On the Waterfront Restaurant

How have I never heard of On the Waterfront in New London? It’s Italian food with an emphasis on seafood, both cuisines I enjoy thoroughly. When I’m in New London, I typically dine at Tony D’s, a fantastic Italian eatery in its own right. A few weeks back, however, On the Waterfront’ appeared on my restaurant “radar.”

On the Waterfront is located at 250 Pequot Avenue in New London. This small city is more like a tale of three cities than two. It has an artsy side, a beautiful waterfront side, and a bit of a grittier side. Attractions include Ocean Beach Park, which includes a beach, kiddie rides, and mini-golf, and Bank Street which teems with art galleries such as the Hygenic Gallery. 

On the Waterfront

My family and I were trying to come up with a place to celebrate my aunt’s upcoming birthday.  She was visiting from Central Pennsylvania, so the allure of the sea is always with her and she needs to “sea” it at least once during every visit. She chose On the Waterfront and what a superb pick it was.

Entering the dockside restaurant, the expansive waterfront views showcase the gorgeous views of the Thames River, where it joins Long Island Sound. It is an open restaurant, bathed in white with natural light shining in.

Drinks

I was hesitant to order a drink, I figured I’d stick to water. Instead, I ordered the largest one on the menu. Rarely do I see Aperol Spritz on a menu. It was a drink I enjoyed a few times during my trip to Italy years ago. The orange coloration is quite the sight. The drink itself is on the bitter side but refreshing. It is a mix of Aperol, soda water, and sparkling wine. 

Well, at On the Waterfront this is quite the drink! For the sparkling wine part of the drink, there is literally a small bottle of prosecco upside down in the goblet. As one drinks, the Prosecco seeps out creating a much larger drink than I figured, but boy was it good!

Eats

After six oysters, I was ready for my entree. I had to order the Zuppa di Pesce. This is one of my all-time favorite meals, a slew of seafood over linguine. Clams, mussels, calamari, shrimp, and scallops are included here. I was going to go for the white wine sauce but my waiter steered me to the red. Sometimes the Fra Diavolo is too spicy for me but he assured me that it would not be.

He was right about the red sauce. The dish is absolutely delish! Quite honestly one of the best, if not the best Zuppa di Pesce that I’ve ever had. (And this is one meal that I order at most Italian restaurants that offer it.) Everyone else enjoyed their dishes as well. 

On the Waterfront is a restaurant that is a balance between casual and upscale. It would be perfect for a date night but is also great for kids. I’ll definitely be going back!