New outdoor eatery Dockside Social opens in Little Current

LITTLE CURRENT—The first thing that strikes you as you take a seat on the patio of Dockside Social, the new outdoor restaurant in Little Current that had its soft opening this weekend, is the view. Located on the docks in the heavily remodeled former Edgewater, the patios, one at ground level and the other perched above overlook the North Channel and waterfront docks, with glass panel walls providing an unobstructed view of both and the iconic Manitoulin swing bridge.

The downstairs patio was the only portion of the new restaurant that was open when The Expositor stopped in to check out the menu as the custom-built furniture for the upstairs portion was still being manufactured—the faint scent of newly waterproofed wood added a touch of “new car” to the proceedings, but was by no means overbearing or unpleasant.

All of the seating remains outside, albeit much of the lower portion covered by an awning extending out from the building or sheltered under foldable umbrellas. Little Current now has an impressive number of eateries for its size, a factor that will almost inevitably prove to be a strong draw for boaters and other travellers coming to the North Channel.

The second aspect of the visit that struck home was the vibe. Of course, with developers Jordan Stephens and Braden Macaluso’s friends and family dropping by to offer congratulations, that was bound to be positive, but there is no question the ambiance and “vibe” will be impressive given the location and upscale menu offerings.

Which brings us to the important part, the food. A fully-licenced establishment, the new 128-seat eatery features a two-section menu—with the first being artisan pizzas and the second artisan sandwiches. The Expositor ordered one item from each side and the unanimous verdict was…yum! Not only was the food fresh, delicious, and different from other offerings in town, it was also pretty.

Although Dockside Social is aimed at being unabashedly “upscale” in its menu offerings, the pricing was also very attractive, with items generally set at the $15 range—well placed in this writer’s dining budget. Full disclosure, none of the food or drink consumed in this investigation was comped—but all was well worth the price.

That the food appealing, not only in taste but presentation, was not surprising, as Art Donskov, late of the sushi restaurant Bear, also in downtown Little Current, has proven himself to be a consummate and attentive chef ever since he and his family settled in town. Complementing the food was server Ruslan Nasirov, also late of Bear, whose unflappable good humour is the first point of contact for customers.

In the corner could be found Cole Hughson, whose guitar stylings helped add to the dining experience enhancing the Florida Keys—Jimmy Buffetish vibe. Get on your flipflops and watch out for pop tops, this place is going to be one hopping establishment come the full summer season.

“We didn’t want to have a full-on official grand opening,” explained Mr. Macaluso, noting that a carefully managed soft opening would help identify and spot any issues before the full onslaught of the summer season hits.

That soft opening was a bit of a trial by fire for chef and staff, nonetheless, as the lineup of eager customers soon stretched out the door and down the sidewalk. Luckily, the experienced staff were well up to the challenge. Mr. Macaluso noted that the restaurant was still actively searching for staff to fill out its complement for the summer.

Dockside Social is just part of the renovations to the old Edgewater conducted by the real estate duo, with a BnB apartment just off the docks and a small office for Mr. Stephens located in the building as well.

With all of the challenges facing tourism in these uncertain times, Dockside Social will prove to be an important asset for the Island.