Dinner at Boca Oyster Bar at Steelpointe Harbor

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Boca Oyster Bar in Bridgeport CT

Welcome to
Boca Oyster Bar

Located in the Bridgeport’s new Steelpointe Harbor, Boca Oyster Bar is the crowned jewel for this new harbor-side community. With a seafood inspired menu in addition to fab cuts of beef, and equally enticing cocktail offerings, this waterside dining destination is sure to please everyone. 

The "Bigger" Seafood Tower
10 oz Lobster Tail, 6 shrimp
12 Clams and 12 Oysters

Boca’s location in Bridgeport makes this unique restaurant a true standout in Fairfield County’s evolving dining scene.

Boca Ceviche
maine lobster, bay scallops,
gulf shrimp, mango, citrus ponzo

With the Steelpointe Restaurant Group at the helm, Boca offers 13,000 square feet of dining, bar, and patio space. Designed by Emilia Ferri Architecture + Design, a local award-winning licensed architect with a forward thinking design sense, Boca pays homage to its waterside locale and New England sensibility.  

Oysters and Clams from 
The Boca Seafood Tower

The menu features classic New England seafood fare, as seen with such classic favorites as a Seafood Tower with multiple options, Colossal Fried Shrimp with hand cut fried potatoes and cabbage slaw, Jumbo Crab Cake with a citrus crema, and the Boca Lobster Roll with fresh picked Maine lobster, warm sherry, and Old Bay butter sauce on a brioche roll. 

Boca Lobster Roll
fresh picked maine lobster, warm sherry,
old bay butter sauce,
brioche roll, hand cut fried potatoes

Boca Burrata Salad
burrata, seasonal fruit jam, heirloom tomato,
bruschetta, red roasted peppers,
crostini, evoo, balsamic glaze, fresh basil

House specials include; Grilled Octopus with crispy garbanzo, Kalamata olives, sea salt and lemon; Sesame Crusted Ahi Tuna Tacos with wasabi and mango salsa; New Zealand Lamb Lollipops with chimichurri sauce; Steelpointe Clams Casino Flatbread with fresh shucked little necks, EVOO, herbs, Applewood bacon, and grated parmigiana.

Boca Oyster Bar Calamari
fresh local squid, lightly fried, cherry peppers,
pomodoro / cherry peppers, gorgonzola, balsamic drizzle

Sashimi Tuna Salad
pan-seared sushi grade ahi tuna, mango,
avocado, mixed greens, cilantro ginger vinaigrette

Ahi Tuna Taco
seared sushi grade tuna, yellow corn tortilla,
sesame crusted, wasabi, charred pineapple salsa

Of course, the Cowboy had his landlovin' favorites. How about a 42 oz Cowboy Bone-in Ribeye with choice of sauce; or a Hearty Burger or Sandwich? 

The Cowboy and The Cowboy Cut Ribeye

FYI: The cowboy ribeye was so big I couldn't fit it all in my camera frame below!

42 oz Bone In Cowboy Ribeye

Boca Oyster Bar Burger and Fries
3 blends: chuck, brisket & short rib,
lettuce, tomato, red onion, brioche roll, boca bacon jam

But MY personal favorites were the seafoods! Like the Pan Seared Diver Sea Scallops with Vegetable Lo mein and a Chipotle Crema; and the Maine Lobster Ravioli with shrimp, scallops, peas, and red roasted peppers in a pink cream sauce.

Pan Seared Diver Scallops
Pan seared with a soy ginger glaze
served over vegetable lo mien

Lobster Ravioli
Maine lobster, shrimp, scallops,
peas, red roasted peppers, pink cream sauce

The cocktail menu merges the popular 'craft cocktail' culture with classic tropical frozen drinks, like the popular frosé, craft beer, and an accessible wine list (including Duck Horn for the WIN!). 

Left: The Classic Mojito
Right: Pina Colada

Cocktails at
Boca Oyster Bar
Steelepointe Harbor in Bridgeport CT

Are you like me and can't walk away from the table without a sweet and happy ending? Then Boca has you covered! How about a Tiramasu, or a mile high Cheesecake, or a Brownie Sundae?

Brownie Sundae
Boca Oyster Bar

Cheesecake
Boca Oyster Bar

Boca Oyster Bar is also available for private events. There are multiple dining areas and bar service options can be carved out within the main dining room (200 capacity) and outdoor area (150 capacity).

