Reimagined Old Stove Pub Celebrates Its Past While Modernizing for the Future

Old Stove Pub, a historic dining staple in Sagaponack since 1969, nestled comfortably between East Hampton and Southampton, has undergone a major glow up as of 2020.

The establishment, which originally opened over 55 years ago under Coula Johnides, was well known for Johnides’s charm and wit as the manager and occasional hostess. Old Stove Pub was also known for its celebrity appearances, charisma, and delicious steaks, said the restaurant’s current owner, Joseph DeCristofaro.

After Johnides’s death in 2018, the restaurant changed ownership and fell into a state of total disrepair, said DeCristofaro, leaving guests constantly disappointed. It took dedication, time, and effort on the part of DeCristofaro to rehabilitate the restaurant so the establishment could make its return to its roots as a household name and a desired restaurant to visit on the South Fork when it reopened in 2020.

DeCristofaro has viewed this transformative experience as a “labor or love,” noting that it was the perfect way to support the community in which he grew up. DeCristofaro saw this rehabilitation opportunity to “bring back something that was once great,” especially as he once held the restaurant in high esteem, regarding it as a favorite of his and his father.

As a Southampton local, with an expansive past in the food industry in all parts of the world since he was young — as an avid foodie, traveler, and a restaurant worker — DeCristofaro said it is incredibly rewarding to see the Old Stove Pub operate as it is today, striving to give guests an exceptional dining experience tailored for both locals and newcomers alike.

Old Stove Pub started off serving 100 dinners a week when it opened in 2020, but with the 2024 summer season it has upped its dining quota to 1,000 dinners per week, said DeCristofaro, who added that he hopes to continue this upward trend as the restaurant grows to cater parties in its outside tent space, which can seat upward of 250 people.

Encompassing a wide variety of functions, including but not limited to philanthropic events, like the Wounded Warrior Project, celebrations like birthdays and weddings, fundraising events, and themed nights like Family Night, a Pub Night, and live music nights, Old Stove Pub offers a variety of experiences for its guests to enjoy.

The menu serves all types of patrons, mainly focusing on Mediterranean cuisine, with hints of Japanese influence — with its sushi and seafood additions — as well as iconic steakhouse options that have helped define the restaurant since its founding. Old Stove Pub pulls off an eclectic display of options with its specialty Mediterranean items like the Greek salad and Trio Dip, vegetarian options like zucchini spirals and stuffed eggplant, a raw bar, sushi roll specials, and seafood entrees like salmon with organic lentils. Also offered are specialty appetizers like jumbo shrimp for seafood lovers, meat based dishes like baby back ribs, various steak dishes, and a half roasted chicken. Options for picky eaters and kids include basic sides like French fries and mashed potatoes, and kids meals like buttered pasta or grilled chicken.

The most popular dishes at Old Stove Pub are, naturally, its steakhouse fare and the Greek salad, said DeCristofaro. Desserts include whole made cold fudge sundae, traditional Greek baklava, pavlova, or classic cheesecake.

The open seating arrangement and option to sit inside, outside, or in the tented area makes for a perfectly personal and customizable dinner: Your dining experience can be whatever you make it to be, says DeCristofaro.

“Inside or out, it’s a pleasurable experience while dining or just having a drink,” he said. He reasons that the restaurant keeps its charm and welcoming atmosphere “by maintaining much of the original character: the old, exposed beams, original flooring, the bar, series of black and white photos from the 1970s and the wood burning fireplace.”

The balanced cultivation of old and new keeps the same ambiance that DeCristofaro and his father once knew and loved, while projecting the restaurant on an upward and refined track.

DeCristofaro sees the restaurant changing toward the will of the clientele, as he and his team are “always open to new ideas, new weekly specials, and staying open through the winter.”

Old Stove Pub is located at 3516 Montauk Highway in Sagaponack. For reservations and more information, call 631-537-3300 or visit oldstovepub.com.