New Sag Harbor Pub Puts the Focus on Food

After operating Phao restaurant on Sag Harbor's Main Street for six years, Jesse Matsuoka said he found that while patrons enjoyed the fare – they just weren't coming back enough, or as quickly enough. 

Enter, The Cuddy.

A gastropub by definition offers an increased attention to food, while still offering the atmosphere of a bar. Matsuoko hopes that combination at The Cuddy – open since mid-April – brings customers back. And with regularity.

"We thought, 'What does Sag Harbor need, or want?' he recalled. "We thought hand crafted comfort food. A comfy bar scene that has exceptional food."

Executive Chef Gil Chico will hop from next door at Sen – a Japanese restaurant also owned by Matsuoka and his brother, Tora, as well as Jeff Resnick – and into the Cuddy kitchen, which will also offer brunch, unlike Phao. The interior of the restaurant offers earthy, muted tones with locally-sourced wood now covering the walls and microbrews on tap.

Chico described that fare as "simple American food, sourced with as many local ingredients as possible," adding the restaurant crafts its own pickles and jams, and uses ingredients from Good Water Farms & Bette & Dale's.

Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Jesse's father was one of the co-owners. It is his brother.