Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1500213
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 22 JUNE + JULY 2023 catering business that birthed the waterfront bricks-and-mortar spot in October. The space, which housed Ellen's Harborside for more than 40 years, emits a carefree Miami vibe, with an eye-caching tile wall in shades of aqua accenting the welcoming bar. In the dining room, soothing grays and a modern fireplace put the emphasis on cozy chic and a charming harbor view. A wraparound patio outside is first-come, first-served, and the staff is happy to seat folks there year-round, whenever the weather is amenable. We think E AT + D R I N K Clockwise, The restaurant is located in Rockport, pineapple bowl, coconut shrimp, and owners Daphnee Alva-Lafleur and Wanndy Lafleur THE MENU Appetizers Clam Chowder $9, Coconut Shrimp $15, Caribbean Wings $16 Entrées Pan-Seared Sea Bass $36, Fiesta Pineapple Bowl $18 Dessert Rum Cake $12 All that pandemic exploration led to a menu of bold flavors that tweak classic dishes in delicious ways. Like the clam chowder : Creamy, but not too thick and packed with clams, it has a kick of heat at the end, provided by spices the couple would prefer to keep under wraps. If you're looking for something with a bit more of a tropical bent, order the coconut shrimp. The airy batter, studded with coconut, encases moist, firm butterflied shrimp, but the real star is Lafleur's Creole marmalade, a pineapple-based dipping sauce that we could eat by the spoonful. The clam chowder and the coconut shrimp are among the few things on the menu that are not available gluten-free. Other appetizers, from the crispy fried plantains and the Caprese salad, dotted with gooseberries instead of the classic tomato, to the Caribbean wings are all naturally gluten free. The wings would be welcome on any occasion—slow-cooked and then hit with another secret blend of spices and charbroiled, they are nearly falling-off-the- bone luscious. If you've filled up on appetizers, or just a sunny January day with a secret pineapple drink on the deck—at one of the few places in Rockport with a year-round liquor license—is the perfect antidote to a New England winter. But don't wait until next winter to visit.