Waterfront Bar & Grill: Restaurant renovation rakes in rave reviews
Some decisions hinge on a simple thing – like a commute.
Mike Cardelle was considering the ride back and forth to Boston when he found himself imagining renovations to the former Crow’s Nest restaurant on Water Street. Spectacular water views upstairs, and plenty of space for dining inside or on the upstairs deck.
Cardelle decided to play this hand instead.
He gutted the upstairs, removed the old bar, installed a sweeping granite counter, more sliding glass doors, a wall mirror to reflect the ocean, and upscale, cushioned bar stools, walnut-topped tables and modern, hanging lights. Downstairs, he installed a divider wall to create a more intimate setting for diners, and painted everything in blues and other sea tones. The affect is simple elegance, and a “wow effect” as customers climb the stairs to the new bar area with unobstructed views of the ocean.
Then there was the menu to consider.
After years in the restaurant business, this Johnson and Wales graduate opted for tasty, fresh food that is also affordable, he said.
Waterfront Bar & Grill offers chicken cutlet sandwiches, turkey clubs, cheese steak sandwiches and grilled chicken sandwiches for $8.95. Pasta meals, such as chicken, pasta and broccoli and chicken Parmesan, roll in at $15.95, with chicken Marsala ringing in for a dollar more. Waterfront’s linguini and clams – featuring mouth-watering pasta tossed with clams, oregano, garlic, Romano cheese and olive oil costs $14.95. Steak tips and pork chop and sirloin dinners run between $15.95 and $20.95. And Waterfront also offers a full menu of fish dinners, from fish and chips to baked scrod and grilled salmon, running from $15.95 to $17.95. And there are soups and specialty salads, plus hors d’oeuvres running the gamut from boneless buffalo tenders for $8.95 to shrimp skewers at $10.95.
The new pizza oven had just arrived as Cardelle fielded questions Tuesday morning. So, Waterfront will also offer 10-inch pizzas for $6.95.
“It’s an all-day menu,” Cardelle added. “You can come here at dinner and get a hamburger or chicken cutlet or fillet. We don’t care if you get a hot dog. We’re fun, fresh and affordable. It’s all about the food for us.”
The feedback has been tremendous, he added. People say they love the upscale atmosphere, love the food and don’t mind paying the bill.
Village Landing owner Rich Stefani is also planning to extend the outdoor deck on the Blue-Eyed Crab just down the street to reach all the way to the Waterfront Bar & Grill, Cardelle said. So, soon, there will be deck seating outside and in front of the restaurant as well.
“Mr. Stefani has done a nice job with this building,” Cardelle said. “We’re proud to be an anchor for him.”
Waterfront Bar & Grill is open from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m., seven-days-a week, and features live musical entertainment Tuesday through Sunday evenings. Everything on the menu can also be ordered for take-out, Cardelle added.
These days, Cardelle’s commute is just a matter of minutes.
