Foodie Vue: Skippers

 34 Main Street, Northport
631-261-3589
www.skippersnpt.com

Edgy, Creative Culinary Destination

After working with the small business sector for nearly 35 years, one thing I’ve learned to a certainty is that evolution is essential for sustainable growth. Skippers of Northport is one of those businesses who in recent years has taken what was already a successful restaurant and reinvented itself to broaden its appeal to a new world order of diners. 

It was in 1969 when Paul Gallowitsch arrived in the United States from Austria eager to chase the American Dream. After working at various restaurants over the years, in 1978, Paul took a leap of faith and opened Skippers Pub. Forty seven years later Skippers has transformed itself from the classic salty sea dog pub to an edgy, creative culinary destination. This rebirth was spearheaded by son Paul. As Paul Jr explains, “We didn’t just update our look, but our entire philosophy about how we should present our food. Every member of our team was directly involved in the creation of our new menu as well. The goal being to become aligned with the contemporary restaurant scene that has emerged.” Since the restaurant’s resurgence, Executive Chef Joab Masse continues to push boundaries, challenging his team to create groundbreaking dishes that delight Skippersʼ patrons. When I visited Skippers, I was excited, curious, and eager to see how the restaurant has evolved. Here are just some of the many dishes that we enjoyed. 

Thai Red Curry Mussels; Coconut Milk, Lemongrass, Kaffir Leaves Plump mussels cooked in a rich, mildly spicy curry, complemented by creamy coconut milk and aromatic kaffir leaves. The dish was a perfect blend of flavor and heat, with a delightful balance of spice and cool creaminess. Lobster Bisque; Rich Creamy Soup with a Touch of Sherry This French-inspired bisque is exactly what you want from this seafaring eatery. The kitchen’s deliberate approach to crumbling fresh lobster meat into tiny morsels ensured that each spoonful was filled with fresh lobster, finishing with a mild kick. Absolutely delicious. Grilled Blackened Swordfish; Jumbo Lump Crab Meat, Sweet Potato Hash, Wilted Spinach, Roasted Red Pepper Coulis A dramatic presentation of thick, center-cut swordfish, seared to perfection on the outside while remaining moist within. Perched atop a mound of lump crab-infused sweet potato hash, creating an exciting contrast of textures. Paired with the savory roasted red pepper sauce, made this dish a real treat. Texas Cowboy Steak Tacos; Blue Corn Tortillas, Avocado, Green Tomatillos, Salsa, Queso Fresco, Sour Cream Two oversized tacos filled with savory, perfectly cooked skirt steak (medium rare). So filling I had to eat the second one without the tortilla. Fantastico! 

Though we were stuffed, we couldn’t resist trying one of their go-to sides: Truffle French Fries; Delivered hot and crisp, enhanced with that earthy, garlicky and cheesy flavor. Trust me—bet you can’t eat just one!

By the time this article is published, several updates have been made to Skippersʼ already diverse and innovative menu. Come down and see what all the excitement is all about. Congratulations to the Gallowitsch family and the entire staff at Skippers of Northport on this exciting new chapter in your restaurant’s incredible longevity in the Northport community.