5 Dock & Dine Restaurants for Hot Summer Nights

5 Dock & Dine Restaurants for Hot Summer Nights

Don’t let summer pass without taking advantage of waterside dining. Here are some favorite spots to go after a delightful day out on the bay—pull the boat right up to the dock and relax with a good meal.

Thames Waterside Bar and Grill, Bristol

Rhode Islanders may say that this restaurant “used to be J.G. Goffs.” But whatever the name, it has long been one of our favorite places to relax on the water with a burger and beer. With divine views of the Bay and easy access to the dock, it’s one of the most relaxing spots we know. Stick with a burger or the turkey Panini, or head upstairs and enjoy the breezes with a cocktail or a beer. The natives are always friendly and fun and the sunsets are killer. You’ll pay a little more here – like you will at most dock and dine spots – but when the weather is right, it’s worth every penny. 251 Thames St, 253-4523.

41 North, Newport

So, let's say you're a rock star (or you party like one), and Newport is your destination. Where do you go if you want to dock your 250-foot-long boat and enjoy some top-notch service and food? You go to 41 North of course. Located in the middle of Newport's bustling waterfront (and pictured above), 41 North is part of the "wharf revival" going on in the city by the sea and one of our favorite places to tie up and eat and people watch. The Grill at 41 North serves contemporary, American food featuring local ingredients tastefully prepared. And to fit that rock-star lifestyle, the Grill will serve all of their food right to you right on your boat. The well-trained

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

staff will keep you satisfied and they will help keep the paparazzi at bay. We love the lobster sliders on the lunch menu and the caramelized day boat scallops on the dinner menu. 351 Thames St, 846-8018. www.41north.com

Chelo's on the Waterfront, Warwick

A recent day of boating on the bay left us sunburned and hungry. We had a large group that included some cranky kids and hungry adults and we needed a place that had something for everyone. Located on Greenwich Bay, Chelo's (pictured, left) was the perfect spot for a great dock and dine experience for a family returning from a day on the water. This is a great hidden spot, with a beautiful location serving as a backdrop for some classic Rhode Island summer dining. You won't find the latest, cutting edge stuff here, but you will find all the summer "comfort food" we Rhode Islanders crave: seafood, steaks and chicken and some of the best homemade desserts in the state. After our visit, we returned without the younger ones and enjoyed some drinks and music while sitting by one of the fire pits. A relaxing way to end a summer day! 1 Masthead Dr, 884-3000. www.chelos.com

Jim's Dock, Wakefield

There are some real internal struggles about whether or not to include some personal favorites in our usual round-ups. If we tell all our secrets, our little hidden gems will no longer be hidden. One such secret spot is Jim's

Dock (pictured, right), in Jerusalem. We all love the hustle and bustle of Galilee, but the same views, better food and some peace and quiet are just across the pond! We know, you'll love it! Jim's Dock features delicious local seafood served right on the dock across from all those sunbaking tourists. And it's a BYOB-friendly restaurant, so feel free to bring your favorite beverage to enjoy with the world-class chowder and clam cakes and fish and chips. The clam cakes are light and clammy and soak up the amazing chowder like a great loaf of bread and the fish and chips are never greasy and always fresh. 1175 Succotash Rd, 783-2050. www.jims-dock.com 

Tyler Point Grille, Barrington

This one is actually dock, walk and dine. Located in Barrington, between the Barrington and Warren Bridges, the Tyler Point Grille is a great destination for dinner after a long day on the water. The town of Barrington has a public, floating dock that you can tie up to, walk across the parking lot and find some of the best seafood around. Recently purchased by local chef Brian Thimme, the Grille will satisfy the seafood lover and the omnipresent Italian looking for good, home cooked food in a gorgeous setting. A recent visit introduced us to the pistachio salmon which was a perfect representation of summer for us. A generous piece of fresh salmon is topped with pistachios and served over baby spinach, an heirloom tomato salad and topped with balsamic glaze. We have to admit, we usually don't trust balsamic glaze but it was the perfect, sweet finish to the richness of the fish and the saltiness of the nuts. The golden gazpacho with grilled shrimp is another crisp, fresh taste of summer. 32 Barton Ave, 247-0017. www.tylerpointgrille.com