Oct-Dec and Feb-Jun: Mon and Thu-Fri, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, noon-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm; Tue-Wed, closed; Jul-Aug: Mon-Fri, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, noon-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm; Sep: Mon and Wed-Fri, 5pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, noon-2:30pm and 5pm-10pm; Tue, closed; Jan: closed
Prices
$28-$42
Payment Methods
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Special Features
Dine at the Bar
Fireplace
Notable Chef
Special Occasion
Alcohol
Full Bar
Reservations
Recommended
Profile
A duo of fine-dining veterans, burned out by the city and smitten with Long Island's rich local harvest, have made The North Fork Table & Inn an imperative year-round detour in a neighborhood that claims to be starved for quality. Mid-life crisis brought Manhattan kitchen stars Gerry Hayden (Aureole, Amuse) and Claudia Fleming (Gramercy Tavern) to Southold. "I was tired of chasing a lifestyle I was never going to have," says Fleming. Hayden agrees: "We discovered we both wanted to leave New York." His buyout from Amuse bought a house, and helped finance the purchase, with partners, of the former Coeur des Vignes. There in a simple country setting with lowish ceilings and pale-gray wainscoting, fluke sashimi is dazzlingly fresh and framed with ruby grapefruit, and gulf shrimp float in a gazpacho swamp lush with tomatoes on a menu driven by the market. Tonight orecchiette is tossed with braised lamb, pancetta, sheep's-milk ricotta, and more of that tangy tomato, while Atlantic sea bass sits in a puddle of mustardy broth with couscous. Fleming does apricot-blueberry crumb tart, ricotta cheesecake, and upside down peach-raspberry cobbler, graced with her sensational cream-cheese ice cream or vanilla frozen yogurt. — Gael Greene
Extra
Last seating is at 10 p.m.
10.0
"Highly Recommended" Average Reader Rating on a Scale of 10
You are seated at a white clothed table and promptly served obviously fresh baked rolls. If one judges a restaurant by the bread, this is going to be memorable!.
The competent, friendly summer staff unfolds the food, wine, and tasting(!) menus. Food menu -- eclectic, innovative. Wine -- you're in wine country so amazing selection from within 15 miles -- and a smaller sampling size by the glass! Tasting menu -- vow to return with friends who share fanaticism for food -- and a lot of time.
Since creativity rules, the exact dishes are irrelevant, but our sea scallops and the paella (homemade chorizo!) made eyebrows go up at first bite. The salad's obviously grown within yards of the place, and the desserts cause audible sighs of appreciation.
If you love a memorable dining experience -- or want to impress someone you are an epicurean, dial for reservations. My advice -- impress yourself.