A passing boat can steal your attention from dinner when the water is close enough to watch from your table. At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront in Wilmington, Delaware, the Christina River provides a moving backdrop for a seafood meal, with outdoor seating that makes it easy to linger between bites and watch the waterfront come alive.
Located at 720 Justison St, this riverfront restaurant brings together fresh seafood, relaxed dining, and views that give the meal a little extra atmosphere. Boats drift past, reflections move across the water, and the sounds of the riverfront create a pleasant change of pace from an ordinary restaurant stop.
If you have a sweet treat in mind afterward, it is worth checking current offerings before you visit rather than assuming ice cream is available. Come hungry, leave yourself time to enjoy the water, and see what catches your attention along the river.
Let the River Set the Pace
Some afternoons seem to ask you to hurry. A table beside the Christina River offers a reason to do the opposite.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, the water is part of the outing, not just something to pass on your way inside.
Look toward the river before you open the menu. Depending on the day, you may spot a boat moving past or see people enjoying the Riverwalk.
The scene changes with the light and the weather, so it feels a little different each time. If a water view matters most to you, ask about available seating when you arrive.
A patio table can be lovely, but availability and the view from any table can vary.
The restaurant sits at 720 Justison St in Wilmington, making it an easy place to pair a meal with a little time outdoors. You do not need a packed schedule to enjoy it.
Order something you like, talk with your table, and leave a few minutes to watch the river afterward. That simple pause is often what turns lunch into a day you remember.
Start with a Seafood Favorite
The first plate can set the mood for the whole meal. Something warm and shareable gives everyone a reason to lean in, take a bite, and start talking.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, seafood is the main attraction, with choices that suit both curious first-timers and people who know exactly what they want.
Calamari and mussels are among the dishes diners have mentioned. If you are eating with a group, consider choosing one starter together before deciding on your main dishes.
It gives you a chance to try a new flavor without making it your entire meal. Ask your server how a dish is prepared if you prefer mild seasoning, avoid certain ingredients, or want to know whether it is fried.
Leave a little room for what comes next. An appetizer is most fun when it starts a relaxed meal rather than filling you up too soon.
Menus and portions can change, so check the current offerings instead of planning every bite in advance. The small surprise of finding a new favorite is part of the pleasure here.
Give the Crab Cakes a Chance
Few menu choices feel more tied to a Delaware seafood outing than crab cakes. Their appeal is simple: tender crab, a browned outside, and the promise of a satisfying first bite.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, crab cakes are one of the dishes guests talk about most often.
They are a sensible pick if you want a regional favorite without sorting through a long list of seafood options. Ask your server about the current crab cake dishes and what comes with them, since lunch and dinner choices may differ.
If sides are offered, choose ones you genuinely enjoy instead of following a set idea of what belongs on a seafood plate. You can also ask about preparation if that affects your choice.
A crab cake meal fits the easy pace of this address. Take your time, notice the view if your seat allows it, and save your walk along the river for after the plates are cleared.
Guests have praised the crab cakes, though taste and portions are personal. Trying them yourself is a pleasant way to find out whether they earn a place among your own Delaware favorites.
Bring the Friend Who Does Not Eat Fish
Every group has someone who reads a seafood menu and hopes for a backup plan. That does not have to spoil a waterfront meal.
Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront serves more than fish, which makes the restaurant easier to suggest when friends or family members have different tastes.
Guests have mentioned burgers, salads, and pasta alongside seafood dishes. One person can order crab cakes while another picks a familiar favorite, and nobody has to pretend to be excited about the same thing.
Before your visit, look at the current menu if anyone has dietary needs or a firm food preference. It is also smart to ask the staff about ingredients and preparation rather than guessing from a dish name.
The pleasure of eating out together is not always about ordering the most unusual thing. Sometimes it is hearing a friend describe a great bite while you enjoy exactly what you wanted.
Here, the riverfront setting gives the table something else to share: a view and a reason to linger. That mix of choice and comfort can make planning a group meal much simpler.
Make Room for an Unhurried Afternoon
Late afternoon has a way of changing the feel of a day. Work and errands fade into the background, and even a short stop can feel like a break.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, a drink and a small plate can be a pleasant way to spend that stretch of time.
If you are hoping for happy hour, check the restaurant’s current schedule and offers before leaving home. Times, prices, and participating areas may change, so an old special should not guide your plans.
The bar offers a livelier setting, while a seat near the river may suit a quieter conversation if one is available. Ask where a particular offer applies when you arrive, then settle in without watching the clock too closely.
