Experience: Finn’s Harborside Redefines Coastal Dining

My first thought after visiting Finn’s Harborside: their Google listing needs a rewrite. “You’ll come for the food and stay for the view” simply doesn’t cut it. For me, it’s more like: “You’ll come for the food and stay for the view, the atmosphere, the martinis, the nightly promos and events, the live music, and the delightful waitstaff.”

My sister and I popped into Finn’s for an early after-work dinner. Waterside dining can sometimes be a little too fancy for our taste, so we were relieved to find a relaxed and cozy interior with wood paneling, an industrial-style ceiling, and a heated indoor patio that gave the illusion of being on a houseboat. Seated in the window directly overlooking the dock, we watched the sun set over the Greenwich Cove on one side, and the extensive bar fill up for “Appy Hour” on the other.

Our waitress, Carla, kindly shared guest-favorite appetizers with us, including bang-for-your-buck flatbreads, 50-cent wings, and buffalo chicken dip served with hand-cut chips. While tempting, we ended up choosing two starters, Stuffed Quahogs and Stuffed Mushrooms. The menu doesn’t lie when it says the stuffies are “loaded” with clams and chorizo – you could taste the spicy pork in every bite. They were hot, crispy, and full of flavor. The mushrooms followed suit, but with a tender base and crispy cheese on top (a great alternative for vegetarians).

We paired this first course with a martini from their extended list, opting for the Sunset Martini, which was the perfect not-too-sweet hit of grapefruit and liquor we needed to rejuvenate after a long Monday. Martinis may not have been the way we expected to start our week, but a pleasant surprise.   

For entrees, Carla explained a few of their recent menu additions: ravioli, house-smoked baby back ribs with hand-cut fries (we couldn’t say no to fries on the side – thin, crispy, and completely addicting), meat loaf, and pesto bucatini – a great range of hearty choices to accompany their classic seafood selections. While my sister went for a classic, Sea Scallops, I had to try the Pesto Bucatini with Shrimp.

While a steady stream of seemingly regular guests flowed in by 6pm, we tucked into our main course. The scallops were baked with a thick white wine and butter sauce and topped with breadcrumbs, served with brussel sprouts rich in flavor and a heap of warm mashed potatoes. We both
commented on the generous portions. My plate was loaded with noodles in a delightfully creamy pesto sauce with cherry tomatoes and large parmesan shavings.

Swaying to the slow acoustic sounds of local singer-songwriter Kevin Herchen – who plays every Monday – as a candlelight ambience descended upon the restaurant, my sister and I were full but reluctant to leave. Our only option was dessert. As an older couple got up to dance to a cover of The Eagle’s “Take it Easy,” our Hummingbird Cake arrived. We knew enough not to be surprised by the ample portion of this house-made delicacy, nor its delicious, fruity flavors.

Hours passed before we left Finn’s with full stomachs and warm spirits, grateful for the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere, the out-of-their-way friendly staff, and a diverse menu tailored to each season. A return visit later this spring for their lobster is a must.