Lovers of Gloria’s restaurants in Port Royal no longer have to make the trek to Kingston 1, as a new location has opened downtown.

Gloria’s Seafood City opened Wednesday last at the newly renovated (and highly anticipated) Victoria Pier located on Ocean Boulevard. At present, Gloria’s Seafood City is the only Victoria Pier establishment open for business. The first floor will be home to outposts of Devon House Ice Cream, M10 and Ribbiz. The latter is slated to open in two weeks.

The third floor is a special event space that, when available, will carry the overflow from Gloria’s dining room on the second floor. Gloria’s Seafood City manager Minkah Lim-Tom shared with Thursday Food that it has been “very busy since opening. The support is overwhelming and we are happy with this wonderful new location”.

The space is bright, airy and cool. Listen, if you need to escape the punishing summer heat, head to Seafood City as it seems all the breeze is located there. The nautical-themed décor avoids being kitschy and there’s an expansive view of Kingston Harbour. On-site parking is limited. The restaurant’s owners are however, currently in dialogue with the mayor to amend the no-street parking ordinance currently in effect. Meanwhile, there’s always the secure UDC parking lot a few clicks down the road.

The menu, according to Lim-Tom, allows the Gloria’s brand to “do something more with our offerings. We have taken cues from certain food trends and have incorporated new items on our menu”. In addition to the traditional Gloria’s line-up of fish, lobster, shrimp and conch, patrons can expect composed salads, penne alfredo, seafood mac and cheese and shrimp and pineapple fried rice.

When Thursday Food visited at lunchtime on Monday, July 23, there was a steady stream of patrons. At one point there was a last-minute reservation for a group of 14. Unfazed, the Gloria’s Seafood City team swung into action and modified the dining room layout and graciously accommodated the group upon their quick arrival. There was also a queue at the takeout area, conveniently located beyond the opaque doors of the dining room entrance.

The outdoor bar and patio are well-designed and provide a plum vantage point for people-watching. If that’s your thing. If you’re worried about food quality, don’t be. The traditional dishes taste just like their counterparts in Port Royal and the breezy salt-filled air ups the ante of the dining experience.

Gloria’s Seafood City’s opening hours are 12:00 noon-11:00 pm daily; the eatery is a much-needed addition to the downtown Kingston restaurant scene.