If you are looking for a gourmet dinner with a stunning coastal view, you can have it all at one north shore eatery. The Sound View Restaurant overlooks the Long Island Sound, serving as an iconic landmark that is recognized by all who driven to Greenport for over forty years.
The establishment is owned by the Levin family. Their foray into the east end hospitality scene actually began in 1935, when Jack Levin leased a concession stand that bordered a Greenport beach. He named the stand Jack’s Shack, and the venue quickly became a summer sensation for the crowds of North Fork beachgoers and vacationers. During the famous 1938 hurricane that ravaged the northeast, Jack’s Shack was not spared. Jack was determined to continue the community’s summer revelry, so Jack’s Shack was rebuilt and its popularity continued to soar.
The success inspired Jack and his wife, Donna, to build the Sound Shore Motel in 1952, which would be located one mile east of Jack’s Shack. Next door stood the Sound View Restaurant, which was originally constructed in 1949 and served seafood fare. The restaurant procured its fish and shellfish from fishing boats that docked at a nearby boat landing. As Donna operated the motel while raising their four children, Jack continued to run the thriving shack and daydreamed about one day owning a resort. His dream came to fruition in 1968, when he purchased the Sound View Restaurant and merged it with the motel, and the two venues are now known as the Sound View Restaurant and the Sound View Inn. Jack proceeded to make a few modern renovations inside, taking care to maintain the original charms and adding a few luxuries that included an elegant piano bar lounge and, as of 1980, the Gold Room banquet hall to accommodate weddings and other private parties and events.
Today, the Sound View Restaurant and the Sound View Inn are operated by Jack’s daughters, Rachel and Ellen, but Jack remains a devoted presence. The centenarian is still sited regularly, enjoying a meal, taking in the view and greeting customers. Rachel and Ellen were born into the business, lending helping hands in the motel during their youth and absorbing the day to day operations that surrounded them, and the love and dedication that their parents bestowed on their clientele continues to shine in the girls’ welcoming smiles, outgoing manners and warm hospitality. Running the popular restaurant and greeting three generations of families that began by spending their summers on the beach at Jack’s Shack is much more than their vocation; it’s a labor of love and familial pride.
When making your dinner reservation at the Sound View Restaurant, be sure to ask for an outdoor table or, if you opt for indoor dining, request a window seat. The food is outstanding, and the view is equally marvelous, especially at sunset. The Sound View Restaurant is as famous for its spectacular sunset views as for its baked clams. Many of the dishes are prepared with local produce and fish. The menu features classic seaside delights, such as clams on the half shell, crab cakes, steamed mussels, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail and clam chowders to start. Entrees include their fried seafood platter, blackened shrimp tacos, seafood-stuffed flounder, skewered shrimp with Asian flavors, sautéed flounder, blackened salmon with a creamy cilantro sauce and pasta with shrimp and scallops. For landlubber tastes, the menu also includes such options as steak, roast duck, rack of lamb, grilled pork chops, grilled chicken and a couple of pasta dishes. Save room for one of their decadent desserts, such as the sea salt caramel cheesecake or the chocolate raspberry molten lava cake, and accompany your selection with one of their specialty coffees. After dessert, relax in the Red Bar lounge, where weekends host local talent to keep the piano keys melodic.
If you are touring the North Fork wine trail, consider pausing at the Sound View Restaurant for a mouthwatering menu that includes lunch friendly choices like the panko-crusted oyster sandwich with chipotle mayonnaise, a lobster quesadilla and a panini named after Rachel herself. The lunch menu also includes plenty of complete meal options, such as seafood au gratin, shrimp scampi, grilled steak and a fried seafood combination, for heartier appetites. On Sundays, the Sound View restaurant features a brunch menu from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Plan your evening accordingly so that you can take in the full splendor of the sun descending into the horizon and shimmering off of the waters while you sip a cocktail or local wine. The cocktail menu includes a variety of unique and flavorful martinis, and the wine menu features a wonderful selection of outstanding Long Island wines.
