Dock and dine
By CJ Norman, licensed Minnesota Realtor · Updated
Dock and dine is the part of Lake Minnetonka life that surprises people moving here. Dinner can start with a boat ride, and on a July Saturday the docks outside the busiest restaurants look like a parking lot.
The list below covers the places CJ Norman's clients ask about most, grouped by the bay they sit on so a boater can plan the run.
Lord Fletcher's sits on Coffee Cove between Crystal Bay and West Arm, not on Spring Park Bay. It has been one of the lake's best-known gathering spots for decades, with customer docks, the Wharf, and a reliably busy summer weekend.
Cabana Anna's is at the Shoreline Hotel on the Spring Park shoreline. It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner beside the hotel's marina, giving boaters another direct dockside option in Spring Park.
Maynard's sits on Excelsior Bay with customer dockage and a long-running reputation as a lake dinner destination. The surrounding Water Street district adds restaurants, coffee, and shops within an easy walk of the docks.
Excelsior is the most walkable stop on the lake, which makes it the best choice for an evening that is meant to be more than one stop.
The Caribbean Marina sits on Echo Bay in Tonka Bay, just west of Excelsior. Its seasonal waterfront restaurant, gas dock, and transient restaurant slips make it a practical food and fuel stop near Big Island.
The Caribbean is not on Spring Park Bay. Its tucked-away Echo Bay location is part of the appeal, especially for boaters moving between the lower lake and Excelsior.
Wayzata's waterfront holds the lake's upscale cluster, including CōV and 6Smith along Lake Street, with the Wayzata Bay docks and Lake Effect Park directly in front.
This is the dressier end of the dock and dine circuit, and it pairs well with a walk along the Wayzata lakewalk before or after dinner.
Al and Alma's operates from Mound on Cooks Bay and offers public cruises including a Signature Sunday Brunch Cruise and several dinner cruises. Its boats may depart from Mound, Excelsior, or Wayzata Bay, so guests should confirm the port shown on their reservation.
Back Channel Brewing in Spring Park rounds out the west end for anyone who wants a taproom rather than a full dinner. A rotating food truck serves the taproom, and the brewery's Food & Events page lists the truck scheduled for each day.
Customer docks are first come, and the busiest ones have attendants directing boats during peak hours. Space is tight, boat length limits apply at some locations, and a time limit is common so tables keep turning.
Call ahead, arrive before the peak dinner window, have fenders and lines ready before approaching, and have a plan B bay in mind on holiday weekends.
| Restaurant | Bay | Arrive by boat | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Fletcher's | Coffee Cove, between Crystal Bay and West Arm | Yes, customer docks | Long-running lake gathering spot with the Wharf |
| Cabana Anna's | Spring Park shoreline | Yes, via the Shoreline Hotel marina | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the lakefront hotel |
| Maynard's | Excelsior Bay | Yes, customer dockage | Long-running lake dinner destination near the Water Street district |
| The Caribbean | Echo Bay, Tonka Bay | Yes, transient restaurant slips | Seasonal restaurant, fuel, and marina stop near Big Island |
| CōV and 6Smith | Wayzata Bay | Yes, via the Wayzata Bay docks | The dressier waterfront cluster |
| Al and Alma's | Home port on Cooks Bay, Mound | Public cruise departures | Sunday brunch and several dinner cruises; confirm the departure port |
| Back Channel Brewing | Spring Park | Yes, limited marina slips | Taproom with rotating food trucks; check the daily schedule |
Common questions