From the Lake of the Ozarks in Central Missouri to Michigan’s Lake St. Clair to the Florida Keys, the best way to reach any waterfront restaurant during the season is by boat, and preferably by fast boat. Lunch runs are staples of go-fast boating events. You could say that, like armies, go-fast boating fans travel on their stomach and you wouldn’t be wrong.
So when you travel to performance boating events around the country all year—and by the time the December 4-6 Toys Tour is a historical fact I’ll have notched 35 in 2025—you find your favorites.
Lake Havasu in Arizona? Pirate Cove Resort gets my nod. OK, good waterfront spots are in short supply along the shores of the Colorado River-fed waterway, but the place is legit regardless.
Lake of the Ozarks? For me, it’s the Tap and Brew. And when it comes to the Florida Keys, I’ll always be a sucker for Gilbert’s Resort and Tiki Bar, though I prefer it minus a crowd. Lake St. Clair? Cabana Blue is super cool and has a ton of dock space.
Though it’s a bit more pricey and lot more polished than the average tiki bar establishment, Shore Restaurant on Longboat Key is another Southwest Florida favorite.
Want something a little less highbrow and a lot more old-school back-water Florida? The Riviera Bar and Grill on the shores of Alligator Creek a bit farther south in Punta Gorda is an absolute gem. For good reason, it’s become a staple for the Fort Myers Offshore group’s lunch runs. Until a few weeks ago, in fact, it was my favorite casual waterfront haunt in the Sunshine State.
But now that title belongs to Slipaway Food Truck Park And Marina in Cape Coral. It’s pretty spot located in a quiet canal off the main waterway, with adequate though not abundant dockage and a massive, well-appointed tiki bar.
But it’s the food trucks—at least a half dozen of then serving everything for poke bowls to burgers to gyros and much, much more that make the place sing. All of the standard pub-grub is available through the mobile kitchens on site, but the choices extend far beyond the norm. There’s something to suit every culinary taste. And the food is good and reasonably priced by waterfront restaurant standards.
OK, so the locals are going to hate me for this reveal. But when you find something good, especially something good to eat during your day on the water, it’s always good to share.