After 6 years in the sand, new Whalehouse Point set to open at Watch Hill

For six years, dining at Watch Hill meant sand between your toes and a food truck in the dunes.

This Memorial Day weekend, that era ends.

Doug and Lee Biviano — the husband-and-wife team behind LoveFINS, the official concessionaire for Watch Hill and Sailors Haven — are opening Whalehouse Point Restaurant & Bar, the permanent landmark they’ve spent nearly a decade working toward.

From the ashes of 2019

The original Whalehouse Point was a total loss following a devastating fire in September 2019.

Since then, the Bivianos have operated with a “rain or shine” resilience, serving visitors from a food truck and a beach bar tent.

It has been a long haul, Doug Biviano noted in a recent interview, reflecting on the seven-year journey since the fire to get a permanent structure back on the map.

Construction began in October. Currently, crews are putting the finishing touches on what looks to be a crown jewel for Fire Island.

The Biviano’s said the goal is to have the restaurant up and running for Friday, May 22, of Memorial Day weekend, with the transition involving moving equipment from the food truck into the new kitchen days before launch.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Doug Biviano said. “Our goal is to open the restaurant for Memorial Day weekend — and it’s going to be fantastic.”

Doug Biviano described the sunsets from the elevated deck as spectacular. The facility is built to feel open and will include:

• An expansive deck with significant outdoor seating area for a live music program.
• An island bar that serves both indoor and outdoor patrons simultaneously.
• Indoor seating to accommodate guests regardless of the weather.
• Proximity to both the marina and a playground area that provides accessibility for families.

The Bivanos stressed that elevated deck is massive enough to accommodate a crowd, providing spectacular views of the sunset over the bay.

To make the trek from the mainland more enticing, Food and Beverage Manager Bill Cruz is working on a deal where the restaurant will purchase a one-way ferry ticket for guests who come over specifically for dinner.

Additionally, with over 150 slips available at the marina, Whalehouse Point aims to be the premier “dock-and-dine” destination on Long Island. Even on sold-out weekends, dock space often opens up by dinner time as day-trippers drift on back to the mainland.

They both noted how they have received significant support from National Park Service Superintendent Alexi Romero to bring the project to fruition.

For the Bivianos, the relaunch of the restaurant is about restoring a treasure for the community.

“Patchogue is really the gateway to the National Seashore,” Doug Biviano said. “It’s going to be a real gift to [the public]. Great for everybody.”

For those catching the ferry, the National Seashore terminal in Patchogue offers a rare perk: free parking for all visitors. Doug Bivano noted that the lot is not restricted to local residents.

“It’s free parking for everybody,” he said.

Demolition of Whalehouse Point eatery in Watch Hill complete; owners look to the future