NEW ENGLAND REGION
Ballard’s, New Shoreham, RI
Ballard’s dates back to 1956 and is popular for live music and local seafood alike. Its restaurant and beach are near the Block Island Ferry, which means the location draws day-trippers as well as recreational boaters who visit the island for a couple days or a week. Ballard’s Marina has Mediterranean-style floating docks and takes reservations, with services that include ice, showers and laundry. And the food is satisfying: Ballard’s took top prize at the 2019 Block Island Maritime Institute ChowdaFest. Look for that chowder on the menu, along with locally sourced oysters, lobster, fish and clams.
DiMillo’s, Portland, ME
DiMillo’s is in the heart of Portland’s Old Port, a scenic district on Casco Bay with cobblestone streets and brick buildings whose working shops have been converted into charming boutiques, eateries, breweries and more. DiMillo’s has long been a cornerstone name here—the waterfront restaurant has been known for its lobster dinners since the mid-1960s. Today, DiMillo’s offers lobsters steamed, baked, fried, sauteed, on a roll, as a club-style sandwich, or blended with mac ’n’ cheese. Cruisers can stay for a week and try them all while the boat is serviced; DiMillo’s offers priority service as the home of Maine’s largest Travelift.
Diamond’s Edge Restaurant & Marina, Portland, ME
One of the best things about Maine’s Great Diamond Island is that no cars are allowed. Ferries and private boats are the choice for transportation here, along with bicycles and golf carts. Diamond’s Edge Restaurant & Marina has 43 slips for boats up to about 110 feet length overall. There’s a market for provisioning prepared foods, wine and beer (including picnic lunches), as well as the restaurant, where cruisers can head ashore to eat with a view of the water. Fresh catch is on the menu, along with Maine lobster and crab ravioli with a truffle-scented scampi sauce.
Scales, Portland, ME
Commercial Street in Portland has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1974. In 2008, it was named one of America’s Top 10 Great Streets by the American Planning Association, which said: “Commercial Street remains just as important to the city and its waterfront today as it was when first built more than 150 years ago.” Amid that historic landscape is Scales, part of a family of restaurants and bakeries in Portland. Scales is a haven for lovers of fresh seafood and fish, with a raw bar and unique appetizers such as fried-squid-and-cherry poppers, and smoked bluefish pâté. The dining room is in a big warehouse with 150 seats and a huge bar for first-come first-serve. But even so, reservations are strongly recommended at this popular spot. If you have to wait, order one of the martinis.
Salt Wharf, Camden ME
If you’re cruising Midcoast Maine this summer, make a reservation at Salt Wharf, a newer restaurant in Camden Harbor at the Lyman-Morse marina. We tried to eat there twice last summer but failed to score a table. On the third try, we were treated to an incredible view, great service and excellent food. The Wagyu Steak Tartare scored a 10 and the Yellowfin Tuna Tabbouleh proved to be just as good. Camden as a cruising destination rarely fails to disappoint, and neither will this restaurant.
Red 36, Mystic, CT
Our readers like this restaurant equally for the food and the location. It’s based at Noank Shipyard and Seaport Marine—one of the oldest marinas in the southeastern part of Connecticut. Situated at the mouth of the Mystic River, it draws boaters traveling to and from Block Island, Fishers Island, Newport and Long Island. When the weather is warm, the crew can sit on the deck that faces the river and order some of the house specialties, which include fried oysters, fritters, lobster rolls, clam flatbread and cheddar mac ‘n’ cheese. If you’re still hungry after dinner,the blueberry crumble can satisfy a sweet tooth. There are options for a nice after-dinner walk, too, including the nearby Mystic Seaport Museum and historic Mystic Drawbridge.
Lobster Landing, Clinton, CT – EDITORS’ CHOICE
A number of Soundings staffers grew up near the southeastern corner of Connecticut, where Lobster Landing was a part of the shoreline culture. Located on Long Island Sound in a salty shack with outdoor seating, the restaurant is laid-back, family-friendly and no fuss. The menu is simple, but the choices will satisfy a summer appetite, with staples like lobster rolls, hot dogs and sweet Italian sausage. If you don’t see something you want on the menu (sides and sips, for instance), the owner Enea Bacci (pictured here) will encourage you to bring your own.
Belle’s Café, Newport, RI
Some boaters call it Newport’s best-kept secret, because it’s somewhat secluded as it sits in the heart of Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard, where there’s more than 3,500 linear feet of dock space for yachts up to 300 feet. Belle’s offers indoor and outdoor dining, plus takeout if you want to grab and go. It’s a great place for breakfast or lunch, with Eggs Benedict, pancakes, lobster rolls and clam chowder headlining the menu. While devouring your meal, take in the sights at one of the most impressive shipyards in the Northeast, where more than a few really beautiful boats are berthed.