And how about these amazing views of the harbor at night!

Boca Oyster Bar
Views of the Harbor

Boca is open seven days/night, including a Saturday and Sunday Brunch.

Happy Hour Monday-Friday includes raw bar and drink specials.
To top it off there is live music on the weekends!

Shrimp and Boat Slips await you
at Boca Oyster Bar in Bridgeport CT

Arriving by sea? 
There are designated boat slips are available for patrons. Order up some shrimp when you dock! LOL! 


Arriving by land? 
There's easy access of I-95! I hope I see you there!

Boca Oyster Bar

10 East Main Street
Bridgeport, CT 06608
(203) 612-4848
https://www.bocaoysterbar.com/

Disclaimer: We were invited to this menu sampling by Foodie Tribe and members of Boca Oyster's Bar management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are our own.


© Home Place 2019

Double Date Night at the Guilford Mooring

Social Media Promotion: Portions Sponsored    

Dinner at the Guilford Mooring

The summers are short in New England and we try to pack as many fun nights out with friends as often as we can. One of our favorite places to meet up is the Guilford Mooring in Guilford CT. 

The Guilford Mooring
in Guilford Connecticut

Our friends Wendy and Greg from Connecticut Lifestyles live out in East Lyme, and we're in Branford CT, so an 'almost' halfway point for us to meet up is in Guilford. We all love great seafood and casual dining over good conversation, and the Guilford Mooring is the perfect place for it! What makes it even better is that regardless of the season, the Guilford Mooring is the perfect place to enjoy with water views to drink in in the spring and summer, and a cozy fireplace to curl up in front of in the fall and winter!

And the food? The food is simply incredible! 

Although they do have some of the typical fried seafood offerings, most of the food is a bit more elevated, featuring items like Pan Seared Diver Scallops with Creamy Risotto, Blackened Swordfish with Smashed Red Bliss Potatoes...and so much more! And, if you're more of a 'by land' protein lover ... they are equally well known for their amazing beefs and chops. like their 18 oz Bone in Rib-Eye and their 14 oz "Tomahawk" Veal Chop.

We started with some of cocktails from the specialty cocktail menu. There are so many innovative combinations. These pictured are the Blackberry Vodka Cocktail and the Mai Tai!

Then we moved on to appetizers! My colleague June at work had highly recommended the Stuffed Quohogs, so of course, I had to try that! Wendy ordered the Fried Artichokes, Greg the Thick Bacon, and the cowboy went with the Iceburg Wedge Salad. 

Fried Artichokes
Parmesan Truffle, Lemon Aioli,
Garnished with Parsley

Thick Bacon
Local Tomatoes, Carmelized Onion
Smokey BBQ Drizzle

Iceburg Wedge Salad
Blue Cheese, Bacon, Grape Tomatoes
Creamy Peppercorn Dression

... and now I know why June urged me to get the stuffed clams! They were sooooo good! Stuffed, and I do mean STUFFED with a variety of seafood, like clams, shrimp, scallops AND crab -- they could not have been better!

Stuffed Quohogs (Two per order)
But I wanted a good closeup!
Stuffed with Crab, Scallops, Shrimp, Clams
Stuffing made with a Focaccia Bread Stuffing

For dinner we went with a medley of different seafoods! Wendy ordered the Scallops, the cowboy Swordfish, I went with the Salmon, and Greg ordered one of the evening's specials, a Lobster "New England" Boil, with everything from lobster, to shrimp, to mussels, to clams, to corn on the cob! Greg's New England dinner was inclusive, accompanied by an appetizer (clam chowder) and a dessert (Raspberry Cheesecake). 

New England Dinner's inclusive chowder
New England Clam Chowder

Greg was a good sport and donned
the obligatory Lobster Bib!

The Guilford Moorings'
New England Lobster Dinner
Lobster, Mussels, Clams, Shrimp,
Corn on the Cob
YUM!

Pan Seared Diver Scallops
Maine Lobster White Truffle Risotto
Citrus Beurre Blanc

Pan Roasted Salmon
Soba Noodles, Vegetable Broth, Red Peppers
Carrots, Edamanm, Mushroom, Sriracha Honey Drizzle with Sesame Seeds

Blackened Swordfish
Red Bliss Mashed,
Smoked Pineapple Salsa

We took a breather before dessert and sipped on a creamy delicious cappuccino!

