Wine and small plates restaurant Basso has found a new home in East Marion for the summer. The Italian market, best known for its selection of wines and tapas, is popping up at The Blue Inn with a new, expanded menu akin to a roadside clam shack.
Basso, which closed its Stirling Square location in Greenport in February, began the pop-ups at the 16-seat Blue Inn restaurant earlier this month and will continue into the fall. In addition to Basso’s signature cicchettie, the menu is decidedly seafood-forward. Lobster rolls, fish sandwiches, baked clams and oysters harvested in Mattituck, are among the bites guests can expect.
“We did the first pop-up and it really worked out well,” said owner Nick DeCillis. “It’s Basso-style where people can come in, sit for a little with wine or beer and smalls plates. We expanded the menu … it has a Montauk vibe with all the freshest, homegrown ingredients.”
The 29-room hotel’s onsite restaurant features a bar and outdoor seating. It has primarily been used for its guests prior to the pop-up.
“We are excited,” said Blue Inn manager Mary O’Brien. “We’re looking forward to having it available for guests… the locals are going to love it, too.”
DeCillis found a partner in The Blue Inn several weeks after closing its downtown Greenport location, which opened in 2015. New tapas bar, Terra by American Beech, is taking over that space. And while DeCillis said he is still seeking a downtown outpost, he said the timing was perfect for the pop-up outside the village.
“It is the perfect summer spot to pull over and grab a bite,” he said. “We want to be in downtown Greenport and even if we find a location before the end of the summer, we’d still continue at The Blue Inn.”
The pop-up will be open for lunch and dinner on weekends from 1 to 7 p.m. DeCillis hopes to expand those hours during the busier summer season.
The Blue Inn is located at 7850 Main Road, East Marion.
