The view at Topper’s Restaurant
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| The signature Maine seafood paella at Sea Glass |
Come summer, it’s hard to rival the pleasure of savoring a special meal overlooking the water—a salty tang in the air, yachts or a rocky coast visible in the distance and the last of the day’s golden sun lingering over the watery horizon. These five seaside spots allow you to set down your anchor and savor summer’s gastronomic splendors.
Sea Glass
Tucked along the Cape Elizabeth peninsula just seven miles south of downtown Portland, this ocean-to-fork restaurant offers gorgeous views stretching from carefully tended gardens down to Crescent Beach. Chef Mitchell Kaldrovich works with local farmers, fishermen and lobstermen to secure the best ingredients available, which he crafts into options such as seared jumbo scallops with summer succotash and truffled popcorn crumbs; butter- bathed lobster with tarragon, baby vegetables and homemade gnocchi; and Maine seafood paella plumped with clams, mussels, calamari and lobster. Tip: don’t miss the evening s’mores by the fire pit. Inn by the Sea, 40 Bowery Beach Road, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, 207-799-3134; innbythesea.com
Twenty-Eight Atlantic
Thanks to the dining room’s soaring, eightfoot windows, you can enjoy spectacular views of Pleasant Bay while savoring executive chef James Hackney’s award-winning fare, a sophisticated, seasonal rendering of area ingredients. His tartare trio—spicy tuna, gingered yellowtail and truffled salmon—are as tasty as they are refreshing, while his Petite Clambake featuring a butter-poached lobster and tender corn pudding tastes like the essence of August. For carnivores, game and meat offerings, like fruit-glazed seared duck breast and brown-sugar-brined Berkshire pork loin with Swiss chard, are sure to satisfy. Wequassett Resort & Golf Club, On Pleasant Bay, Chatham, 508-432-5400; wequassett.com
The Mansion
Perched on a peninsula overlooking Narragansett Bay, the posh Castle Hill Inn (built in 1874 for Harvard marine biologist Alexander Agassiz) offers some of the most stunning ocean views you’ll ever encounter. Executive chef Jonathan Cambra’s commitment to working with area farmers, fishermen, bakers, honey producers and cheese makers is apparent in all of his Mediterranean-inspired menus. Options include a parsley-wine potage of native littleneck clams, locally made kielbasa and cherry tomatoes; roasted rack of local lamb with ricotta ravioli, Swiss chard and parsley pesto; and area artisinal cheeses served with pâté de fruit, roasted almonds, grilled bread and honey from nearby Aquidneck Island. Castle Hill Inn, 590 Ocean Drive, Newport, 888-466-1355; castlehillinn.com
