Put-in-Bay, Ohio

Where to Eat

For waterfront dining, head to town for the great seafood selection at The Boardwalk. The restaurant offers indoor seating and outdoor deck dining, or you can head upstairs to the Upper Deck, featuring casual dining and upscale entertainment. For over 25 seasons, this family restaurant has served secret seafood recipes like their lobster sandwich and lobster bisque. The sandwich is made with all lobster meat, a bit of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and a few secrets you’ll have to experience for yourself. The Boardwalk’s famous bisque is also made with all real lobster meat and a few family secrets; it comes served in a bread bowl. The Boardwalk is open Memorial Day–Labor Day, entrées $7–$15, 11 a.m.–10 p.m., late night menu 10 p.m.–2 a.m. on the Upper Deck, pier at the end of Catawba Ave., 419-285-3695, www.the-boardwalk.com.

How about fast food dining without the processed meat? The Chicken Patio on the main strip on Delaware Avenue is famous for its wine-basted BBQ chicken, an island tradition for over 60 years. The chicken is cooked all day on a 21-ft. charcoal grill. For only $11.50, you get a mouth watering half-chicken, sweet corn, potato salad, and a roll. Enjoy it on the patio or to go. Most sit-down restaurants close by 10 p.m., so the Chicken Patio is also a great late-night dining alternative to pizza and subs, Sun–Thu 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Fri and Sat 11 a.m.–1 a.m., 60 Delaware Ave., 419-285-4595, www.chickenpatio.com.

Another popular option is Goat Soup & Whiskey, located on Catawba Avenue about a mile up the road from South Bass Island State Park. The Goat is a favorite among locals who appreciate the kitchen’s use of fresh ingredients, along with their selection of craft beers, homemade soups, and sauces made to order. And then there are the perch tacos. By far the most requested item on the menu, the tacos are made from locally caught yellow perch, lightly breaded and “fried to perfection,” then wrapped in a soft flour tortilla with cabbage, tomato, green onion, and cheese, before being topped off with The Goat’s Pali Wali sauce. The casual restaurant is only open from mid-May through September (after which, operations shift to the sister location in Summit County, Colo.), so it’s not uncommon to see diners opt for patio seating next to one of The Goat’s three herb and vegetable gardens, entrées $6–$10, open daily at 11 a.m., 820 Catawba Ave., 419-285-4628, www.soupandwhiskey.com.