About

Dennis McDermott

Visionary restaurateur Dennis McDermott is a natural-born catalyst who thrives on bringing people together for extraordinary experiences -- both at his restaurant and in the community.

A native of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Dennis grew up in Babylon and graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a B.S. in Biology and minor in Medical Ethics. While in college, he worked part-time in a restaurant and was drawn to the energy and immediacy of that business. Restaurants quickly became his passion – a passion that eventually landed Dennis in Aspen, CO, where he spent four seasons as Dining Room Manager at the private, membership-based Caribou Club. Later, as General Manager at Jimmy’s, he helped   launch this still- thriving fixture in Aspen’s dining landscape.

Eventually, family ties brought Dennis back to New York. An Account Executive for Taste Caters, he worked on-site at The New York Academy of Medicine to oversee all food and beverage services of a six-story conference facility. While he liked being connected to two fields he truly enjoyed -- hospitality and medicine -- he discovered that restaurants, with their unique blend of atmosphere, teamwork and willingness to serve, were what really made him tick.

Living just four blocks from Ground Zero, Dennis was forced to relocate to his second home on Long Island’s North Fork after September 11. It was there he started the development of his first restaurant, incorporating elements of service and style from each of his previous endeavors to forge a new concept.

In July 2002, Dennis opened The Frisky Oyster in Greenport. The ‘Frisky’ was an instant hit, becoming the destination restaurant on the North Fork. It was featured in Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List, Gourmet, Food & Wine and New York Times. Frisky even managed to sneak into The New York Post ‘s “Page 6” a few times.

Spotting a gap in the market for honest food in a more casual environment, Dennis opened the Frisky Oyster Bar (FOB) just down the street in 2009. An immediate success, this venture appealed to both existing Frisky clientele as well as to an entirely new customer base.

Simultaneous opportunities to sell both businesses materialized in 2010, and Dennis decided to pursue new challenges with an eye on the future. He looked west to downtown Riverhead, energized by the thought of establishing a beacon in the emerging District Neighborhood. While some may have considered the vacant bank on the corner of East Main Street and Maple Lane to be a property with limitations, Dennis envisioned a restaurant that would embody the building’s 1960s vibe. He preserved many original structural elements including the vault and safe deposit boxes.

When theRIVERHEADPROJECT [tRP] opened in May 2011, it received both critical acclaim and a warm welcome from people looking for inspired cuisine, a chic yet warm atmosphere and exceptional service. Featuring American food with ethnic influences, tRP earned a glowing New York Times review and several accolades including Newsday’s “Number One Fine Dining Restaurant of the Year” as per Peter Gianotti and 2011 Diners’ Choice on OpenTable.com. Other media buzz has included a tRP mention in Vogue and a feature about Dennis in Town and Country Magazine.

Dedicated to playing an active role in Riverhead’s rebirth, Dennis is committed to networking and collaborating with neighboring businesses --– from healthcare to the arts to hospitality. Riverhead Chamber of Commerce named him 2011 Person of the Year to recognize his tremendous contributions. A yogi who has competed in over two dozen triathlons and 15 marathons around the globe, Dennis spearheaded the inaugural Riverhead Rocks Triathlon in July 2012.

TheRIVERHEADPROJECT continues to thrive by focusing on consistency, forging relationships with customers and an unwavering commitment to exceed expectations. Its evolution has sparked several unique experiences like theWINEPROJECT {wine tasting and food pairing) and theBOOKPROJECT {book club and literary social}. The Vault is an imaginative, functional event space that’s ideal for increasing business meetings, classes and celebrations.

Dennis continues to rely on his philosophy that even though trends change and interest may fade, delivering all the details of aesthetics and functionality synchronized with a willing and educated staff builds a foundation for lasting success.