Rock City Dogs Bringing '70s Rock Vibes, Craft Dogs To Bay Shore

BAY SHORE, NY — Rock and roll, beer and hot dogs: name a more iconic trio. Rock City Dogs is bringing that combination to Bay Shore this winter. The restaurant will feature a menu of ten craft hot dogs, local beer, and '70s rock-inspired menu names and styling in the recently-renovated 3 East Main St. building.

Owner Stevie Reno was a performing musician in rock bands in the 1970s and now lives in Babylon with his wife, Vina Vollmer. Vollmer is a co-owner of Rock City Dogs, along with Steven Bennett and Tom McGiveron. The restaurant was supposed to open this summer but the opening was delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Reno tells Patch that they are on track for a January 2021 opening.

This will be the first restaurant for the former musician and his partners, and Reno says they are excited about the location—"it's the best spot on the South Shore,"he says—and the rock and roll themed local craft food they are planning.

Chef Jonathan Contest from eatMosaic in St. James helped Rock City Dogs develop the ten craft hot dog variations on the menu. The centerpiece of the hot dog menu will be the "Rock City Dog" but the details of that dish will remain a surprise for customers. Reno says they will source 16 local Long Island draft beers and are planning a walk-up takeout window that Reno believes that will be unique on Long Island.

"We are calling it the 'Dog Dash,'" Reno jokes, also mentioning Rock City Dogs might have an anti-taco Tuesday "Three Dog Night."

Rock City Dogs is also planning a kids' happy hour special called "Kids Rock Happy Hour." The soundtrack will be tightly controlled, Reno says: no grunge, no rap, just 1970s rock, all the time.

The restaurant will be open for lunch, dinner and brunch.