Moving to Polish Town: Meetinghouse Creek owner plans spring opening at former Doc’s Tavern location

After nearly 26 years in business, the owner of the Meetinghouse Creek Inn is moving to Polish Town.

Tom Drake will be opening a new restaurant in the former Doc’s Tavern location, he told RiverheadLOCAL today.

Drake’s new eatery will have a different name, of course. Drake is currently favoring “Pulaski Street Grill,” though he hasn’t settled on it for certain, he said. He plans a spring 2016 grand opening.

As Drake packed up odds-and-ends at his home of 25 years, contractors were demolishing a portion of the 4,771-square-foot building today. It’s a bittersweet moment, for sure. “I love this spot,” Drake said in an interview a year ago, when he was able to negotiate a one-year extension with the marina.

Owner Alex Galasso was hoping to begin renovations this time last year, and notified Drake he wouldn’t be renewing his lease. When he realized he’d need more time to obtain the necessary permits, he agreed to a one-year extension with Drake.

Galasso said in an interview last year he felt it was time for a change at the restaurant. It’s adjacent to the marina and boasts an outdoor patio and a 70-foot screened-in porch for dining, both overlooking Meetinghouse Creek and the marina’s docks.

“I’d like to see the restaurant better complement the marina,” Galasso said.

Galasso is undertaking major renovations of the building, including raising it about four feet to alleviate flooding issues. A second story addition will be added for storage.

It’s not known whether Galasso has a tenant for the newly remodeled restaurant. Last fall, he acknowledged having been in discussions with Phil Marcario, owner of Phil’s Restaurant in Wading River, whom Galasso described as “a good friend.” At the time, Phil’s website was advertising a new location, “Phil’s Waterfront Bar & Grill” opening in spring/summer 2015. An aerial photo of Lighthouse Marina accompanied the announcement on the website. Marcario declined to discuss it, saying “I’d rather wait till we’re open.” The announcement is no longer on the restaurant’s website. Neither Galasso nor Marcario could be reached for comment today.

Drake is moving from one iconic restaurant location to another. Doc’s Tavern, previously the Rainbow Bar, was a fixture in Polish Town from the early 1950s until it closed a decade ago.