Dudley‘s Deck

May 31, 2009

Al Fresco Elegance on Dudley’s Deck

By Kristi Kates 6/1/09

1970 was the year in which Stafford Smith, founder of Stafford’s Hospitality (a chain of hotels/restaurants in the Petoskey/Harbor Springs/Boyne area), bought a small building in downtown Harbor Springs, converting the boathouse into an upscale dining room.
Given its location, “The Pier” was the obvious name for the rambling new fine dining venue, with its indoor dining room dubbed The Pointer Room (after the three “Pointer Boat” water taxis that ran between Harbor Springs and Harbor Point). The Wheelhouse Lounge and the more casual booth-bedecked Chart Room would soon follow, expanding The Pier to three separate dining areas.
In 1992, an outdoor dining area of The Pier was named “Dudley’s Deck,” after Dudley Marvin, president of Stafford’s Hospitality since 1985 - and it’s been a top-notch summer dining destination in Harbor Springs ever since.

FOOD WITH A VIEW
Dudley’s Deck kicks off the summer by opening on Memorial Weekend each year with lunch and cocktail service, and typically begins dinner service the second week of June. General manager Jody Ewbank says there’s something for everyone, at a range of reasonable price points, on the Dudley’s Deck summer menu.
“The luncheon menu, served from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, offers salads, soups, sandwiches, entrees and full cocktail service,” Ewbank says, “the average price for lunch is $8. Dinner service begins at 3:30 pm, and is open until 10 pm; our dinner service boasts a menu of whitefish, lake perch, all-natural beef steaks, top grade Ahi tuna, soups, salads, appetizers and desserts. The average entree price at dinner is $19, with sandwich selections as well.”
Along with all of these impressive food choices, you’ll also get the view from Dudley’s Deck - a bargain at any price, but an especially nice bonus with your meal. The Deck boasts a view of the Harbor Springs bay, the local marinas, and Harbor Point, and has been dubbed one of the top spots to watch the Harbor Springs 4th of July fireworks, with the Petoskey fireworks often viewable, as well. You’ll be comfortably seated just a couple of feet from the water, complete with an overhead awning protecting you from the sun, and ducks and geese attempting to get your attention waterside; and another fun view is of the chefs cooking your meal right in front of your eyes.
“All evening food offerings are cooked in the kitchen that’s right on Dudley’s Deck,” Ewbank explains.

SUMMER CHOICES
Ewbank says she’s confident in both the 2009 summer season and in all of The Pier’s new menu choices, in spite of the current economy.
“Without lowering any standards or limiting menu items, we are confident that the structure of our menus and array of offerings will have something for everyone,” she says.
“We are offering an Early Classics menu, available beginning at 3:30 pm in the Wheelhouse Lounge and the Chart Room, for $12.95 including the salad bar. And our Executive Chef Laura Vaughan has added some wonderful new items to the menu, including phyllo wrapped pear and brie bites, a Canadian Walleye sandwich with lemon aioli, and the Land and Lakes duo of all-natural sirloin of beef, paired with Lake Superior Whitefish.”
You don’t even have to dress up for dinner on Dudley’s Deck, which is casual in nature, although the slightly dressier “resort casual” is preferred for the indoor dining rooms; but Dudley’s Deck itself got a fashionable makeover for summer 2009, and the restaurant has also opened a second outdoor dining option, the Pointer Patio, which brings the elegance of the Pointer Room outdoors
“We’re elated to have completed a remodeling project on Dudley’s Deck,” Ewbank enthuses, “we acquired new outdoor furniture - chairs and tables - new canvas awnings, directional signs, and landscaping. We’re really looking forward to the summer season.”

Dudley’s Deck is located behind The
Pier restaurant, waterside, at 102 East Bay Street in downtown Harbor Springs, telephone 231-526-6201, or visit them online at
www.staffords.com/pier.