Open for the Season: Dockers Waterside

Larry Hoffman, owner of in East Quogue says when his restaurant opens for it's 23rd season, customers will find some new delights on the menu. 

"I'll be doing some flavors from our travels," said Hoffman, who is kicking-off the season by hosting a Family and Friends night, starting at 4 p.m. with a prix fixe, three-course dinner for $24.95 along with $5 appetizers and drinks during happy hour.

The prix fixe will be available all week as restaurant week kicks-off.

"We are so excited to be back," said Hoffman, who says he can't wait for customers to enjoy the restaurant's waterside views while delighting in new dishes and expanded wine list.

"We hope people will forget the economy and come and enjoy a cocktail and sunset," he said.

In the off-season, Hoffman said he traveled south where he tried some great dishes that he brought home to reinvent.

The first new dish he spoke about features goat cheese. The new dish, called Goat Cheese & Poached Black Mission Figs, he said, mixes figs with goat cheese fresh from the North Fork.

"We always use local ingredients and vendors," said Hoffman.  "It's important to keep the local economy going."

The second dish that he said he found while in Savanna is fried Oysters.

Hoffman said he is the first to say that he is not exactly a fan of oysters, but he said when he tried them fried, he fell in love.

"When I tried them, oh my God...It it a testament that anything fried is delicious," he said.

And talking about Southern foods, Hoffman said, you can't forget about grits. But rather than just plain grits, Dockers has blended them with shrimp, cheese and ham — A combination that he never would have thought would work, except when he tried it while in South Carolina.

"It is a stunning flavor," said Hoffman.

And no Southern meal would be complete, said Hoffman without a piece of key lime pie, topped with whipped cream.

Other new dishes include, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Peach BBQ Atlantic Salmon and Crab Crusted Grouper.

This season, Dockers, which Hoffman touts as a 'green' restaurant with it's own oyster seeding program and recycling initiatives, will once again host area bands. Among them Paul Mahos and New Life Crisis will play on Tuesdays and special Friday night appearances by Mean Machine and Steve Strecker.

"We go a little over the top when it comes to music," said Hoffman. "We have an all around good time."