inspired Harlows waterfront design. P H O T O G R A P H Y
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S T A R R - T A M B O R Whereas the New York City original pays hom- age to 1930s Hollywood glamour with stained-glass windows, coffered ceilings, and a marble oyster bar, Notar says that his South Fork incarnation will celebrate the best of what Sag Harbor has to offer: gorgeous views, locally sourced ingredients, and a staff that can handle the 380-seat venue (200 indoors with an additional 180 dockside). Inside, Notar has bedecked the space with white, nautical blues, and natural woods intersected by pops of color, including original artwork by Katherine Blackburne. Staff will be outfit- ted in seersucker pants, white shirts, and red Vans. I like clean, crisp design, meaning I dont want to compete with the weather, the salt air, and the boats, says Notar of Harlow Easts coastal vibe, which he hopes will influence his guests attire. This is your chancewear shorts! he exclaims. Take a break from the stresses of everyday life. The easy atmosphere is an idyllic setting for the seasonally inspired menu that Notar aims to keep simple with dishes such as branzino with wasabi stem gremolata and crispy hearts of palm and a locally sourced raw bar featuring Island Creek oysters and seafood from Gosmans Fish Market. Theres nothing wrong with going into the Nordic for- est to forage for dinner, he says, referencing the famed restaurant Noma in Copenhagen. But this is some- place where you can have dinner on a Monday night and return later in the week. Theres something on the menu for everyone, but were pushing the envelope a bit with bold and spicy flavors, citrus, and chiles. No stranger to hospitality, Notar got his start as a bus- boy at Studio 54; since then, hes picked up more than his fair share of industry know-how from 19 years of experience as managing partner of Nobu, which previ- ously hosted a pop-up in Southampton. With the formation of Notar Hospitality, he launched the original Harlow in early 2013 and is on the brink of opening a to- be-named venue in the former Lenox Lounge space in Harlem this summer. Yet the allure of a Sag Harbor spot was too tempting to resist. I appreciate the value of the geographythe incredibly quaint, Victorian houses, says Notar. You want to preserve the very reason why you come out here. Open for breakfast pastries and coffee from midday and into the evening, customers are welcome to stroll in any timea philosophy he learned from Studio 54s Ian Schrager and Steve Rubell. Be hospitable or get out of the busi- ness, says Notar. Its showtime. 1 Long Wharf, Sag Harbor, 725-5858 H INSIGHT Midday meal: Im always looking for lunch at 3 oclock. I relish the days I can sit down with charcuterie, olives, and oystersall served family-style. Favorite drink: An Aperol Spritz, served with an orange wedge and a green olive, just like they do in Italy. I have an affinity for out East, says restaurateur Richie Notar, who first summered in Montauk more than 20 years ago and has been drawn to the South Fork ever sinceincluding two seasons overseeing Nobu at Capri in Southampton. This summer he is opening a Hamptons outpost of his sprawling Manhattan venue, Harlow East, in Sag Harbor in the former B. Smith space on the Long Wharf. Harlow in the Hamptons RESTAURATEUR RICHIE NOTAR OPENS A COASTAL TAKE ON HIS MANHATTAN HOT SPOT ON THE WHARF IN SAG HARBOR. BY MATTHEW WEXLER 126 HAMPTONS-MAGAZINE.COM BEACH PATROL 126_H_SP_BP_RNotar_Memorial_14.indd 126 5/14/14 5:42 PM