View

View

3 Consuelo Pl.

Oakdale, NY 11769

(631) 589-2694

www.lessings.com/restaurant_home.aspx?uniid=8

Here We Go:  View is open and airy, with a fast and friendly staff.  The location is just beautiful - right on the water, so the option for outdoor seating comes with a plus.  This meal, from start to finish, was literally the best overall meal that I've had in a long time.  Everything was just spot on: the drinks were perfect, the appetizers were memorable (see the pics of the Peking Duck Tacos and Morning Roll below), and the entrees were absolutely savory.  I look forward to the next time that I stop in at View, so that I can try more of what is sure to be an amazing meal!

Feast Your Eyes:

Disaronno Sour and a Key Lime Pie Martini

Morning Roll

Peking Duck Tacos

Maine Lobster Pasta

Pappardelle Bolognese Pasta

Churro Bites

Bottom Line:  Get there and take me with you!

The Pie at Salvatore's

The Pie at Salvatore's

120 E. Main St.

Bay Shore, NY 11706

(631) 206-1060

salvatorescoalfiredpizza.com/

Here We Go:  Casual, quick, coal-fired, fresh - all words I'd use to describe The Pie.  Whenever we go, we get the The Original Neapolitan Pizza.  I've tried to get other pizzas there, but I just can't!  This pizza calls to me like a mystical pizza siren and I'm left helpless.  It's just so deliciously fresh and cheesy...and the pepperonis are these flavorful slices of heaven.  If you're able to ignore the lure of the Neapolitan, you can find other interesting pies, like Clams Casino Pie and a Salad Pie.  Something you should know is that The Pie doesn't take credit cards, so bring cash or you can use their in-house ATM.  Also, don't expect to walk in for a slice - you get a full pie or niente (nothing).  Plenty of parking in the back, and outdoor seating if it's nice out.

Feast Your Eyes:

How fresh does that salad look? And the dressing is fantastic!

Oh yeah!

Bottom Line: Check it out!

Pancho Villa's

Pancho Villa's

311 New York Ave.

Huntington, NY 11743

(631) 549-0022

www.panchovillalongisland.com/

Here We Go:  When I start to crave great Mexican food, I know Pancho Villa's is the place to go.  As soon as you walk in, you're hit with the aroma of what you know is going to be awesome food and then the decor takes you right to Mexico.  The Guacamole is so fresh and delicious that if you're a fan of guacamole I'd strongly suggest you give it a try.  Go for the combination plates just so you can try a variety of things, otherwise, you're likely to end up sampling food from around the table.  Parking isn't usually an issue, but they do offer valet for dinnertime.  The dress is casual, so feel free to wear anything with an elastic waist, or prepare to unbutton.

Feast Your Eyes:

The salt rim is done in the colors of the Mexican flag.  Sweet!

Bottom Line: You know what to do.  Check it out!

Barrington's Tavern and Social Club

Barrington's Tavern and Social Club

160 Adams Ave.

Hauppauge, NY 11788

(631) 951-0026

www.barringtonstavern.com/

Here We Go:  Why, Barrington's, why?  I really wanted to like this place, and the friendly waitress was so spread thin that I couldn't help but not blame her for the mess that was this early dinner.  Why would you have one waitress running an entire floor by herself during dinnertime on a Friday?  Taking orders, running drinks, bringing out apps and entrees, busing tables and checking in on the kitchen all by herself.  Madness!  As a result, the service was painfully slow, the live "band" caused us to scream at one another to be heard (social club??), and our entrees came 40 minutes after ordering, followed several minutes later by our appetizer!  And when the appetizer did come out, it was a blackened burn victim that we boomeranged back to the kitchen.  The manager took care of things, which was nice, but that didn't make up for all of that time.  Not to mention that the food was just ok.  Who just toasts Texas Toast without putting butter on it?

Feast Your Eyes:

Sloppy Texan (eh....)

Tavern Chicken Tenders (no seasoning...blah..)

Taco Bowls (they managed to completely burn one and the top of the other...but still brought them to the table!)

Bottom Line: Skip it like a flat stone on across a pond.

