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Update: The Village Idiot Irish Pub is now open in Oakdale.
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Original story: There’s going to be another Idiot on Montauk Highway.
The Village Idiot Irish Pub, brought to you by the owner of the Village Idiot Pub in Patchogue and the owner of The Lark Pub & Grub in East Northport — is coming soon to Oakdale.
The partners have taken over the old McGovern’s Bar & Grill building, which is now undergoing a makeover. The new Village Idiot signs went up Wednesday night.
Sarno and Kelly had considered naming their new joint venture The Village Leprechaun. Then a bartender at McGovern’s polled some of her regulars (when the place was still open).
“The response wasn’t so hot,” Kelly said.
So Kelly pushed Sarno to incorporate his popular Idiot brand into the new place.
A few hours later, they came up with Village Idiot Irish Pub.
Sarno explained that since the Village Idiot Pub is often referenced in signage and elsewhere as VIP, the new, Village Idiot Irish Pub, or VIIP, will utilize a Roman numeral II, symbolic of the second location.
The partners are hoping to open VIIP later next month.
The flavor of the place will remain very Irish, Sarno explained, incorporating decor from pubs that had closed in Ireland during the recent recession. The heavy wooden front door will stay.
The fare will mostly mirror the new American dishes at the Village Idiot Pub, but popular Lark menu items will appear on the menu as well.
The kitchen will be led by longtime Long Island chef Chris Juliano.
As for the popular Lark items, those include Thanksgiving egg rolls, buffalo dip and a homemade hummus-centered Mediterranean platter — to name a few.
Sarno said the partners and staffers have received nothing but good responses from the locals.
“They’ve been to my place [in Patchogue],” he said. “With the known name coming over, they’re just excited to have great food, great options, and two owners who really care and are going to be hands on.”
As for breakfast — a favorite meal at VIP — Sarno said they’ll start slowly.
“We’ll do Saturdays and Sundays,” he said. “Then we’ll see.”
Photo: VIIP owners Tim Kelly and John Sarno in Oakdale Thursday. (Michael White)
