Little Fish Restaurant Set To Splash Onto North Fork Dining Scene

NORTH FORK, NY — A new eatery, Little Fish, is readying to debut at the site of the longtime Elbow East in Southold.

According to owner Arden Gardell, who is also the force behind 668 The Gig Shack in Montauk, the new space is set to officially open in April and offer coastal cuisine, as well as "bright colors, beach vibes, live music, and all around good times to the town's locals and summer crowd."

The restaurant is located steps from the Long Island Sound and Kenney’s Beach.

The eatery hosted a sneak-peak for friends and family to test Chef Ryan Barth-Dwyer's menu last fall.

The restaurant has been completely renovated, Gardell said, and will offer guests an open, airy and naturally lit space that ties elements of the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the coastal Northeast. Gardell said he combined his passion for life and seafood and his 20-plus years in the restaurant industry to create a beach atmosphere and vibe that translates into a friendly, inviting and casual environment.

“Little Fish is a place where you can meet your friends for a drink, to enjoy live music and get an excellent bite of food,” Gardell said. “You want to come to Little Fish to escape the hustle and bustle of dining in downtown Greenport. Despite all the hurdles, Little Fish coming to Kenney’s Beach has been a dream come true. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome guests into our beach oasis."

Chef Ryan Barth-Dwyer joins the Little Fish team from Greenport’s Kontiki and Gallery Cafe.

Barth-Dwyer said his love for cooking began at an early age in the kitchen with his mother and most of his culinary inspiration comes stems from Turkish cuisine — his goal is to utilize the North Fork's fresh bounty in his selections.

Signature dishes on the menu will include Fritto Misto della Casa. "More than just local calamari, the Little Fish version pops with a rotating selection of local seafood, vegetables and herbs," a release said.

The menu will also feature dips such as garlic tartar sauce, as well as "The Green Goddess Crab" with blue crab, local lettuce, avocado, heart of palm and green goddess dressing. Also offered will be hot honey jerk ribs.

The menu will feature a curated “to-go” menu designed for people to enjoy on Kenney’s and McCabe's Beaches, Gardell said.

Those who are fans of 668 The Gig Shack will also be find classics from that menu, such as tuna taquitos and Caesar salad, at Little Fish, he added.

Little Fish is located at 50 N. Sea Drive in Southold and will be serving lunch and dinner Thursday through Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. in the spring. Summer hours are to be determined.

News broke that Elbow East, an iconic longtime North Fork eatery known for its marinated steaks, surf and turf, and sunset views, was set to be sold to the owner of 668 The Gig Shack, a popular Montauk dining spot in Feb., 2022.

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.

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.

Berliner, who has a condo in Florida, said at the time: "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."

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.