Ordering Tips For Waterfront Seafood Restaurants

Dining at a waterfront seafood restaurant is sure to be a lovely experience. You get to enjoy the fresh, ocean air and the sound of waves crashing as you dine, and nothing beats fresh seafood for flavor and texture. If you want this to be a truly memorable and exceptional experience, here are a few tips to consider as you place your order.

Always start with an appetizer.

This is a dining experience that is as much about the view and the ambiance as it is about the food. So, it only makes sense that you'd want to stay a little longer. Ordering an appetizer course extends the time you're actually seated at the restaurant. Plus, there are so many great appetizers made with seafood that you'd be silly not to try one! Shrimp cocktail, oysters Rockefeller, clams casino—most waterfront seafood restaurants have these classics, along with some of their own, unique creations.

Ask what's sourced locally.

Waterfront seafood restaurants typically do their best to source their seafood locally, when possible. However, they may ship in a few items that they can't get from the local fishmongers. There's generally nothing wrong with these shipped-in items, but you may want to enjoy something local while you can. So, ask the server which fish and seafood are sourced from the local markets, and order based on their recommendations.

Don't be afraid to share.

Waterfront seafood restaurants are usually a bit more casual than seafood restaurants located further inland. It's just part of the relaxed, beachy vibe. Because the vibe is more relaxed, it is generally acceptable to share dishes with your fellow diners. As such, you may want to order a couple of things for the table to share, rather than having everyone order their own dish. Some seafood dishes that lend themselves well to sharing include:

• Fried shrimp
• Fish tacos
• Seafood boils

Don't worry too much about dessert.

Some seafood restaurants do offer good desserts, but this doesn't tend to be their focus. So if you stuff yourself with seafood and don't have much room for dessert, you should not feel bad. The seafood is the focus, so you can feel free to enjoy it to the fullest. There are usually beach ice cream shops nearby where you can stop if you want dessert later.

Waterfront seafood restaurants—such as Scoma's—can be truly enjoyable places to dine, especially if you follow the ordering tips above.

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