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March 2008

The Easter Bunny Comes Early this Year!

That’s right, Easter is right around the corner on March 23rd, so time to start booking those tables if you plan to dine out. Here are some family dining options:

In Wading River - the gateway to the North Fork - at East Wind (631) 929-6585, the Easter bunny appears at brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The extensive Grand Ballroom buffet is $37.95 for adults, $19.95 for children ages 2-10-years-old and those under 2 are free.

For the ultimate brunch, The Garden City Hotel (516) 747-3000 opens its Grand Ballroom on Easter Sunday offering a $69 prix fixe brunch ($34.50 per child under 12) including a visit from the Easter Bunny, live bunnies and Easter egg coloring. The brunch includes unlimited mimosas & bloody marys or a glass of wine or champagne. Two seatings: noon to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Garden City Hotel

If your hunt for an Easter location is inspired by romance and history, dine at The Gatsby in Islip (631) 581 1900, an impressively restored 130-year-old Victorian mansion. Executive Chef Craig Attwood is preparing a special a la carte menu from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. featuring lemon-mint crusted rack of lamb, cream of artichoke soup and stuffed rigatoni.

Tucked away in downtown Huntington, Jonathan’s Ristorante (631) 549-0055 will offer a special a la carte menu for Easter from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Some menu items include: sautéed baby artichokes, tuna tartare over avocado salad and fresh wasabi drizzle and lamb ossobuco with Barolo sauce.

For a feast at home but still no cooking, head to Lombardi’s Market (631) 737-8470 in Holbrook offering specialties in honor of Easter. Holiday packages include “Cottontails Feast” or “Mamma’s Easter Feast.” Oven-ready, pre-cooked, or by-the-tray menu items are also available. Easter specialties from the bakery include: breads, pizza rustica, pizza granna, cakes, cookies, and fresh-baked pies.

For a French-style Easter consider Mirabelle Restaurant (631) 584-5999 in St. James serving $60 five-course prix fixe dinner from 1 to 9 p.m. Sample menu items include: seared Chatham cod with black olive polenta, roasted saddle of lamb stuffed with spinach, turnip gratin, oyster mushrooms, and braised Easter ham with pearl barley-parsnip risotto.

Foie Gras at Mirabelle

If you are looking for a North Shore spot, there’s Ruvo Restaurants (631) 476-3800 and (631) 261-7700 in Greenlawn and Port Jefferson. They are serving a $40 three-course Easter prix fixe dinner from 1 to 6 p.m. Sample menu items include: herb crust rack of lamb, prime rib with a fresh herb au jus and baked smoked ham with mango-ginger chutney.

You’ve got two options at the 1789 Restaurant at The Maine Maid (516) 935-6400 in Jericho. A brunch buffet is offered on Sunday, March 16th from 11 to 3 p.m. for $27 pp, children 10 and under are half-price. The Easter Bunny, who will be passing out treats, is available for photos. On Easter Sunday, a three-course prix fixe dinner will be served from 12 to 7 p.m. The cost of the prix fixe is dependent on the entrée. Sample menu items include: Prime rib of beef $39, rosemary marinated rack of lamb $43, and pan seared mahi mahi $38.

1789 Restaurant at The Maine Maid Inn

Dine on the golf course at Stonewalls Restaurant (631) 506-0777 in Riverhead with a $45 prix fixe menu for Easter Sunday beginning at noon. Specialties include vol-au-vent filled with seafood champagne, oven-roasted ham, Crescent’s Farm Long Island Peking duck a l’orange, and vanilla almond-cheesecake.

Overlooking the Atlantic, Tierra Mar (631) 288-2700 in Westhampton is serving an Easter dinner buffet from 12 to 6 p.m. The cost is $42 pp and half-price for children under 12. Sample menu items include: organic leek and potato soup, brown sugar and cinnamon glaze smoked ham and Tierra Mar bouillabaisse.

Another spot to dine on the water is 25 East American Bistro at Danfords on the Sound (631) 928-5200 in Port Jefferson. They are serving Easter brunch with seatings at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. The cost is $42.95 for adults, $19.95 for children 4-12, children 3 and under are free. Menu includes: omelet station, shrimp bar, smoked fish and caviar display, broiled North Atlantic salmon and lobster fricassee and sautéed chicken saltimbocca.

