We couldn’t resist.

It was a gorgeous night and we said, “We have to go. It’s important to support them.”

So along with our friends Susan and Jay, we popped over to 88 Wharf the only Milton restaurant to offer dinner with wine and beer for their opening night.

We had no idea what to expect.  Well, it was great. The partners John Collins and Matt Sullivan could not have asked for a nicer night. We arrived about 6:30 and found the restaurant about half full.

The interior has dark woods and a lovely small bar with a flat screen TV (the Red Sox were on, thank you very much). We were immediately struck by the informal yet professional, family-oriented atmosphere in an upscale room with well appointed decor. Large black and white photos of boats and docks adorn the walls, and full windows and French doors overlook the Neponset and boats moored at the Milton Yacht Club. We received a warm welcome and were seated out on the patio to thoroughly enjoy the best night of summer.

The wait staff were attentive without being fawning. There were hiccups and the service was a little slow; but they had only been open for an hour and a half for heaven’s sake. Again, the atmosphere on the patio was one of subtle joy. It was as if the patrons were all silently saying, “Can you believe this?”

One of the gas lines had yet to be hooked up (scheduled to happen Monday), so the full menu was not available; however, there was still plenty of variety. We had fried calamari, a beet salad, an arugala salad, a halibut entree, a mushroom pizza, and a salmon dish. The calamari was perfect and the arugala salad was superb. The folks in our party all rated their dishes excellent.

We passed on dessert, opting for cappacinos and an espresso. A great finish to a very good meal.

Great food, great dining experience, beautiful setting. It was great to see families and couples walking down to the Wharf area, enjoying the view and river walk, happy to be part of why my town matters.

For the first time in over twenty years Milton residents will have a local restaurant serving full dinners along with a selection of wine, beer, and cocktails.

In a brief conversation this morning, the managing partners of the 88 Wharf Restaurant confirmed that they are going to open for business on July 25th at 5:00 o’clock.

The restaurant is on the first floor of the condominium complex at Milton Landing. It will feature an outdoor patio with seating for 40 and a terrific view. Indoors there is seating for 85, and a bar with a flat screen TV.

The menu, which features appetizers, salads, pizzas, and entrees is eclectic and reasonably priced. Examples of appetizers include Island Creek oysters at $2 a pop, house made garlic potato chips for $5 and crabcakes with a red pepper aioli for $12. Entrees include a nice mix of seafood and meat dishes: Pork tenderloin with ratatouille, steak frites, salmon with fingerling potatoes, and a linguine with shrimp, scallops, and clams.

You can view their menu here.

Lastly, they have an interesting martini menu. One in particular caught our eye, the Baker’s Chocolate martini. This is a cocktail of vanilla infused vodka, white and dark chocolate liquers topped with Baker’s chocolate shavings. That sounds like a great dessert!

Update: Wharf Street restaurant to open 7/25. See most recent post here.

We were swanning around one of our favorite places in Milton late this afternoon, The Milton Farmer’s Market, which is just the bee’s knees. If you haven’t been you owe it to yourself to go. You like food right? Then you’ll love this place! It takes place every Thursday from 1:00 – 6:00.

While we were down there, we took a minute to wander over to 88 Wharf Street where a restaurant is going in on the ground floor, The 88 Wharf Street Riverfront Grill, and spoke briefly with the folks there. They told us, “We’re getting there.” And they are.

If all goes well they are hopeful of opening some day next week.

UPDATE: Wharf Street restaurant is opening 7/25. See most recent post here.

The Wharf Street Riverfront Grill which is located in the bottom floor of 88 Wharf Street, off Adams Street in Milton Village has postponed its opening.

Originally scheduled to open today, a notice in the window indicates they hope to open in the near future but no fixed date has been set.