All Aboard
Explore these waterfront dining spots in Florida and North Carolina.
By Gregg Mansfield
Taking your center console boat to a waterfront eatery or bar is a delightful experience. There’s something unique about arriving at the docks, securing your boat, and heading into the restaurant for a burger and a beer.
In this edition, we highlight restaurants in Florida and North Carolina recommended by readers of Center Console Life. Bring out the center console and share your thoughts with us.
Marina Jacks
Sarasota, Florida, boasts an impressive boating heritage, featuring renowned names like Chris-Craft Boats and Donzi Marine. Its food scene is equally outstanding, with Marina Jacks being a favored destination for boaters, operated by Suntex Marinas. When boaters arrive at the marina close to downtown Sarasota, they have numerous dining options at their disposal.
For a relaxed outdoor meal and to enjoy the breezes from the Gulf of Mexico, head to Blue Sunshine Patio Bar & Grill. Most days feature live music that begins in the late afternoon. Popular dishes include the baked oysters Rockefeller as an appetizer and the blackened grouper tacos as an entrée.
For a more upscale dining experience, the Marina Jack Dining Room provides expansive views of Sarasota’s inter-coastal waterway. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day. Dinner selections include steaks, seafood, and various pasta dishes.
Marina Jacks features over 300 slips with abundant space and several transient docks for short stays. If you’re considering an overnight trip, you can make reservations online in advance.
Marina Jacks, 2 Marina Place, Sarasota, FL 34236 www.marinajacks.com
Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant
A summer evening at Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant in New Bern, N.C., feels like a scene from a Hallmark Movie Channel film. Boaters waiting for available dock spaces can enjoy live music from local bands while gazing at the water.
When Persimmons was constructed a decade ago, the owners discovered submerged logs at a nearby marina that used to be a lumber mill. Some of this wood was repurposed for tabletops, and a persimmon tree was fashioned into a host stand.
Persimmons takes pride in serving locally sourced ingredients, with the majority of its meats, produce, and seafood coming from within 90 miles of the restaurant located along an Atlantic Ocean inlet. The Creole bourbon butter shrimp is highly recommended, while the main entrée options include blue ocean mahi paired with local lump crab or blackened salmon accompanied by shellfish étouffée. If you’ve had your fill of seafood, consider the porterhouse pork chop with an orange juniper glaze.
Docking operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Reservations for the restaurant are welcomed but not obligatory.
Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant, 100 Pollock St., New Bern, NC 28560
www.persimmonsrestaurant.net