Changing Times

Changing Times

29 East Main St.

Bay Shore, New York 11706

(631) 647-7871

http://thechangingtimespub.com/bayshore/

Here We Go:   Even though half the place is restaurant seating, there's just something about Changing Times that says that it's a good bar.  Maybe it's that every Thursday is $2 drinks for the ladies, and there are enough TVs to remind you of how a man cave really should be.  Who cares?  What matters is that the beer is cold, the drinks are strong and the food is pretty frickin' good.  You can count on people bringing their kids in early on for dinner once in awhile, but um...did you catch that part about the drinks being strong?  Yeah, so who cares!  The dress is casual, there is parking on all sides...and the drinks are strong.

Feast Your Eyes:

Rocket Fuel

The Changing Times Rita (crazy good)

Bacon Cheeseburger

Chicken Cordon Blue Sliders (do you see that cheese??)

Bottom Line:  This is definitely one to check out!

Jewel

Jewel

400 Broadhollow Rd.

Melville, New York 11747

(631) 755-5777

www.jewelrestaurantli.com/index.php?m=off

Here We Go:   Lamps mounted to the ceiling upside down, water features, wine beautifully displayed in glass cases, and slick design details that exceed at impressing, dining at Jewel is an immediate treat.  And that's before you ever taste a bite!  Lucky for all of us impressed gawkers, the rest lives up to the decor.  From their Duck Jambalaya to their savory steaks, I have yet to find a dish there that didn't taste great.  Another bonus is that they know their way around a bar.  Wine, cocktails - you name it - it's going to be good!  There is plenty of parking in the attached lot and you should dress up enough to blend with the business crowd, which can definitely include dressing up a pair of nice jeans.  Entrees are an average of $25 and that doesn't include the $9 for sides.  (And before we forget, make it a point to visit the men's restroom. Regardless of your gender, you'll find something to laugh at there... .)


Feast Your Eyes:

You can't argue with that!

What can be better than dessert with chocolate dipping sauce?  Adding a mini root beer float to the mix!

Bottom Line:  Check it out! 

Beachtree

Beachtree

166 West Main St.

East Islip, NY  11730

(516) 798-1172

http://www.beachtreerestaurant.com/

Here We Go:   With a light, seaside vibe, Beachtree makes for a nice place to grab a bite or to reserve space for larger parties. Although the food looks and tastes pretty good, you can't help but notice that none of it really screams "fresh." Even for brunch, whether you get random "cold spots" in your food is hit or miss. Either the food is all premade or bought frozen, because getting something custom ordered (i.e. no onions mixed in, etc.) isn't an option. Don't get me wrong, I still do like their Chicken Cordon Blue, but it's hard to find someone who wants to come along and take their chances on what they order.


No Pictures at This Time


Bottom Line:  Take it or leave it.

Don Juan

Don Juan

4899 Merrick Rd.
Massapequa Park, NY

(516) 798-1172

www.donjuanny.com/

Here We Go:  Don Juan's is a nice, sleek Mexican restaurant that serves up some good dishes in close quarters.  The food is kind of pricey (an average of $18), but I like that there are simple options for kids, like tacos, burgers and chicken nuggets.  You'll find parking in back lot, but I'd suggest calling for reservations before just showing up and trekking up to the door.  And now for the bad:  the bar is small and fills up easily, so don't bank on hanging out there to wait for a seat.  Even then, the sangria wasn't anything special (Tango's in Central Islip takes The Sangria Award).  We tried to revisit Don Juan's and when we asked the hostess to put us on the list, she informed us that she didn't know how long we would have to wait since they had reservations to wait on.  So we had the option of waiting for an indefinite period of time, looking at the empty tables and waiting for reservation holders who weren't even there, or leaving.  We left.  If you're looking for a place where you'll get more bang for your buck and some spectacular food, check out Pancho Villa's in Huntington.

No Pictures at This Time

Bottom Line:  Take it or leave it.

Athenian Greek Taverna

Athenian Greek Taverna

2187 Jericho Turnpike
Commack, NY 11725 

(631) 499-7660

www.atheniangreektaverna.com/

Here We Go:  Located in the corner of a shopping center, someone might easily overlook Athenian, but that would be their loss.  All I keep thinking about are those amazing Athenian Spring Rolls (see picture below) and the Moussaka - they were delicious!  I thought it was a little odd that there weren't any wine glasses (wine comes in a little metal pitcher that keeps it super cold, but then you just pour it into small drinking glasses), and the Lentil Soup was really just carrots and celery with a few lentils at the bottom.  Those are about the only complaints that I have.  This is a good place to go if you're looking for a casual place that can make you feel like you'll need someone to roll you back to your car about halfway through your meal.

