What’s cooking: Dining on the water in St. Clair Shores

ST. CLAIR SHORES — With multiple restaurants offering dinner with a view, summertime in Michigan specifically appeals to restaurants in St. Clair Shores.

Patio dining has become an ideal scenario, and live music with a cold drink goes great with the rising temperatures. As seasonal restaurants welcome patrons with open arms, Lake St. Clair boaters can finally dock at their favorite restaurants.

 

WaterMark Bar and Grille (open year-round)
24420 Jefferson Ave.
(586) 777-3677 • watermarkbarandgrille.com
 

Featuring a brand-new menu and a beautiful patio view of the water, WaterMark has added an essential item to its establishment. Customers can now sit and order from the outdoor tiki bar while enjoying their famous octopus appetizer and chicken kabobs.

WaterMark will feature a rooftop bar in 2023, after the St. Clair Shores City Council gave them the green light.

Their weekly specials such as Tequila Tuesday, Friday Fish Frenzy and Greek Night offer unique dishes, as well as the Sunday breakfast menu until 2 p.m. Customers can enjoy live music on Thursday night.

While its outside provides unbeatable views and an enormous patio seating selection, the inside features additional seating options and a banquet room.

Up to 20 boats can fit around the perimeter, with call-ahead requests available for larger vessels.

Hours of operation: Closed Monday; noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

 

 

Brownie’s on the Lake (seasonal)
24214 Jefferson Ave.
(586) 445-8080 • browniesonthelake.com
 

With 1,000 feet of seawall, Brownie’s on the Lake provides a significant amount of docking space for boaters.

A patio view of the water accompanied by live music seven days a week gives its customers a summertime feel.

“It’s a chance to escape,’’ said Brownie’s manager Zach Smith. “You get to escape Michigan.”

A full list of scheduled live music can be found at browniesonthelake.com.

Brownie’s offers a fan-favorite fish and chips, along with their bestselling Brownie’s burger. Shrimp, clams and mussels were an addition to the menu this year. Brownie’s happy hour offers 30% off all appetizers and drinks from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. during the week.

Hours of operation: Noon to 10 p.m. Monday; 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; noon to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

 

 

Mike’s on the Water (seasonal)
24530 Jefferson Ave.
(586) 872-2630 • mikesonthewater.com
 

Sporting one of the most unique restaurant ideas around, Mike’s on the Water, with the help of a 170-foot crane, features a food truck on the rooftop of the restaurant.

The roof, which customers must be 21 or older to access, offers a beautiful view of the water, as well as a special menu featuring lobster rolls and a perch sandwich.

“I don’t think anybody can beat that view,” owner Mike LeFevre said.

Boaters have 22 docks available to them — with a 52-footer, against the wall, being the largest. A dockmaster is available Friday through Sunday to assist.

Mike’s also features an ice cream truck during regular hours, weather permitting. The ice cream truck provides visual appeal, as it is designed to look like it crashed into the building.

Hours of operation: Opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday, 11:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and noon on Sunday. Closed Monday.

 

 

Zef’s Dockside Bar + Kitchen (open year-round)
24026 Jefferson Ave.
(586) 879-6279 • zefsdockside.com

Providing an overhead view of the water, Zef’s Dockside continues to be a great choice for waterside dining. Zef’s offers both a main floor and upstairs with personalized menus for both, and the outdoor patio offers various seating options for customers.

The upstairs provides a more “bar food” feel, with reduced menu options including shrimp potstickers and pulled pork melts.

The main floor offers options including a bourbon salmon, the Dockside burger and crab cakes.

Hours of operation: 11 a.m. to midnight Monday through Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday.