The Shanty on the Cape Charles Waterfront says “Come On In!”
Right If you had to choose one restaurant that captured the Cape Charles “vibe”, The Shanty would certainly be a top contender.
Located right on the Bay in Cape Charles Town Harbor, this lively waterfront seafood restaurant and bar gives new meaning to the term, ‘ideal location.’
Golden sunsets over the Chesapeake Bay, outdoor dining on the patio and incredibly fresh, local seafood are just the beginning of this quintessential Cape Charles eatery. Now heading into its tenth season, The Shanty is everything a Cape Charles guest or local would want, and a good deal more.
Owner Jon Dempster remembers how the restaurant began. “I came down to Cape Charles on a boat in 2010 and never left,” laughs the Gloucester, Massachusetts native.
Around the time Jon arrived in his new ‘hometown,’ the Town of Cape Charles was seeking someone to lease the land at the harbor and construct a restaurant. Jon and his business partner, Mike Doyle, answered the call and in 2012, The Shanty was born. “We were fortunate to be in the right place at the right time,” Jon says.
What started as a 1,600-square-foot seafood restaurant has now expanded to a 4,000-square-foot hot spot with music, creative cocktails, fresh, local seafood and some of the town’s best views. There’s always something a little different and completely amazing every time you visit
The Shanty.
“We try to do creative cocktails and elevate the bar beyond what you’d expect of a waterfront beach bar,” Jon says.
You’ll want to sample some of their bar menu favorites: Cucumber Mint Martini, Peach Basil Mule, or the tried-and-true Shanty Margarita. And then there are the new and unusual shooters and cocktails that appear at any given moment from their talented mixologists.
Variety is important here and staying local is, too. “We serve 100% domestic sustainable seafood, and we take part in the Virginia Beach Aquarium and Monterey Beach Aquarium sustainable seafood program,” explains Jon. “Our main goal is to buy as local as possible for all of our seafood products.”
It’s not just the loyal locals and seasonal guests who love The Shanty. Men’s Journal listed The Shanty as one of the “Top 25 Best Beach Bars in America.”
And they’ve won multiple years as Best of Virginia Seafood Restaurant and Best of Virginia Outdoor Dining in Virginia Living’s coveted ‘Best Of Virginia’ awards.
In a place like Cape Charles where people come to relax and make amazing memories, it’s easy to see why folks love The Shanty so much.
Guests can also enjoy steel drums every Friday night courtesy of an incredible local musician JuJu, who has been sharing the vibe at The Shanty for 10 years. “We love to bring in live music… to keep the place lively,” says Jon.
This year, things are going to be even more lively than usual as The Shanty hosts Cape Charles ‘Crab Slam’ event in August. Celebrating the Eastern Shore of Virginia and the history of working watermen, Crab Slam is a three-day festival with live music, crab skiff races, and the main event Boat Docking on Sunday, August 1st. “We’re excited to host this event for the first time and hope that it becomes an annual mainstay,” says Jon. “It’s a huge event and The Shanty is glad to be a part of it.”
Luckily, you don’t have to wait for a festival or special occasion to enjoy a memorable meal on the Bay. The Shanty is now open every day and serving up the kind of succulent seafood that dreams are made of, just for you.
33 Marina Road Cape Charles, VA 23310
757-695-3853
ShantySeafood.com
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