Skip to content

Seaside Stories

Chowder for Dooger’s Next Generation: Carnegie Wiese

December 16, 2022 | by Kerry Newberry

SEASIDE SPOTLIGHT: Our latest profile in a series focused on the behind-the-scenes movers who make Seaside the unique destination it is today. Next. Previously.

 

Doug Wiese and his son Carnegie know a great bowl of clam chowder. It’s the signature dish at their family-run restaurant, Dooger’s Seafood & Grill, a classic spot in Seaside. Light and creamy, delicately briny, and seasoned with a secret blend of family spices, the chowder is always packed with fresh clams.

The casual coastal hub first opened in 1983 — a partnership between Doug and his mother, Mary Wiese — and was like home to the new co-owner, Carnegie Wiese. “I pretty much grew up in the kitchen,” he says. As a teen, he worked his way through all the facets of the business from busing tables to cooking on the line — a few times right alongside his father. 

Outside the restaurant, he still pursues the same outdoor adventures he did as a teen growing up in Seaside, catching waves on his surfboard and golfing with his father at the Astoria Golf and Country Club. A strong connection to this small and devoted community is ultimately what brought Carnegie back after studying at the University of Oregon and a stint in New Zealand. 

“I was at a crossroads and debating between graduate school or returning to Seaside to take over something that I really care about,” he says. He chose to follow in his father’s footsteps and is now a third-generation restaurateur, spearheading Dooger’s highly anticipated expansion. 

 

Family Recipes for Comfort Fare

The seafood-driven menu at Dooger’s remains focused on tried-and-true comfort fare that’s been passed down through three generations, like steamed whole Dungeness crab or platters of lightly fried oysters, scallops, calamari and prawns. Crab cakes topped with hollandaise sauce and a fresh crab leg are another favorite. “We cook the same recipes that my grandma and dad created 40 years ago,” says Carnegie. “It’s a place of nostalgia for so many people.” 

If you’re searching for locally foraged razor clams, you’ve come to the right place. “We also make some of the best pan-fried razor clams you’ll have anywhere,” says Carnegie. One of his grandmother’s favorite local foods to eat, the large surf clams are commonly found at low tide and are considered an Oregon Coast delicacy. “There’s something about being able to dig your own food right where you live,” Carnegie says. “And she really perfected the dish.”
 


 

Local Service, Local Seafood

The service ethic and sense of community run deep at Dooger’s. The family takes pride in what Carnegie calls “good, kind service.” In fact, more than half of the cooks have been with the restaurant for over 20 years, and many of the servers have worked at Dooger’s for over 30 years. They’re all considered family to Carnegie. The Wieses also rely on local sources for their seafood, partnering with Northwest Wild Foods, Bell Buoy and Ocean Beauty, just to name a few. 

 

Growth and Expansion for Dooger’s

One of the unexpected outputs from the pandemic was the restaurant’s impromptu growth. When indoor dining closed and the state permitted restaurants to serve in outdoor areas, Carnegie immediately turned the parking lot into an open-air dining space. “We added nine picnic tables along with a fire pit,” he says.

It was then he realized coastal diners will eat outside in any weather. The tables were always bustling — through rain, sleet and snow. He also discovered that visitors will flock wherever they can bring their dogs. “There were times we had almost 18 dogs on the patio, two per table,” he says. 

The alfresco dining center proved a win through the seasons and over the past two years, so the Wieses wanted to create a permanent outdoor space. The vision is an extension of the restaurant that will take on more of a bar vibe, serving appetizers and daily specials like halibut ceviche and poke bowls.

In the works is a two-story addition to the restaurant that will include a lower level with indoor and outdoor seating. Expansive garage-style doors will roll up on fair-weather days, bringing sunshine and sea breezes indoors. The family also plans to add a covered upper deck providing ocean views. 

“Many people head to the Coast during the wintertime for storm watching,” says Carnegie. “The upper deck will be a great spot to bundle up and watch the ocean waves.” The projected opening date is February 2023, which is a landmark year and month for Dooger’s, as the restaurant will celebrate its 40th anniversary. Look for it this winter, and join the locals eating Dooger’s famous chowder, rain or shine.

and so much more!

Waving the Flag in the Early 1900s

Take a look at a vintage float from the early 1900s Seaside parade.

Learn More
The Pull of Progress – Seaside in 1921

Postwar Seaside saw a boom in growth and development.

Learn More
Seaside Off The Beaten Path

Think you’ve experienced everything in Seaside? Think again. There are always more spots full of history, beauty and wonder to e...

Learn More
A New Year of Seaside Adventures

A new year in Seaside means you have 12 months of adventure ahead —  trekking through rain forests, watching whales spray and d...

Learn More
Tips for Whale Watching In and Around Seaside

** Story updated for 2022 ** While it’s possible to see whales all year along the Oregon Coast, visitors tend to flock to Seasid...

Learn More
Snail Mail: the Agony & the Ecstasy

Snail mail in Seaside circa 1909.

Learn More
Hot Summer Car Shows help usher in the summer season in Seaside.
Hot Summer Car Shows

Two Seaside car shows help usher in and wind down the summer travel season

Learn More
A Chinook Fishing Tale

Chinook Salmon Fishing in and Around Seaside Oregon

Learn More
We’re Getting Crabby on the Coast

Dungeness crab season on the Oregon coast

Learn More
Watching Nature Run its Course in Seaside

Wonderful natural beauty in Seaside,

Learn More
Broadway Boon

A glimpse at the history and evolution of Broadway.

Learn More
Seaside Holiday Spirit

Seaside holiday spirit is more than evident around town beginning in early November. Ushered in by lights and decorations going up...

Learn More
Grab a Great Cup of Coffee or Roast Your Own Beans

Want your favorite coffee drink for free? Easy! Help us keep the beach clean and your coffee is on us. Foggy days on the beach, ev...

Learn More
Seaside Without A Car

If you’ve visited Seaside in the past, you’ve likely come by car. You can come to this part of the Oregon Coast by airplane vi...

Learn More
Pypo Boarding and Seaside’s Role in the Unique Pastime

You’ve probably heard of skimboarding and kiteboarding, but here’s a fun fact: both sports stem from a unique pastime called p...

Learn More
Camping in Seaside

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner. One of my very favorite things to do during Memorial Day weekend is to go camping. I love setting up the tents, snuggling in a warm sleeping bag, sitting around the campfire roasting marshmallows for s’mores, and smelling like a campfire all weekend. I love every bit of it! If you’ve never camped by the Pacific Ocean then you are missing out! You get to add the salty air, sandy beach, and all the benefits of being near Seaside to add to your camping experience.

Learn More
Antiquing in Seaside

Antique shopping in Seaside, Oregon

Learn More
Seaside Inside for Kids

Seaside is known for a variety of outdoor activities to enjoy during most of the year and it’s not uncommon to have a 60-plu...

Learn More