When the temperatures start to climb, nothing beats kicking back with a delicious meal or refreshing cocktail on a picturesque patio or waterfront deck. Here are a few of our favorite outdoor dining spots on the South Shore.
By Kellie Speed
Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant
Alma Nove
There are heat lamps and fire pits on the outdoor patio at Paul Wahlberg’s hot spot on Hingham Harbor to keep you warm on brisk summer nights. We recommend trying the a Tropical Rum Punch or Fountain of Youth martini and sharing an order of his famous pork meatballs set atop creamy parmesan polenta or potato crusted calamari.
22 Shipyard Drive, Hingham
almanovehingham.com
Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant
When the Bay Pointe Waterfront Restaurant opened years ago, you really had to know about this little treasure to find it, but this waterfront eatery is no longer a secret. The Hynes Restaurant Group’s restaurant features an outdoor deck and bar on the docks of Bay Pointe Marina serving up picture perfect oceanfront views. Try the jaw-dropping two-pound baked lobster stuffed with scallops, shrimp, lobster meat and seafood stuffing or the broiled North Atlantic salmon with toasted walnut crust.
64 Washington Court, Quincy
baypointewaterfrontrestaurant.com
Crossing 9s Patio & Bar at Granite Links
There’s nothing quite like taking in one of the best golf course views on the South Shore while sharing a meal with friends. The quarry-turned-golf course boasts some of the most spectacular views of Boston south of the city. The patio here is lined with multiple TVs to take in a Red Sox game while noshing on a grilled chicken sandwich, sirloin burger or tuna salad roll. At night, just look for the lighted driving range and order up a craft beer or cocktail to enjoy under the tent or on the open-air deck and pergola patio while taking in the breathtaking sunsets over the Boston skyline.
100 Quarry Hill Drive, Quincy
granitelinks.com/crossing-nines
East Bay Grille
It’s all about the chill factor at East Bay Grille on Plymouth’s Town Wharf. Belly up to the massive outdoor bar, relax in one of the comfortable chairs facing the ocean or grab a table on the spacious patio and order up one of their creative cocktails (a sparkling sangria or a hot and dirty martini made with jalapeño infused vodka perhaps). Be sure to arrive early as the spots fill up quickly. What to order? The crab cakes and fish tacos are must-try starters while entrée standouts include seafood risotto, charbroiled filet mignon topped with a cognac cream au poivre, and oven-roasted halibut with lobster ceviche.
178 Water St., Plymouth
eastbaygrille.com
Haddad's Oceanside Cafe
Greenside Grille
The South Shore Country Club’s alfresco gem offers spectacular views of the first and 10th fairways from its outdoor patio. Get started with an order of Key West shrimp tacos or their house special wings before moving onto an order of lobster gnocchi, tavern steak tips, short rib ramen noodles or limoncello shrimp. Relax among views of the rolling green hills of this golf course setting and linger a little longer with a local craft beer or glass of imported wine.
274 South St., Hingham
greensidegrille.com
Haddad’s Ocean Cafe
Be sure to arrive extra early at this always-crowded hot spot, especially if you come to Haddad’s on the weekends because as soon as the outdoor upper deck opens, it fills up and stays bustling until last call. Sip on an Ocean Breeze or High Tide cocktail just steps from the ocean and share a deluxe seafood platter (filled with everything from fried haddock and clams to scallops, lobster and shrimp). The meaty crab cake plate is also one of the best on the South Shore.
293 Ocean St., Marshfield
haddads.restaurant
Jake’s Seafood
Fresh seafood always seems to taste better when served on a picturesque sunny day with an oceanfront view. Located across from the Paragon Carousel, Jake’s serves up classic lobster rolls and fried clam platters. House specialties also include dishes like Sicilian littleneck clams, Tuscan shrimp pasta and Asian glazed salmon. It’s no wonder this hot spot has been a South Shore favorite for nearly 70 years.
50 George Washington Boulevard, Hull
jakesseafoods.com
Lenny’s Hideaway
The roof deck at this local restaurant is one of the most coveted spots in town as soon as the warm weather arrives. Authentic Mexican fare is created in the scratch kitchen. Enjoy such dishes as a Baja fish burrito, braised pork carnitas, wood grilled chicken thighs or poblano and grilled corn tacos.
