Maybe it was what could be called the “Perfect Storm” of dining experiences — forces converged at the maximum level of perfection to make an experience come together like it might not at any other time.

Perfect weather, the best table, friendly server, incredible food, getting together with an old friend and just for good measure, a sailboat gliding by as the sun at its setting. Such were circumstances to make my recent excursion to Boatwerks in Holland one of the nicest dining experiences I have had in a long time.

When my friend Cindy called and wanted to make dinner plans, my mind immediately went to restaurants on the big lake, and Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant got the nod because of its lovely outdoor setting. It’s not actually on Lake Michigan, but a close second at Lake Macatawa.

They don’t take reservations, but they do accept “call ahead seating,” so when we were told there was a 40 minute wait for the exterior tables, that was the perfect drive time from Grand Rapids, so we put our name on the list and headed to Holland. It was a smart move as we heard them tell diners in front of us that there was over an hour wait for an outside table by time we arrived.

We still had a short wait while they readied a table, but we took that time to sit at the exterior bar and order a couple of martinis. The bartender was efficient and made suggestions when we weren’t quite sure what we wanted. I ended up with a Pear Martini, and Cindy the Cosmopolitan. We had barely started on our drinks when our table was ready. I stayed behind to settle the bar bill ($17) and Cindy went to snag our table.

I’m a table snob, so I was beyond delighted when we got an edge table, right by the stairs that led down to Lake Macatawa, basically a front row seat to the goings-on of the lake.

We got right to the business of ordering, and I decided on the Tournedos Alaska ($28.95) — nine ounces of pan-seared tenderloin, topped with a sauteed seafood medley of shrimp, scallops and lobster meat, all topped with Bernaise sauce. It was served with asparagus — not the typical dinky serving most restaurants serve. This was a pile of asparagus I was able to share with leftovers. It also came with a choice of potato. The whole meal was so plentiful that I took home enough for lunch the next day.

Cindy went with the Mahi Mahi ($17.95), a more petite portion than my gargantuan beef portion, but still enough to fill you up. Served on a bed of green with garlic sauteed ravioli, she said the meat was flakey, delicious and flavorful.

We glanced at the dessert menu, but were just too full to partake. I don’t want to overbuild expectations, because, like I said, all conditions were right for the most perfect dinner ever. But I’ve eaten at Boatwerks and had just drinks, just appetizers, burgers, light meals and full dinners, and have never been disappointed.

The restaurant inside is very nice, arranged so most tables have a view of the water. The theme is a boat building warehouse, but in a polished way. I’ve been to the eatery in every season, and it’s a great experience whether you’re fireside in the winter or lakeside in the summer.

I can pretty much guarantee you are going to enjoy your visit here. Come during summer and sit outside at sunset, and you just MIGHT have the five-star experience I had. I suppose in a way part of that fifth star goes to West Michigan, but on any day of the year, Boatwerks gets a nod as one of my favorites.