The family-owned Demarchelier Bistro officially opened its doors in November in Greenport, bringing a taste of France, by way of New York City’s Upper East Side, to the North Fork. The new incarnation of the New York City classic is located in the heart of Greenport on Main Street.
The popular Upper East Side location closed its doors after 40 years in business. The Greenport bistro will offer a casual and cozy dining experience. Siblings Emily and Benjamin Demarchelier are running the restaurant, building on the legacy of the family’s well-known eatery. The team also partnered with the Menhaden Hotel, opening a second restaurant on Front Street earlier this year.
“Greenport is very much a village where people are walking around and shopping and stopping at several different places, so I wanted to kind of attract that crowd of people that don’t necessarily want to sit for a whole meal, that wants to have a little bite to eat, taste a few things, have a few glasses of wine, and then go onto the next place,” said Emily.
The opening of the restaurant was delayed due to COVID-19, causing the bistro to miss the 2020 summer season. “The silver lining is that because of this delay The Menhaden hotel approached me to take over food and beverage at the hotel,” said Benjamin. “I realized right away that I could manage both restaurants, have them compliment each other and bring the local community a wider range of French cuisine, that I couldn’t have done with just one small bistro.” The two locations are meant to have different feels, while toasting each other.
Since Demarchelier opened in 1978 it has brought a little piece of France to its diners. The new location has much of the same Parisian inspiration, Emily has heard people saying, “Wow this is incredible! It was like I just traveled to France!”
Dishes like the steak tartare appetizer and the duck a l’orange entrée, will continue to be staples. You can also find items like cheese fondue and grilled octopus, and desserts like the chocolate fondant or crème brulée on the menu created by Executive Chef Michel Pombet.
The Demarchelier family has spent summers on Shelter Island for years.
“My family has had a home on Shelter Island my entire life,” said Benjamin. “I’ve seen the evolution of Greenport in the past five years and decided this is the place I want to be. The North Fork has a ton of great restaurants. A lot of new American cuisine. We hope to bring some traditional French cuisine to Greenport and the North Fork.”
“The most memorable moments have been spending summers on Shelter Island and eating my father’s rillettes recipe,” Benjamin continued.
Marble top tables and the antique bar top were brought over from the former location. Colorful paintings by the owner’s father, the famed artist Eric Demarchelier, adorn the walls.
There’s also a wide range of predominantly French wines. Demarchelier has also partnered with North Fork’s Macari Vineyards to exclusively carry their wines. Bottles range from $40 to $250.
For cocktails, try options like the La Provence Martini and Grapefruit Rosemary Mule.
For more information, visit www.demarchelierrestaurant.com.
