The Lobster Roll Northside's New Incarnation Unveiled

One of Riverhead's most beloved eateries is getting a makeover.

, located at Baiting Hollow Commons on Sound Avenue in Riverhead, will debut its new look and vision at a grand opening on August 3.

The new venture, by veteran restauranteur Frederick H. Terry Sr., who decided to come back out of semi-retirement, is a new concept tasting room for both foods and beverages.

Terry founded the popular Hamptons eatery, The Lobster Roll, a.k.a. Lunch, in Amagansett over 40 years ago and remains a principal in the business.

Plans for the newly shaped Riverhead business include utilizing The Lobster Roll Northside's existing kitchens to produce a retail line including packaged lobster and seafood salads, baked breads, cookies, artisanal cheese boards, packaged seasonings, sauces, coffees, oils and local wine vinegars.

Also featured will be a small tasting room offering local wines and craft beers. "We’ve been doing wine flights and beer on the deck for those customers waiting to enter the restaurant,” Terry said. Adding that up until now, the concept was weather dependent, Terry said, "It’s only natural to replace the existing empty shop space with food samplings as well as wine and beer tastings.”

The North Fork Tasting Room will serve satisfy customers' cravings for The Lobster Roll Northside's signature lobster rolls and lighter fare year-round; the Lobster Roll Northside traditionally closed during winter months.

“This is what I envisioned for the complex since its inception 12 years ago,” said Terry. “The timing is now perfect and suits my personal culinary agenda to feature some very old family recipes.”

Some mouth-watering items offered will include wild rhubarb sauce, scallion and herbed butters, collard cakes, sweet potato pie, turnip chips, sassafras smoked fish, and huckleberry pie.

The focus in the new foodie establishment will be on all things local, including Long Island wines, local craft beers and tastings of small plate dishes created from local ingredients.

Wines will be offered as tasting flights and also by the glass; local wines will be served with the goal of helping to promote area wineries. To that end, maps, guides, and promotional materials from local wineries will be offered to guests. In addition, vineyard representatives from local wineries will pour unique vintages and varietals on weekends.

Micro-brews will be offered either on tap or in the bottle and will include choices of craft beers from breweries including Long Ireland in Riverhead and Six Pointe Brewery in Brooklyn. 

Events at the North Fork Tasting Room will include live music, educational wine and beer events, and theme nights to capture the "feel" of the East End community.  

The new venture breathes new life and exciting new vision into the popular eatery after that the  would be auctioned off with the retail space behind the restaurant known as Baiting Hollow Commons.

Let Patch save you time. Get great local stories like this delivered right to your inbox or smartphone everyday with our free newsletter. Simple, fast sign-up here.