Setauket, NY — A new steakhouse in Long Island’s Setauket is serving up more than fine cuts of meat — it’s also dishing out history, honoring one of America’s first espionage networks with a fully immersive Revolutionary War experience.
Culper’s 1778, which opened two weeks ago, is a tribute to the Culper Spy Ring, a band of Long Island locals who risked their lives in secret service to General George Washington during the Revolutionary War.
A Taste of History in Every Corner
The brainchild of local entrepreneur Scott Brittman and his team, Culper’s 1778 features war-era décor, including prints of the Battle of Setauket, a replica musket, and even an original U.S. flag.
“We learned about the spy ring in school, and it just stuck with us,” Brittman said. “There hasn’t been much recognition of it here beyond a tour. We wanted to bring it to life.”
And they did — down to recreating George Washington’s favorite drink, a spiced cherry brandy infused with lemon and cinnamon, known at the restaurant as “The Commander.”
Cocktails with Code Names
The Colonial-era cocktail list is just as carefully curated as the food. Offerings include:
- “The Traitor” – a tea-based vodka drink nodding to Benedict Arnold
- “Agent 355” – a gin cocktail referencing the mysterious female spy whose identity remains unknown
- “The Clothesline” – a Ketel One libation named after spy Anna Smith Strong, who sent coded messages via her laundry line
“We’ve had a lot of visitors from out of town — especially history buffs — who are loving this place,” Brittman said, noting that the restaurant closed on July 4th in observance of Independence Day.
Meet the Real Culpers
According to Christopher Judge, a historian and educator at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, the Culper Ring consisted of at least seven known members, most of whom hailed from Long Island.
Key figures included:
- Benjamin Tallmadge – leader and Setauket native
- Abraham Woodhull and Caleb Brewster – boyhood friends and trusted spies
- Robert Townsend – undercover loyalist in NYC, whose identity remained a secret even from Washington
- Austin Roe – tavern owner turned courier from Port Jefferson
“They were like the CIA before the CIA,” said Judge. “And not a single member was ever caught.”
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The ring’s efforts proved pivotal in the American Revolution — including foiling a British counterfeit plot and diverting English troops from a critical French landing in Rhode Island.
Judge said he’s excited to try Culper’s 1778 himself, calling it “a long overdue tribute to heroes in our own backyard.”
A Revolutionary Dining Experience Awaits
From steaks to spycraft, Culper’s 1778 offers more than just a meal — it offers a moment in history, reimagined.
What Revolutionary War stories from Long Island inspire you the most?
Let us know in the comments at ridgecrestpact.org and share your visit to Culper’s 1778 in the comment section.
