The walk up to Wave Seafood Kitchen's doors alone can awaken an appetite for baked clams and jumbo shrimp cocktails. The restaurant is housed inside Danfords Hotel & Marina, which sits on the edge of the Long Island Sound. Views of the water surround guests both outside and in the dining room, where flickering candles illuminate plates of fresh seafood. Soft piano music in the lounge completes the laid-back, beachy ambiance.

The setting, however, only serves as a starter for frequently changing menus of sea- and land-sourced dishes. Lobster saffron risotto might share table space with country fried chicken, served with a buttermilk waffle; fine cheese could be paired with oven-roasted whole fish. On Sundays, the floor transforms into an all-you-can-eat brunch with smoked salmon and just-caught cinnamon rolls. In addition to American cuisine, the white-spread tables become canvases for local and international wines, beers, and craft cocktails inspired by seasonal flavors.