North Fork Table & Inn Sold To Famed NYC Chef

SOUTHOLD, NY — The North Fork Table will reopen under new ownership next season.

A partnership of North Fork-based investors, with JF Restaurants, has purchased North Fork Table & Inn from celebrated pastry chef Claudia Fleming, according to a release.

JF Restaurants is Michelin-starred chef and restaurateur John Fraser’s New York-based hospitality group, which operates multiple restaurants including The Loyal, on Bleecker, 701West at Times Square EDITION, Ardor at WeHo EDITION and, in partnership with James Truman, Michelin-starred vegetarian restaurant NIX, a release said.

“Early in my career, I spent summers working on Long Island and am excited to return. It’s such a special part of the world, with a vibrant wine and food scene anchored by a tight-knit farming community. I’m really looking forward to welcoming everyone back to see the changes,” Fraser said.

North Fork Table & Inn ran the last service of the season on December 31 and is set to re-open in time for the summer of 2020. Before opening, JF Restaurants is planning restoration works to the property.

To those hankering for a lobster roll on the go, the popular North Fork Food Truck will return in the spring.

The North Fork Table & Inn opened its doors in 2006, a collaboration between Chef Gerry Hayden, chef Claudia Fleming and Mike & Mary Mraz. "The restaurant quickly earned critical acclaim for culinary excellent, warm hospitality and a strong commitment to farm-to-table dining," a release said.

“I have so much respect for what Claudia, Gerry, Mike and Mary have built at North Fork Table, and am so grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with Claudia as we start this new chapter for the restaurant,” said Fraser. “It’s a beautiful historic building, so we want to gently restore the property while preserving its essential character and spirit,” he continued.

North Fork Table & Inn's Executive Chef Brian Wilson will remain in his position, which he has held since early 2019. Fleming will also remain with North Fork Table & Inn, collaborating with JF Restaurants on the restaurant's pastry program as pastry chef.

“I’m so glad that we’re able to leave the restaurant in safe hands with JF Restaurants. I’m looking forward to working with John and his team on the next chapter of North Fork Table, but also having more time for other creative projects, including my next cookbook,” said Fleming.

The selling broker for the transaction was International Financial Group Ltd, Douglas Cabral.

According to Newsday, Jonathan Tibett, an owner of Heron Suites in Port of Egypt and Einstein Square in Southold — as well as the developer pitching the controversial proposal for "The Enclaves," a 74-seat restaurant and hotel on Main Road in Southold — is one of the investors in the North Fork Table & Inn sale.

According to the JF Restaurants' website, the restaurant group is focused on "creativity, design and hospitality."

Fraser, the site added, began his culinary career in Los Angeles "and refined his technique at The French Laundry in Napa California, before continuing his culinary discipline at Taillevent and Maison Blanche in Paris."

He moved to New York City in 2005 to take the help at Compass and opened Dovetail on the Upper West Side in 2007. In 2014, he opened Narcissa and the Standard Cafe inside the Standard Hotel East Village, in collaboration with Andres Balasz; later, in 2016, he opened NIX, a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in the West Village, and in 2017, Chef opened The Loyal, an American tavern on Bleecker Street in the West Village. In 2019, in partnership with Ian Schrager, JF Restaurants opened in The Times Square EDITION.

Last week, the North Fork was rocked as word spread that the North Fork Table & Inn could close.

But despite some confusion, it appeared the beloved Southold restaurant was just shuttering for the season.

"It will be a little while between drinks, but we're not going anywhere!" an Instagram post by the eatery said. "Our last service of 2019 is on December 31, but we will re-open for summer next year. We realized that our last post caused some concern about the future of the North Fork Table & Inn, and we're very sorry for any confusion. We appreciate your kind words and can't wait to welcome you back! Food truck fans, never fear — the food truck will be in full swing this spring."

Speculation about the restaurant's future has been sparked in recent months: Fleming, whose iconic dessert cookbook "The Last Course" was recently re-released, told the New York Times she planned to sell the North Fork Table & Inn and move back to New York City as the next chapters of her life and career unfold.

Fleming and her husband, beloved chef Gerry Hayden, a pioneer in the farm-to-table movement, were mainstays on the North Fork culinary scene until Hayden died in 2015 after a battle with ALS. Fleming and Hayden opened North Fork Table & Inn with a focus on locally sourced menus, raising the bar for culinary excellence across the entire East End — and the world.

After Hayden's death, the eatery continued to flourish, first with chef Stephen Bogardus, who blossomed under Hayden's tutelage, at the helm; later, after Bogardus headed to The Halyard, Wilson took over the reins at the North Fork Table & Inn.