East of NYC - Long Island Restaurants, Food News, Shopping, Events and Real Estate

Quick Stop and Shoot: Biscuits & Barbecue in Mineola

East of NYC Staff — Thu, 02 May 2013 13:02:08 +0000

A 1940′s railcar on Long Island is something quote unusual. Even more unusual is a 1940′s railcar serving up authentic barbecue that is delighting everyone who visits and creating a cult following for itself. Such is the case at Biscuits & Barbecue.

Open since 2012, this small spot has been taking the north shore by storm. Quietly tucked away on a Mineola side street, it’s not the most visible restaurant on Long Island, but for those who are in the know (or happen upon it by accident) it’s a restaurant that will be in heavy rotation on their repertoire. Whether it’s alligator, chicken, ribs, pulled pork or a slice of pecan pie, Biscuits & Barbecue is raising the bar (and the temperature) on the local bbq scene.

Biscuits & Barbecue
106 E 2nd St
Mineola, NY 11501
516-493-9797

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Real Estate For Sale: 3 Bedroom / 2.5 Bathroom Townhouse in Merrick

East of NYC Staff — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:48:28 +0000

This month’s featured “for sale” is located in Merrick at the Barclay Townhouses II development. A cooperative townhouse (you own shares in the corporation – rather than owning the real estate outright), this updated 3-bedroom / 2.5-bath is up for sale by owner for $390,000.

Monthly maintenance for the unit is $851.58 per month and this fee includes real estate taxes and upkeep of the common area. A percentage of the monthly maintenance is deductible off of your taxes as it does include the mortgage on the entire property. This number does not include STAR abatement received by the owner once per year.

The property had its windows, siding, roof and skylights replaced in 2007. It also has central air conditioning and heating is run off of gas, not oil. Landscaping and snow removal are included in the monthly maintenance fee and Shareholders do not have to pay extra for these services. Pets are welcome.

If you are interested in viewing this unit, please e-mail the owner directly.

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Photo Tour: Queen City Cupcakes in Patchogue

East of NYC Staff — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:34:20 +0000

Back in Patchogue’s heyday, Patchogue was known as the Queen City. It was a popular destination for shops, restaurants and hotels alike. Keeping that moniker alive today is Queen City Cupcakes, pulling double duty as a store for home-wares and a bakery with exquisite desserts. We stopped inside to snap some photos to let our readers see some of their wonderful wares and sweet offerings.

Queen City Cupcakes
62 West Main Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
631-569-4900

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Red Fish Grille in Plainview

East of NYC Staff — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:00:15 +0000

Red Fish Grille may not be as known as it should be, perhaps because it is attached to a strip of stores and is not a stand alone restaurant, but that doesn’t mean that they’re not serving top-notch seafood and other dishes to the Plainview crowd.

Image Copyright Mark Brandon Photography

A mostly local crowd gathers in the bar area and the dining room to the right of the entrance. Although most patrons may be from Plainview they also cater to the neighboring communities, Syosset and Woodbury, which are both within a 5-minute drive. It’s a prime location situated next to two major shopping centers in Plainview and as a result it is quite often very busy.

Image Copyright Mark Brandon Photography

The cuisine steers American with an emphasis on seafood and fresh ingredients. On our visit, we dabbled in the Tower of Tuna appetizer. This wasn’t disappointing, but we did feel that the color could have been better on the tuna and it could have been a little cooler than room temperature. They were not deal breakers, but for personal preference these were two things we picked up on. The Crackling Calamari salad was great. It was just the right combination of fried calamari and sweet flavors. Two of our favorites rolled into one.

Image Copyright Mark Brandon Photography

Red Fish Grille may not be on your radar, but we could classify it as a strip mall surprise. It’s pretty solid in its cuisine and we think that overall it will please most diners who stop by for a drink and a bite.

Image Copyright Mark Brandon Photography

Red Fish Grille
430 Woodbury Rd.
Plainview, NY 11803
516-932-8460

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In Photos: MP Taverna in Roslyn

East of NYC Staff — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 19:52:25 +0000

MP Taverna in Roslyn is a rarity on Long Island. It’s helmed by owner/chef Michael Psilakis, a heavyweight in the international scene. He’s amassed a Michelin star, a James Beard Award nomination and he can be seen on various television series regularly airing (including Iron Chef). It’s a wonderful thing that he has planted MP Taverna, his take on a modern Greek bistro, right here in our own backyard.

