Waterfront Dining

When it comes time to celebrate your next special occasion, be it a birthday, anniversary, promotion celebration or just a night out with those who matter most to you, waterfront restaurants have more to offer over a traditional restaurant. Spring is here and as the weather gets warmer and sunnier, many outdoor activities become available. Many choose to exercise outdoors, hike, bike, or attend outdoor concerts and festivals. But those activities can work up an appetite and everyone needs to eat. Continue the fun by making a reservation at a waterfront restaurant and enjoy a beautiful view while you spend time relaxing with your loved ones.

If you are in a relationship, choosing a waterfront is the perfect way to set the mood for romance. Be warned - these places are very popular for holidays so if a major one is coming up soon, such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, you will need to secure your reservation well in advance. Popular restaurants can even be booked months ahead of schedule, so time is crucial when choosing where to have your night out. Additionally, ask the host or hostess if it is possible to specifically reserve a table with a great waterfront view or patio seating. Many restaurants do not specifically reserve these tables, but if that is what you want, be sure to ask for it.

A major concern for diners in choosing a restaurant will be the type of cuisine offered. Many restaurants with a water view will specialize in seafood, given the fitting location, but not all. High-end steakhouses can also be found with a waterfront view and some even have the ability to dock a boat at their harbor, creating an excitement not many eateries can replicate. Seek out these restaurants if they fit your tastes and needs but do not worry if this is out of your budget. Waterfront restaurants come in all varieties down to even “seafood shack” style casual dining.

Restaurants began in the 17th and 18th centuries as a combination of several concepts we enjoy today. Places where hot meals could be served to guests became popular in Europe in the seventeenth century as more and more people began to travel for business or family occasions. Along the way, they would need places to rest and recover and inns became centers where travelers could eat, drink, socialize and stay the night before continuing their journey. Louis XIV of France can be credited with popularizing the style of dinner service most common today. Called “service a la russe,” or Russian service, this was the serving of food in courses, one after another, as opposed to enjoying a large banquet where all the food came out at once. By the nineteenth century, restaurants were firmly established as popular destinations for a night out and beautiful locations were sought after by wealthy patrons looking to impress their guests. In centuries past, when ingredients would be procured locally by fisherman and farmers and then purchased directly by the restaurant owner, having a waterfront location indicated you had access to the freshest seafood and could deliver a superior meal. This became an attractive feature and these restaurants were able to charge premium prices for their unique ability in this regard.

Indeed, some of the most popular waterfront restaurants remain today in their original locations. They are destination spots for travelers or those looking to add a little more luxury to their dining experience. They are found on the shores of lakes, canals, and at the beach where they are popular vacation stops. At Waterfront Gourmet, that spirit lives on and our mission is to provide you with the best catering and dining available in Philadelphia. So, check us out today! You won’t regret it!