Haute Top 5: Best Waterfront Dining in Boston 2017

For one of the best al fresco tables in the summer, be sure to reserve a table at Smith & Wollensky’s Atlantic Wharf haute spot in advance to guarantee a seat. While enjoying a cool breeze on their spacious patio, why not get started with a bottle of wine from Smith & Wollensky's Private Reserve to pair up with their famous shellfish tower overflowing with lobster, Alaskan king crab, jumbo shrimp, oysters and clams. Next up on the must-try list here is one of their USDA prime steaks like a 24-ounce ribeye, enormous 46-ounce porterhouse or 44-ounce double cut cowboy ribeye. Is there really anything better in life than enjoying a prime cut of beef served with a waterfront view? We thought not.

At The Barking Crab, the pitchers of beer flow as freely as the ocean breeze. For a fun experience, request a communal seat at one of the picnic tables under the indoor tent for an oceanfront view and get the afternoon or evening started right with a crabby margarita or an oyster shooter. Here, you can get your fill of fresh seafood with an order of hot crab dip, bucket of peel-and-eat shrimp, stuffed littlenecks or baked haddock. For the ultimate indulgence, try the two-pound roast lobster with a side of corn on the cob and creamy cole slaw. Buckets of peel-and-eat-shrimp, picnic tables, patio seating,

Come for the homemade ricotta gnocchi, pan seared scallops or char grilled swordfish and stay for the breathtaking sunset views of the Boston skyline. Located on the Neponset River, Venezia is a hidden gem that you might not be aware of unless you are looking for it. The restaurant is tucked inside an unassuming neighborhood location so you have to be in the know to be able to find it. When you do arrive, you will enjoy harbor views while sipping on creamy seafood chowder or indulging in hearty dishes of seafood linguine, shrimp scampi, chicken risotto, veal piccata and chicken saltimbocca. Finish it off with a limoncello and watch the ships sail by for the perfect afternoon treat.

The location just might be the best part of this oceanfront restaurant. Located near Logan Airport on the opposite side of all of the hustle and bustle of city life, you can get one of the best views of the Boston skyline like from the outdoor patio here. Order up some Prince Edward Island mussels for the table or a creamy cup of clam chowder to get started. Standout dishes here are the George’s Bank cod, monkfish curry and salt roasted half chicken. If you choose to head over to the mainland for some afternoon exploring, the concierge at the hotel can provide you with some information on the water shuttle that will pick you up directly from the hotel and take you to the Seaport District.

Italian fare overlooking the Charles River? Yes, please. That’s just what Restaurant dante in Cambridge serves up on their popular patio. Try the arugula and speck salad with shaved pear or the roasted mushroom soup with Italian chestnuts if you are looking for something different. We love their traditional Italian fare that comes with a nice twist like the pillowy ricotta ravioli served with hazelnuts, golden raisins, brown butter and sage or the gnocchi with broccoli rabe, roasted tomato, ricotta cheese and parsley. For classic fare, don’t miss the tagliatelle alla Bolognese made with sister restaurant il Casale's famous meat sauce.