Chop Shop :: 47 East Main St, Smithtown

Although Chop Shop opened on Main Street nearly a year ago, we’re only now just getting around to having lunch there. Its prominent location on Main Street is hard to miss, and its big, black awning and signage definitely get attention.

Jennifer ate:

Chopped Salad — ($5.95)
Crispy Portobello Panini — ($12.95)

I was surprised by how empty the restaurant was at nearly 1pm on a weekday; there were only 2 other tables seated, and the dining room is rather large for a Main Street restaurant. Service was quick, the specials were unique, and the decor was crisp yet inviting.

Every time we talked about eating at Chop Shop, someone would inevitably wonder aloud if I, as a vegetarian, would be able to find something to eat. I almost always do so I wasn’t concerned. Truth be told I am often more concerned about finding something healthy.

And so I started with the Chopped Salad, because, well, I was at the Chop Shop. It was huge so I shared it with Chuck. (Plus it’s one way of getting some vegetables into him.) It was good! Lightly dressed with a balsamic dressing, nice balance of veggies and lettuce, very fresh tasting. Definitely enough to share.

There were actually several meat-free options — several pasta dishes and two sandwich/paninis. I opted for the Crispy Portobello panini in spite of the fact that “crispy” usually means “fried.” I’d hoped for “lightly breaded,” but the portobello was indeed, deep fried. The thing about portobello mushrooms is that they have so much flavor on their own, that they don’t really need deep frying. And in this case, the frying did nothing to enhance the taste.

Chop Shop's Crispy Portobello Panini

The presentation was fun; a large, funky plate was decorated with an enormous sandwich, a small bowl of cole slaw, and a handful of homemade-looking potato chips. The cole slaw was good, though I’m not usually a fan — at least it wasn’t dripping in sauce. The potato chips were okay, but felt more oily than necessary and had zero salt. The panini was pretty good. The goat cheese was warmed by the fried mushroom and melted into a sauce-like consistency. In terms of balance, there was definitely more bread and fried mushroom than anything else, which felt out of balance to me. I left most of the bread on the plate, along with the nearly-flavorless potato chips.

As usual, we were too full for dessert and were in and out in about half an hour.

The bottom line:

Chopped Salad – Pretty good.
Crispy Portobello Panini – Good.
Overall rating: It was just okay for me. I’m a bit underwhelmed. I do give them points for originality, and for offering meat-free options. Not sure I’d go back. Although it would be a good place to bring clients, there are so many other (better) options on Smithtown’s Main Street. Give it a try and let us know what you think.

Chuck ate:

BBQ Short Rib Tacos ($11.95)

OK, so I’ve passed Chop Shop many times and now that the summer is upon us, the blog can get re-vitalized. What better way to “get back into it” then with one of Smithtown’s nicer looking eateries. From the outside, Chop Shop is well designed, dark-grey painted brick and a minimalist brand on the awning make it seem very upscale. The interior is dimly lit and comfortable. When you walk in, there’s a bar to the left and a deep dining room to the right.

Once seated, our server came right away and was very attentive throughout the lunch. She suggested a special (the Tacos) and they felt like the right choice. The tacos are part of Chop Shop’s bar menu so if you don’t see them on the menu, you’ll have to ask. I did share Jen’s salad and it was a bit heavy on the chick peas for me, but it was light and surprisingly filling.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect with the tacos, but I was pleasantly satisfied that they were exactly what I did expect — very tasty BBQ short ribs, in a taco. Simple and good. The dish came with sour cream and chopped tomatoes. Presentation was pretty solid for Jen’s meal, but the tacos were just 3 tacos on a plate, nothing inventive.

The bottom line:

BBQ Short Rib Tacos – Very tasty
Overall rating: Chop Shop is very clean and modern with dark wood and leather throughout. The food is tasty with lunch being a more reasonable meal (dinner is a little pricey).