Hamptons Guide: Dockside Bar & Grill
ADDRESS | 26 Bay St, Sag Harbor, NY 11963
Wherever you are, one of the great perks of having friends and family visit is being able to take advantage of the best spots for food and entertainment. When my sister and niece stopped by the Hamptons for a visit, we first enjoyed the beautiful June weather cooling off with a splash in the pool, and then were excited to head to a Sag Harbor Village favorite for dinner, Dockside Bar & Grill. Once summer hits, you can expect a crowd wherever you head in the Hamptons. Dockside Bar & Grill is first come, first serve. We arrived pretty close to opening at 5:30 p.m. but there was already about an hour wait for our party of six.
If you have a bit of a wait until your table is ready, no worries! Either head inside and enjoy a drink at the bar, or order drinks and enjoy at the tables and chairs in the open air public space next door. A long chat taking in the stunning views from the Harbor was the perfect beginning to a summer evening out.
Dockside bar has a nice array of cocktails, wines, and of course soft drinks. We tried the Cucumber & Habanero Margarita (heradura blanco tequila, fresh lime juice, habaneros, cucumber purèe, with a splash of fresh oj & agave) and the Paper Plane (a modern cocktail known for its perfectly balanced flavors, elijah craig bourbon, aperol, fresh lemon juice & amaro, on the rocks or up) and they were both nicely executed.
The Dockside Bar & Grill offers both indoor and outdoor seating. If you’re visiting on a nice warm day I definitely recommend dining al fresco. You’ll catch a gorgeous pink sunset, enjoy the views from the dock, and a nice cool breeze.
The first starter almost everyone at the table immediately agreed to share was the
Fried Calamari (preservative-free & domestic, dusted with seasoned flour & cornmeal, served with spicy marinara & lemon basil aioli)
This was good texture and with the lemon zest and dipping sauces a fresh and indulgent dish.
My sister, wife and I were all down to order the special starter, Steamer clams. Again, these were nicely prepared in a butter sauce and steamed just the right amount of time to keep the texture of the clams soft rather than rubber. This was one of my favorite dishes of the evening.
Our 13 year old boys of our dining party just as quickly agreed that they had to have the Spicy Sesame Chicken Wings (nine crisp wings smothered in Tommy’s special sauce). I had a wing and again, it was nicely done, good flavors and crispy texture.
A couple of us decided we had to try the Subtly Blackened Salmon with Chipotle-Lime Butter & Guacamole (norwegian salmon, served with red & green salsas, lemony rice & grilled corn-on-the-cob). The seasoning on the salmon was really tasty and the entire dish had the ‘taste of summer’ with the grilled char accenting the flavors.
In general, I’m a fan of scallops so I was happy to snag a bite of my sister’s order of Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Mediterranean Salsa Cruda (five day boat scallops, served with lemon rice & a chopped tomato-fennel-olive "salad"). The scallops tasted nice and fresh and the side salad was an great accompaniment.
Oaxacan Spice Grilled Flat Iron Steak with Avocado Tomatillo Sauce
8 oz “prime” angus beef, served with cherry tomato, arugula & frisée salad in chipotle vinaigrette & fries
Pulled Pork Chile Rellenos with Salsa & Chipotle Cream
slow cooked pasture-raised heritage pork with aged cheddar & black beans, served with plantains
A classic favorite, my wife and I split these Fresh Fish Tacos & Green Salad (grilled cod, shredded cabbage, guacamole, pico de gallo & chipotle cream in flour tortillas, served with red & green salsas).
We decided to pass on dessert because, we decided to walk off some of our meal along a really pleasant path from Dockside Bar & Grill to another Sag Harbor favorite, Big Olaf for ice cream. The waffle cones at Big Olaf Ice Cream are warm and delicious. My wife and I shared the pralines and butterscotch and one scoop was generously portioned to last our walk around the dock taking in the evening sky.
