Old Dock Inn Opens Again

With spring coming into bloom, one Kings Park staple has opened for its 29th season.

The Old Dock Inn opened on April 1, offering locals comfort food from its 130-seat location overlooking the Smithtown Bay.

George and Janet Koutrakos opened The  in 1982. When George approached his wife with the idea of opening a restaurant, she said she knew running a business could be nerve-wracking, but she was open to the idea.

“I was kind of excited about it,” Janet said.

Owning a restaurant by the water was a dream of George’s. Janet said her husband arrived here in 1957 from Greece and learned the restaurant business and his way around the kitchen from hands-on experience. The owner and chef worked for a few restaurants before owning his own place, including the former Elk’s Hotel in Port Jefferson and Commack’s .

Twenty-nine years after his dream became a reality; George and Janet are still running the Old Dock Inn serving steak and seafood favorites to their customers. The couple’s son and daughter-in-law, Nick and Sia, also help to run the business. George is still the main chef, and Nick also contributes in the kitchen.

Janet said her son was still in high school when they bought the Old Dock Inn. Like his father, Nick learned the nuances of owning a restaurant through experience.

While Janet admits to some crazy days over the years, overall she said, “It kind of runs itself.”

This year, as always, patrons will find a menu filled with steak and seafood dishes. The owner said the restaurant is known for its shrimp scampi, and her husband also makes a great Greek salad. For lunch, burgers and club sandwiches are served.

As for food specials, Janet said it depends on the market. With rising prices, the owners watch for the best buys to keep costs down for themselves and their customers. A couple of years ago, the Koutrakos even decided to close for the winter to save on fueling costs.

The location is also perfect for boaters who call in their take-out orders. Janet said customers can dock their boats at Kings Park Pier and quickly pick up their food. As for the beautiful view the water offers, the owner says she still enjoys it after all these years no matter what the weather is like.

The Koutrakos, who have also called Kings Park home for the last 15 years, have watched some of their customers grow up. Janet said she sees many patrons who were children during the early years of the restaurant.

“We’ve made a lot of friends,” she said.

Open Tuesday through Sunday for lunch and dinner, the Old Dock Inn is located at 798 Old Dock Road.