American Times Restaurant & Tavern set to open May 15 in Oakdale

Owner John Sarno’s modern American tavern debuts Friday on Montauk Highway with coastal cuisine, handcrafted cocktails and anticipated lively nightlife

American Times Restaurant & Tavern will officially open this Friday in Oakdale, replacing the Village Idiot Irish Pub on Montauk Highway.

The space was transformed after owner John Sarno closed it late last month for renovations. The Village Idiot marked its 10th anniversary before making way for the rebrand.

“We celebrate 10 years on Saturday and then drain the bar and say goodbye for now,” Sarno told Greater Long Island at the time.

The reimagined space draws on historic American tavern culture while keeping the experience contemporary, Sarno said. Guests can expect candlelit interiors, rich wood textures, curated music and a menu that features comfort food, as well as upscale seafood and chef-driven plates.

“Our vision for American Times was to create a place that feels timeless but alive,” Sarno said. “We wanted to build more than just a restaurant — we wanted a gathering place where great food, cocktails, conversation, and energy all come together.”

The menu features standout dishes including a Raw Bar Sampler, New Zealand Baby Lamb Chops, Steak Tidbits, Beef Tenderloin, Surf & Turf Sandwich, Drunken Chicken Melt, and a lineup of signature burgers inspired by Long Island culture.

The cocktail program is expected to be a centerpiece of the experience, with drinks like the Liberty 75, American Old Fashioned, Star Spangled Martini, Presidential Punch and Whiskey Business.

Happy hour will feature half-off drink specials, alongside oysters, wings, calamari, sliders and tavern favorites. Desserts include Apple Crumb Soufflé, Brownie Sundaes, Rainbow Cookie Cake and specialty nightcap coffees.

The Oakdale opening marks Sarno’s second rebrand in the Village Idiot portfolio. He previously converted his Lake Grove location into Rockefellers Kitchen & Cocktails, a Prohibition-inspired restaurant. The Village Idiot in Patchogue remains open on Main Street.

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