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Phantom Gourmet: The Tides In Nahant

NAHANT - It doesn't get better than this: An oceanfront spot with a view that's a feast for the eyes.

Located at the end of the Nahant Causeway, Tides Restaurant is a laid-back spot with a casual dining room, lively bar and an outdoor patio full of diners who've made a beeline from the beach.

"You can come straight off the beach. As long as you got your shirt and your shoes on, it's fine," said General Manager Lisa Deveney. "It's paradise. To sit out here, eat some fried clams, an ice cold beer or a nice frozen drink. What could be better than that?"

Tides, Phantom Gourmet
Tides is located just steps from the beat, at the end of the Nahant Causeway, (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

You can always find owner, Michael O'Callaghan working the room with a smile on his face. That's because he and Deveney tend to a fun-loving local crowd who seem to be in vacation mode year round.

"When they come here they feel like they're someplace else, that they're not five minutes away from their house, that they took a drive to the Cape or up to Maine or up to New Hampshire - but it's all right here," O'Callaghan said.

No matter how far you travel, the food is worth the drive. There's sticky and satisfying Cherry Cola Wings slathered in a sweet glaze, eggplant rollatini served on top of a pizza, and giant platters of nachos that will take your breath away.

The Tides' signature dish has to be the prime rib, slow-roasted every night and served super juicy. While it's great on its own, it's even better when it's shaved thin, and smothered with cheese for an upscale version of the cheese steak.

"The steak and cheese sandwich is a monster; it's awesome," Deveney said. "It's shaved prime rib, sautéed peppers, onions, mushrooms whatever you like with your choice of cheese, all cooked on the grill and loaded into a French roll. The roll is so nice and soft and then you get the nice fatty prime rib and all the melty cheese. It's really good."

For some prime rib that's perfect for sharing, order the French Dip Sliders. These small sandwiches are topped with Swiss, horseradish mustard sauce and ultra-addictive au jus for dipping.

"People ask for extra juice all the time. They're really, really good. When it soaks into that bread, it's delicious."

Since Tides is located right on the Atlantic, you can be sure seafood is a huge part of the menu. Like the fisherman's platter, overloaded with goodies plucked from the waters outside.

Tides, Phantom Gourmet
The Fisherman's Platter at Tides in Nahant (Image: Phantom Gourmet)

"I think it's just what people love to come to New England for: fried clams, fried shrimp, fried scallops, fried haddock in a big plate with some coleslaw. It's just what people want," said Deveney. "It's definitely good for sharing."

Their lobster rolls come overloaded on a toasted hot dog roll and can be ordered tossed with mayo or without.

"It's just fresh lobster meat, in a roll," explained O'Callaghan. "Get mayonnaise on the side or some melted butter, and the traditional lobster roll we do with the mayonnaise and the celery and that's it. "Simple, good and lots of it."

"There's not much to improve on there. It's a classic for a reason," Deveney continued.

If you're looking for a simply decadent way to finish your meal at Tides, dig into one of their sinfully sweet brownie sundaes.

"You get the hot brownie. You put the cold ice cream on it and that starts to melt into the brownie and melts the chocolate chips a little bit," described Deveney. "Then you top it with the hot fudge, which is delicious, a little bit of whipped cream and it's the perfect way to end the meal."

While it may look like Mike and Lisa are working hard, it doesn't seem to bother them much because having the surf and sands by their side seems to make the hours fly by.

"I love coming to work. It's my favorite place. It's my favorite place to eat. It's my favorite place to be," Lisa said.

"I love it. Sometimes I'm here for 16, 18 hours a day and it doesn't faze me at all," said Michael. "So it's a lot of work, but it's a lot of fun and you get to meet all kinds of people. I sometimes come and sit out here and just enjoy it and take it all in and appreciate the fact that I'm lucky enough, and the people that work here are lucky enough, to work at a place like this."

Tides Restaurant & Pub is at 2 Wilton Road in Nahant, or online at tidesnahant.com.

Watch Phantom Gourmet on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 and 11 a.m. on myTV38.

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