Savor the summer with these 10 waterfront restaurants in Greater Akron

There are so many restaurants, both mobile and stationary, to dive into this summer – but only a select few of them have some truly gorgeous waterside real estate.

Quite a few people enjoy the heart-pumping thrill of drinking cocktails on a restaurant’s overhang above a roaring river. Others prefer lunch next to the quite calm of a lake. Then there are people (like me) who simply want to consume a sizeable serving of ice cream while listening to waves crash nearby.

Whatever the foodie in you fancies, one of the restaurants on this docket is sure to float your boat.

This is not an exhaustive list of all waterfront restaurants in the area but you can help us make it more complete by contacting Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com with additional suggestions. Please be aware that some eateries do not open their outdoor dining sections until after Memorial Day.

Portage Lakes

Smoke on the Water

Smoke on the Water has an attractive dock dining area that overlooks the northernmost part of the Portage Lakes’ West Reservoir and the rainbow of houses that border it. Not to mention, its menu features smoked barbecue, high-end bourbon and craft cocktails.

When Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans visited as part of our Local Flavor series, she dined on the restaurant’s cherry-smoked pork ribs on this outcropping.

The eatery’s most popular dishes are pulled pork, brisket sandwich and, much to pit master Justin Fowler’s surprise, smoked turkey. His personal favorite is the pulled pork.

The property has an extensive history within Coventry Township, with many people crediting the popularity of the Portage Lakes area to its existence. It was originally built in the 1870s as Mellinger’s Inn but has been known as The Olde Harbor Inn or some variant for the past 35 to 40 years.

Donnie Boyer II, the owner of neighboring restaurant Pick’s At PLX, bought the property in 2020 and opened Smoke on the Water in July 2022.

562 Portage Lakes Drive, Akron; 234-571-0031; smokeonthewaterplx.com

Biggins' Big Dip

Let’s be honest, you can't visit Portage Lakes without stopping by Biggins' Big Dip.

This adorable little ice cream shop on the corner of Portage Lakes Drive and North Turkeyfoot Road serves lakeside treats, including half pound cookie ice cream sandwiches.

Some people rave about the shop’s Biggie Special, a specialty sundae topped with hot fudge, peanut butter and bananas.

Customers can eat it all while watching the sunset on the flower-covered bank of Portage Lakes’ East Reservoir. Traveling on the water? Worry not. Biggins also has a functioning lighthouse so that people on evening boat rides can find their way to a sweet treat.

The history behind Biggins’ is just as sweet as its ice cream. Co-owner Clark Bordner has shared ownership of the shop with his wife, Cheryl Bordner, for almost 30 years. They met and fell in love at the shop and now their son, Joe Biggins, manages it.

197 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron; 330-644-0074; facebook.com/JoseBiggins1

Pick’s at PLX

There are five perfect decks for enjoying a sunny lunch or dinner alongside Portage Lakes’ West Reservoir at Pick’s at PLX.

The restaurant's outdoor bar is fully shaded and its other four decks are partially protected from the sun by umbrellas. There are more than 20 flat-screen TVs scattered between all of its outside eating areas.

The menu at Pick's has a variety of sharables, salads, wraps, sandwiches, tacos and protein bowls to choose from. Its summer drink menu has seasonal drafts from local breweries as well as fishbowls, beach buckets and frozen cocktails.

530 Portage Lakes Dr., Akron; 330-794-5157; picksatplx.com

Cuyahoga Falls

Missing Mountain Brewing Co.

This two-story brewery and taproom has a split-level deck with a view of the Cuyahoga River and the tree-lined opposing shore.

Missing Mountain Brewing Co. is a 10-barrel production brewery, tasting room and eatery featuring a large draft list and pub-like menu.

Missing Mountain offers a variety of tap styles ranging from Mexican lagers to New England IPAs and Belgian-style ales. Peckish persons can choose from salads, sandwiches, chicken baskets, flatbreads and monthly specials for satiety.

2811 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls; 234-706-2212; missingmountain.com

The Jetty

The Jetty is the shaded outdoor deck at the Sheraton Suites in downtown Cuyahoga Falls.

This unique spot offers shaded seating plus an outdoor bar and grill where customers can see their meals and mixed drinks being prepared in real time. The rushing Cuyahoga River and occasional kayakers going by below make it a sweet spot to spend the summer.

It doesn’t get much better than listening to some live music at The Jetty while devouring one of their famous Jetty Burgers. Beacon Journal photojournalist and wine columnist Phil Masturzo recommends washing it down with a glass of Valley of the Moon cabernet from California’s Sonoma Valley.

1989 Front Street, Cuyahoga Falls; 330-920-7544; jettyriverbar.com

Burntwood Tavern

Once the powerhouse of the Cuyahoga River dam, Burntwood Tavern allows patrons to dive into both unique scenery and history while enjoying a high-quality meal.

