The quayside restaurants along the Alter Strom are the eating heart of Warnemünde. Fresh Baltic fish — herring, flounder, zander, and eel — dominates the menus, alongside the ubiquitous Fischbrötchen (fish rolls) sold at outdoor stalls. The fish roll is the definitive Warnemünde street food: a crusty bread roll stuffed with smoked or marinated fish, usually topped with onion and remoulade, eaten standing on the quay with a view of the boats.
Several restaurants have terraces right on the water's edge, making them perfect for a long lunch watching the activity on the channel. Dishes tend to be simple and generously portioned. Bismarck herring, smoked eel, and grilled flounder are reliable choices wherever you sit. The smoked fish stalls — some of which smoke their catch on the spot in small smokers on the quayside — are worth seeking out for a quick and inexpensive snack.
Prices are somewhat higher than comparable restaurants inland, reflecting the tourist trade, but not excessively so. In summer, popular spots fill up at lunchtime; arriving before noon or after two o'clock avoids the worst of the queue.