Ocean City’s Dockside Kitchen Offers Gourmet Fare With Bayside Views

By Maddy Vitale How about mouthwatering lump crab meat with an avocado spread on toast with a hint of basil, mint and olive oil or a classic eggs benedict with hollandaise sauce and thick chunks of home fries? Maybe you are in the mood for something on the sweeter side? Try an order of giant blueberry pancakes sprinkled with powdered sugar hearty enough to satisfy the biggest morning appetite. These are just a some of the entrees offered at Dockside Kitchen, 228 Bay Ave. in Ocean City. The eatery, overlooking the bay, offers patrons spectacular views while giving their palates plenty to savor with gourmet breakfasts and lunches. The restaurant opened last month and is quickly gaining a following of regular customers. Dockside Kitchen has only been open a month, but is already gaining a following. If you ask Executive Chef Alex Morris, it is easy to know why this gem on the bay is capturing the attention of residents and tourists. “It is gourmet, classic cuisine, but with a modern twist. There are choices for everyone at any age and all different styles of food,” Morris said, explaining what he offers patrons. Customers are treated to a wide selection of delicious breakfast and brunch entrees. There are a few dishes on the menu Morris can’t seem to make fast enough, he noted Thursday morning in between fulfilling orders at the bustling new restaurant. “People love the benedicts, French toast and the avocado toast,” Morris said as he displayed some of Dockside’s signature dishes. When choosing what to offer the customers, Morris said he is constantly looking at what is trending around the country. French toast that looks too pretty to eat is a favorite dish for customers. “There are the classics as old as time, like eggs benedict. Then you see what other establishments are offering in the area,” he noted. “Then you look to places like San Diego and San Francisco. They are usually serving dishes that haven’t reached here yet.” Ocean City residents Barbara Karbach and her friend Joanne Staniec enjoyed the view and their breakfasts. “It is wonderful,” said Karbach of her avocado toast. Staniec opted for a dish with avocado as well, but she ordered the avocado BLT, complete with thick cut bacon, romaine lettuce, tomato and home fries. “I love it,” Staniec said with a smile. Ocean City residents Barbara Karbach and Joanne Staniec enjoy their avocado entrees. Ocean City residents Amie and Michael Vaules brought their children Isabella, 13, and Henry, 10, to try out Dockside Kitchen because they heard it was really good. They each ordered something different. Amie ordered the veggie omelet. Michael chose the breakfast burrito. Isabella had the spinach and tomato omelet and Henry selected the blueberry pancakes with a generous side of scrambled eggs. “The food is delicious,” Amie said. “It is really good,” Isabella added. Michael said he and his family definitely plan to come back to Dockside Kitchen. “It has a great vibe and the food is really good,” he said. The Vaules family of Ocean City say they love Dockside Kitchen. Some gourmet selections to try, include the smoked salmon with sour cream, a bagel, home fries or French fries and the lobster benedict with bacon, butter, braised tomato, a poached egg, hollandaise and home fries. There is also a shrimp and crab omelet for a real bayside dining experience. The lunch menu also offers a multitude of tasty fare from fish tacos to crab cake sandwiches and Greek salad. In addition to the food, is a wide range of beverages and a full service espresso bar. While Dockside Kitchen is open for breakfast and lunch, owner Robert Idell plans on offering dinner by the end of this month. The restaurant also will stay open through November. The menu at Dockside Kitchen offers something for everyone. The reason for opening the restaurant was to offer a special experience for customers. Idell has captured that, according to patrons who said the prices are reasonable, the portions are large, and the views are fantastic. "The opportunity was presented to us from TJ Heist of Ocean City Boathouse Marina. We instantly realized that this was the perfect opportunity to bring a true dining experience to such a unique location,” Idell said. “We really wanted to create a true dining experience for our guests, not just a place to get food. We took into account all the details. We wanted to create a great dining experience from the food, the view and all of the small details.” Morris, who was the executive chef at several high-end eateries, said he left his last position to work alongside Idell because of his vision. Customers enjoy eating gourmet breakfasts and lunches while looking out at the bay. Idell, who also owns other successful Ocean City businesses, Drip N Scoop, 960 Asbury Ave. and Sunrise Café, 1200 Asbury Ave., knows how to offer customers what they want, Morris said. “He has a vision and knows how to implement it,” Morris said. “He is a young guy. He works hard, and he knows his business.” To view Dockside Kitchen’s menu go to http://docksidekitchen.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/dockside_kitchen_ocnj_2018_final.compressed.pdf. Dockside Kitchen is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. For more information visit www.docksidekitchen.com or call (609) 399-5588.