Bites Nearby: Summer Seafood

Seafood lovers that used to cart their snapper or trout home from Bayport’s during the summer months can now skip the extra hassle.

Guests can now eat their summer seafood in the establishment’s new eat-in dining area, which serves up soup, salad, appetizers, entrees and desserts nightly but also offers a menu peppered with new creations.

The restaurant opened in October, and the nicer weather is drawing in the crowds. 

“We’re getting a lot of repeat customers which is definitely a good sign,” owner Seth Needelman said.  “We’re getting customers who have heard about us and didn’t know we’re a fish market also.  Of course our regular customers are coming back here to eat as well.”

Needelman suggests making reservations for Friday and Saturday night and hopes to attract a variety of customers, including couples dressed up for dinner or families coming back from the beach. 

One a recent late afternoon, two patrons chomped down on plates of seafood.  “We’ve been watching the construction and my daughter brought food home (from here),” said Kathleen Peters of Sayville munching on a lobster roll. 

Across the table from her, Philip ate fried flounder. “The flounder and fries were the best,” he said after the meal. “She’s got dinner for tonight and I have fries for later,” he said pointing to Kathleen’s take-home container.  The pair have been ordering fish from the front store for about 10 years now and said they would come back to the restaurant. 

The Fish Store has been selling to customers since 1978 and offered a take-out menu before the restaurant addition. 

“Instead of putting it on some crummy Styrofoam plates we’re going to make it presentable,” Needelman said.

Fish served at the restaurant are from local waters whenever possible, bringing in swordfish, tuna and Mako, oysters, clams and steamers from around Long Island.    

According to Needelman, the front and back have become symbiotic.  “Both areas have helped each other, I’ve been busier and busier. Lent was nice and busy and now we’re getting more and more customers.” 

But this may not be the only renovation for The Fish Store. The owner hopes to spruce up the front shop, extending the fish case to include more product and carrying grilling pans for purchase. 

The establishment is open six day a week for lunch and dinner and is closed Mondays.