Sunday was a gray day with rain in the forecast. Peter was visiting, and we planned to go out for a late lunch somewhere between Mattapoisett and Providence. After considering “all the usual suspects,” I decided this was the perfect day to try out The Boat House in Tiverton.
They book reservations on OpenTable, which is always a plus!
Dock and Dine on The Sakonnet River
Dock and Dine options south of Buzzards Bay are limited. There’s a small dock at The Back Eddy, but getting there in the wicked Westport River currents is a pain. Then there’s the posh Sakonnet Club, but that‘s a private members-only dock and dine.
This is probably why Cuttyhunk ends up being the southernmost stopping point for small boat operators in Buzzards Bay.
But if you care to make the 20-30 mile run to Sakonnet Point or you’re one of the hundreds of small boat operators around Narragansett Bay, you have access to an excellent dock and dine at The Boat House.
The Boat House offers 200’ of high-quality floating dockage free of charge to customers on a first-come-first-served basis.
First Class Dining
As you approach from the dock (or parking lot), you’re greeted by a row of inviting Adirondack Chairs ideally positioned for a view of the Gansett islands. One can imagine hanging here with an adult beverage waiting for your table.
As you enter, you pass a spectacular outdoor patio and the kind of large indoor bar Mrs. Horne, and I adore.
The Food
I started with a Ragged Island “Surfers End” New England IPA ($8).
I would have preferred a more hazy draft, but the temperature was perfect. I slowly sipped it as I studied the menu.
If it wasn’t early afternoon, I think we all would have ventured into the entree section of the menu, but we settled on appetizers and sandwiches.
I’m a huge fan of fritters, hush puppies, or clam cakes. I know, they’re essentially deep-fried donuts, so I only have them 2-3 times a year. Once I spotted the Shrimp and Corn Fritters on the menu ($16), I really couldn’t think of anything else!
Mrs. Horne looked at the small plate and said, “Is that all you ordered?” But I know fritters, and I knew I would finish all six (in fact, I didn’t finish the 5th one and shared the last.)
Mrs. Horne went traditional with a lobster roll ($34).
The roll was the standard size, but she was delighted with the option of a Caesar salad instead of fries for her side.
Peter dabbled with the idea of Fish and Chips but settled on the Fried Cod sandwich ($18) instead.
The Boat House clearly takes fish frying seriously. It was extremely crunchy on the outside and moist inside. A quick look around the restaurant revealed a lot of patrons with Fish and Chips in front of them. Maybe next time!
On the way out, I noticed a cooler by the maitre d’s station with chowder for sale.
Another “maybe next time” for the list…
We all agreed our food was prepared perfectly. The menu offers something for everyone but still fits on two pages. As Dock and Dines go, I think you’d be hard pressed to find a better option on the South Coast.
Tie Up Early!
No boats were tied up for the entire 90 minutes we were there, but it was windy and gray. My guess is the dock fills up quickly on a nice day. The Boat House opens at 11:30, so I suggest getting to the dock before noon.
Last summer the Boat House dock was out of commission all summer. I was delighted to see the dock back in place when I ran by the Boat House in my boat last week. Great food — the Boat House is part of a small chain run by a RI company that includes the Moorings and 22 Bowens in Newport, and the Inn at Castle Hill if I am not mistaken.
There are other dock and dine options in the area, one in Fall River and one or two in Warren. There is a free transient dock in Newport harbor for small boats — 35′ max? — downtown, and a there free transient dock in Jamestown within easy walking distance to several fine restaurants. There is also a free town dock in Wickford for smallish boats. There is a small dock — 40′ max? — in front of the Lobster Shack in Newport Harbor, and that is a wonderful spot for lobster rolls etc. It is a cooperative run by local fishermen.
Thanks John,
My comments were directed toward Buzzards Bay Boaters considering heading south in search of a Dock and Dine.
I think the closest are the Back Eddy and then the Boat House, but the Back Eddy has issues.
The Boat House dock looks fabulous!