The umbrellas are up. Chairs and tables are arranged. Patios are open.
The COVID-19 pandemic has helped stretch dining al fresco into more months of the year, but as temperatures heat up, it's in full swing in metro Detroit.
With metro Detroit's vast shoreline, dining at restaurants on or accessible by water is a summertime favorite. You can't beat the swell views. Along the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair, you'll find some cool spots,old and new, from quick casual to fine dining.
At several, it's where you can enjoy the outdoors, watch boats go byand soak up the sun and warmth.
Rolling into our second pandemic summer, outdoor dining is more welcoming than ever.
So sit back. Sip some craft co*cktails, margaritas, or cold beer. Order a burger, fish sandwichor lobster corn dogand enjoy the outdoors.
Here's a sampling of places to dine that dot the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair. Be sure to check ahead for days, hoursand seating availability. Patio seating at many restaurants is on a first-come, first-served basis. Many of these on-the-waterfront restaurants can be reached by car or boat.
More:This Michigan beer won a gold medal at the World Beer Cup
More:Major barbecue extravaganza coming to northern Michigan
Brownie's on the Lake
24214 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores
About: With a view of Lake St. Clair, Brownie's on the Lake is owned by the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, which isknown for its Andiamo Italian restaurants. There's an outside tiki bar anda covered waterfront room. You also can opt for seating indoors orat the main bar.The patio was recently remodeled with seating for 100.Brownie's signature items include its street tacos, the Brownie Burger, pan-fried yellow-belly perch fillets served with Caribbean coconut rice and vegetables, and Lake Superior whitefish. Ahost of entrees include barbecue ribs, chicken, andBrownie's Mac & Cheese.
For info: 586-445-8080 or browniesonthelake.com.
Coriander Kitchen and Farm
14601 Riverside Blvd.Detroit
About: Visit this Detroit canal district restaurant by bike, boat, car or kayak.The restaurant is in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood at the former Tommy's and Fisherman's Marina on Riverside and nearseveral Detroit parks.Menu inspiration comes from localproduce and regional food sources.Led by chef Alison Heeres and farmer Gwen Meyer, the restaurant is asclose as it gets to farm-to-table. Meyer operates the Coriander Farm on Scott Streeton Detroit’s east side near Eastern Market. On the menu are snacks, flatbreads, salads, sandwichesand sides. There's warm halloumi with green garlic zhug (a Mediterranean hot sauce), a fish sandwichand a cheeseburger made with grass-fed beef. The one-third-pound burger is made with beef sourced from Marrow Butcher shop in Detroit's West Village.
For info: 313-822-4434 or corianderkitchenandfarm.com.
JP's Waterfront Food and Spirits
13400 Gibraltar Road, Gibraltar
About:Located on the grounds of and behind Humbug marina, JP's Waterfrontsits on the shore of the Detroit River not far from the mouth of Lake Erie. Itsoutdoor bar patio has a lounge section where you can hang out while waiting for a table. On the patio, nearly 30 seats overlook the water.Garage doors open to the patio. Inside there are 85 seats, including the bar area. The menu is typical bar food and includeshalf-pound burgers, wings, pizzaand nachos. A selection of fish includes cod, perch, walleye, salmonand shrimp. You can get fish battered, sautéed or blackened. Entrée specials changeweekly. Bar happy hour specials are 11 a.m.- 4 p.n. Monday-Thursday.For boaters, 34 transient boating slips are available as well as five smaller boat slips for jet skis and kayaks.
For info: 734-672-6299.
Joe Muer Seafood
400 Renaissance, Detroit
On the river side of Detroit's RenCen, this upscale seafood spot has one terrific view of the Detroit River and Windsor. Joe Muer Seafood is part of the Joe Vicari Restaurant Group, which also operates Andiamo Riverfront with outdoor seating at the RenCen. There is seating for 42 on the patio, whereyou can sip on one of the more than a dozen specialty co*cktails while enjoying the restaurant's signature appetizer: a lobster corn dog.Seafood — everything from whole lobster to Alaskan king crab legs — is the menu highlight. The raw bar hasshrimp co*cktail, a variety of East and West coast oysters and araw bar plateau platter that includesraw oysters on the half shell, shrimp co*cktail, king crab legs, split lobster tail, smoked fish and spicy blue crab salad. The menu is a mix of Muer traditions such as Dover soleand crab-stuffed Atlantic flounder and modern classics likesalmon and filet mignon. There's also a happy hour and a lunch menu. A second Joe Muer Seafood is located in Bloomfield Hills.
For info: 313-567-6837 or joemuer.com.
