STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.—Cole’s Dockside is gearing up to razzle-dazzle diners this winter with more than just seafood and its signature pork chop. Located at 369 Cleveland Ave. in the Great Kills Marina, the Staten Island restaurant boasts a one-of-a-kind attraction: “Magic Mike” Lane a real-life manager who performs illusions and tricks tableside and from behind the bar.
Seafood at Cole’s includes Prince Edward Island mussels, clams from New York and Connecticut waters and wild salmon. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Mike has been with the restaurant since 2004, back when it was operated by founder Larry Cole. A retired court officer, Mike has turned his lifelong passion for magic into a second career—one that keeps customers coming back during the typically quiet winter months.
“When I was 11 years old, I loved magic,” Mike explained. “I found that a neighbor was a professional magician. I knocked on his door, even though I was very shy, but I got my courage up for magic.”
Oysters from Connecticut are served on the half shell. They can be enjoyed at the bar or at a table. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
That early spark led to a decades-long journey in illusion. Mike was one of the first members of the Tottenville High School Magic Club, founded by teacher Warren Schuler, and he performed in auditoriums and public schools across Staten Island. He’s also an author — his children’s paperback, Magic Mike’s Miraculous Magic Tricks, has sold nearly a million copies. The book teaches real magic tricks using coins, cards, and paper, with clear, illustrated steps that make learning fun and accessible.
Mahi mahi is served with the vegetable of the day and a potato croquette. It comes with a tropical salsa. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
His first book was published in England in 2011, which eventually led to a four-book deal from 2014 to 2015 for The Magic Shop series with Macmillan Publishers. At the time, he worked with the enormously talented Kate Egan, best known for her editorial work on The Hunger Games.
“She was so talented and so nice,” Mike recalled. “I created The Magic Shop series, but she turned it into magic — if you will.”
“It was an amazing time for me,” Mike recalls. “The publisher flew me around the country to promote the book. It won a lot of accolades and several awards.”
The back room is reserved for parties and Magic Mike shows. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)Anchored by the restaurant
From January through March, Mike leads dinner theater shows that have become a local tradition.
“It’s a four-course dinner. Then we take our second dining room, turn it into my theater, and I do an adult magic show,” he said. “When I say adult, I mean sophisticated magic. Pretty mind-blowing stuff.”
Linguini with white clam sauce is prepared with Littlenecks from Long Island. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
Mike creates his own illusions and keeps the suspense alive — he doesn’t release all his dates at once. January’s lineup includes a one-man show on Friday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m.; Sunday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.; Friday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.
The show is $80 plus tax and tip. Reservations are a must.
Mike said, “More dates will be added soon, so stay tuned — the magic’s just getting started.”
Magic Mike Lane and Kam Singh are the tenders of Cole’s Dockside. The seaside spot was established in 2004. The pair get ready for winter at the Great Kills marina.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)Fresh fish and new magic
Kam Singh took over Cole’s Dockside in December 2022. He was drawn to its marina setting and longtime local charm. While keeping the name, they’ve added culinary upgrades—including Cajun-style shellfish platters and king crab—while maintaining familiar faces like Magic Mike.
Despite warnings of a slow season, winter business has been strong, with parties booked and regulars returning.
Menu highlights include a juicy 16-ounce premium pork chop topped with house-made Merlot sauce; blackened mahi-mahi paired with tropical salsa; crispy fried oysters; and fresh Prince Edward Island mussels served “zuppa-style” in your choice of red or white house-made sauce.
Upcoming winter performances include “The Dreamers,” a lively three-part harmony group appearing on Nov. 13, and monthly sets by the smooth sax-and-song duo “Marty and Marcus.”
Magic Mike Lane and Kam Singh are the tenders of Cole’s Dockside. The seaside spot was established in 2004. The pair get ready for winter at the Great Kills marina.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)A little nostalgia
Cole’s Dockside takes its name from its original founder, Larry Cole, whose connection to the Great Kills Marina dates back to the late 1970s. He got his start at Harbor House, a former waterfront establishment owned by the Stripe family. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Larry joined Windows on the World in the early ’80s, training across multiple kitchen stations.
Magic Mike Lane and Kam Singh are the tenders of Cole’s Dockside. The seaside spot was established in 2004. The pair get ready for winter at the Great Kills marina.(Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
He returned to Staten Island in 1982, cooking at Cappelli’s (now Canlon’s) and later at Toto’s on New Dorp Lane. In 1986, he opened Sweet Basil in Annadale, a trend-setting spot known for wild game and nouvelle cuisine.
Flashback to 2004: Cole’s Dockside honors founder Larry Cole, whose culinary journey began at Great Kills Marina in the late ’70s and led him from Harbor House to Windows on the World after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America.STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
After Sweet Basil closed in the ’90s, Larry discovered 369 Cleveland Ave.—then a biker bar run by Marge Jenaski—and envisioned a nautical-themed seafood restaurant. He and a friend built Cole’s Dockside, which opened in 2004.
The Advance/SILive.com has chronicled the rise and retirement of Larry Cole, plus the evolution of his legacy on Staten Island at the Great Kills Marina. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Si
Through Hurricane Sandy, economic downturns, and COVID-19, Larry kept the business afloat until retiring three years ago. He handed the reins to Kam Singh, who aimed to preserve the name and spirit of the restaurant while adding his own culinary flair.
Magic Mike is booking reservations for January. (Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri)
While Mike dazzles diners like a magician with a whisk, the restaurant remains steady Eddie—dependable, unfussy and quietly crushing it like waves that never miss the shoreline.
And for birthday celebrations? Magic Mike might just serenade you with a musical performance on water glasses—another of his many talents that make Cole’s Dockside a truly unique Staten Island dining experience.
“There’s no one else doing magic,” Mike said. “That makes us truly special. You have to have a passion for magic and a passion for the restaurant business.”
The restaurant can be reached at 718-948-5588 or via its website at coledockside.com. It operates Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Happy hour runs weekdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
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Dining and Cooking