22 Bowen’s Grille, Newport, RI
This waterfront steakhouse is open year-round and draws locals and tourists. While signature dishes are on the pricey side, 22 Bowen’s does deliver great service and a good wine list. Regular patrons recommend the garden salad, mashed potatoes, Delmonico steak and filet mignon. Floor-to-ceiling windows allow for big views of the wharf in downtown Newport. There’s plenty to do after dinner, as many shops and docks are just outside the door. The Newport Sailing Museum is also a short walk from the restaurant.
Rowayton Seafood, Norwalk, CT
There aren’t many slips at this casually elegant restaurant on a slim stretch of the Five Mile River, but if you can reserve one, the effort will pay off with a satisfying meal and some of the prettiest views in Connecticut’s Fairfield County. Dining rooms inside and out are often full and on summer weekends, the bar can be tough to get to, but service is good and the seafood is fresh.The Hamachi crudo, popcorn shrimp, porcini crusted yellowfin tuna and lobster roll are highlights on the menu. For dessert, there are local ice creams and sorbets from Longford’s. After the meal, take a walk down the street to the Rowayton Historical Society and get a quick lesson in the town’s maritime history.
Top Overall
Ford’s Lobster Restaurant, Noank, CT
Red 36, Mystic, CT
Abbot’s, Noank, CT
Chart Room, Cataumet, MA
The Oar New Shoreham, RI
Top Family Restaurant
Ballards, New Shoreham, RI
Ford’s Lobster Restaurant, Noank, CT
DiMillo’s, Portland, ME
Belle’s Café, Newport, RI
Back Eddy, Westport MA
Top Location for Date Night
22 Bowen’s, Newport, RI
The Moorings, Newport, RI
Fresh Salt Restaurant, Saybrook Point Resort,
Old Saybrook, CT
Diamond’s Edge Restaurant and Marina, Portland, ME
Red 36, Mystic, CT
Top Location Based on Quality of Food
Ford’s Lobster Restaurant, Noank, CT
Rowayton Seafood, Norwalk, CT
Royal River Grill House, Yarmouth, ME
Scales, Portland, ME
Dog Watch Café, Stonington, CT
Top Location for Location
The Moorings, Newport, RI
Dead Eye Dicks, New Shoreham, RI
Chart Room, Cataumet, MA
DiMillo’s, Portland ME
Nazbar at the NASWA Resort, Laconia, NH
MID-ATLANTIC REGION
Pusser’s, Annapolis, MD
Compromise Street in Annapolis runs right along the Annapolis Yacht Basin to the Annapolis Yacht Club. Just next to Schooner Woodwind Sailing Cruises, boaters can find Pusser’s Caribbean Grille, connected to the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel (but separately operated). The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating, along with a shop that sells shirts, hats and more that are reminiscent of the Pusser’s in the British Virgin Islands. The drinks menu includes the famous Painkiller that can be found in the BVI, made with Pusser’s rum and served in a souvenir tin mug, along with Pusser’s Rum Punch that combines mango, pineapple and more.
The Cove, Glen Cove, NY
Glen Cove is surrounded by water on three sides, which means the waterfront is integral to the city’s history and present-day life. The city was built up over the years by some of the most famous names in American business history, including J.P. Morgan, the Pratts of Standard Oil fame, and the Woolworth family. The Cove Restaurant & Oyster Bar is right on Glen Cove Creek, near the Safe Harbor Glen Cove marina. It’s casual by day and a nice spot from which to watch the sunset. Once the sun goes, the atmosphere is still relaxed but a bit more dressed up. There’s a busy outdoor bar and DJ. Signature dishes include whole fish and pastas such as seafood spaghetti, which is served with octopus, shrimp, clams, Calabrian chili and white wine.
Cantler’s Riverside Inn, Annapolis, MD
On the tip of land between Mill Creek and Martin’s Cove is Cantler’s Riverside Inn—tagline, “where the watermen gather.” The restaurant offers free dockage on a first-come, first-serve basis for boaters who want to dine with folks who take Maryland blue crabs seriously. The team at Cantler’s says that a bushel will feed from 10 to 12 people, and that the proper way to refrigerate crab vegetable soup is in pint or quart containers, but never by the whole pot with a lid. Blue crabs are priced daily by the dozen, or may be ordered by the half dozen or by the crab.
