Bringing Affordable Dining to Hampton Bays

Hampton Bays residents have a new restaurant to choose from this summer. Shuckers Lobster and Clam Bar held their grand opening late last month and after a few weeks up and running local residents are already adding it to their restaurant rotation.

"We've been here every week since they've opened," said Lynn Mahanna who lives locally. "It's exciting to see something new, after a while the same restaurants get boring, what’s better than eating lunch under a disco ball."

It has been several years since anyone has tried to open a restaurant at one of Hampton Bays popular nightspots, near the Ponquoge Bridge. Owners, Patrick McCormack and chef Brian Mazzio are coming together with the idea of bringing tasty food and fun to the table. 

Both McCormack and Mazzio were born and raised in Hampton Bays. They have been inseparable since third grade when Mazzio picked a fight with McCormack and he soon realized they were better off as friends. The duo worked together for many years when they were younger; McCormack would bartend and Mazzio was the chef at local restaurants.

Mazzio's family has been involved in the restaurant business for several years and previously owned Fin McCool's in Westhampton. Prior to opening Shuckers, Mazzio was at Aquavit in New York City and most recently the chef at Della Fimina in Hampton Bays. He even had the opportunity to work with celebrity chef, Gordon Ramsey on hit television show, Kitchen Nightmares.

With years of hands-on experience in the restaurant business, they hope to serve customers what is lacking in Hampton Bays.

"We have the fresh fish that other restaurants have but we are serving it at a price that's affordable for the family," said chef Mazzio.

By combining seafood with a Caribbean flavor and an Asian fusion flair, they hope to make dining out realistic because you "shouldn't have to worry about spending $100 on a dinner."

For now, Shuckers is only open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. until sunset however they are discussing the possibility of other days for and say weather plays a big part of it. 

There is live music on the outdoor deck both days they are open and every Saturday, Acoustic Vibe will be performing original reggae. McCormack and Mazzio say they are still in the process of finalizing plans for special events and holidays.

"I have three kids and we are expecting a fourth," explained McCormack. "We are family oriented people, we hope to offer a place for customers to come, have a great meal, hang out, be outside and listen to the live music."

The dishes are what make them so unique in the area. Their lobster special is hard to beat. For $15.95 customers can feast 1 1/4-pound of fresh lobster with muscles, clams and corn and just for $6 more you can get Shuckers “soon to be famous” seafood stuffing. At the seafood boat, customers can buy a ticket and cash it in for clams shucked right in front of you.

There is also a Beer Bar that features more than a dozen brand beer varities and they offer a “bucket special” of Corinitas which are mini Corona bottles served in an ice bucket to keep cool.

"This is a place where people can come off the beach, sit down sandy in their bathing suits and flip flops and have a good meal,” said Mazzio.