Iconic Route 1 Restaurant The Ship Has Re-Opened

Lynnfield restaurant The Ship has re-opened for business in a so-called "soft opening" mode expected to last a couple of weeks.

The place had been vacant since the former Mount Vernon at the Ship closed in the fall of 2011.

In September 2012, owner Nino Micozzi went before Lynnfield selectmen to report that he would be re-opening the restaurant in the spirit of the golden age of the restaurant, which dates back to about the 1930s.

The opening took longer than initially expected, but on Wednesday, the restaurant was back in business.

The menu features a number of seafood and Italian favorites - but there's also an international theme to it that simulates stopping at various ports around the world. Diners at the new incarnation of The Ship can also order a South American-style gaucho steak with chimichurri sauce, Jamaican jerk chicken, French Bouillabaisse and Thai-style scallops -  among numerous other options.

In a family-friendly touch, the restaurant also offers paper pirate hats for the kids. There's also a bar area and the overall decor feels classic nautical and contemporary at the same time.

As of Friday evening, the new Ship restaurant had yet to fully activate its website, consistent with the soft opening approach. It is expected to be at TheShipRestaurantGroup.com.