You know how it goes: once Memorial Day hits, the population of our seashore region skyrockets — and your best-loved haunts suddenly become much, much busier. That’s good for business — and for you, if you like a lively, hoppin’ joint. If you’re crowd-averse, though, you might want to hit these hot spots in the next week when the chances of mobs are less.

The Dog Watch Cafe, Stonington

You might be thinking it’s already a little late for this suggestion, but The Dog Watch Cafe is a must visit for its quintessential summer atmosphere (even in spring) — a dockside location, wide open windows, outdoor seating, and walls painted sea foam green, adorned with sailing photos. And I didn’t even mention the cuisine (some outstanding seafood). Of course, that’s exactly why you’ll find yourself waiting 45 minutes or so if you wait until this summer.

— Alex Nunes

Captain Scott’s Lobster Dock, New London

It’s New England, summer is peering over your shoulder, and lobsters abound! There are countless seasonal seafood shacks begging for your attention and, before you know it, the lines will be long whichever spot you choose. It’s your loss, though, if you overlook Captain Scott’s. It’s a wonderful location — utterly secluded and perfectly seafarin’ even if it IS in the heart of the urban beast known as New London. The food is excellent — my fave hot lobster roll in our part of the world — and don’t overlook occasional performances by the finest regional Americana bands.

— Rick Koster

Ford’s Lobster, Noank

If you want to sample some of the region’s finest seafood before you have to stand in line for it, get thee to Ford’s. So much more than a lobster shack, Ford’s offers the freshest ingredients, creatively prepared, in what has to be one of the most lovely spots in these parts: perched on the Groton bank of the Mystic River with a bird’s eye view of all the comings and goings that waterway affords. The menu provides what you’d expect, from lobster rolls to chowder, from steamed mussels to clams casino, each done very well. But the specials — the likes of scallops on a bed of spaghetti squash baked with asiago cheese and creamy, cheesy seafood alfredo, nearly busting out of the bowl — are where the magic lies. If you’re looking for local seafood prepared by an expert hand, why wait?

— Jill Blanchette

Harbour House, Stonington

If you wait much longer to try the newest incarnation of the former Flood Tide restaurant at the Inn at Mystic, it’s going to be difficult to get a table. For your first visit, I recommend you focus on the appetizers and the specials, where the chef seems to take particular delight in turning the freshest, seasonal ingredients into memorable meals and preparing local seafood in intriguing ways — how about a scrumptious Stonington scallop flatbread or lobster crepes that will make you weep with joy? The Harbour House Facebook page this week boasted a 5-Spice Burger served with a pineapple, mango and papaya salsa. And it’s not too cold to enjoy it on the new back deck, offering splendid, sweeping views of Long Island Sound and Fishers Island. C’mon!

— Jill Blanchette

Cafe Routier “Mood Lounge,” Westbrook

Right now, the “Mood Lounge” at Cafe Routier is somewhere between popular hot spot and one of the shoreline’s best-kept secrets. If everybody knew how fabulous the lounge area and its menu are, we’d have a much tougher time getting a seat in the cozy space off the bar than we already do. With its dim lighting, indie-music-inspired pop art and hot-date-night couch seating, the lounge cultivates a New York vibe with zero pretentiousness. One look at the cocktail list and small-plate menu of chic-casual items and you’ll be convinced this spot is the real deal.

— Marisa Nadolny

Berry’s Ice Cream and Candy Bar, New London

Yes, if you’re in the Sixth District or headed to Ocean Beach, ritual and logic dictate that you hit Michael’s Dairy — a wonderful ice cream shop, hard to Mitchell College, with its own gazebo and giant red barn. But with the downtown arts district, ferry traffic and burgeoning tourist trade, the also-quite-wonderful Berry’s is going to be a much-in-demand stop on Bank Street as the temps and humidity climb. In addition to high quality ice cream, milkshakes, frozen yogurt, candy and toppings, the e’er courteous and creative staff are always coming up with new and ingenious twists on the whole concept. And, yes, you can get presumably delicious Pup Cup treats for your Hound.

— Rick Koster

Dairy Queen

Along with burgers, lobster rolls and hot dogs, a dessert at Dairy Queen is one of those things that just tastes better in the summer. Maybe you are very wise and choose to have a DQ treat as dinner. In your wisdom, then, you know that as soon as Daylight Savings rolls around, you and everyone else in the region starts dreaming of Blizzards, cherry-dipped cones and Flying Saucers, and before you know it, the lines outside the DQs in Niantic, Old Saybrook or Westbrook are 12 people deep. So do yourself a favor and get your Peanut Buster Parfait fix in now; savor and appreciate that DQ delight while the line is shorter and peopled by regulars who know how to order efficiently. By the time the summer crowds arrive, you’ll at least have experienced some ice-cream bliss, thereby making the wait in line slightly more tolerable.

— Marisa Nadolny

Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream, Mystic

I don’t fall for any of this “ice cream is for summer only” nonsense. I’ll down a sundae on the street in February — in the middle of a blizzard! But most people visiting Mystic Drawbridge Ice Cream are likely to start doing that two to three weeks from now (maybe sooner). There are too many homemade flavors to mention here, but a few suggestions: Chocolate Peanut Butter Reese’s, White Pistachio, Pumpkin Pie and Mystic Turtle.

— Alex Nunes