Ruvo East in Port Jefferson reopens two weeks after flood

Ruvo East, the Port Jefferson restaurant inundated with waist-high water during a rainstorm two weeks ago, is to reopen Thursday at 4 p.m.

The restaurant, which serves everything from Italian classics to gastropub fare, recovered from a ruinous Sept. 25 flood with the help of  Ruvo's employees, as well as a corps of contractors, said Joseph DeNicola of DeNicola Brothers Concepts, owner of Ruvo East. "My people and the people that work with me banded together, came in and turned this place around."

The flash floods that swallowed portions of Port Jefferson village that evening shuttered both Ruvo and neighboring Old Fields restaurant. Because Ruvo is on lower ground, it took on more water. Diners and employees had to be evacuated, and DeNicola said that kitchen equipment floated around.

Employees and contractors gutted the restaurant that week, drying it out and getting rid of furniture, food and equipment. "We've totally renovated and disinfected the restaurant, replaced the bathrooms, redid all of the upholstery," DeNicola said, as well as replaced the roof. He estimated the cost of the repairs at $150,000.

The storm caused at least $500,000 in damages to the village’s businesses, Mayor Margot Garant told Newsday a few weeks ago.

Ruvo East resumes dinner service Thursday and lunch service will return on Monday, DeNicola said.

Ruvo East, 105 Wynn Ln, Port Jefferson. 631-476-3800. ruvorestaurant.com