Chesapeake Inn Restaurant & Marina, Chesapeake City, MD
This dock-and-dine is technically in Chesapeake City, but it’s practically on the Delaware border, on Back Creek off the Elk River. The marina allows daily or overnight stays and has a water taxi to collect boaters who anchor out in the basin. There are lunch, dinner, brunch and deck menus, along with a sushi menu for those brave enough to try the Flaming Chesapeake roll (cream cheese, spicy crab stick, crabmeat, jalapenos, spicy mayo, eel sauce and sriracha). Live music is often part of the fun here, with different bands performing during daytime and nighttime hours.
The Tides Inn, Irvington, VA
Irvington is a town of about 430 souls on the Rappahannock River in Lancaster County. Its best-known attraction is the Steamboat Era Museum, which preserves the history of steamboats on Chesapeake Bay. Not far from there is The Tides Inn, which is part of a waterfront resort that has a marina with 27 slips for daily or overnight transients. A resident ecologist on the property introduces guests to Eastern oysters, which are on the menu at the property’s waterfront Chesapeake Restaurant and Terrace. A sizable wine list is available to enhance any visit for brunch, lunch or dinner.
Showfish, Montauk, NY
Few places on New York’s Long Island are as synonymous with boating as Montauk, whose location at the far east end of the island makes it a natural jumping-off point for bluewater fishing excursions as well as jaunts to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Showfish is the flagship restaurant at Safe Harbor Montauk Yacht Club, which has more than 200 slips that can accommodate boats and yachts up to about 300 feet long. The menu is based on daily wild catch and ingredients from local farms, with presentations that are intended to make memories on any date-night outing.
Harbor Shack, Rock Hall, MD
Rock Hall, which dates to 1706, is on Maryland’s Eastern Shore in the region that watermen of the Chesapeake Bay have called home for generations.The restaurant has open-air as well as air-conditioned seating, and brings in live bands and disc jockeys on the weekends. The food is a mix of burgers, seafood and seasonal fare—lots of them fan-favorite recipes for a fun night out on the town with a group.
The Island Hideaway, Solomons, MD
Solomons is at the mouth of the Patuxent River, where there are several marinas that accept transient boaters. The Island Hideaway is on Back Creek, right near the Solomons Island Yacht Club. Its approachable, but upscale, with indoor and outdoor dining that overlooks the water. The menu includes local seafood favorites such as cream of crab soup, but also lists homemade pastas and meat-lover entrees like pork chops. Consider a post-dinner espresso or chocolate martini for dessert.
Top Overall
Claudio’s Waterfront, Greenport, NY
Waterman’s Crab House, Rock Hall, MD
Lobster House, Cape May, NJ
Pusser’s, Annapolis, MD
The Cove, Glen Cove, NY
Top Family Restaurant
Cantler’s, Annapolis, MD
Harbor Shack, Rock Hall, MD
Chesapeake Inn, Chesapeake City, MD
Schaefer’s Canal House, Chesapeake City, MD
The Clam Bar at Bridge Marina, Bayville, NY
Top Location for Date Night
The Tides Inn, Irvington, VA
Cantler’s, Annapolis, MD
The Oar Steak and Seafood Grill, Patchogue, NY
The Cove, Glen Cove, NY
Showfish, Montauk, NY
Top Location Based on Quality of Food
Lobster House, Cape May, NJ
The Cove, Glen Cove, NY
Claudio’s Waterfront, Greenport, NY
Harbor Shack, Rock Hall, MD
Crab Claw, St. Michaels, MD
Best Location for Location
Blue Iguana, Sea Cliff, NY
The Island Hideaway, Solomons, MD
Claudio’s Waterfront, Greenport, NY
Canal Café, Hampton Bays, NY
The Oar, Patchogue, NY
SOUTHEAST REGION
Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC
Coinjock Marina is at Mile Marker 50 on the Intracoastal Waterway. It’s a popular stop among snowbirds who are cruising either north-to-south or south-to-north along the Eastern Seaboard. With a mean water clearance of 12 feet, a fuel dock and maintenance services, the marina welcomes all manner of transient boats. The property’s restaurant has a mix of seafood and other dishes but is arguably best known for its 32-ounce “captain’s cut” of bone-in prime rib. (The “mate’s cut” is 14 to 16 ounces.) Diners who want to mix things up can order the surf and turf with shrimp, crab cake or oysters.
Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar, Islamorada, FL
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served at Lorelei off Mile Marker 82 in the Florida Keys, where there are dinner specials, kids’ menus and waterfront views to keep members of the whole family happy. Live music is performed every night starting at sunset, with one of the local bands throwing in some magic tricks to spice up the performances. Shareable dishes include tuna nachos, bacon-wrapped shrimp and fried chicken wings, with entrees for meat lovers, seafood eaters and vegans alike. For dessert, the locals’ favorite key lime pie is available either traditional-style or frozen with mango sauce, in addition to the whipped cream.
