There are waterfront restaurants, and then there are restaurants where arriving by boat actually makes sense.
The Point Restaurant in Marshfield is one of the latter.
Located at Marshfield’s Town Pier in the Green Harbor/Brant Rock area, The Point puts you right in the middle of an active South Shore waterfront, with fishing boats, pleasure craft and the harbor all around you. It isn’t the kind of place where you have to squint through a parking lot to see the water. The water is the setting.
And for visiting boaters, that’s the real attraction.
The Setting: Green Harbor
The Point sits at 93 Central Street, on Marshfield’s Town Pier at the mouth of the Green Harbor River. The restaurant has been family-owned and operated since 2016 and specializes in casual coastal fare, with seafood, lobster rolls, fried seafood, burgers, tacos and other choices on the menu.
There are indoor and outdoor seating areas, and the restaurant’s elevated position along the waterfront gives diners a good view of the harbor. The outdoor deck is particularly appealing on a warm summer afternoon or evening.
But the best part is what happens outside the restaurant.
This is an active harbor. The Town Pier is home to the Harbormaster and is used by commercial fishing and lobster boats as well as recreational boaters. You’re not just looking at a decorative marina while you eat. There is actual waterfront activity going on around you.
That’s exactly what you want from a dockside dining stop.
Can You Arrive by Boat?
Yes—but this is where boaters need to do a little homework.
The Point itself is located at the Town Pier, but it does not operate like some dock-and-dine restaurants where you can simply pull up to a dedicated restaurant dock, tie off and walk inside.
The nearby Taylor Marine facility is the more practical option for visiting boaters looking for dockage. Taylor Marine is immediately adjacent to The Point at 95 Central Street, making the restaurant essentially a short walk from the marina.
Taylor Marine offers dockage and marine services, and visiting boaters should contact the marina in advance to determine whether transient space is available for their boat and when they can arrive.
In other words, think of this as dock, walk and dine rather than literally tying your boat to The Point’s restaurant deck.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it gives you more flexibility. You can secure the boat, stretch your legs and explore a little before or after dinner.
The important thing is to make arrangements before you arrive. Dock space is not something to assume will be available simply because a restaurant is on the waterfront.
Another Option: Launch at Town Pier
If you’re trailering a smaller boat, kayak or other watercraft, Marshfield Town Landing provides public boat access to the Green Harbor River.
The landing is located near the Town Pier, and the launch provides access to the tidal river and, from there, Green Harbor and the ocean.
The town landing also has a public launch ramp, restrooms and a pumpout facility. Launch fees and permits apply, so check with the Marshfield Harbormaster before making it part of your plans.
For a small-boat outing, this creates an easy formula:
Launch → explore Green Harbor → return to the landing → walk to The Point → eat.
Just pay attention to the tides and local navigation conditions. Green Harbor is a tidal environment, and the mouth of the river can be shallow.
What Should You Eat?
If you’re going to arrive at The Point by boat, it would be a little strange to order something that could just as easily come from a highway restaurant.
The seafood is the obvious choice.
The menu includes lobster rolls, fried seafood, baked haddock, scallops, shrimp, seafood casseroles and other New England favorites. There are also burgers, sandwiches, tacos and other non-seafood options if someone in your crew isn’t interested in eating from the sea.
For a summer dock-and-dine stop, the lobster roll or a fried seafood platter feels like the natural order.
The restaurant is deliberately casual, too. This isn’t a place where you need to worry about coming ashore in boating clothes. The atmosphere fits the experience.
Make It More Than Dinner
This is where The Point becomes more interesting as a boating destination.
The restaurant is connected to Marshfield’s Harbor Walk, a waterfront walkway that runs roughly 0.8 miles from the Town Pier through Harbor Park toward the Brant Rock area.
So instead of simply arriving, eating and immediately heading back to the boat, you can turn the visit into a short shore excursion.
Walk the harbor.
Check out the boats.
Head toward Brant Rock.
Or simply wander along the waterfront and watch the activity around Green Harbor.
The Harbor Walk also gives you access to Harbor Park and the Brant Rock area, making it possible to stretch your legs without getting back in the car.
Go to the Beach
If you’ve got more time, Marshfield’s beaches provide another reason to make The Point a destination rather than a quick meal stop.
Green Harbor Beach is particularly close to the restaurant and sits at the end of Beach Street. The beach is protected from the open ocean and offers views of the harbor entrance, the marsh and the surrounding coastline.
Brant Rock Beach is another nearby option. Located at the intersection of Ocean Street and Dyke Road, Brant Rock has a jetty, rocky shoreline and views across Massachusetts Bay. The Harbor Walk connects the Brant Rock area with the Town Pier, so you can combine the waterfront walk with a visit to the beach.
For boaters with a few hours to kill, that’s a pretty good combination:
Boat ride → beach → Harbor Walk → dinner at The Point.
Just remember that beach parking regulations and seasonal access rules don’t necessarily apply to you if you’ve arrived by boat—but they can matter if someone in your group is meeting you by car.
The Boater’s Bonus
One of the best things about The Point isn’t actually on the menu.
It’s the location.
Green Harbor gives you the feeling of being somewhere, rather than simply going somewhere. The harbor is surrounded by working waterfront, fishing activity, beaches and marsh, and the mouth of the river provides an interesting place to explore by boat.
From the water, you can make a larger day of it, exploring the Green Harbor area before coming ashore for lunch or dinner.
And because you’re on the South Shore, The Point can also work as part of a longer coastal cruise rather than being the sole destination. Depending on your boat, route and conditions, Marshfield puts you within reach of other South Shore harbors and boating destinations.
Before You Go
A few things are worth checking before pointing the bow toward The Point.
Call the marina first. Don’t assume you can find transient dockage when you arrive. Taylor Marine is right next door, but availability can change.
Check the tides. Green Harbor is tidal, and water depth and conditions can affect your route.
Give yourself time. The Point is much more appealing when you have time to walk the waterfront and explore the area rather than treating it as a 45-minute restaurant stop.
Check seasonal hours. The Point operates seasonally and hours can change, particularly outside the summer boating season.
The Bottom Line
The Point isn’t necessarily the ultimate destination if your definition of dockside dining requires pulling your boat directly alongside a restaurant and stepping onto a deck.
But if you’re looking for something better than that—a real waterfront boating stop where the restaurant, harbor, beaches and surrounding community can all become part of the day’s adventure—The Point is worth putting on the list.
Secure a slip nearby, explore Green Harbor, take a walk along the Harbor Walk, and then settle in for a lobster roll or fried seafood while the boats move through the harbor.
That’s a pretty good way to spend an afternoon on the South Shore.
The Point Restaurant
93 Central Street
Marshfield, MA 02050
(781) 837-1000
Boater’s tip: Contact Taylor Marine before arriving if you need dockage, and check with the Marshfield Harbormaster for current launch, tide and harbor information.