Photo credit – Matt Meduri
The Village Idiot, a well-known and revered restaurant and bar with multiple locations across Suffolk County, just added another address to its roster: the Off-Track Betting (OTB) Racing Forum in Hauppauge.
With locations in Patchogue, Oakdale, Lake Grove, and recently Riverhead at the Indian Island Golf Course, the Hauppauge location makes for a fifth installment in one of Suffolk’s favorite pubs.
Tuesday morning’s grand-opening not only featured local stakeholders and community members, but also Mets World Series champions Art Shamsky and Dwight Gooden, who shared their enthusiasm for the chain and met with customers.
The Messenger sat down with founder and owner John Sarno to learn what the future has in store for the OTB-Village Idiot partnership.
“About seven years ago, a customer came into our Oakdale location and said that he worked for OTB and that they were looking to replace the cafe in the building,” said Sarno. “We liked the location, but what was needed was an exorbitant expense. We had a lease worked out, but it never came to fruition.”
Sarno says that in the meantime, he and his partner opened Drift 82 in Patchogue, followed by Village Idiot in Lake Grove, Chops Steakhouse in Patchogue, and Castaways in Port Jefferson. In February of this year, Sarno learned that OTB was still looking for a bar-restaurant at the Racing Forum.
“We replaced the floors, we painted, we redid the bar, we put televisions on the walls, with more on the way,” said Sarno. “OTB has been accommodating and they put in a separate entrance for us, since we’re open seven days a week, and OTB is closed on Monday and Tuesday.”
Sarno says that while the location is operational, it will be a steady progression to the full Village Idiot experience. More televisions and sports channels will soon be available, while the menu is currently limited to the most popular items, such as their well-known wings, appetizers, wraps, sandwiches, and burgers. New tables and chairs will be purchased once the staff and community are settled in.
Sarno says that their menu will be available to customers through DoorDash and GrubHub within the week and that the “corporate” happy hour is set from Monday through Friday from 3:00p.m. to 7:00p.m, with live music on Fridays. Sarno says the logic of the corporate happy hour is to cater to the people who “want to get a drink after work.”
Sarno says the new pub’s location is advantageous to such an idea, as it sits in close proximity to the Hauppauge Industrial Park, Jake’s 58 Casino and Hotel, the Suffolk County government buildings, and a host of other potential clientele.
Sarno also says that Jake’s 58 and OTB employees will receive 10% discounts at any Village Idiot location due to the new partnership. OTB President Phil Boyle is optimistic about the future of the partnership, as Village Idiot’s name recognition across Long Island makes for a sensible locale as a sports bar.
Village Idiot is also known for their programs that give free meals every month to first responders and police officers, an effort through which Sarno can effectively give back to the community.
The Hauppauge location will not only serve as an after-hours community pub or a place to watch a football game, but also a place for players looking to hedge their bets on horses and sports, as OTB continues their expansion projects at the casino and company-wide.
The new location also puts a cheeky spin on the famed Village Idiot logo: a horse in a jester hat greets customers from the wall upon entrance to the bar.
But despite all the changes, Sarno says that he and the team are committed to delivering their same product, service, and style that they have to other communities.
“I want this to be fun for everyone. I want this to be a fun place for people to bring their kids, as well as for some guys who want to come in and gamble,” said Sarno, adding that Village Idiot is also involved in the school districts and local rotary clubs.
“I’ll repeat what I said fourteen years ago when I opened up: ‘you can get a cold beer anywhere, but if you get great food with that cold beer, you will have to come back.’”
Sarno also mentioned that the steak tidbits are a classic Village Idiot item that the Hauppauge location is already serving up, ready to deliver their tried-and-true offerings for newcomers and seasoned patrons alike.
Village Idiot and OTB Racing Forum are located at 690 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge.
