Northport’s newest restaurant, “Faro,” is set to welcome people with a soft opening on Friday from 4 to 9 p.m. at its downtown location after completing months of renovations to its space.
Local business owner Eric Allchin, who owned The Tribune ice cream shop for almost a decade, as well as The Northport Union, said the new restaurant and rebranding is the evolution of both places, and will serve up items like wood fired pizza, small plates, and drinks at a full bar.
“We worked really hard on improving the space. It’s always our thing to get a little bit better every year, but I think that the percentage that we got better this year was just wildly beyond my expectations, and I think it’s just really going to surprise people when they come in. I’m excited for people to see that and I’m excited for us to get into the new kitchen and really put out the food that we always wanted to with the right space. I hope people appreciate and come and enjoy it,” Allchin said. “Our food is going to be Italian and Spanish influenced, like the Catalonia region area, and we’re big on the woodfire — the name itself ‘Faro’ means lighthouse, which is kind of appropriate for Northport.”
The Union started as an event space, Allchin said, but during the COVID pandemic, like so many businesses, things changed, and he brought on a vintage pizza truck for the establishment. The concept was always “wood fired” at the Union, and he was able to try a pop-up version of the idea last year before making it reality. At the same time, he continued to operate the Tribune until announcing that it was closing its doors for good in January.
“I guess it was just a decision to close The Tribune and combine the businesses up at The Union,” he said. “So it is The Tribune and The Union combined, but it’s kind of the evolution of both of them and what we learned from them being out here.”
Returning customers will notice similar nods to the former eateries at Faro, whether it’s The Tribune’s biscuits and pancakes on the menu, or historical pictures and artwork from the ice cream shop hanging inside the new restaurant.
The interior of the restaurant, which is where The Union once stood, received some big changes like moving their entire bar and adding new lighting and paint. Throughout the summer starting in June, there will also be live music outside and an outdoor kitchen installed and ready to go for customers to experience.
“There’s little reminders and pieces of it… Faro will be a full restaurant, and we do want to offer a kind of brunch/lunch and then we’ll go into dinner service,” he said. “We’re not done yet, but I feel like we’ve taken some big strides and we’re excited to get operating and finish it all up.”
Hours will be updated in the weeks ahead. People can follow Faro on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram in the meantime to look for more information and updates.
