Dans Papers - June 1, 2007 - Dockside Bar & Grill

If you are looking for that perfect, relaxed, Hamptons-quality lunch or dinner, go no further than the Dockside Bar and Grill, located in Sag Harbor's American Legion building on Bay Street. Perhaps you are walking from the Long Wharf or some of the village shops and are eager to enjoy an intimate conversation and light fare with some family or close friends - you will find just the spot as you approach Dockside Bar and Grill, taking note of the colorful array of umbrellas, where diners can sit outside and enjoy some of the most unparalleled water views on the East End.

I had the opportunity to dine at the Dockside Bar and Grill and was delighted to stumble upon an establishment with such a widely varied menu that touches upon not only American but also Asian, Mexican and Thai cuisines. Yet as my colleague, Sabrina Mashburn and I and two of our friends sat down to sample some of the food, we knew that no matter what the menu had to offer, the emphasis on fresh, local fish was what really impressed us.

Stacy Sheehan and Elizabeth Barnes own and manage Dockside Bar and Grill - they were so inviting and courteous that we forgot we were out to lunch during the busy Memorial Day weekend and felt more like we were at our friends' house, dining on their backyard patio. Stacey explained to us that all their produce is organic and that they use grass-fed cattle and even plan to start up an affiliation with Quail Hill Farm, one of the original CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms in the U.S., located in Amagansett, on land donated to the Peconic Land Trust by Deborah Ann Light.

The entire restaurant has white and blue decor and their fully-stocked bar area and fine furniture really add to the entire appeal of the Dockside experience.

To start off, we ordered some lobster and avocado spring rolls with sesame ginger dipping sauce, which were soft and a pleasure to eat. Of course, you can't come to Sag Harbor and not have shellfish - we ordered a serving of steamer clams with a buttery dipping sauce. The steamers were sweet, clean and full-bodied. We also ordered the natural pork and ginger dumplings with a cranberry teriyaki glaze that were crisp and delicate, yet the real winner of the appetizer round was certainly the frizzled shrimp with corn and jicama salsa and chipotle aioli. The shrimp were cooked perfectly and wrapped with fried glass noodles and the jicama was crisp and mildly spicy. The entire dish was executed with precision and the presentation, with the shrimp fanned out across the plate, only added to the success of the meal.

For our entrees, we were a little overwhelmed by the amount of choices but Stacey steered us in the right direction and recommended a few dishes that are absolute Dockside staples.

The fresh herb and crumb-crusted cod with lemon beurre blanc, which was served with sauteed spinach and mashed potatoes, was cooked so well that the lemon wedge on the side of the plate seemed unecessary. The lemony flavor and juicy codfish complimented the blanched asparagus marvelously.

We also sampled the sesame tuna wrap with roasted tomatoes, shredded lettuce, avocado and ginger wasabi mayo, wrapped in a flour tortilla. This dish embodied the ideal luncheon treat, being both tasty and reasonably priced.

Also passed around the table was a melody of crab plates that included the pan-fried crab cakes with spicy remoulade and baby basmati rice and the special of the day, which was the soft-shelled crab sandwich served on sourdough with lettuce, tomatoes and tartar sauce. Like the other seafood dishes, the crab was fresh with a hint of mild heat.

The winner of the entree round was without a doubt the Dockside "must eat" dish - the lobster salad. The lobster meat was generous, firm and far from soggy. The celery chunks made the salad mix crunchy and this was tossed over chef selected mesclun greens in lemon basil vinaigrette.

At this point, we were absolutely stuffed with some of the finest seafood from the local waters. Although we didn't have room to try any during this meal, the chicken is free-range and the wings are one of their most famous dishes. The restaurant seats about 70 people. The price range is moderate to expensive but you really can't complain when, after all, your sitting "dockside" in the Hamptons. Enjoy.

Dockside Bar and Grill is located at 26 Bay Street, Sag Harbor. For more information call (631) 725-7100.