The North Fork Shack Opens in Southold; Owners Report 'Great' First Day

SOUTHOLD, NY - A dream came true in Southold Wednesday as The North Fork Shack opened for business.

"It went great. We were very happy with the turnout," said Samy Sabil of Riverhead, who opened the Route 48 business with Ryan Flatley of Southold.

The crowd, he said, was mostly locals. "For opening on a Wednesday we did very well. Everything went smoothly and we got good feedback. All in all, it was a success."

Sabil laughed and said while it was great to finally be open, it hasn't sunk it yet.

Patrons were thrilled with the fare. Rena Wilhelm of Greenport said she started with the clam chowder and raved about the zucchini fritters with a green goddess dipping sauce on the side, which she "really loved." She and her dining partner also sampled pulled chicken, cajun fish and skirt steak tostados and tacos. "These were really, really good," she said. "I wouldn't be able to pick a favorite."

Wilhelm also loved the design and decor, which she said is "understated and modern — and the bathroom is to die for."

Stepping inside The North Fork Shack, a take-out restaurant which has some seats, feels like setting foot onto the beach.

The walls are painted a vivid blue, and handmade wooden tables evoke the colors and feel of sandy shores. Bright whites and sage greens complement the pendant lights that illuminate a long, whitewashed wood counter near the front.

Taking a visitor on a tour of the gleaming kitchen, Sabil and Flatley say they’re thrilled to see their dream become reality.

The pair, who are well known on the North Fork for their Creative Courses catering business, which offers seasonal fare for all occasions, first came before the Southold Town planning board in January, 2015, about plans to renovate and convert the existing 60’ x 40’ former tool shop, located at 41150 County Road 48, near Tuckers Lane in Southold into a fun, casual, and affordable takeout eatery.

Since then, the building has undergone a complete transformation inside, they said. The plan is to have seating for 16 inside, with takeout the primary focus.

Sabil and Flatley, who met when they began working together at the North Fork Table & Inn, say the menu at The North Fork Shack will feature seafood, and an abundance of whatever fresh, local produce and fare is in season — as well as some international touches.

The menu on opening day featured soups, a local fish sandwich with Ole Bay aioli, an S.L.T. with crispy shitake mushrooms, pulled lamb on pita, avocado hummus and much more.

The North Fork, with lush farmland and the bays and Sound, sets the perfect backdrop for their creative culinary palette, they agree.

The ambiance is meant to be relaxed, a perfect stop for those visiting local wineries or beaches — or for harried moms and the after-work crowd who hope to grab a delicious meal to go.

The menu, Sabil said, will be ever-evolving, depending on what’s in season, allowing both to explore culinary horizons and try out new recipes, with 20 to 40 new dishes unveiled over the four seasons each year.

The journey toward opening has been marked by community support, both Sabil and Flatley said. A Facebook page set up to let fans watch the eatery’s progress has garnered tremendous attention and many fans.

Both say their time at North Fork Table & Inn helped to create the foundation for all that was to come, teaching them lifetime lessons about customer service, culinary excellence, and the magic of the farm to table movement. They agreed that although they’d never dreamed at first of careers in catering, their experience at the North Fork Table changed everything.

“We’re very thankful,” Sabil said.

They also expressed gratitude to the long list of individuals and businesses who’ve collaborated with them on the project — as well as the North Fork residents thrilled to see the eatery open.

“Everyone is very excited for us,” Sabil said. “We want to thank all of our friends and the community for welcoming us. We look forward to making everyone proud and sharing our dream with everyone.”

The North Fork Shack is located at 41150 county road 48 in Southold, and open from 11:30 a.m. until 9 p.m.