Docks restaurant trying to attract boaters

Fans of The Docks Restaurant in Lakeside should already know that the restaurant has reopened under new management, since the community has been abuzz with talk about some of the changes that have taken effect.

However, what many may not yet know is that the restaurant has taken some innovative steps to attract boaters from both the East and West Shores of Flathead Lake. For starters, patrons from all over the lake can now call in their orders, hop in their boats and motor over to the Lakeside Marina, where they're able to park in one of the boat slips designated for customers to pick up their order.

But that's just the beginning. For those who are in a hurry or don't want to dine in, a portable credit card setup allows customers to swipe their card right from their boat and have their food brought to them in their boat slip. And, for those accustomed to the VIP treatment afforded to customers of more upscale restaurants, not commonly found in the area, The Docks even provides valet parking-perfect for those who want to treat their date to a special evening of dinner and champaign next to water.

The Docks, which-like the Lakeside Marina-is a subsidiary of the Lakeside Club development (formerly Eagle's Crest), reopened on July 1 with former Corner House Grille executive chef Jason Geer as the new executive chef but no general manager. The administration hired Francois Zanni shortly thereafter to assume the responsibilities of general manager for the restaurant.

Over the past several years, the Zanni's name and face have become familiar to many of the teachers and parents in the Lakeside-Somers school system, as well as those associated with the Kalispell Rotary, locals, visitors and home buyers who visit his Somers real estate office or who meet him on Blacktail Mountain where he assists in marketing efforts and public relations.

However, prior to becoming involved with real estate, Zanni owned and operated a highly successful French restaurant for 21 years, in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Although the business allowed him to make a name for himself in the Thousand Oaks area and establish a long-standing reputation of excellence in the restaurant industry, Zanni sold the restaurant and left California to have more time to spend with his family.

"People have been begging me for three years to open a restaurant in Lakeside," he said. "It would seem that this is my opportunity to do something that I said would never do."

Even so, Zanni said he's enjoying being back in the restaurant business more than he expected and sees a great deal of potential in The Docks to bring some great offerings to the Lakeside community and make those offerings available to all of the communities that border Flathead Lake.

"It's great, actually," he admitted. "It's like going back to he good ol' days. I did it for so many years that it's good to be back. This gets me back to what I'm good at, and it's the first time in my life that I've had my own valet parking service for boats."

In just two weeks time, Zanni and Geer hired an almost entirely new staff and put together a full menu, which they believed would have something to offer for everyone, including a suitable children's menu. But Zanni doesn't just speak highly of the menu. He also has good things to say about his executive chef, who brings the better part of 22 years experience to the table.

Geer started cooking in high school but didn't realize how much a part of his life it would become. He focused on an English major in college but soon discovered that if he worked harder and refocused, he could make a good living as a chef.

Together, the general manager and executive chef team of Zanni and Geer feel confident both in what they've done for the restaurant and in what is to come. Although The Docks currently plans to close for the winter, those plans my change if there is enough interest from patrons to keep the doors open longer.

"In the few weeks we've been open, we've gotten wonderful feedback from customers," Zanni said.

"It's someplace where people from Bigfork and other spots can boat across for the evening, have some wine and some dinner and then be able to get in their boat and go back home. It gives people a reason to use their boats."