There’s new leadership and faces behind the bar at Greenport’s recently reopened Basso (423 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-6053) wine bar.
Owner and chef Nick DeCillis has retired and his partner Stephen Boscola is now at the helm with chef Matt Lafemina stepping up to serve delicious bites and Boscola’s wife, Sara Boscola, filling glasses behind the bar.
In September last year, the decade old wine and charcuterie spot reinstated business in Greenport at the former Rica Bath + Body space.
“It’s been well received that it’s back in Greenport,” says Boscola.
He joined forces with DeCillis to open the newest Greenport location ahead of the Maritime Festival last fall.
Previously operating through a five-year lease out of 300 Main St. in town, the business jumped around a few times hosting a series of pop-ups, then opened at 402 Main St., then over in Mattituck, but landed back home eight months ago.
In early February, they closed doors for a month and a half for a refresh of the space, updating the bathroom, restocking and reopening on April 11.
Lafemina was helping behind the scenes, preparing food with DeCillis. As a home chef and cabinet maker by trade, he jumped in during Basso’s Mattituck stint as a guest chef.
When DeCillis and Boscola found the newest Greenport location, Lafemina came in to do all the construction, then stuck around to help with food service some weekends.
“He was doing a lot of behind the scenes cooking to help with the volume so it was a natural progression for him,” says Boscola.
Since starting in his new role, Lafemina has kept on the favorites like Nick’s meatballs, but he plans to experiment with the crostinis, crudos and carpaccios — a simple dish for the small food service area he’s working with.
“It’ll be nice to serve something that is quick, raw and flavorful,” says Lafemina.
He and Boscola’s Italian American heritage, plus Lafemina’s experience eating around the East Village (where he lived for almost two decades) will likely influence the dishes, he says, keeping the wine bar’s Mediterranean feel.
Basso is open Friday from 4:30 to 9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m.; and Sunday noon to 6:30 p.m. See updates and new dishes on Basso’s Instagram.