Cappuccino

Desserts were also fantastic! I continued with the cappuccino and ordered a Cappuccino Gelato, Wendy went with the Crème Brûlée the cowboy called himself 'done in' for the night (whatta light weight!) and Greg enjoyed his New England Lobster Dinner's final item, the Raspberry Cheesecake!

Cappuccino Gelato

Crème Brûlée

Raspberry Cheesecake

We had such a wonderful time! Afterwards we wandered in the cocktail lounge to watch a round or two of Tuesday Trivia.

Tuesday Trivia at
Guilford Mooring

And then we wandered out on the dock to watch the sun set and see the fisherman bring in some of the day's catch! We had some fun taking pictures of one another!

Greg and Wendy from
Connecticut Lifestyles
https://connecticutlifestyles.com/

The Guilford Mooring is definitely Dingus Family approved! 

The Cowboy and Bonnie
Note: Dingus Family placard
from Coastal Creators CT

Be sure you visit the Guilford Mooring in Guilford Connecticut soon and enjoy the waterviews and great food! Reservations are accepted and there are some great specials all season long such as Happy Hour Monday - Friday 3-6 in the bar and sunroom, Thursday night Ladies Night with food and drink specials in the bar and sunroom, and Tuesday Trivia in the lounge!

See more specials here => https://www.guilfordmooring.com/page/28732-Specials

Guilford Mooring

505 Whitfield Street

Guilford, CT 06437

203-458-2921

https://www.guilfordmooring.com/

About the Guilford Mooring

Guilford Mooring, located on the shores of the Long Island Sound at 505 Whitfield Street in Guilford, Connecticut, honors its waterfront location by offering classic preparation of timeless seafood dishes, in addition to land lover’s favorite meat options.  The seasonal menu includes Gluten Free, Vegetarian and Vegan options, and a special $5 children’s menu honors young foodies.  The restaurant is open year-round, seven days a week for lunch and dinner, offering unparalleled views from an outdoor bar and deck, as well as the newly-renovated indoor bar/dining area, featuring a rustic stone fireplace for the New England winter months and air-conditioning for the heat of summer.  

For more information, visit www.guilfordmooring.com. The restaurant can also be found on Facebook (GuilfordMooringCT)and Instagram (theguilfordmooring).

Disclaimer: We were invited to the Guilford Mooring by the restaurant's management and marketing team, however all views are our own. 

©  Home Place 2019

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill

Social Media Promotion: 

New Haven Restaurant Week at Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill

In the historic City Point neighborhood of New Haven, is a fairly new restaurant, Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill, that opened in early spring of 2015.

Shell and Bones - Hot Apple Cider with Brandy

Overlooking Long Island Sound, at the site of the Pequonnock Yacht Club, Shell and Bones menu focuses on fresh seafood and steak - and all items are prepared on premise. Those familiar with the area will remember the location as site of the former Chart House, and more recently, Sage Bar & Grill. New owners, Daniel Kay, Marc Knight and Robert Bolduc (of Geronimo Bar & Grill) have completely renovated the ground floor restaurant, with a light and airy design and contemporary nautical theme that features the restaurant's amazing waterfront views, with a large waterside deck with firepits extending the short New England patio season well into fall.

I recently attended a social media event as a kick off to New Haven Restaurant Week - I just love that New Haven features both a spring and fall restaurant week so patrons can experience different seasonal menus and specialties. 

At this fall New Haven Restaurant Week cocktail event we were were treated to a wide array of Chef Arturo Franco Camacho's specialties.

Red Pepper and Olive Deviled Eggs

Clam Fritters with House Made Tartar Sauce
Served in a Shell!

Seafood Scallop Ceviche with Crunchy Tortilla Chips

Beef Satay

Crostini

Tuna Tartare

Sun Dried Tomato Bites

Oh my goodness - everything was so delicious! We can't wait to return! 

Shell and Bones
Small Bites

Here is what Shell and Bones has on the menu for you for their Fall version of #NHRW!

Be sure you visit Shell and Bones Oyster Bar and Grill for New Haven Restaurant Week - or any night of the week, for that matter!

Shell and Bones Oyster Bar

100 S Water Street

New Haven, CT 06519

(203) 787-3466

http://shellandbones.com/

Disclaimer: I was invited to this New Haven Restaurant Week preview event by members of Shell and Bones management and marketing team, however, all views and opinions are my own.

© Home Place 2016