It is the certainty that the Manhattan skyline will be served day and night with your meal that you find yourself on a ferry bound for Long Island City and Water’s Edge. Under the new direction of the Singh Hospitality Group, the barge-based venue has replaced its classic old-fashioned interior with a sleeker, more modern look. Where guests once sunk into regal pink and yellow cushions, now sit edgier, contemporary pieces Jonathan Adler would approve of. The stemware is different, the outdoor deck has grown. But just when you’re starting to think the decor and ambiance is missing a wow factor other than the twinkling vista, the food arrives.
The lobster bisque ($14) is lightly textured and not too creamy, and has a succulent topping of tempura. When the Kung Pao Calamari ($14) appears with chilies, peanuts, roasted pepper bites, and hoisin sauce, the eclectic American-labeled menu begins to reveal itself as being heavily influenced by Asian fusion cuisine. Calculated forkfuls of Ahi tuna and soba noodles were taken next to ensure there would be leftovers; a punch of spice with perfectly pan seared seafood doesn’t come around that often.
For dessert, Robert, a warm Indian waiter who’s been with Water’s Edge since 1996, selected the dessert sampler ($10). The tropical chunks of fresh pineapple, coconut sorbet, and a shot glass of Piña Colada seemingly completes a conspiratorial event that you’ve gone from Manhattan to somewhere much farther away. While the beautiful big city lights never leave your sight, by meal’s end, the experience inside has almost been as enjoyable as the view. Almost.
How to get there: Skip the subway in favor of the free Water’s Edge ferry ride from the East 23rd Street Pier/Skyport Marina to the restaurant. The beautiful sail lasts thirty-minutes across the East River. The ferry departs every hour from Manhattan, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 6:00p.m. to 10:00p.m. (Water’s Edge, The East River at 44th Drive, Long Island City, 718.482.0033, watersedgenyc.com)
Note: Every month, Water’s Edge hosts a special wine dinner, featuring a hand-picked selection of wines, each paired with a five-course meal. And on Mondays and Tuesdays, guests may choose to indulge in a five-course wine dinner for only $50.
Photo: Courtesy of andremaier.com
The co-founder and editor-at-large at offMetro, Lauren is a sustainable travel specialist and freelance journalist with frequent bylines in National Geographic, Bicycling Magazine and Shape. Follow Lauren’s adventures at @laurenmati.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram