foodieforthought's Profile
Levittown Area devoid of any decent dining options.
Honestly, beggars can't be choosers. I'll give RUB a shot.
Levittown Area devoid of any decent dining options.
:-) That's exactly what I thought!
Levittown Area devoid of any decent dining options.
While it may be a product of demand or of the economy, I moved to Levittown about 2 years ago and have, unfortunately, yet to find a single decent restaurant in the immediate area that serves food in a moderate-upscale environment that is worth visiting on a regular basis. There are NO restaurants that feel compelled to serve any respectable wines by the glass, etc...
The closest options that I have found (of course using my home as the center of my map):
West-East Bistro: modern Asian-Fusion cuisine with respectable wine program in Hicksville (in a strip mall with a Verizon store and a dentist).
Jake's Steakhouse: a newish run-of-the-mill steakhouse in East Meadow
Snap's Restuarant: a great little local place, but its about 4 miles south in Wantagh off of Sunrise Highway.
Again...Levittown has never been known for it's dining scene, but I find it peculiar that the only restaurant model that seems to work here is "pub-style" mass food (i.e., Miller's Ale House, TGI Fridays, Texas Roadhouse). Anybody else dissatisfied with the choices in this area? Or even better, can anybody recommend somewhere that I may have missed?
Favorite Long Island Restaurants
I agree with BadAsh, Prime, Novita, and Snaps (understated to be sure) are excellent choices.
Babbo versus Scarpetta?
Let the battle begin, Batali or Conant? If you have been to both, please weigh the pro's and con's. I do know that Scarpetta is still new and doesn't quite have that 'following' that maybe a devout Batali patron might feel, but I think the food at both places takes the customer to a new level of Italian cuisine that cannot be found anywhere else. Overall dining experience should be evaluated (food, atmosphere, wine list, pricing, ability to score a table, etc.)
I'm just interested to hear feedback, thanks.
BEST PIZZA ON LONG ISLAND
For the regular cheese slice, Three Brothers on Broadway in Bethpage cannot be beat. I think its their sauce, sooo good!
Toku Modern Asian, Americana Manhasset
I finally got a chance to try Toku yesterday for dinner. WOW! It's amazing. Service was impeccable. I told our waiter that we had never been to the restaurant before, he took the time to go through every item on the list and tell me his honest opinion on them (he had no hesitation to tell me that something wasn't good and I wouldn't enjoy it). I took his recommendations and he was SPOT ON!
For appetizers we tried the Kobe Riverstone BBQ. They basically give you a plate of Kobe beef carpaccio, next to it, you are given a mini stove with a fire and a hot stone. you place the kobe on the stone to your desired temperature. It was melt in your mouth amazing beef. Also, the Berkshire pork gyoza were plump, juicy, and outstanding. The Crispy Rice were okay, but paled in comparison to the other two.
For entrees, my date got the Short Ribs Pad Thai while I got the Crispy Hoisin Duck. Outstanding. Every bite imparted fresh herbs and spices. The duck had this elusive aroma that my girlfriend and I identified and toasted marshmallows later in the night (not a bad thing, at all). We also shared the Shrimp XO Rice Pilaf with pineapple foam, all were amazing.
For dessert, my girlfriend got the Fuji Tatin, which was thinly sliced fuji apples with a calvados brandy reduction sauce; thin and fresh. While I got the crispy banana wontons with lychee sorbet. Excellent contrasts in flavors, textures, colors, etc.
We also enjoyed a nice pot of tea, which Toku has a large selection for dessert. Very herbaceous.
I LOVED my Toku experience, and will be back very very very soon.
Aix en-Provence, Huntington
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it's Aire en-Provence.
But anyway..how was it? I drive past this place all the time when going to Prime.
restaurant week - where are you going?
Although I always feel like Restaurant Week is usually filled with struggling sub-par restauarants, there are a few that I might try to hit up this week, in this order:
Honu (Huntington) ( I love this place)
Four Food Studio (Melville)
Jonathan's Ristorante (Huntington)
The Gatsby (Islip) -- this place is a little cheesy, but romantic nonetheless
Toku Modern Asian, Americana Manhasset
Have not been yet, but has gotten rave reviews from Newsday and NY Times.
LI Restaurants with Manhattan feel?
I think too many people go in there with the preconception that it is a steakhouse. Which it is not. Every time I've been there, the service has been stellar and the food, drink, and atmosphere to match. I will concede it is not the most value-oriented restaurant on Long Island..but in regards to this thread, most Manhattan restaurants aren't either!
I think its a dining experience one can't really get on long island. It's a much more sensual experience with a lot of thought and sophistication in their menu.
Besides, I was just there recently (i.e., this week), and they are changing their menu for the fall. It looks REALLY good. I tried their play on the "wellington"...filet mignon, wrapped in spinach, then wrapped in filo dough, roasted, with triple-cream brie cheese in the center of the filet. it was amazing!
LI Restaurants with Manhattan feel?
In responding to my own post...as I never really gave my opinion:
I have to agree with phofiend, feel like this most urban-style restaurants have sprung up in the Huntington area, as well as Garden City.
I have been taken aback by these few:
Honu Kitchen & Cocktails
Four Food Studio
Novita
and above and beyond the most Manhattan-style restauarant: Prime in Huntington (I guess that has to do with their executive chef coming from Montrachet!).
LI Restaurants with Manhattan feel?
For better or for worse, Manhattan restaurants have a certain feel about them. The buzz, the service, the thought into menus. Are there any restauarants in the Nassau/Suffolk area that have that Manhattan feel to them. I can only think of a few, just wondering if there are any others.
