Things are going to get a whole lot tastier in Tidewater when the Barnacle, Virginia Beach’s first food boat, opens for business at the Narrows in May.
The floating restaurant, the shared idea of co-owners Bo Zinno and Tracey Edwards, will feed hungry beachgoers and boaters from the Narrows at 64th Street on the south side of First Landing State Park.
Depending on the day’s weather, the Barnacle will be serving up food Thursday through Sunday from 10:30 am until the sun goes down.
Tracey’s husband Shea Edwards, who is helping out as his wife and Zinno prepare to open, says the Barnacle’s menu is still being finalized but offered a tantalizing description of what patrons can expect. The food, which will be served mostly in cones, includes a pizza cone, a taco cone, and their signature Barnacle Waffle, “a Hong Kong-style waffle with ice cream, chocolate, and all the good stuff…which will be really nice on a 90-degree day,” as Edwards describes it.
Edwards says the Barnacle will operate primarily out of the Narrows but may occasionally cruise up to Chic’s Beach. The boat will also be available for private parties at people’s docks.
In its previous life, the Barnacle was sitting at a marina in Gloucester missing all of the essentials, says Edwards. Zinno added the motor, helm, water tanks, and plumbing to get it restaurant-ready.
The Food Network and Travel Channel will be at the Narrows on April 25 to film the Barnacle for a new show about food boats, Edwards says. On the Barnacle’s Facebook page, a post invites the public to join in the filming fun and to “bring your boat and come make history with us!”
To learn more about the Barnacle, click here.
-Laura Boycourt
