After a protracted development period that originally began in 2022, Blackfish Tavern has finally made its illustrious debut at the site of the former Elijah Churchill building in Northport, with the establishment boasting ownership with years of experience under their collective belt, offering high-end taste at very affordable prices.
Located at 1031 Fort Salonga Road, Blackfish Tavern officially opened their doors for business back on September 29 and offers an extensive lunch and dinner menu with a special emphasis on seafood-based dishes.
Blackfish is owned by executive chef Andrew Whitcomb, and both he and his business partner/general manager James Brzustoski have been in the hospitality industry for over 30 years and counting, a distinction that they say sets them far apart from the competition.
But what really makes Blackfish Tavern stand out in the crowded Long Island dining scene, Andrew notes, is the emphasis on the main reason anyone would ever set foot in an eatery- the quality of what comes out of the kitchen.
“To me, it's all about the food. It's all about what you're eating, how you're eating it, how it tastes, the textures, the colors, the flavors on the plate,” he said. “James is the service guy, I'm the food guy, and together we made this giant thing called Blackfish which we are really growing rapidly and is a great proprietor of fresh seafood. That's the focus.”
In addition to a delicious and expertly-prepared sea-faring menu – along with some traditional American dining fare as well to round things out – Blackfish also does all of their baking from scratch on-premises; all the desserts, all the bread, and even the hamburger buns are made on location, without exception.
“That shows you, my intent, and my focus on food,” Andrew said. “We offer upscale food at moderate prices and people come in thinking it’s fine dining. It's not, we're more of a casual restaurant, but we're giving high-quality food for a very moderate price.”
In the 1980s, Andrew went to culinary school and had worked with his brothers for most of his life at Whitsons Culinary Group in Islandia, a company they founded in Islandia 45 years ago. He retired six years ago, but was eventually lured back by the prospect of opening his very own restaurant for the first time.
“I had more energy and I needed something to do. So, basically, I looked into opening up an operation like this. And for me, it was just a continuation of my career,” he said. “I didn't like sitting home, not staying busy. I like to be challenged and have agendas and things to do. You know, I like to push? I don't like to just sit there, and you know, become fat and sedate.”
But every great man knows his limitations, and Andrew had the presence of mind to realize that the kitchen deserved 100 percent of his attention in this endeavor; he needed the right man running the day-to-day operations of the restaurant, so he reached out to his old friend James, whom he had known since they were both five years old in kindergarten.
“I've been in the restaurant business for over 45 years,” James said. “I was a master bartender and I've been a manager pretty much for over 40 years, running establishments ranging from local neighborhood bars to five-star restaurants out in the Hamptons.”
As for their final choice of where Blackfish Tavern would be situated, Andrew said that the duo had driven past its future Fort Salonga Road location – at the time the free-standing building was in a closed and delipidated state – on an almost daily basis and one day, something just clicked.
“We both had the same thought, this is it. That's the place,” he said. “However, neither one of us said anything to each other until one day, I saw the lights were on, I walked in and asked if it was for sale. And they said it was.”
The site was the old location of Elijah Churchill's Public House, a historic building and restaurant named for local Revolutionary War hero Elijah Churchill, known for serving with valor at Fort Slongo in 1781 and for being the first-ever recipient of the Badge of Military Merit – the precursor to the Purple Heart – presented to him by President George Washington himself.
Elijah Churchill's Public House had closed in recent years and fallen into a state of disrepair, and after a complete renovation process that lasted for three-and-a-half years, Blackfish Tavern was finally born with a comfortable, sophisticated, and contemporary look, ready to serve Long Island’s discerning dining community.
“It’s a 100-year-old building, and we had to do a complete gut and a lot of rebuilding. It was very complicated,” James said. “It took a lot of designing, a lot of engineering work, a lot of steel to hold everything up.”
So far, early into Blackfish’s run, response has been overwhelmingly positive, with customers raving about the quality of the food and the atmosphere; but most of all, they’re excited that a part of Northport’s rich history has returned to life after laying dormant for a number of years.
“Everybody loves the food, and they're very happy that this location is operational again,” Andrew said. “For a lot of people in the area, there is a lot of sentimental value to this building. It’s been a restaurant for 100 years, and it’s finally back.”
“We have received many wonderful five-star reviews and we are proving ourselves every day,” James added. “When I touch tables and talk to guests during lunch and dinner service, everybody is just raving about everything they have. They love the servers, they love the food, they love the desserts and the appetizers.”
Future plans for the restaurant include a pet-friendly, outdoor dining patio and an expansion into catering and event-hosting, but for the time being Andrew and James both take great pride in having started a successful new dining endeavor together after many years in their separate, respective industries.
“It feels great,” Andrew said. “It comes with some unanticipated stress because it's new and we’re still feeling things out and improving. It's a new venture, and it's another avenue to walk down, you know? But James and I are having a great time, and we invite everyone to come on down and give Blackfish Tavern a try.”
To find out more about Blackfish Tavern and make a reservation, please call 631-606-0610 or visit their website at https://blackfishtavern.com.