MacRay Harbor
30675 North River Road, Harrison Township
MacRay's restaurants will open for the season starting Memorial Day weekend. The harbor's N42 poolside tiki bar on Lake St. Clair will be open Friday-Sunday. Hours vary depending on the weather. The tiki bar menu hassignature co*cktails such as the MacRay Margarita and St. Clair Sangria, plusa variety of salads and sandwiches.Inside is the Helm at MacRay Harbor, where the menu features appetizers, soups and salads. Main entrees featurebeef, pork, lamb and chicken. A separate seafood menu includes favorites such as Michigan Lake Perch.
For info: 586-468-1900or macray.com.
Mike's on the Water
24530 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores
Located in Michigan Harbor Marina, this spot in St. Clair Shores is home of the lobster roll. Owned by Michael LeFevre, Mike's on the Water opened in 2011 along what's known as the Nautical Mile.Inside, there's seating for 150;outside, the deck seats75. There's additional rooftop seating, which was added in2017. In 2018, Mike'sadded a food truck on the roof with a smaller menu. Its menu features burgers, perch sandwiches, a grilled bologna sandwich, plenty of fish options, saladsand appetizers. A highlight is the lobster roll, which hasbeen on the menu since 2013. It's so popular the restaurant keeps track of how many are served each year.On Aug.9, 2018, its 50,000th lobster roll was served. Mike's serves about 16,000-17,000 lobster rolls each year.
For info: 586-872-2630 or mikesonthewater.com.
Portofino on the River
3455 BiddleAve., Wyandotte
A Wyandotte mainstay for more than 30 years, Portofino on the River is on the banks of the Detroit River's Trenton Channel. More than 100 seats are available on its outdoor patios.Inside, there is seating formore than 100 in the dining room (with water views) and in the bar area. A large atrium also faces the water and is used for weddings and other private events.The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and the menu has a variety of small plates, including Portofino'ssignature coconut shrimp withorange marmalade sauce with a hint of horseradish. There also aresalads, sandwichesand burgers. Entrees include seafood, pasta, chicken and steakoptions.The perch is a favorite as is the Cobb salad. At the bar, Portofino servescraft co*cktails, including several made with itsown flavor-infused vodkas. The restaurant's100-foot luxury yacht is used for special events such as Friday night cruises as well as private outings.
For info: 734-281-6700 or portofinoontheriver.com.
Smuggler's Run on the River & Tiki Bar
1 St John, Wyandotte
About: Owner Kevin Travers calls Smuggler's Run tiki barthe "crown jewel" of the place. He believes it's the largest tiki bar in Michigan. Smuggler's Run, off Biddle in Wyandotte, sits on the Detroit River with views of downtown Detroit.You can arrive by boat or car.Space here is vast. The20,000-square-foot patio area, which includes the tiki bar,has hosted weddings, graduationsand private events. There's an adjacent 20,000-square-foot indoor restaurant. The menu is fast-casual and includes classic bar food, seafood and burgers. The tiki bar features Island-themed craft co*cktails. There's also a banquet room and year-round catering. Hours are Thursday 3 p.m.-12 a.m. and Friday-Saturday 3 p.m.-2 a.m.
For info: 734-530-1788 or smugglerswyandotte.com.
Watermark Bar and Grille
24420 Jefferson Ave.,St. Clair Shores
About: Watermark opened six years ago and is located in Safe Harbor Jefferson Beach Marina. The outside deck, which includes a tiki bar, has seating for 125. The menu here featuressomeGreek fare, including saganaki along with filo-wrapped feta, calamariand grilled octopus. Salads includeGreek and village salads, and theBig Fat Greek Burgeris topped with kasseri cheese and tzatziki.Also available: other sandwiches and burgers, pasta and pizza.Watermark's surf-and-turf options range from salmon to sautéed perch tolamb chops and a tomahawk pork chop.
For info: 586-777-3677 or watermarkbarandgrille.com.
The Waterfront Restaurant andLounge
507 Biddle Ave.,Wyandotte
Located at the north end of Wyandotte, this waterfront restaurant on the Detroit River opened in spring2016. You can arrive by boat, as several docks are available. Outdoors, there's a lower patio bar and seating with about 25 tables. There's also arooftop bar with lounge seating. Indoors, there's seating for nearly 200, and one side of the bar area featuresgarage doors that open.On the menu, you'll finda variety of starters, main dish salads, sandwiches and wraps, pastaand chicken entrees. There are more than a half dozen seafood options. The Waterfront's two steak offerings, a filet mignon and a New York strip, are served with a signature zip sauce. Most weeks, there's live entertainment that ranges from jazz to classic rock on Wednesdays through Sundays. You can also hop on one of the Aloha Tiki Tour boats for a river cruise.
For info: 734-286-9046 or thewaterfrontwyandotte.com.
Contact Detroit Free Press food writer Sue Selasky and send food and restaurant news to: 313-222-6872 or sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter.
Support local journalism and become a digital subscriber to the Free Press.
