The Whales Tale in Northport closing after 16 years
The mahi mahi bowl with quinoa at The Whales Tale in Northport, which is closing Nov. 8. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Northport’s popular waterside restaurant The Whales Tale is closing after 16 years, months after opening a new outpost in the Hamptons. Owner Sosh Andriano said the Northport lease is up and he hasn't been able to reach a renewal agreement. The restaurant's last day will be Nov. 8.
"At this time, we’re focused on making a professional and responsible exit as we march toward the next chapter," Andriano said in a phone interview Thursday. While he has had "some conversations about acquiring additional locations," he doesn’t want to "be impulsive about jumping into anything."
"We’re always looking," he said. "The Whales Tale is a destination, and because it’s a cultural experiential type of brand, you have to find something that fits or else it just doesn’t work."
The restaurant's new Hampton Bays outpost on Foster Avenue, which opened in June, will remain open.
Andriano and Brian Autz opened the Northport restaurant at the Brittania Marina in 2009, where it became a local favorite for outdoor dining, offering seafood, burgers and salads overlooking the harbor. As a thank you to loyal customers from Northport, those who visit the restaurant next week will receive VIP cards for 20% off "their entire experience for the entire year next year," Andriano said. He views the closing as an opportunity and is excited to ramp up the offerings at the Hampton Bays location.
"Although we are losing a lot of our base right here in Northport for now, this will give them an excuse to make a drive out there," he said. "Come out there and experience their Whales Tale that they helped build and experience it in a different setting, a setting that they’ve never been able to see before."
Melissa Azofeifa is a restaurants reporter with Newsday's FeedMe team. Having grown up on Long Island, she loves talking about food and its impact on culture. A graduate of Stony Brook University, she joined Newsday in the fall of 2024.
