3 new North Fork restaurants for 2024 summer
Summer's coming early on the North Fork, where there are already two new breweries, in Riverhead and Mattituck, while the Silver Sands in Greenport now has a proper restaurant to match its renovated vibe.
NEW NORTH FORK RESTAURANTS
Riverhead Brew House
With the opening of Riverhead Brew House, Lily Flanagan’s Restaurant Group is accomplishing two long-held goals: pushing into the East End and brewing its own beer. It takes over the riverfront space that had been occupied by Peconic County Brewing Company and both the dining room and the patio have river views. Beer production is just getting underway under brewmaster Greg Doroski (formerly of Greenport Harbor Brewing Company) but, eventually, RBH will supply all its siblings: Lily Flanagan’s, The Villager and The Local in Babylon, Oakdale Brew House and The Wharf in Oakdale, The Villager in Farmingdale. For now, the beverage list is all local, including Montauk Wave Chaser, Greenport Harbor, Riverhead Cider House, and North Fork wineries. The kitchen features casual fare such as Bavarian pretzels, wings, nachos, sliders and burgers, pizzas and sandwiches such as the RBH dip, pepper-crusted roast beef on a garlic roll with cheese and caramelized onions.
More info: 221 E Main St., Riverhead, 631-212-1265, riverheadbrewhouse.com
Branch Brewing Company, Mattituck
Vacant since the North Fork Roadhouse closed in 2022, the soaring building at the intersection of Sound Avenue and North Road is now Branch Brewing Company. Brothers Larry and Peter Frasca (“branch” in Italian) have been brewing together for more than a decade; now their Pith Happens IPA and Glückspillen Pilsner with become tapmates not only with local breweries (North Fork, Sand City, Übergeek and Greenport Harbor among them), but with Long Island wineries and distilleries. The versatile veteran LI chef Michael Meehan (most recently at Mama Chan’s in East Northport) is running the kitchen; expect smoked brisket, pulled-chicken street corn empanadas and local fish tacos. In addition to the brewery’s 90 indoor seats, there are two patios, three lawns and a stage for live music.
More info: 9095 Sound Ave.,Mattituck, 631-315-2739, branch.beer
The Branch Brewing Company in Mattituck has indoor and outdoor space. Credit: Stephanie Foley
Nookies, Greenport
Once the Silver Sands Motel got a makeover last year, it was only a matter of time before the historic Greenport property got a stylish restaurant to match the retro-chic rooms and bungalows. At Nookies, chef Cheo Avila (formerly of Minnow at the Galley Ho in New Suffolk and Kontiki in Greenport) seamlessly blends diner standards — pancakes, smashburgers, tuna melts and milkshakes — with breakfast polenta, local oysters and local farm greens. At dinner, look for rigatoni carbonara, steak frites and local fish either fried with chips or griddled in a lemon-caper sauce.
More info: 1400 Silvermere Rd., Greenport, 631-997-1957, silversandsmotel.com