Feast Your Eyes:

Cups of wine?

The Lentil Soup is more carrot and celery than anything else.

Athenian Spring Roll

Classic Gyro

The Moussaka is amazing! 

Bottom Line:  Get there!

D'Franco's Pizza

D'Franco's Pizza

2038 Sunrise Hwy.
Islip, NY 11751

Here We Go:  D'Franco's looks like any other pizzeria, and it basically is: young people behind the counter, seat-yourself dining area, and pre-made pies with slices ready to get tossed in the oven for you.  But then you look over the slices and, once you get past the plain cheese pies, you see toppings like penne, salad and even Fritos.  I wouldn't say that the quality of pizza here is completely different from any other pizzeria, but I can that D'Franco's knows how to give pepperoni a run for its money.  Oh and don't worry about parking, since this place is in a shopping center, you're covered.

Feast Your Eyes:

Just a few of the options available for you to try!

Bottom Line:  If you're looking for something a little different, you should give this place a try.

Peninsula

Peninsula

55 West Main St.
Bay Shore, NY 11706

http://www.allmenus.com/ny/islip/59067-peninsula-fs/menu/

Here We Go:   The thing about a place like Penninsula is that the decor just makes it worth revisiting.  Sure, you can get pretty much anything on the menu at any other Chinese or sushi restaurant, respectively, but when you walk in and step on the little bridge that takes you over the koi pond, you just feel like you're in a great place.  At night, the room darkens and the ceiling comes to life with little twinkling stars and the large salt water fish tank is stunning.  Once you take in all of the sights, you can focus on the menu, which boasts everything you'd expect.  Really, the thing that sets Peninsula apart from the rest is the atmosphere, so check it out for that reason, but you can get this food as take out someplace else (and probably for a little less money).

Feast Your Eyes:

Beef and Broccoli

Sweet and Sour Chicken (sauce on the side per request)

Sushi Bar

Garden Salad with Ginger Dressing

Honey Roll

 Maki Lunch Box

Bottom Line:  Take it or leave it.

Lombardi's on the Bay

Lombardi's on the Bay

600 South Ocean Ave.
Patchogue, NY 11772

http://www.lombardisonthebay.com/OnTheBay/

Here We Go:   Lombardi's on the Bay is part restaurant, part catering hall, but right now we're focusing on the restaurant part.  You can eat in the main restaurant, a more casual second restaurant that is located toward the back of the building, or outside right on the water.  The food was fresh, perfectly cooked and delicious.  It couldn't have been better...well, unless you add on a Pomegranate Martini or any one (or several) of their specialty drinks!  As for parking, you can opt for finding a spot in the attached lot (which we did) or pulling up to valet.  Dress up some jeans or go in business-casual attire, and you'll be fine.  It was such a great experience from start to finish that we are looking forward to our next visit. 

Feast Your Eyes:

Fried Calamari

 Clams Casino

Long Island little neck clams with red yellow peppers, & crispy bacon

Fried Zucchini with Marinara Sauce

Sides are large enough for 2 (or more) at Lombardi's

Filet Mignon

Rigatoni with Shrimp, Scallops and Fresh Spinach

 in a light creamy grape tomato sauce

Short Fusilli with Lobster Meat

in a creamy grape tomato sauce with fresh asparagus

Bottom Line:  Go already!

Lo Piccolo

Lo Piccolo

581 Nesconset Hwy.
Hauppauge, NY 11787

http://www.lopiccolos.com/

Here We Go:   Setup in the corner of a shopping center, Lo Piccolo's could easily be overlooked, but the shopping center means that there's plenty of parking.  One side is a pizzeria and the other side is a sit-down restaurant.  Let's be honest, there are those Italian restaurants that blow you away, and then there are places like Lo Piccolo.  It was ok, and the mozzarella sticks were ok, and the salad was a standard ok salad.  The marinara is that bright red color that just let's you know that all you're going to really taste is tomato, which was...ok.  If you're close by and you need a quick meal or a take-out pizza, I guess I could see why you'd stop here, but you sure won't see us there.

Feast Your Eyes:

Mozzarella Sticks

Small Salad

Rice Ball

Penne with Grilled Chicken and Vodka Sauce

 Rigatoni with Marinara and Italian Sausage

Spaghetti with Marinara and Meatballs

Bottom Line:  Skip it and look for a different place that can do better than just ok.