Shooters Waterfront, Fort Lauderdale, FL
There’s no shortage of great waterfront dining in Fort Lauderdale—the yachting capital of the U.S.—and Shooters Waterfront has been making the list since it opened in 1982. The Fort Lauderdale Water Taxi stops here from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, and carry-out is available for boaters who want to take their lunch or dinner back to the cockpit and dine on board. There are menus for kids, happy hour and even dogs, who can enjoy canine-friendly versions of Ocean Reef Turkey, Boca Chica Chicken or Bahia Beef. Gift cards are available to purchase for fellow boaters.
Shrimper’s Grill and Raw Bar, Stuart, FL
The street address for Shrimper’s is Stuart, but the restaurant is in the enclave of Port Salerno, amid a gaggle of restaurants overlooking Manatee Pocket off the St. Lucie River. There’s a small-plate fee for cooking any catch you bring in, and the menu offers grouper done several ways, including served crunchy as part of a Reuben sandwich. A sunset menu is available daily from 4 to 6 p.m. with shrimp specials as well as reasonably priced entrees such as catch of the day and fried clam strips. Happy-hour specials at the bar are from 3 to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Blackfins at Capt. Hirams, Sebastian, FL
Sebastian is located at the spot where the St. Sebastian and Indian rivers meet, about halfway between Cape Canaveral and Fort Pierce. The Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge is here, offering more than 5,400 acres with a 3-mile loop trail, along with shorter trails for birdwatching and the like. Capt. Hirams is a resort with a marina where boaters can tie up to explore the whole area, and it’s home to Blackfins Riverfront Grill, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week. The main menu includes a raw bar, salads, sandwiches, seafood, pasta, platters and steak, along with daily fish specials.
15th St. Fisheries, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lauderdale Marina is one of the top locations on the entire East Coast for service and repairs aboard boats and yachts of all sizes. Located right on the property is 15th St. Fisheries, with upstairs and dockside seating that both include expansive views of the water and boats all around. Upstairs has more of a charming, classic, nautical vibe, while downstairs tends to be popping with live music and action. Entrees served upstairs include King Crab Legs and Korean Barbeque Seabass, while the downstairs menu has a mix that includes burgers, fish tacos and a fried-gator appetizer.
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Little Torch Key, FL
Little Torch Key is an island in the lower Florida Keys, between Big Pine Key and Middle Torch Key. It’s home to an exclusive adults-only private island resort, Little Palm Island, where crushed seashell paths wind through lush tropical foliage. The Dining Room at Little Palm Island Resort & Spa strives to be “refined island casual,” with collared shirts and sundresses among the requested attire for dinner. Reservations are required, and guests of the resort receive priority seating. Private dining can be arranged on the white-sand beach.
Guanabanas, Jupiter, FL
Jupiter is the northernmost town in Florida’s Palm Beach County, with an inlet that’s well-known to boaters who cruise along the Southeast coast. Guanabanas got its start near there as a sandwich shop back in 2004 and has grown into a spot where locals and tourists alike stop in for food, drinks and live music. Adirondack chairs along the waterfront are a popular spot to find a view of the boats, while the open-air bar has more than a half-dozen signature cocktails along with margaritas, tequila and more. The kitchen cooks up salads, sandwiches, seafood, steak, chicken and other traditional favorites.
Top Overall in Region
Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC
Cabbage Key, Pineland, FL
Lorelei Restaurant and Cabana Bar, Islamorada, FL
Shooters, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Coconuts, Fort Lauderdale, FL and
Barefoot Resort Marina Bar and Grill, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Top Family Restaurant in Region
Coinjock Marina, Coinjock, NC
Lorelei, Islamorada, FL
Shrimper’s Bar and Raw Grille, Stuart, FL
Two George’s, Boynton Beach, FL
Capt. Hirams Resort, Sebastian, FL
Top Location for Date Night
15th St. Fisheries, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kaluz, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lorelei, Islamorada, FL
Boathouse at the Riverside, Ft. Lauderdale
The Boatyard, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Top Location Based on Quality of Food
Little Palm Island Resort, Little Torch Key, FL
Prime Catch, Boynton Beach, FL
Southport Bar, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Coconuts, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Kaluz, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Best Location for Location
Barefoot Resort Marina Bar and Grill, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Alabama Jacks, Key Largo, FL
Guanabanas, Jupiter, FL
Gilberts, Key Largo, FL
Bokampers, Fort Lauderdale, FL
This article was originally published in the July 2023 issue.
