The Lucky Bee, which is helmed by Australian duo, Rupert Noffs and Chef Matty Bennett – who has worked at Longrain in Sydney and The Fat Radish in New York City, is coming to Greenport.
“We love Greenport – it’s like being in the South of France,” Noffs said. “It reminds me of an ‘American St. Tropez!'”
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Owners Chef Matty Bennett and Rupert Noffs. (Courtesy Photo) |
If The Lucky Bee, which has a Lower East Side outpost, sounds familiar, it might be because the family style, Southeast Asian restaurant had a pop-up at Gallery Hotel in Greenport last fall.
“Carolyn Rusin who currently owns and runs the Gallery Hotel on Main Street had dinner at The Lucky Bee on the Lower East Side just before summer, last year, and spoke with both Chef Matty and me,” explained Noffs. “We ended up doing a pop-up at her Gallery Hotel in September and October.”
The two month stint earned rave reviews from diners. “The pop-up was a wonderful success with tons of locals saying how great it was to finally have some Southeast Asian food in the area,” he noted. “I heard it was the first time there were dumplings available in Greenport,” he joked.
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Steamed Pork and Sesame Dumplings, Chinese Black Vinegar, Black Bean, Fried Garlic. (Courtesy Photo) |
The Lucky Bee’s new site will be located at 314 Main Street in Greenport, in “a beautiful, old white house with so much potential.”
“We are super stoked to be working with Carolyn again at this beautiful space which will be a 100 seater,” shared Noffs, who says the experience will be “Super relaxed, elegant dining.”
Its East End outpost will include both outdoor and indoor space.
“The service will be on point and we’ll make sure it’s like dining in Manhattan. That’s the one thing I noticed about being out East,” he explained. “It’s okay for the guests to be relaxed but no excuse for the servers!”
The restaurant may have a bit of a laid back atmosphere, but for Noffs, top-notch service is a must. “That’s going to be something that we really focus on. Brilliant service,” Noffs stressed. “Think – The Palm, Mr Chow and Nobu… but with more Thai and Vietnamese flavors and less pricey!”
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The “LUCKY YOU” is served in a coconut. (Courtesy Photo) |
They hope to deliver an exotic East End experience. “We’ll transform the spot into a beautiful, tropical Southeast Asian hideaway with palms trees, lounges and lanterns,” he explained. “There will also be a beautiful bar inside.” After having one of their signature sips, you might really feel like you’ve left the East End for paradise. “Our most popular cocktail is served in a coconut and it’s called “LUCKY YOU” – we crack it open after you’ve finished so you can eat the yummy flesh,” he noted. “It’s healthy but a little naughty.”
The Greenport location will also sport The Lucky Bee’s signature interior shade. “In keeping in line with The Lucky Bee brand, the place will be painted pink inside – with pops of neon,” Noffs shared. “We want to bring something fun and edgy to the beautiful town of Greenport – and of course – great food and cocktails.”
As for fare, the duo plans to source locally. “Everything fresh, daily, from the local markets,” he said. “We’ll be having a very similar menu to our Lower East Side location – out East – and adding a few exciting, additional items!”
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“Think – The Palm, Mr Chow and NOBU… but with more Thai and Vietnamese flavors and less pricey,” said co-owner Rupert Noffs. (Courtesy Photo) |
The relatively new Manhattan restaurant has already earned several impressive accolades and plans to fill a void in the East End food scene. “We are just about to turn ONE (on January 21st) but are already lucky enough to be written up by Eater as one of the Hottest Restaurants to open in 2016 as well as Zagat, New York Times, Timeout and The New Yorker,” Noffs noted. “New Yorkers are really craving fresh, spicy Southeast Asian food and we are so excited to be coming out East this summer and not just a ‘pop up.'”
The Lucky Bee will be open for dinner from Thursday to Sunday and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
“We are hoping to open for Memorial Day and stay open until Halloween,” added Noffs.
For more information about The Lucky Bee, visit luckybeenyc.com.