We weren’t just dining at MP Taverna when we had the pleasure of stopping by recently. We were there filming our 100th episode of Restaurant Hunter for FiOS1 Long Island. It was a special shoot as we had both an audience and special guests to accompany Chef Psilakis and his culinary creations.

The restaurant itself is beautiful. Prior to turning into MP Taverna, this space had been briefly used as Day Boat Cafe, which suffered a fire in 2008 and needed to close almost as soon as it had opened. Luckily for us, Chef Psilakis was looking for a space to open.

MP Taverna excels in almost everything it tries, especially seafood. We were fortunate to share a Whole American Red Snapper, topped with onion, tomato and eggplant. Appetizers included a spicy broccoli rabe and roasted potatoes.

Whole American Red Snapper

Spicy Broccoli Rabe

MP Taverna
1363 Old Northern Boulevard
Roslyn, NY 11576
516-686-6486

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Weekend Breakfast on Long Island: Mineola Diner in Mineola

East of NYC Staff — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 22:28:27 +0000

Looking for that old 1950′s style diner setting to have your weekend breakfast served piping hot? If so, then you owe it to yourself to visit Mineola Diner in Mineola. Just like stepping back in time, the small restaurant is a nod to the past with tastes that are certainly in the present.

Out of place in modern day Mineola, the look and feel of Mineola Diner is different than anything else in the neighborhood (ok, maybe not so much different than Biscuits & BBQ, but it is certainly unique). It’s a reminder of times that were simpler; guided by breakfast staples that were meant to give you fuel to get you through the hard work day, but now it’s more about the experience of sitting with a few friends or family or perhaps sitting alone, reading the paper and having a little quiet time while ingesting your first meal of the day.

In the mornings your best best is to get anything egg or pancake related. For good measure, order up a side of bacon to go with that main course. Almost everything coming out of the kitchen is accompanied by thinly cut slices of it, so we wouldn’t want you to be left out of the crowd. The food flies out of the kitchen quickly and is has to – there’s a large breakfast crowd packed into a small space – things have to be expedited to keep the flow.

If you’re in Nassau County and you want to try something a little different – something that can live up to the expectations, Mineola Diner is that spot. We need more breakfast spots like this on Long Island but given the charm and character of the old decor (make sure you spot all of those old items from the 50′s – Happy Days included), this may be one of the last of a dying breed.

Mineola Diner
138 Jericho Turnpike
Mineola, NY 11501
516-877-1370

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Inside and Out: Ruvo in Port Jefferson

East of NYC Staff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 02:42:37 +0000

While we didn’t see any food during our visit to Ruvo in Port Jefferson, we still wanted to take our readers on an exterior and interior tour of this revered italian eatery on the north shore. Located almost waterfront, Ruvo is an italian eatery curated by the same ownership as their other location in Greenlawn, La Tavola in Sayville and Del Fuego in St. James. The open atrium, bright colors and bar area certainly holds the key to any type of dining experience.

The DeNicola family has been on Long Island since 1915 and since that time they’ve been leaving their own mark on local italian cuisine. Opening the original Ruvo location in Greenlawn back in 2001, this location in Port Jefferson opened in 2006, following their initial success. Based on their following and beloved status in the area, we think that they have something special and we can look forward to having them around for quite some time.

Ruvo
105 Wynn Lane
Port Jefferson NY 11777
631-476-3800

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In Photos: Chicken Coop in Valley Stream

East of NYC Staff — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 01:16:32 +0000

An award-winning Colombian / Latin American restaurant is hiding in plain sight right there in Valley Stream, on Nassau County’s south shore. Located on Rockaway Avenue, Chicken Coop may not have any chickens running wild inside a wire cage, but they’re serving up some tasty cuisine from another part of this world.

Bringing Long Islanders such South American favorites as Pollo Entero a la Brasa (whole rotisserie chicken), Desayuno Chicken Coop (mixed rice with beans, scrambled eggs, grilled steak, sausage and corn cake with cheese), fried plantains, guacamole and more (all pictured below, of course), the flavors at Chicken Coop are popping, and so is the atmosphere. It’s a fun place to dine and try out some new flavors that you may not have had before.