The Sound View Restaurant is located at 58775 Route 48 in Greenport. You can visit www.soundviewrestaurant.com for directions, hours of operation, catering information, entertainment schedules and specials menus.
The establishment is owned by the Levin family. Their foray into the east end hospitality scene actually began in 1935, when Jack Levin leased a concession stand that bordered a Greenport beach. He named the stand Jack’s Shack, and the venue quickly became a summer sensation for the crowds of North Fork beachgoers and vacationers. During the famous 1938 hurricane that ravaged the northeast, Jack’s Shack was not spared. Jack was determined to continue the community’s summer revelry, so Jack’s Shack was rebuilt and its popularity continued to soar.
The success inspired Jack and his wife, Donna, to build the Sound Shore Motel in 1952, which would be located one mile east of Jack’s Shack. Next door stood the Sound View Restaurant, which was originally constructed in 1949 and served seafood fare. The restaurant procured its fish and shellfish from fishing boats that docked at a nearby boat landing. As Donna operated the motel while raising their four children, Jack continued to run the thriving shack and daydreamed about one day owning a resort. His dream came to fruition in 1968, when he purchased the Sound View Restaurant and merged it with the motel, and the two venues are now known as the Sound View Restaurant and the Sound View Inn. Jack proceeded to make a few modern renovations inside, taking care to maintain the original charms and adding a few luxuries that included an elegant piano bar lounge and, as of 1980, the Gold Room banquet hall to accommodate weddings and other private parties and events.
Today, the Sound View Restaurant and the Sound View Inn are operated by Jack’s daughters, Rachel and Ellen, but Jack remains a devoted presence. The centenarian is still sited regularly, enjoying a meal, taking in the view and greeting customers. Rachel and Ellen were born into the business, lending helping hands in the motel during their youth and absorbing the day to day operations that surrounded them, and the love and dedication that their parents bestowed on their clientele continues to shine in the girls’ welcoming smiles, outgoing manners and warm hospitality. Running the popular restaurant and greeting three generations of families that began by spending their summers on the beach at Jack’s Shack is much more than their vocation; it’s a labor of love and familial pride.
When making your dinner reservation at the Sound View Restaurant, be sure to ask for an outdoor table or, if you opt for indoor dining, request a window seat. The food is outstanding, and the view is equally marvelous, especially at sunset. The Sound View Restaurant is as famous for its spectacular sunset views as for its baked clams. Many of the dishes are prepared with local produce and fish. The menu features classic seaside delights, such as clams on the half shell, crab cakes, steamed mussels, fried calamari, shrimp cocktail and clam chowders to start. Entrees include their fried seafood platter, blackened shrimp tacos, seafood-stuffed flounder, skewered shrimp with Asian flavors, sautéed flounder, blackened salmon with a creamy cilantro sauce and pasta with shrimp and scallops. For landlubber tastes, the menu also includes such options as steak, roast duck, rack of lamb, grilled pork chops, grilled chicken and a couple of pasta dishes. Save room for one of their decadent desserts, such as the sea salt caramel cheesecake or the chocolate raspberry molten lava cake, and accompany your selection with one of their specialty coffees. After dessert, relax in the Red Bar lounge, where weekends host local talent to keep the piano keys melodic.
If you are touring the North Fork wine trail, consider pausing at the Sound View Restaurant for a mouthwatering menu that includes lunch friendly choices like the panko-crusted oyster sandwich with chipotle mayonnaise, a lobster quesadilla and a panini named after Rachel herself. The lunch menu also includes plenty of complete meal options, such as seafood au gratin, shrimp scampi, grilled steak and a fried seafood combination, for heartier appetites. On Sundays, the Sound View restaurant features a brunch menu from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Plan your evening accordingly so that you can take in the full splendor of the sun descending into the horizon and shimmering off of the waters while you sip a cocktail or local wine. The cocktail menu includes a variety of unique and flavorful martinis, and the wine menu features a wonderful selection of outstanding Long Island wines.
The Sound View Restaurant is located at 58775 Route 48 in Greenport. You can visit www.soundviewrestaurant.com for directions, hours of operation, catering information, entertainment schedules and specials menus.