Dock and Dine: 7 Restaurants to Visit by Boat in Kent Island, Maryland
Located in Queen Anne County, just east of Annapolis, Kent Island is the largest island in the Chesapeake Bay. It connects the eastern and western sides of Maryland via the William Preston Lane Jr. Memorial Bay Bridge, or simply Chesapeake Bay Bridge. A channel called Kent Narrows separates the area from the mainland at the Delmarva (Delaware / Maryland / Virginia) peninsula.
Nature trails, beaches and coves, coastal wildlife and great waterfront restaurants can be found all around the island, which is just 15 miles long and four miles wide. Three towns on the island include Stevensville, Grasonville and Centreville.
Today, we’re going to take a look at some of the cool and incredibly scenic restaurants you can visit from the comfort of your boat. Bring on the Old Bay!
Bridges on Kent Narrows
Photo: Bridges on Kent Narrows (Facebook)
Bridges on Kent Narrows overlooks Kent Narrows and offers a menu with choices such as fresh seafood, shrimp and grits, filet mignon, pizza and sandwiches. You can dine indoors or outside on the deck. Come by car or boat for great seafood, live entertainment and stunning water views.
The restaurant’s private dock has 16 slips that can accommodate boats up to 65 feet in length and 20 feet in length (with a 6-foot draft). Boat slips are complimentary if you’re dining at the restaurant. They’re available overnight for $25 a night and a dinner reservation. Slips available on a first-come first-served basis.
The Narrows
Photo: The Narrows (Facebook)
The Narrows, built in 1983, has a wall of windows overlooking beautiful Bay views. Complimentary slips are available for diners on a first-come first-served basis. The menu offers a wide array of items such as grilled chicken, crab cakes, burgers, filet mignon, seared ahi tuna and salmon. We think it makes a terrific spot to enjoy the sunset before sailing back to a private boat dock rental.
The Big Owl Tiki Bar
Photo: The Big Owl (Facebook)
Sitting right out on the water, the Big Owl Tiki Bar features live music and a bustling bar scene on the docks. Menu selections include fish tacos, crab cakes, burgers, sandwiches and key lime pie. There are transient slips for docking and dining convenience.
Fisherman’s Crab Deck
Photo: Sandy Allen
Fisherman’s Crab Deck is a super casual and open-air eatery. Sit outside right by the docks or dine beneath the roof (still open-air but there’s the roof). It’s open seasonally for lunch and dinner. The menu includes fresh shrimp, steamed crabs and excellent crab cake sandwiches as well as steak and chicken. There’s free docking for boat travelers coming from a private boat dock for rent.
Fisherman’s Inn
Photo: Fisherman's Inn (Facebook)
Open since 1930, Fisherman’s Inn features a huge selection of prime rib, filets, crab cakes, Chesapeake Bay rockfish, pasta and broiled and fried seafood. Located beside the Crab Deck, it’s a bit more upscale but still coastally casual. Be sure to check out the suspended train (eight feet above the floor) that travels around the restaurant. Actually, you kind of can’t miss it. Not in the mood for a full meal? Enjoy drinks at the Nauti Mermaid Bar. There are multiple flat-screen TVs so you can catch the game before motoring back to a private boat lift rental.
The Jetty Restaurant and Bar
Photo: The Jetty (Facebook)
Located right on the waterfront, The Jetty Restaurant and Bar overlooks Kent Narrows in Wells Cove. With indoor and outdoor dockside dining, the menu selections include Jamaican jerk chicken, Maryland crab soup, pizza, pasta, sandwiches and steamer plates heaped with mussels, oysters and shrimp. It’s open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. Special events include trivia and acoustic nights and live music from local bands. Sail or motor right up to the restaurant. If you’re coming by water, the GPS coordinates are: 38.898 N 76.437 W (38°53'54" N 76°26'12" W.
Harris Crab House
Photo: Harris Crab House
Harris Crab House, open since 1981, serves locally sourced seafood for lunch and dinner. Choose from pasta, surf & turf, Louisiana crawfish and soft-shell crabs as well as frosty crushes, mules and other specialty drinks. Enjoy seafood feasts, live music and other special events.
Whether you’re staying at a marina, hotel or private boat dock rental, any of these dock and dine restaurants would make a terrific addition to your Kent Island itinerary. Pencil some in and let us know what you like. Happy dining!
