Village Idiot Irish Pub becomes American Times in Oakdale

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The transformation is complete.

American Times Restaurant & Tavern, the new modern American tavern replacing the Village Idiot Irish Pub in Oakdale, officially opened Friday on Montauk Highway.

Owner John Sarno closed the Village Idiot late last month after its 10-year run to renovate and rebrand the space.

Inside, American Times has a classic tavern feel with a modern coastal edge: rich wood finishes, candlelit tables, warm lighting, curated music and a livelier, more polished atmosphere built for dinner, cocktails and nightlife.

“Our vision for American Times was to create a place that feels timeless but alive,” Sarno previously told Greater Long Island. “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 tavern comfort food, seafood, steaks and chef-driven plates, with standouts including a Raw Bar Sampler, New Zealand Baby Lamb Chops, Steak Tidbits, Beef Tenderloin and the Surf & Turf Sandwich.

Cocktails include the Liberty 75, American Old Fashioned, Star Spangled Martini, Presidential Punch and Whiskey Business.

The Oakdale opening marks Sarno’s second major rebrand in the Village Idiot portfolio. He previously converted the Lake Grove Village Idiot into Rockefellers Kitchen & Cocktails, while the Village Idiot in Patchogue remains open.

Take a look inside the newly transformed space below.