Longtime North Fork Eatery To Close: 'End Of An Era'

SOUTHOLD, NY — After years of serving up mouthwatering burgers, chili, corn fritters and other crowd-pleasing fare, an iconic North Fork eatery will close Sunday as O'Mally's serves its last customers.

According to Steve Pavlatos, who manages the eatery — owned by Jimmy and Kelly Kokotas — the restaurant was sold. A new location of Senor Taco Mexican Grill will be opening at the site, located at 44780 Route 48.

Senor Taco confirmed the news and said the goal is that the restaurant will reopen sometime in the spring; Senor Taco also has locations in Wading River, Mt. Sinai, and Holbrook.

O'Mallys was purchased from former owner Phil Mannino — who'd helmed the spot since 2001 — by the Kokotas family in 2014. The Kokotas family has other businesses in Brooklyn, Pablatos said.

Saying good-bye isn't easy, Pavlatos said. "We did very well here, we appreciate everyone — we're really going to miss the people. We love them and it's been a good experience for us. We wish everyone the best. There are many local, loyal customers here."

Pavlatos, who lives in Nassau County, said he's going to take some time to relax after closing the doors for the last time. "But I might be back on the North Fork again one day," he said. "You never know. Anything is possible."

Ian Hunter and his mother Claire Kennedy ate at O'Mally's Thursday night and were broken-hearted at the news.

"It's the end of an era," Ian said. He worked at O'Mally's from the ages of 14 to 17 as a bus boy, he said. "It was my first job, which I got to save up for Southold High School's 10th grade Europe trip."

At the time, he said, Maninno owned O'Mally's, he said. "He taught me what a good work ethic was, and how to earn money for the first time in my life."

In addition, Ian said: "He used to request that I park my 1965 Falcon in the front to attract customers. It was extremely nostalgic the other night to drive in there and park in my old spot — sadly, for the last time."

After Mannino sold O'Mally's Ian said he was happy that the current owners kept familiar favorites on the menu "and the food was still just as good. I will miss both of the owners and the delicious food," he said.

Added Claire: "Wow. Very sad." She added that when she thinks of O'Mally's, Phil Mannino and his kindness to her son always come to mind. "Phil was one of a kind. Always dressed to the nines and greeted everyone like family."

Even as the owners changed, she said, "It was a place that felt like home and the current manager, Steve, carried that on. I will miss O'Mally's very much."