Chicken Coop
159 Rockaway Ave.
Valley Stream, NY 11580
516-568-2667

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The Chef’s Corner Cafe in Mineola

East of NYC Staff — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:36:36 +0000

At The Chef’s Corner Cafe in Mineola, something special is happening. Through the friendship between owners Maryellen Villalta and Chef Israel Aguilar, they’re taking their great working relationship and putting it towards building some wonderful cuisine that both Mineola residents and workers alike are flocking to.

Maryellen and Chef Israel used to work together at Sarabeth’s in Manhattan and it was there that they forged a great bond. When Maryellen happened to run into Chef Israel in the city after they had parted ways, Chef Israel suggested that they open a spot on Long Island if Maryellen could find it. It was perfect timing as the previous tenant, a coffee shop, had recently closed. Thus, The Chef’s Corner was born.

A menu that skews Mexican, the Mexican Hominy Soup (pictured below) is one of the favorites and if you’re looking for something a bit more hearty, unique and filling, you can order up their Chef Burger (black angus beef stuffed with shredded flank steak, avocado and oaxacan cheese, served on a brioche bun).

The Chef’s Corner is proving to be a weekday favorite (try running into the restaurant during lunchtime – which is supremely busy due to Winthrop Hospital being within walking distance). They’re also pulling duty on the weekends to serve any of the nearby residents on both Saturday and Sunday.

The Chef’s Corner Cafe
95 Mineola Blvd.
Mineola, NY 11501
516-742-1856

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Focus On: The St. James Dining Scene

East of NYC Staff — Sat, 09 Mar 2013 22:07:33 +0000

St. James is our favorite dining destination on the island for one reason; it’s a small hamlet located in the Town of Smithtown, but in its tiny footprint lays a veritable treasure trove of amazing restaurants in every price range. This is worth a day trip to experience the variety of cuisines as well as the talented chefs that are carving their way through Suffolk. We’ve hit up a few of our favorites to show our readers what lies in waiting for you once you make the trip out.

The Small Breakfast Staple

Across from the train station, BLT Cafe stands for “breakfast, lunch and takeout” and can be a quick stop before your departure to the city or on the weekend with the family. The small and cheap spot is heavy on the eggs, omelettes, pancakes and other breakfast favorites that will start your day off right. It may be a smaller establishment with a few tables and counter seats, but the regulars will tell you there is no other place that they would rather go.

BLT Cafe
521 Lake Avenue
St. James, NY 11780
631-584-4229

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Pizza By The Slice (Or Sit Down For Entrees)

For those in the area, there’s no other pizza joint like Patio Pizza. They don’t just have pizza at this reasonably priced favorite; they’ve got soups, heroes, pasta dishes, entrees and more. What’s great about this lunch spot is that you can go as cheap as a slice or you can spend more and get an entire meal. There should be something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Caligiuri’s Patio Pizza
262 Lake Avenue
St. James, NY 11780
631-862-7475

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The Talented Chef With A Culinary Masterpiece

What Eric Lamondo has done so well at sister-restaurant Kitchen A Bistro, a French-Mediterranean superstar, also in St. James, he’s managed to do at Kitchen A Trattoria. This italian eatery has picked up a lot of the habits of its sister-restaurant; utilizing fresh ingredients (seafood is the shining star here), high-caliber technique and loving care for the experience of the diner. If you want to go beyond the regular dinner menu, which changes frequently, you can have a Five Course Tasting menu for $50, which will give you a wonderful sampling of all that the trattoria has to offer.

Kitchen A Trattoria
532 N. Country Rd.
St. James, NY 11780
631-862-0151

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The Tex-Mex Party

Del Fuego is a relative newcomer to the scene in St. James but their owners aren’t new to the restaurant world. Also operating Ruvo East and Rivo West (as well as La Tavola) in Suffolk County, they’re working their magic here at Del Fuego. Tex-Mex with an emphasis on Tequila (they have over 50 varieties at the bar) this is the spot to hit after work or on the weekend when you have a babysitter – and a designated driver. We’re fans of the guacamole and chips as well as their Surf and Turf burritos – served Fajita style. This is one lively restaurant that excels in both food and drinks.

Del Fuego
429 North Country Road
Saint James NY 11780
631-963-6900

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