Those looking to eat outside can sit on a large patio or one of the restaurant’s three balconies — one of which is located more than 20 feet directly above the Cuyahoga River. When a particularly hot day presents itself, patrons can watch kayakers make their way down the river from these vantage points.

Over the bar top of Burntwood Tavern rests the original gear work of the Cuyahoga River dam, which was built in 1914. Other segments of the dam are still connected to the restaurant's outside walls and can be seen from its patio.

Having a meal here means letting the water, wind, clouds and sometimes kayakers pass you by while eating the restaurant's new American and pub grub cuisine.

2291 Riverfront Parkway, Cuyahoga Falls; 330-794-7085; burntwoodtavern.com/cuyahoga-falls

Kent

The River Merchant

This popular restaurant offers a riverside deck overlooking a sloped, foliage-covered bank leading down to the Cuyahoga River. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to watch a train pass by on the far bank of the river.

The River Merchant’s partially covered deck seats 60 guests, while the indoor section of the restaurant can handle 90 and features a retail wine market and wraparound bar.

Its menu sports an extensive wine list by the glass and bottle, as well as flatbreads, small plates and entrees. Many dishes are prepared in its custom Woodstone Fire Deck oven – once described as a keystone of the restaurant’s kitchen by owner Cameron Thomas.

The restaurant’s top-selling appetizer is its signature fire-roasted feta dip, made with feta, roasted tomatoes, cream cheese and basil, that’s served with toasted pita. The most popular entrée is a roasted vegetable orzo, which Thomas told Beacon Journal reporter Kerry Clawson is versatile as a summer dish with chicken or shrimp added or as a winter dish with steak added.

911 N. Mantua St., Kent; 330-968-6376; therivermerchantkent.com

Lake House Kitchen and Bar

The Lake House Kitchen and Bar is one of those eateries with a pristine lakeside view and the cuisine to match.

The small yellow building is on a bend on State Route 43, smack dab in between Twin Lakes in Kent, with a great viewpoint of east Twin Lake from its window-lit back room and patio.

Each summer the restaurant’s outdoor kitchen, bar and patio has a menu that features simpler bar and grille grub than the more elevated indoor fare. The patio menu includes lobster rolls, peel-and-eat shrimp, sandwiches, burgers and more.

Beans ordered crab-sweet corn fritters, crispy calamari and a perch dinner when she visited as part of our Local Flavor series.

7508 OH-43, Kent; 330-678-8946; lakehousekent.com

Other options

The Oaks Lodge (Medina County)

This restaurant and event venue has a large, covered terrace with a view of the glittering Chippewa Lake.

Other sections on the lush green have four- and two-top tables under large navy blue or white umbrellas. One such area is lit by string lights, while another is bordered by white stone statues and Tuscan columns.

The garden boarding the patio also has a small waterfall flowing into a pond nearly filled to the brim with water lilies. While the lake itself is still and quite (aside from the occasional boat or Jet Ski) the waterfall's steady cascade is soothing for those sitting near it.

While soaking in the flora and fauna, customers can partake in The Oaks Lodge’s upscale dinner or Sunday brunch menus. Chef Eric Carcione recently updated the restaurant's dinner and brunch menus, which now feature dishes like bang bang shrimp — four colossal shrimp tossed in a spicy aioli and served on a bed of sautéed bok choy and sesame seeds — and rancho burger topped with a thick slice of grilled pineapple, cheddar, bacon, onion straws and bourbon barbecue sauce.

"We've always said [we are] the finest in casual dining," said co-owner Bonnie Drushal. Her uncle, Don Casper, opened Oaks Lodge in 1961.

Whether you're looking for a nice simple meal in nature or a more upscale dining experience near the water, Oaks Lodge makes customers feel as though they have been transported to the Italian countryside.

5878 Longacre Lane, Chippewa Lake; 330-769-2601; theoakslakeside.com

The Twisted Olive (Green)

People come from all over to enjoy Italian American cuisine (with a twist, of course) on the restaurant’s sprawling deck and covered patio, both of which overlook two of Southgate Park’s glittering ponds. From each vantage point patrons can see geese resting on the hillside between the two bodies of water and the fishermen patiently waiting for a catch alongside them.

The deck is covered with tables, each with its own black and white striped umbrella, and a pavilion for those particularly sunny days. Below it is a covered patio with both traditional seating (up to 40-50 guests) and olive-green outdoor lounge furniture (up to 12-15 guests) for more casual seating.

The Twisted Olive has a variety of steak, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and salads on its menu. Some more twisted menu items are the puff pastry-wrapped meatloaf, crab cake sliders and Italian mac and cheese. Ordering a round of starters to share while watching wildlife enjoy the ponds is also a sound choice at the restaurant.

5430 Massillon Rd., Green; 330-899-0550; thetwistedolive.com

Got a story recommendation? Contact Beacon Journal reporter Tawney Beans at tbeans@gannett.com and on Twitter @TawneyBeans. And follow her adventures on TikTok @akronbeaconjournal.

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 10 restaurants with waterfront views in Greater Akron