NEW ENGLAND REGION
BALLARD’S
NEW SHOREHAM, RI
Ballard’s dates back to 1956 and is popular for live music and local seafood alike. Its restaurant and beach are near the Block Island Ferry, which means the location draws day-trippers as well as recreational boaters who visit the island for a couple days or a week. Ballard’s Marina has Mediterranean-style floating docks and takes reservations, with services that include ice, showers and laundry. And the food is satisfying: Ballard’s took top prize at the 2019 Block Island Maritime Institute Chowda-Fest. Look for that chowder on the menu, along with locally sourced oysters, lobster, fish and clams.
DIMILLO’S
PORTLAND, ME
DiMillo’s is in the heart of Portland’s Old Port, a scenic district on Casco Bay with cobblestone streets and brick buildings whose working shops have been converted into charming boutiques, eateries, breweries and more. DiMillo’s has long been a cornerstone name here—the waterfront restaurant has been known for its lobster dinners since the mid-1960s. Today, DiMillo’s offers lobsters steamed, baked, fried, sauteed, on a roll, as a club-style sandwich, or blended with mac ’n’ cheese. Cruisers can stay for a week and try them all while the boat is serviced; DiMillo’s offers priority service as the home of Maine’s largest Travelift.
DIAMOND’S EDGE RESTAURANT & MARINA
PORTLAND, ME
One of the best things about Maine’s Great Diamond Island is that no cars are allowed. Ferries and private boats are the choice for transportation here, along with bicycles and golf carts. Diamond’s Edge Restaurant & Marina has 43 slips for boats up to about 110 feet length overall. There’s a market for provisioning prepared foods, wine and beer (including picnic lunches), as well as the restaurant, where cruisers can head ashore to eat with a view of the water. Fresh catch is on the menu, along with Maine lobster and crab ravioli with a truffle-scented scampi sauce.
SCALES
PORTLAND, ME
Commercial Street in Portland
