Pictured: The Pimento Oyster appetizer at Pier 22 features roasted gulf oysters topped with pimento, bacon and panko.

One of Manatee County's longest-standing restaurants, Pier 22 opened in 1976 in the historic Memorial Pier Building in downtown Bradenton. The restaurant has long been a local favorite thanks to its diverse menu of scratch-cooked foods and magnificent waterfront views of the Manatee River. Now this local mainstay has a new look and a revamped happy hour menu.

Greg Campbell is the Executive Chef and Director of Operations at Pier 22 and sister restaurant Grove in Lakewood Ranch. He also served as the construction manager on the recent restaurant renovations.

“We renovated the inside bar last year in October and we wanted to renovate the outside bar to match the nice new fresh look that we had inside,” Campbell says. “One of the major drivers for the remodel was to take away the old awning structure that we had over the patio area and put in a structural roof. The restaurant is known for the old Spanish barrel tile roof that we have, so we extended that over the patio which makes it much safer from wind and rain and gives us more ability to provide climate control.”

New touches include transom windows to let in more light and over a dozen fans to generate a breeze on sweltering summer days. In addition, the old bar was fully removed and a new one was built with expanded seating and top-of-the-line bar equipment. While there are three large TVs behind the bar for people who want to catch the latest football game, they don’t interfere with those famous waterfront views.

The outside patio bar isn’t the only thing that’s new at Pier 22. The restaurant has a happy hour daily from 3pm-6pm, and it’s the perfect time to come check out the new look. Campbell has a selection of small plates on the happy hour menu for $6 each, so diners can sample dishes like pimento & bacon deviled eggs made with fresh local eggs. During happy hour, guests can also get discounts on draft beer, house wine, and cocktails, as well as full-sized appetizers and flatbreads. The Shrimp & Street Corn Flatbread is a fresh and flavorful take on elote, while the Seacuterie Board appetizer is an inventive seafood-driven twist on the charcuterie trend.

Pier 22, 1200 1st Avenue West, Bradenton, 941-748-8087, pier22.com.

Pictured: The Pimento Oyster appetizer at Pier 22 features roasted gulf oysters topped with pimento, bacon and panko.