You can enjoy the visit without ordering alcohol. Pick a drink you like, share something to eat, and use the time to catch up with a friend.
The real draw is how easily an ordinary weekday can become a small occasion. With the Wilmington waterfront close at hand, the walk back outside feels like part of the afternoon rather than the end of it.
Ask for a Seat in the Fresh Air
Fresh air can make a good meal feel longer in the best way. You notice the changing light, hear the activity nearby, and remember to look up between bites.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, outdoor seating offers a chance to enjoy more of the Wilmington riverfront while you dine.
Guests have described a covered patio, a welcome feature when the sun feels strong. Still, outdoor tables depend on weather and availability, and a covered seat is not a promise that every day will feel comfortable outside.
If the patio is a big reason for your visit, contact the restaurant ahead of time or ask about the wait when you arrive. Bring an extra layer if the forecast calls for a cool breeze.
Traveling with a dog? Reports describe dog-friendly outdoor seating, but confirm the current pet policy before bringing a leashed companion.
Once everyone is settled, let the meal move at a comfortable speed. You came for food, of course, yet the chance to sit near the river and take in the day may be what stays with you afterward.
Settle In with the Whole Family
A family meal is easier when nobody feels they must whisper or rush. Children want something they recognize, adults want food they enjoy, and everyone needs a little breathing room.
Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront has a casual setting that can make those wishes fit around one table.
Its seafood menu gives older diners plenty to consider, while families can ask about current choices for children. Do not assume a past kids’ menu is unchanged; checking ahead can prevent a hungry surprise.
The dining room is spacious, and its hanging fish displays may give younger guests something fun to notice while they wait. If your family prefers a quieter meal, consider visiting outside the busiest dinner period when your plans allow.
The riverfront adds an easy activity without asking anyone to commit to a full day out. After eating, step outside for a short look at the Christina River and let everyone stretch their legs.
A passing boat can hold a child’s attention longer than you might expect. It is a simple ending to a shared meal, with no complicated schedule required.
Look Up Before You Sit Down
Even before the menu arrives, there is something to talk about overhead. Large decorative fish hang in the dining room, giving the space a playful look that suits a seafood restaurant.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, those details can turn the first few minutes inside into part of the experience.
Guests have also noticed fish artwork and the open feel of the room. Take a moment to look around rather than heading straight for your phone.
Children may enjoy spotting different shapes, while adults can appreciate a dining room that has more personality than plain walls and tables. If you are meeting someone here for the first time, the decor makes an easy conversation starter.
Indoor seating has another advantage: it gives you a way to enjoy the restaurant when wind, rain, or heat make the patio less appealing. Ask about a table that suits your group, then let the surroundings set a relaxed tone.
A waterfront visit does not lose its charm when you move inside. The river is still nearby, ready for a look before you leave.
Save a Few Minutes for the Riverwalk
Sometimes the best part of a restaurant visit happens after the bill is paid. Instead of heading straight to the car, step outside and give the waterfront a few minutes.
Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront sits by Wilmington’s Riverwalk, so a short stroll is an easy addition to your meal.
Walk at whatever pace feels right and watch for activity on the Christina River. A boat may pass, or the water may be still enough to reflect the sky.
Either way, the path gives you space to talk without the noise of a dining room. Wear shoes that feel good for walking, especially if you plan to stay out longer than a quick look.
On hot or rainy days, keep the walk short and comfortable.
You do not need to turn dinner into a sightseeing checklist. The pleasure is in having one more small thing to do together before the day moves on.
For visitors, the walk offers a closer feel for this part of Wilmington. For locals, it can make a familiar meal feel fresh again, simply by changing the route home.
Find Your Own Sweet Ending
One last bite can keep a pleasant afternoon going just a little longer. After a seafood meal, something sweet offers a different reason to stay at the table.
At Big Fish Grill on the Riverfront, guests have mentioned desserts such as peanut butter pie and key lime pie, though the available choices may change.
Ask for the current dessert menu before deciding whether you are ready to leave. If several choices sound good, sharing one can be a relaxed way to finish without feeling too full.
The title’s idea of grabbing a cone is a fun picture of a waterfront outing, but an ice cream cone is not a confirmed restaurant offering. If that is the treat you want, check your options before making it part of the plan.
Then take one more look toward the Christina River. You may catch a boat going by, or simply see the evening light settle over the water.
Either sight gives the meal a quiet finish. Good food brings people to this Wilmington address, but that extra moment outside can be the reason they think about coming back.
