Claudio's Opens For Season Under New Ownership: What's Planned

GREENPORT, NY — With Claudio's in Greenport opening under new ownership for the season on Friday, just in time for Memorial Day weekend, here's what people can look forward to.

According to a press representative for new owners Perry Weitz, David Weitz, Ian Behar and Ryan Sasson, the new bar area at Claudio's with white granite high top tables "will be the place to be this summer."

Brian Sassen, former beverage director of The Albion Hotel in South Beach just joined the Claudio's team and is in charge of the bar program.

"As for the summer I know people want to get their frozen cocktails on," Sassen said. "I like to blend — no pun intended — the classics with the frozen. Fro-groni, a frozen negroni, will be light, refreshing, slightly bitter and strawberry forward. The gin will be infused with ripe strawberries, and Aperol will be added to the mix, as well. The newly renovated upstairs bar will feature a lounge setting with a modern cocktail vibe. It's going go be loud and energetic, featuring an array of cocktails. I'll have a bar lab set up in the back for all the scratch ingredients and fresh squeezed juices," he said.

(Courtesy Claudio's)

In addition, owners said, guests "will be vying for the cozy romantic banquettes in the front window; those in the know will be asking for table # 50 or 51."

Highlights of the Claudio's menu include Local Diver Sea Scallops with Lightly Caramelized, Potato-Horseradish Purée, Honey Crisp Apple Salad, and Bacon Jus and Claudio’s Famous Lobster Roll.

(Courtesy Claudio's)

Meanwhile, according to the new owners, "the party scene will be at The Wharf, where nautical attire is always in fashion."

The newly renovated wharf, a media rep said, has undergone a complete rebuild to update the docks and bulkhead. Improvements include a new bar, boasting more comfortable seating, a new stage for The Wharf’s live performances, and a retractable Pergola to allow the sunshine and evening skies through while compensating for inclement weather.

The Wharf, formerly, Claudio’s Clam Bar, has seating on the water as does Crabby Jerry’s. Claudio’s Restaurant, however, does not have outdoor seating — and, while that was the plan for the season, they "couldn’t make it happen this year," a media representative said.

A longtime chapter in Greenport history came to a close in 2018: After more than 147 years owned by the same family, Claudio's was sold.

In a message on the business' Facebook page, owners wrote: "To our many wonderful friends, fans and loyal patrons: Kathy, Bill, Janice, Beatsy and the late Jerry Tuthill — the Claudio/Tuthill family — would like to publicly announce the sale of our businesses, Claudio's Restaurant, Claudio's Clam Bar and Crabby Jerry's. While this marks the end of a long era for our family, we believe it also serves as a new beginning for the property, one which we hope will be filled with innovation and growth."

The iconic name lives on, the post said.

"Things will be different, but we are also pleased to share that some things will remain the same. The Claudio name will live on with the property and all three eateries will continue to serve, inviting you all to come and make new memories each season, as in so many seasons past," the Claudio family said.

"Owning restaurants is not just a profession, it is a way of life, and closing the door on this chapter for us comes with many mixed emotions. Greenport Village runs deep in our DNA and while we are glad to have seen Claudio's be such a big part of the downtown growth for many years, we are also sad we will no longer be so woven into the fiber of what makes the community tick. We'll be watching with eager anticipation over the next few years as we believe many exciting changes are coming; not just to our property, but to the village we love so profoundly and have called home for so long," the family wrote.

Claudio's had been the oldest single-family run restaurant in the country. The property had been on the market since 2015.

(Lisa Finn)