Grom Gelato? As good as advertised?
FYI for all, I believe the Bowery Whole Foods is now serving Il Lab gelato at their gelato bar.
Been to Prime in Huntington?
I don't see this 40-singles crowd. Mostly couples, business dinners, etc. I think this place presents a dining experience that one doesn't get often on Long Island. It has a very big Manhattan feel (aside from the water-view). Having a chef who was worked at Montrachet and Daniel doesn't hurt either!
Rumor has it that they will soon be starting tasting menus to showcase the Chef's true talent. Richard Farnabe has quite a sterling reputation.
Christina's Epicure - East Norwich
Yes, I imagine located in the heart of the north shore...the price will be akin to a Manhattan Whole Foods. :-)
Christina's Epicure - East Norwich
I imagine it is going to carry products similar to Fairway, catering to a higher-income gourmet grocery demographic which is increasing rapidly.
Chowhound Blasphemy: EMP - No Good!
Kobeto,
I was so hungry after EMP...I had to venture over to Shake Shack and drop another 20 bucks (not willingly) on two burgers.
I truly do not understand how one could have been full from the amount of food i was given, and over the timeframe allotted.
Granted, Chef Humm's presentations were outstanding, but I felt so much time and effort went into the pretentiousness of plating that he overlooks the sheer practicality of food: it's supposed to feed you!
And personally, the overmanipulation of textures and tastes does not impress me. "Tomato water" and "peekytoe crab jelee" are not things I really enjoy, nor do they sound remotely appetizing.
I don't want to sound cheap because I understand how lucrative NYC restauranting is, but just the constant reminder that I received maybe $30 worth of food for $145/pp truly truly bothered me. I reiterate, the only word I can use for EMP is underwhelming.
If you can ever get out to Long Island, check out Prime in Huntington. My favorite restaurant by far.
Chowhound Blasphemy: EMP - No Good!
Yes, you read it right folks. Although service and atmosphere were excellent. I was incredibly underwhelmed by the food, which to my understanding, was the main draw of this restaurant.
My girlfriend and I did the Gourmand tasting menu, and sadly to say...11 courses, 3 hours, and $400 later, we left hungry and disappointed.
I was quite amazed they were able to spread so little food over this much time and plating. And by the third course, my girlfriend had told me if another course came encased in "gelee" or "custard" we would be asking for the check.
I am welcome to opposing views, but I feel very ripped off. Very.
EMP Prix Fixe Quandry?
Although there have been a few discussions on this board about the EMP prix fixe menu, I am still a bit confused.
Here is my scenario:
My girlfriend and I are going to EMP tomorrow night for dinner. I would like to sample both their suckling pig and the duck for two, as I have heard they are by far and away the best dishes on their menu.
However, how can this be worked if we were to chose the duck? Does this count as two selections or what? How should I order this (one 3-course and one 4-course, etc.)?
I was told these are the best dishes, and if I am wrong...please direct me towards the better options!
Thanks fellow chowhounds.
Eleven Madison Park Dinner Question
Yes, but how is it that if we both do the 3 course dinner...they count the duck as two selections (one from each person), but if i one does 3 and one does 4, then they only count it as one selection? I'm still a bit confused.
The scallop watermelon ceviche looks delicious, but i think it might be a pretty familiar flavor.
Grom Gelato? As good as advertised?
A few months back, I had read an article in the NY Times about a high-quality gelato shop opening on the UWS called Grom. I recently heard somebody on the D train talking about how good it is, wanted to know if any chowhounds had opinions on this place...
Eleven Madison Park Dinner Question
I am going to EMP for the first time on 9/10, largely because of the rave reviews it has gotten on this website. Aside from the suckling pig, what else are must haves on the menu. I once read a thread saying that my guest should do the three courses and i shoud do the four courses so that we could do the duck for two together, but i'm a bit confused by this...could somebody explain a bit?
Christina's Epicure - East Norwich
I too am quite curious to this place's deal...i recently saw them hiring their staff on craigslist, so they cant be too far off.
Which TJ location is best?
I know it wasn't one of your options, but you may want to trek to TJ in Union Square, Mahattan. They have the best selection, by far...and their own wine shop.
Been to Prime in Huntington?
I would agree with you Peter. The service staff seems somewhat pretentious, yet very experienced. I felt in good hands, no matter how much of an attitude I got.
As a displaced Manhattan-ite, I think this NY-style restaurant is what allures me to go back. Its the the most NY like restaurant in their general outlook on the Island. Not necessarily a good thing, I suppose.
Must haves at Tao?
It just truly boggles my mind how this monster of a restaurant is considered "good".
Beginner's French Cuisine?
I think french toast and french onion soup are already taken care of, lol.
Things like foie gras, quail, squab, rabbit, duck confit.
Beginner's French Cuisine?
Alas, my girlfriend does not have the same desire to try new things that I do. I wanted to take her to Eleven Madison Park in a few weeks and she denied, saying the food seemed to 'fancy' for her. I simply think its an ignorance of certain contemporary cuisines in general.
Are there any restaurants in NYC that are not as upscale as EMP or Daniel but still produce high-quality French food, similar to those in the above referenced restaurants? I want to make her feel comfortable with these new foods before she is thrown into a setting such as EMP.
Anyway...I have reservations for two at EMP, anybody care to join? ;-)
Tapas On LI??
Although I think you are trying moreso for the cuisine rather than portion size...there are several 'small plates' restaurants on the island...two of note are Honu in Huntington and Taste in Garden City.
-foodie
http://edibleincome.blogspot.com
