, though we wish the chips were easier to access. They were so smothered by the toppings, we felt like we were mining for gold.

The entrees, catfish platter and Chop Chop, were serviceable though not memorable. The catfish was served with waffle fries and regrettably watery cole slaw. The Chop Chop consisted of two boneless loin chops (a little dry), fries, honey-mustard sauce and a house salad. The salad was delicious and refreshing.

Likewise, our dessert (turtle cheesecake) was nothing short of delectable.

We had a few snafus, but our good humor never waned. Our friend, Beth, remarked that the dearth of condiments on the tables enabled us to get acquainted with fellow diners. (Borrowing salt is a tried-and-true icebreaker.) Service was slow because of the trivia crowd, but our server was warm and cheerful. Clutter reigned, but we were too busy brainstorming to notice.

So how did we fare in trivia? Well, we didn't know that the Atlantic is the world's most shallow ocean, but we came up with an impressive list of former U.S. secretaries of state. In other words, hit and miss - like our meal.

We didn't win the game, but we had a blast trying. The Cotton Patch made for a great evening.

The Eatery: The Cotton Patch, 816 Cotton Lane, at Riverwalk Augusta (map)

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon to 11 p.m. Sunday

Phone: (706) 724-4511

The Verdict: Casual dining and cold beer on the banks of the Savannah River. 3 out of 5 stars.