The 10 Best Waterfront Seafood Restaurants in Northeast Ohio

Enjoy fresh Lake Erie Walleye at one of the Ohio.

Even though Ohio is a midwestern state, diners still have several options when it comes to waterfront seafood restaurants. Lake Erie provides stunning views for diners at Pier W, Pickle Bills and more. A few of the restaurants on our list are on rivers but the views are still amazing. They serve fresh local fish as well as fresh seafood from each coast that is flown in daily. Read on for a list of our favorite Northeast Ohio seafood restaurants.

Waterfront Seafood Restaurants in Northeast Ohio


Pier W

Pier W is practically a Cleveland institution. It opened in 1965 in Lakewood. The restaurant is designed to look like a ship’s hull and is built into the cliffs on the edge of Lake Erie. It takes full advantage of the waterfront location with a large outdoor observation deck and floor to ceiling windows. The view is especially captivating at night, when the lights from Cleveland’s skyline glitter in the distance.

Pier W has 5 Star food (and 5 star prices). The seafood is sourced directly from fisherman, guaranteeing responsibly sourced and truly fresh products. Pier W is famous for its Sunday Brunch, Happy Hours and Wine List.

The wine director has been heralded for his wine pairings and wine selections by Wine Spectator so any wine you choose will have been carefully selected to enhance your meal.

Happy Hour at Pier W is a popular event with live piano music and drink specials and the Sunday Brunch features a raw bar, more fresh fish dishes and Oysters Rockefeller, along with other standard brunch fare.

Reservations are always a good idea. For directions, menus and more, click here.

Dockers Waterfront Bar and Restaurant

If you prefer a more casual atmosphere, head to Dockers Waterfront on Kelley’s Island. Dockers is located at the Kelley’s Island marina. they have a small indoor seating area but the best seating is outside on the docks. Watch the boats docking and enjoy views of Lake Erie and Cedar Point’s roller coasters in the distance.

Dockers serves typical pub fare like cheeseburgers and nachos but their specialty is seafood. Order shrimp and scallop skewers for an appetizer, followed by lobster rolls, fresh catch of the day or crab cakes.

After dinner, stay to watch the sunset over the lake. Dockers is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Pickle Bill’s Lobster House

Pickle Bill’s in a famous waterfront seafood restaurant in Northeast Ohio

For the eastsiders, Pickle Bill’s Lobster House in Grand River is sort of famous. The restaurant has been through a few fires and been swept away by ice dams in the winter. But, Pickle Bill’s always comes back and today features a tiki bar with swings for seats and an outdoor covered patio on the docks. Their most popular dishes are all you can eat seafood, prime rib and crab legs. Pickle Bill’s is in Grand River, east of Mentor, Ohio.

Sunset Harbor Bar and Grill

Sunset Harbor is the only waterfront restaurant in Lake County. The restaurant and bar has indoor and outdoor seating right on Lake Erie. This restaurant is literally on the water and sometimes has to close due to high waves off the lake! They serve fresh seafood in a casual atmosphere. Sunset Harbor is only open seasonally though from May through Oct. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Erie Steak and Seafood Company

Head west of Cleveland to dine at the Erie Steak and Seafood Company. Formerly known as Jackalope’s, the restaurant is located on the Oasis marina and has beautiful water and marina views. They are open for lunch and dinner and serve local fish as well as ocean seafood. The restaurant has amazing views of the Lorain Lighthouse.

Cedar Point’s Bay Harbor

Cedar Point may be home to the tallest, fastest and scariest roller coasters in the world, but it’s also home to a waterfront restaurant with stunning lake and park views. Cedar Point’s Bay Harbor restaurant serves dinner only, 7 days per week. It’s an upscale dining experience with local fish and other seafood. The restaurant is located on the Cedar Point Marina with views of the docks, lake and Millenium Force and Blue Streak. To visit, enter Cedar Point through the main toll booth. The parking fee will be deducted from your bill.

Alley Cat Oyster Bar

The Alley Cat Oyster Bar will make you think you’re in Southern California, not the Flats of Cleveland. This swanky waterfront restaurant is on the east bank of the Cuyahoga River. They serve raw oysters and peel and eat shrimp, along with other seafood specialties. This is a popular spot for happy hour, especially on Thursdays for live music on the docks.

Kobe Bay Seafood

Waterfront Seafood and Japanese fusion cuisine at Kobe Bay

Kobe Bay Seafood, BBQ and Bar is a one of a kind restaurant in Toledo. In many restaurants with beautiful water and city skyline views, the food is sometimes an after thought. But at Kobe Bay, the eclectic menu and mostly unheard of combination of Japanese, American and seafood dishes ensure that the food will always take center stage. Enjoy a craft cocktail while listening to live music and eating an old fashioned seafood boil. Kobe Bay is open 7 days per week. Check out their Facebook page for live music schedules and daily dinner specials.

Lindey’s Lake House

This restaurant is in the heart of Cleveland’s Flats area with views of the city skyline, the Cuyahoga River and the bridges that connect the east and west bank.

Lindey’s Lake House is a newer addition to the Cleveland restaurant scene but its owners have been serving eclectic, skillfully prepared dishes for almost 40 years. The menu at Lindey’s is filled with fresh fish dishes, shellfish, steaks and southern favorites like shrimp and grits.

Grab a table on the docks, enjoy a craft cocktail and watch the boats and barges go by. Lindey’s https://lindeyslakehouse.com will bring back memories of lazy summer days at the lake.

Shooters on the Water

A view of the Cleveland skyline from Shooter’s waterfront docks.

Since the late 1980’s, Shooters has been the premier waterfront restaurant and night club in Cleveland. The restaurant’s location on the West Bank of the Flats makes it accessible by car and by boat. In the summer, Shooters’ docks are packed with the boats and boaters who can be served food and drinks by the wait staff right at the docks. The restaurant and bar is massive and features indoor dining, lots of outdoor dining space, an upper deck area with views of the Cuyahoga River, Lake Erie, the East Bank of the Flats and Cleveland’s skyline. The menu is packed with locally caught fish as well as fresh shellfish and saltwater offerings.

If you haven’t spent a warm, sunny afternoon at Shooter’s, you should plan to. It’s one of the best places in Cleveland to hang out, have a meal, watch a sunset and enjoy live music.

Shooter’s is closed until spring. Be sure to visit their website for updates on hours and a live music schedule.

Looking for more to do in Northeast Ohio than dining on seafood? Check out our list of the best things to see and do on Ohio’s north coast.

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