Matt Long is enjoying the chance to serve family and friends as owner of The Green Room at 243 Main St. in Port Dover. Photo by Jacob Robinson
Port Dover restaurateur Matt Long hasn’t committed long-term to his latest venture, but reviews would suggest he’s on the right track.
By Jacob Robinson
July 17, 2026
A longtime business owner in the area, Long and his wife Jodi opened The Green Room in the spring. Located just south of the Lighthouse Festival Theatre on Port Dover’s Main St., the building – once the home of Schofield’s Bistro – mixes elements of a big-city alley bar and a speakeasy.
“Catering is where my bread and butter is and what I do,” Long began. “I wanted to find a spot to work out of to do catering on my own terms with more space. This space came up, and I thought it would be a shame to see it vacant.”
With a fresh space, the two set about designing it their way. Jodi crafted each table by hand to sit amongst comfortable sofas throughout.
“What I was trying to do was a shareables idea where you come in, hang out and share bites with everybody and still have that niche of people wanting a full meal,” Long explained. “I’m not completely happy with the menu yet; I’m looking at it right now and how I want to convert it, but so far so good.”
Currently, the menu includes handcrafted cocktails, crepes, Lake Erie pickerel, and more. Online, the Green Room has garnered numerous rave reviews.
“Happy to have a place like this in Dover,” one said. “The food was delicious, lots of flavour and fresh ingredients. The service was fast, friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was very warm and cozy, perfect for date night.”
“You can tell there’s real creativity and care put into the food here,” said another. “The portions were great, the atmosphere was welcoming, and everyone in our group kept talking about how good their meal was. We were already planning what we wanted to try next before we even left!”
“Fabulous brunch on a rainy Saturday,” another patron wrote. “Plenty on the plate. Well presented. Super tasty and comfortable seating in a cozy, chic environment. Pricing is appropriate and friendly service.”
Long admits that the sofas have made it difficult for some older folks in the community to enjoy their meal, but they’ve also been essential in creating the desired atmosphere.
“We just aren’t willing to change it yet because this is the vibe that we’re going for,” he said, noting the aura the place created on its first night of service in March.
“Everybody in here knew each other, so it wasn’t like people were just sitting down eating; they were all talking and hanging out,” he said. “The whole place was buzzing, and that’s the only reason we do this.”
Having the opportunity to serve family and friends is something that Long relishes but also recognizes its importance.
“It’s cool, but the flip side of the coin is there’s more pressure,” he said. “I go to the same grocery store; I play on the same hockey team, so I’ll be the first person to hear (criticism). It’s amazing, but at the same time, there’s a ton of pressure on it.
Even with the Green Room’s early success, Long knows that serving in a tourist town has peaks and valleys. The winter months can be lean, especially with the theatre not hosting crowds regularly, but given the early returns, there’s still much to be excited about
“I don’t know if Dover needed another restaurant, I really don’t, but we just wanted to go for it and have a place to cater,” Long admitted. “We’re at a point now where we’ve done it for three months, and it’s been really busy, and everyone seems happy with it.”
