Elbow East To Be Sold To Owner Of Montauk Eatery

SOUTHOLD — Elbow East, an iconic longtime North Fork eatery known for its marinated steaks, surf and turf, and sunset views, is set to be sold to the owner of a popular Montauk dining spot.

According to Jeanmarie Bay, the real estate salesperson handling the Elbow East listing for Town & Country Real Estate, the restaurant, located at 50 North Sea Drive just steps from Kenney's Beach, will be sold to the owner of Montauk's 668 The Gig Shack; the sale is reportedly set to close next week.

Elbow East was listed at $1,495,000, but Bay said the final sale price has not yet been disclosed.

668 The Gig Shack, or, as locals say, "The Shack," is a Montauk lunch and dining destination owned by the Gardell family, including Tracey and Lewis and their sons Arden, Skylar and Gray. The menu features choices including lobsters sliders, wings, tuna tartare taquitos, ribs, spanakopita, and more.

Longtime patrons hoping to say farewell to Elbow East still have a chance — the eatery will remain open through the weekend, including Super Bowl Sunday, Bay said.

Elbow East owner Billy Berliner told Patch in 2020 that the restaurant had been a staple on the North Fork for more than 30 years — and the time had come for his next chapter.

"I'm going to be 68 years old," he said at the time. "What do I have left? Statistically, I have eight years left, unless I'm very lucky."

Berliner, who has a condo in Florida, added: "I'd rather die walking the beach down there than mopping the floor."

Still, he said: "It was a very tough decision. I love this business. I love this place. I love my customers and I love the North Fork."

Born at Eastern Long Island Hospital, Berliner said his roots run deep. "But at some point, I'd like to put my feet up," he said.

668 The Gig Shack isn't the first Montauk eatery to find a new outpost on the North Fork: In 2020, Duryea's Lobster Deck opened a second location, Duryea's Orient Point, at the site of the former Orient by the Sea.