8 Stagecoach Way, Cohasset
lennyshideaway.com
Liv Creative Cuisine
There are $1 oysters featured midweek, locally inspired cocktails (think Cape Cod Light and Nantucket Mule), and dishes like paella, roasted pork loin and vegetable Bolognese that you can enjoy on the patio at this popular restaurant. There are heaters and a fireplace for a cozy dining experience on cooler evenings. Be sure to keep an eye out for live music on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
1849 Ocean Street #11, Marshfield
livcreativecuisine.com
LOCAL 02045
The upper outdoor deck at this restaurant offers sweeping views of Hull’s Safe Harbor Sunset Bay. Dine on classic pub fare like a fried haddock sandwich, the Local Burger on a buttered brioche bun, or lobster roll. Or try some of their other creative entrees, such as the quinoa bowl with salmon or lobster alfredo.
2 A Street, Hull
local02045.com
Mill Wharf Restaurant
The Mill Wharf waterfront deck is the place to be in the summer. Comfortable, casual and laid back, this popular restaurant is known for its chunky lobster stew, overstuffed quahogs and uber fresh seafood served every way imaginable (think haddock Pomodoro, Scituate lobster, lobster mac and cheese and fried scallop platters). Stay here a little longer with one of their signature creamy mudslides to finish your visit off right.
23 Mill Wharf Plaza, Scituate
millwharf.com
Salt Raw Bar
This popular waterfront restaurant serves up fresh seafood, including specialty sushi rolls on its two patios. Located at the Village Landing Marketplace, Salt Raw Bar overlooks the harbor and offers some of the area’s best seafood in upscale presentations. Favorite dishes include the tuna sashimi, salmon poke and halibut ceviche.
170 Water Street, Plymouth
saltrawbarplymouth.com
The Blue-Eyed Crab
Caribbean Grill & Rum Bar
You will feel like you are on a beach somewhere in the Caribbean when you come to this festive eatery and sip on creative cocktails with fun names like Toes in the Sand and Hawaiian Shirt. Grab a seat at the patio overlooking Water Street and dine on authentic favorites like rotisserie jerk chicken, warm Caribbean peanuts, banana garlic wings or coconut shrimp.
170 Water St., Plymouth
blue-eyedcrab.com
The Raw Bar
at Island Creek Oyster Farm
It doesn’t get much better than enjoying freshly shucked oysters just steps away from Duxbury Bay. Here, you can also enjoy a craft beer, glass of white, red or rose wine right on the patio with oceanfront views.
403-7 Washington Street, Duxbury
islandcreekoysters.com/the-raw-bar-at-island-creek
The Range Bar & Grille
The outdoor patio here is an unexpected and impressive find tucked behind the restaurant overlooking the driving range. There are tables where you can soak up every last ray of sunshine while lingering with a fun cocktail like the World’s End Lemonade or Range Painkiller. Don’t miss their signature juicy steak tips or golden fish and chips. When the sun goes down along with our New England temperatures, cozy up with a Bailey’s salted caramel cream nightcap and warm up by the outdoor fireplace.
306 Whiting St., Hingham
therangehingham.com
Victory Point
Operated by the North End’s Frattaroli family, this waterfront restaurant offers a spacious outdoor bar known as The Deck. Guests can dine among the slips on the marina-side of the boardwalk on starters like mussels in a garlic white wine sauce or classically prepared meatballs and main entrees such as Boston scrod puttanesca, lobster ravioli, or steak frites. Brunch is also served on weekends.
332 Victory Road, Quincy
victorypointmb.com
The Parrot
Head up to the rooftop deck at this oceanfront eatery on Nantasket Beach that serves up elevated dishes like quahogs with chorizo, grilled shrimp and grits and lobster rangoons. There are also the beach classics like beer-battered fish and chips, Nathan’s hot dog, and a killer smash burger. Wash it all down with a frozen mudslide or caliente margarita.
1 Hull Shore Drive, Hull
theparrothull.com