Thursday, January 27, 2011

Dockside Sea Grille: a little oomph in North Palm Beach

Dockside Sea Grille
766 Northlake Blvd.
Lake Park, Florida (North Palm Beach)
561-842-2180
Monday-Thursday: 11:30 a.m.- 9 p.m.
Friday-Saturday: 11:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Sunday: 12-9 p.m.

By Jane Feehan

It's easy to miss Dockside Sea Grille driving along Northlake Boulevard. Don’t; it’s a pearl of a place.
Yes, it’s not unlike many casual outdoor dining spots serving seafood but here they put a little extra oomph into their biz.

It shows in the way they plate their food. Whether a lobster roll or hamburger, it comes with lots of color: pineapple, escarole, strawberry and shredded carrot garnish. That extra oomph also glows in the pride the chef took in showing us his special for the day, Grouper Napoleon (fish layered in vegetables) and how he was preparing his popular ratatouille.


Locals gather here for raw bar selections that include Blue Point oysters, steamed PEI mussels, peel and eat shrimp, clams, and rock shrimp. Crab cakes earn an above average rating as do their fresh fish sandwiches. Other choices include soft shell crabs ($22) pan sautéed or served with lemon butter, Snapper Picatta (about $24) Chicken Picatta ($17.95) and N.Y Strip ($23).

Dockside is also a great place to stop for Happy Hour, 4 -7 p.m. daily when there's “2-4-1 appetizers,” Martinis for $4 and, for casual dining, an ample selection of wines.

Owner Liz Turner has my vote and that of locals for her place. Dockside Sea Grille is known as a local spot but tourists would do well to find it. It’s on a small body of water that flows from the Intracoastal but there’s no dockage. No matter, there are plenty of other reasons to dine at this pearl of a place.

Tags: North Palm Beach raw bar, waterside dining in North Palm Beach, seafood restaurants in Palm Beach County.