Try the glorious buffet at Villa Lombardi’s (631) 471-6609 in Holbrook and Lombardi’s on the Sound (631) 473-1440 also in Port Jefferson. The annual Easter buffet with seatings every half-hour from 1 to 4 p.m., features the Easter bunny and a professional photographer for family photos. The dinner includes: Lombardi’s famous antipasto table, salad bar with assorted dressings, pasta bar, carving station, hot gourmet buffet, Easter dolce display, open bar for adults and beverages. The cost is $57 for adults, $20 for children (ages 3–12), and free for children under 2.

Take advantage of these specials before they disappear!

Wine & Dine at Café Formaggio (516) 333-1718 in Carle Place. It’s “Wine Night” every Monday and Tuesday beginning at 4 p.m. International and regional selections such as Red Rock Merlot (Sonoma, CA) and Mezzacorona Chardonnay (Trentino, Italy) are available for $15 per bottle.

Cafe Formaggio

Take a flight with wine at City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill (516) 693-5400. They offer a special wine flight every night from 5 to 11 p.m. Each week new and upcoming wines are chosen by the sommelier and are featured on the menu for $14 to $16. With over forty wines offered by the glass, the wine flight presents an opportunity to taste three different varietals in half glass portions.

Matto (631) 329-0200 in East Hampton is making it easy to take out the family, offering a special family style menu every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday nights. All dishes are designed for sharing accommodating group dining. Sample items include: rigatoni with veal bolognese, chicken marsala and shrimp fra diavolo.

Named “Chef of the Year” by the Maitres Cuisiniers de France, Chef Guy Reuge of Mirabelle Restaurant (631) 584-5999 in St. James has created a special prix fixe menu to commemorate this prestigious honor. Available every Saturday from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., this three-course prix fixe, which includes a glass of wine, is $48 pp.

More wine deals at Nick DiAngelo (516) 889-3366 in Long Beach. It’s “Wine Down Tuesdays” every Tuesday, from 5 to 10 p.m. Diners will receive 50% off any bottle from the extensive wine list.

Looking for something to do with the kids? Nick & Toni’s (631) 324-3550 in East Hampton has announced kids pizza night every Thursday night. Kids ages 6 – 12 can make their own pizza with chef. The cost of the pizza is $5 per child.

Can’t wait for that weekend Happy Hour? Well Nisen Sushi (516) 496–7000 in Woodbury will be having happy hour every Friday, from 5 – 7 p.m. During happy hour there will be complimentary passed hors d’ oeuvres from the sushi bar and kitchen.

Nisen Sushi

For a hearty meal hit Stonewalls Restaurant (631) 506-0777 in Riverhead for a $30 three-course prime rib dinner every Thursday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. The menu includes jumbo white shrimp cocktail, prime rib of beef, and vanilla-almond cheesecake.

News & Events

Almond (631) 537-8885 in Bridgehampton has reopened from vacation. While closed the place was spruced up and a few menu items were added including: crisp pork belly with lentils de puy, banguls vinegar and cranberry mustard, classic fondue, and grilled wild shrimp with winter squash-pancetta risotto, winter truffles and frizzled leeks.

Want to learn how to cook like a pro? Almoncello’s (631) 537-6066 executive chef Jason Weiner will be giving a cooking demonstration on Saturday, March 15th from 12-2 p.m. at Loaves & Fishes in Bridgehampton. There is no charge for this demonstration.

Looking for a great place for lunch or brunch? Besito (516) 484-3001 in Roslyn is now open for lunch from 12 – 3 p.m., seven days a week. Tacos de pescado, enchiladas rancheras and huevos rancheros are some sample items.

Besito in Roslyn

Go Greek at Cávo (718) 721–1001 in Astoria, Queens. It’s Greek night every Wednesday night starting at 8:30 p.m. with live musical performance by Aphrodite Daniel & Panos Chrysovergis, plus guest singers, along with Greek specials on the menu. There is no cost for the performance and dinner reservations are recommended.

Head over to Corey Creek Vineyards (631) 765-4168 in Southold where they are hosting homemade jelly tastings every weekend, from 11-5 p.m. Come and taste a variety of jams and jellies made from all natural products, and homegrown flavor with sophisticated taste. Pair your jams and jellies with Corey Creek wines for a tasting fee of $5.

