Merrick Sushi Bar & Tea
If you’re familiar with Merrick, you’ll know that not unlike every other town on Long Island, there are a plethora of Japanese and sushi restaurants. Having recently opened their doors to the raw-seafood consuming public, Merrick Sushi & Tea is filling a niche that not many other restaurants are able to. || Read more »
Gabrielle’s Brasserie & Wine Bar in Rockville Centre
Gabrielle’s Brasserie & Wine Bar has had a short history at its current location in Rockville Centre. Traces of its former incarnation, 22 North Park (also the address, very clever), can still be seen in the restaurant. Soon after 22 N. Park opened a few years ago, it was transitioned into the restaurant that we see today. With Tom Schaudel overseeing the restaurant it has turned into a Mediterranean themed cuisine with plenty of small plates and seafood dishes to choose from. || Read more »
novita in Garden City
Garden City has always been on my short list for favorite towns as it boasts a high ratio of restaurants and shops for your dining and shopping pleasure. You could visit this area once a week for the next year and still find new and interesting cuisine to try, with each restaurant better than the rest. novita has been around for a few years and has steadily built a reliable fan base of diners eagerly drinking selections from their huge wine list. Having transformed itself from its former life as Victory (the same owners), and being a sister-restaurant and next-door neighbor to one of our favorite restaurants on the island, Waterzooi, we’ve been anticipating sitting down and having a go with this trendy italian restaurant. || Read more »
Besito in Roslyn
This post originally appeared on East of NYC on the same day.
Click here to view their menu.
When our friend sought out a local spot to hit up for her birthday dinner with a few select friends, she hit the nail on the head in picking Besito in Roslyn. The second Besito on the island (the original is located in the village of Huntington) and one of the restaurants owned by local restauranteur John Tunney (also the owner of Honu and America Roadside Burgers) this restaurant achieves the sophistication of the palate and of the design that you would expect from this powerhouse owner. Located on the North Shore and in a shopping center with Kotobuki, the crowd is as high-end as the food and drink offered. || Read more »
Naru Sushi in Great Neck
I know plenty of people who either live in Great Neck or near this quaint little village on the north shore. Countless times I’ve heard them speak of Naru Sushi and the great sushi that they have. It took about three years of listening to finally try it. Thank goodness I did.
Out to dinner with my dad, we took it upon ourselves to branch out from our familiar Great Neck haunts and try Naru, which is located on Cutter Mill Rd. just opposite the Inn at Great Neck. It was rainy and cold, even for April’s standards so we exited the car and ran inside. We entered the restaurant and were the only two people in the small establishment. We looked at each other cautiously and decided to still go for it, seeing that even though there wasn’t anyone dining in, the sushi chefs were furiously making rolls to be sent out into the rainy night. Great Neck is such a small town that most of their business is from take-out and delivery so we we really had no worries.
An interesting aspect of this restaurant is that their sushi is available in white, brown or black rice varieties. I went for the usual white rice but as soon as I got home later that night my wife yelled at me for not having the black rice, which is her favorite from when she went to Naru. There’s always next time.
The sushi was great. I ordered a Princess Roll which consisted of spicy tuna on the inside with tuna and avocado on the outside (topped with tobiko and scallions as well). I also ordered a shrimp tempura roll which was warm and crunchy at the same time while the eel sauce on top brought a great sweetness. My dad, who has no need to venture into the sushi world past cooked shrimp and crab rolls decided that he would instead opt for a dinner Bento Box which housed chicken terriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempuras, fried dumplings, a california roll and rice. I was surely impressed by the freshness of the sushi and the sheer variety of special rolls that were offered.
Verdict: I’ll visit again, and this time, I won’t wait 3 more years to return.
516-504-4462
Naru Sushi
25-5 Cutter Mill Rd.
Great Neck, NY 11021
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Bonsai Japanese Restaurant in Port Washington
Trips out for dinner on a weekend have been so rare these days, that we didn’t know how to contain ourselves when we booked a babysitter for the night and headed out to meet some friends who live in Port Washington. Since we don’t have that much of an opportunity, we wanted to make the best of it and suggested that we all go to a sushi joint since that is the one cuisine that we have not had much of lately. We left it up to our friends to decide where to take us, and we’re glad we did. || Read more »
Grimaldi’s in Garden City
With a large group we invaded Grimaldi’s in Garden City today. A sister-restaurant to the (world) famous Brooklyn location, Grimaldi’s is on a quest to produce the freshest, tastiest and best pizza out there.
While eating in the restaurant, their open kitchen area will leave you and your party to watch the artisans perfecting their skills; handcrafted pizzas made in their coal brick-oven. Our pizza came in two varieties: plain and white. Both were served whole to the table and it was up to us to season as we preferred. The crust was thin and it lacked the oily drip that so many pizzerias in the area unfortunately have.
Bordering Franklin Avenue, the floor to ceiling windows in the front of the restaurant will give you something to look at and will keep your attention while you wait. There is a bar at the restaurant too and they do have happy hour specials as well. Pizza is our favorite meal and we left stuffed and fully satisfied. 516-294-6565
980 Franklin Ave.
Garden City, NY 11530
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Eating On The Cheap at Zim Zari in Massapequa
$26.00 (including tip, 2 entrees and a kids meal….no drinks).
The cost for our lunch at Zim Zari in Massapequa was what sold us on this newly opened California / Tex-Mex Grill. Two doors down from their sister-location Mercato, the site of the former Butera’s which has moved onto another location, lies Zim Zari. A great looking backlit bar up front signals that you’re in for a nice treat as frozen margaritas will come spinning out of the blender as fast as you can blink an eye. The house margarita is the only one served, but the description of it sounded delicious (don’t ask us to repeat it as there were plenty of ingredients).
Tai Show Sushi in Massapequa
Sushi so fresh it may have just been caught.
My wife and I found ourselves with a babysitter on Sunday afternoon. With our new-found freedom we wanted to have a great meal since most times our toddler is right beside us hogging all the attention of the waitstsaff along with ourselves. Having been to Tai Show in Massapequa before we knew that we would have a great meal.
Family Style Italian at Ciao Baby in Commack
Where’s the recession?
If there’s a recession then Ciao Baby in Commack missed the memo. At 6:45pm on a Saturday night this location was hopping and a line was formed along the wall.
This surge in clientele could have a few reasons. First, Ciao Baby has been well known on the island for many years for their larger than life portions, trendy décor and pretty reasonable prices. Next, Ciao Baby has carried over their prix-fixe menu from Restaurant Week. For $24.99 per person you get an appetizer, entrée and dessert. The prix-fixe runs all day 6 days per week and until 7pm on Saturday nights.
