Dockside dining: The hottest coastal nightlife from Downriver to Anchor Bay

Nautical Mile keeps it fresh

We can't discuss partying on the water without mentioning St. Clair Shores' Nautical Mile. This popular and rapidly developing area of the Lake St. Clair shoreline is along Jefferson Ave. between Nine and 10 Mile.

In the last few months, three new restaurants have popped up on Nautical Mile: the upscale Mexican bistro Rojo has replaced Andiamo Italia. Both are under the ownership of the Andiamo Restaurant Group, which also recently opened Brownie's on the Lake.

(Brownie's is named after a popular lakefront restaurant that closed more than a decade ago and stood where the Beach Grill is now. The new Brownie's is where Dockside Jack's once was located.)

A former owner of Dockside Jack's, Michael LeFevre recently opened Mike's on the Water, a casual burger-and-beer joint at Michigan Harbor.

"Change is good. I love it," says Danny Dzialo, who has kept his boat at the Emerald City Marina on Nautical Mile near the new Brownie's for the last seven years. "I plan to go to the boat more because of all the improvements."

Dzialo is a musician who stars in a Rod Stewart tribute act called Danny D. and the Vagabonds. He and his band perform regularly, including this Friday, up the shoreline at Gino's Surf and Luna Kai Tiki Bar.
 

Mike's on the Water

24530 Jefferson Ave., St. Clair Shores.

42° 28' 19.3578" N, -82° 53' 1.3734" W

Call: (586) 872-2630

Hours: 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Mon.-Sat. and noon-2 a.m. Sun. (kitchen closes at 11 p.m.)

Food: Seafood, burgers and sandwiches ($5-$10, $3.50 kids' menu)

Docking: Michigan Harbor Marina