Corey Creek Vineyards

The George Martin Group is pleased to announce the opening of their first Queens restaurant this month. George Martin (718) 224-2898 in Douglaston will feature signature menu items from George Martin The Original such as sesame-crusted ahi tuna, Saint Peter’s fish “Piccata style,” and George Martin’s brownie sundae.

Hurry and make your reservations at participating “Hamptons Restaurant Week ” restaurants! The eight-day event kicks off Sunday, March 30th. Participating restaurants will offer a three-course prix fixe for $21.95 all night, except Saturday when it will only be offered until 7 p.m. Check out www.hamptonsrestaurantweek.com for a full list of participating restaurants, vineyards and lodging properties.

Despite its proximity to the Big Apple, Long Island restaurant H2O Seafood Grill (631) 361-6464 is giving pears primo attention lately, and the nation’s largest fresh pear marketing association is taking note. Pear Bureau Northwest is honoring H2O’s Executive Chef Scott Szekretar for his exceptional “flair with the pear” by featuring him on their website,www.PearPanache.com throughout the month of March. Szekretar is the first New York chef to be recognized by the program, and is among just seven chefs nationwide to be selected from a pool of hundreds of nominees. The winning recipe is porcini dusted scallops with poached Bosc pear diamonds and vanilla riesling butter is an ideal springtime entrée, utilizing a pear variety that is in season through May.

Szekretar"s winning recipe

Jedediah Hawkins Inn (631) 722-2900 is hosting a four-course Thursday night “casual wine” dinner with Bedell Cellars on Thursday, March 27 from 5:00 to 9:30 p.m. The cost is $60 pp.

Mac’s Steakhouse (631) 549-5300 in Huntington will serve lunch beginning Tuesday, March 18th. Lunch will be available Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The menu featuring signature appetizers and steaks as well as a selection of wraps, salads and sandwiches. Try the braised shortribs or the Porterhouse!

Mirabelle Restaurant (631) 584-5999 in St. James is offering a five-course wine and game dinner on Wednesday, March 19th beginning at 6 p.m. Wines in the Cote De Rhone style accompany each course. The cost is $95 pp. Menu items include: honey-soy glazed squab beast, leg confit, potato and truffle “Millefeuille” and wild boar and pecan sausage, leek-scented creamy polenta, fried sweet onion ring.

MUSE Restaurant & Aquatic Lounge (631) 726-2606 in Water Mill now offers “Bar Bites” from Chef Matthew Guiffrida. Sample items include bucket o’ buffalo style chicken wings, “fish and chips” and crispy cajun crusted calamari.

MUSE Restaurant & Aquatic Lounge

Who doesn’t love beer? Rowdy Hall (631) 324-8555 in East Hampton will be having a beer dinner on Thursday, March 13th starting 6:30 p.m. World-renowned brew master, Garrett Oliver from the Brooklyn Brewery will be matching his beers with Rowdy Hall’s Chef Ed Lightcap’s cuisine. Everyone will receive a gift bag that will include a commemorative T-shirt; there will also be free raffles throughout the night. The cost of the event is $75 pp.

Dinner and a show at 1789 Restaurant at the Maine Maid Inn (516) 935-6400 in Jericho. They present a Mediterranean inspired four-course wine dinner and dance show with performances by Roni Yaari on Thursday, March 13th from 7 to 9 p.m. The cost is $45 pp.

* Hot Spot of the Month *
Send us your suggestions and we will most certainly check it out! Email us at lauren@wordhampton.com.

This month"s hot spot: City Cellar Wine Bar & Grill (516) 693-5400 in Westbury prides itself on serving high quality, innovative, approachable food in a fun, casual and urban setting. The most notable feature is the lavish bar backed by a 25-foot-high glass-enclosed wine cellar showcasing over 4,000 bottles. Executive Chef Chris Randell has created a menu featuring inventive dishes emphasizing the flavors and spices that make cuisine so compelling. Sample menu items include: calamari fritto misto with poblano, crispy lemon, spicy tomato sauce and aioli; crabmeat crusted Chilean sea bass served pan roasted with Yukon Gold potato cake, vegetable fricassee and a lemon herb butter sauce; lamb shank, braised in two wines with potato puree, fried parsnips, and natural sauce. And for dessert, banana cream doughnuts with vanilla bean gelato and warm chocolate sauce. City Cellar serves lunch and dinner. Lunch is served everyday from 11 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Dinner is served everyday from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.

That’s it for now until next month, Bon Appetit!

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