CJ’s American Grill
Dinner on the Tuesday evening that we returned to the US from the UK. I ordered the BLT with seasoned fries and Eric ordered the Vineyard Salad with blackened chicken. Service was warm and welcoming and I took our server’s advice and ordered the pinot noir, it was better than the Malbec Dad had ordered. Portion sizes were also very generous. A good option for a reasonable priced meal and very close to the house!
Lenny’s Pizza & Bistro
When in NY we have to do pizza, and this year we did the Sicilian pie which has a good amount of cheese and sauce with a light, airy crust.
Modern Snack Bar
We have been going once each of the last few summers, and this year was their 75th anniversary. As usual, Eric got the classic grilled cheese and bacon, leaving room for the chocolate cream pie. I had the bacon cheeseburger plus the strawberry rhubarb pie (more gel than fruit). As always, service was fast and friendly.
Jan’s Chinese Food
The local takeaway. I ordered the small beef fried rice, which had a decent amount of tender beef but the rice was just dyed yellow with some bits of onion. Where was the egg or other veggies? Eric had the sweet and sour chicken and white rice which is always solid there.
North Fork Table and Inn
Thursday nights they have a $30 burger and glass of wine deal. However, you have to know about it – it is only in the bar area. They didn’t proactively tell us about it when we were seated and it wasn’t listed on our menus. Thankfully you can make a reservation for the bar area if you call, and we are glad we did as it was busy. We each ordered a burger with three white wines (Macari sav Blanc) and one red for me – their house LI Bordeaux blend. Burgers were great and fries were crispy with a lemon aioli sauce. Wonderful deal for the area!
Black Sheep Bagels
We had planned on picking up some bagels for lunch but due to a surprise family visit, we didn’t make it over until about 1:30pm, and they were out of many bagels by that point in the day: no plain, cinnamon raisin, sesame or everything available. I wound up with a pumpernickel everything bagel with jalapeno cream cheese and I got Eric the pumpernickel sesame with bacon, egg and cheese. Both were good but go early for a better bagel selection.
Red Rooster
The entrance was rather noisy when we entered as a big group of volunteer firemen were crowded around the bar. When a server went to seat us next to them the incredulous response Eric gave seemed to motivate the staff to chivy the group to their table… much quieter after that. Chicken Cordon Bleu for Eric and a small plate of mussels for me. (Weirdly plated as “mussels on the half shell”).
Watermark of Wading River
Last year we tried their $14 lunch special, and it was pretty good. This year it was $16 (of course) and the menu a little less diverse… but still a decent deal for the area. The club wrap Eric ordered was pretty good, and I got the chicken quesadillas which were appropriately cheesy. Everything was served with fries!
Upland (NYC)
An Italian restaurant within a short walk from Eric’s brother’s place in Manhattan. The six of us split a limon pizza, very lemony with a nice kick from the Aleppo pepper, a favorite of the table. I ordered a glass of Montepulciano and the steak tartare and roasted artichokes. Eric got a glass of rosé and the bucatini with cacio e pepe. My tartare was unusual with crispy puffed rice mixed in but the flavor was good, I liked the nduja kick. The artichokes had good flavor but we would have preferred them crispier. Service was prompt and friendly.
