Garden Grill :: 64 N. Country Road/25A, Smithtown

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We’ve finally ventured off the main strip(s) of 25 and Rte.111. We discovered this little cafe tucked away just north of 25 on N. Country Road. The Garden Grill Restaurant is a 120 year old Victorian Country Inn with a self-proclaimed warm and gracious atmosphere.

Jennifer ate:

Almond Encrusted Artichoke Hearts (appetizer) — ($9)
Fresh Mozzarella (appetizer) — ($9)

I’ve probably driven by this place a dozen times and never even noticed it. It’s clearly a converted house (just like our ZeroG offices!) and it really is very warm and cozy once you get inside. We were seated immediately and attended to quickly.

I’d reviewed the menu online prior to visiting, so I was prepared for how few vegetarian options there would be. I opted for two appetizers to make up a meal, the almond encrusted artichoke hearts and the fresh mozzarella. They were both presented on simple, square plates and were minimally decorated.

The mozzarella was layered with tomato slices, and decorated with too few of the tasty onions and roasted red peppers. The balsamic dressing on the side was a nice touch, and very tasty. Overall though, it was pretty bland. Neither the mozzarella nor the tomatoes were remarkably tasty.

I was surprised to find that the almond encrusted artichoke hearts were deep fried, especially since that was not mentioned on the menu. (If I had known I would not have ordered it!) And while deep frying can be light, like in the case of most tempura dishes, these were still pretty greasy inside. The almond crust was good, but the oil inside really diluted the artichoke flavor. The balsamic reduction was drizzled on sparingly, which is a shame because it was tastier than the creamy dressing served with it on the side.

All in all it was a decent meal. The service was fast, the food wasn’t bad, the ambiance was nice (the temperature was okay), and I would probably even go there again. It would be a great place to take clients. But for a health-conscious vegetarian, they have woefully few options.

The bottom line:

Almond Encrusted Artichoke Hearts – Kinda greasy, not enough flavor.
Fresh Mozzarella – Kinda bland, but okay.
Overall rating: It was okay. Not bad, not great. If you’re not vegetarian, and less picky about fat and calories, they have lots of options for you.

Chuck ate:

Well, Chuck did eat here, but he’s been “too busy” to blog about it. So you’re stuck with my review alone…

Hotoke :: 41 Rte. 111, Smithtown

A tasty new Smithtown treat is Hotoke, a Japanese hibachi-style restaurant boasting the “Fusion Sushi” title you see so often these days. Hotoke is in the Uncle Guiseppes’ shopping center, just south of Main Street in Smithtown.

Jennifer ate:

Hibachi Lunch: Vegetable ($6.65)
with Buckwheat Noodles ($2.75)

We’ve been waiting for this place to open since we’ve been running low on interesting Smithtown eateries that we haven’t blogged about yet. And it was worth the wait! Interesting decor as you walk in, it’s dark but inviting and the restaurant is really set up with three distinct eating spaces that flow well into each other. The bar area is first, which, I imagine, is bustling at happy hour, but not so much at lunch. A more traditional dining room area is central, followed by hibachi-style seating in a somewhat closed off area of the dining room. (That’s the group-type seating where the chef cooks on a large, flat surface while doing fancy things with knives and sauces, and you sit with strangers. Doesn’t appeal to me, but has a large following by those who enjoy playing with their food (or having their food played with).)

The Vegetable Hibachi Lunch meal was outstanding! Of course, first came the mushroom soup and standard Asian salad with ginger dressing on iceberg lettuce, both were good. With the meal they brought out two tasty dipping sauces, one mustard (wasabi) and one ginger (reminiscent of the salad dressing). Both were very interesting and I couldn’t decide which way I preferred the already tasty veggies, alone or dipped in one of the sauces.

When you order the Hibachi Lunches you can also add on either hibachi fried rice or buckwheat noodles. Both were tasty, but the buckwheat noodles were outstanding! And far healthier than fried rice.

We finished off the meal with a dessert this time, the traditional deep-fried ice cream, which is always delicious! It is definitely big enough (and calorie-laden enough) for two to share.

The bottom line:
Vegetable Hibachi Lunch– Really, really good!
Buckwheat noodles – Try them!
Overall rating: Another superb addition to Smithtown’s collection of yummy Asian eateries. And it’s new so go check it out!

Chuck ate:

Hibachi Lunch: Chicken ($7.65)
with Hibachi rice ($2.75)
2 pcs. Smoked Salmon Sushi (a la carte) ($5.50)

Mmmmmm sushi. Seriously either you love it or you don’t. I (happily) love it and I get it every chance I can. My beloved smoked salmon came to me on an intriguing rectangular plate, tasty and sticky white rice and wasabi. It was good, real good and whetted my apetite for the coming Habachi lunch.

Unlike Jennifer I enjoy the Habachi Chef and the culinary antics that ensue. The performance aspect of the meal makes it more of an event than just “let’s eat!” and I like that. The lunch was exceptional, I found the ginger salad dressing tastier than other eateries we’ve blogged about and the Habachi chicken and rice were fantastic. As Jennifer stated, the sauces where excellent as well.

While I am by no means as enthusiastic about dessert as Jennifer is (particularly ice cream) – tempura ice cream is just plain awesome.

The ambience was great. I really liked the dark wood feel and the floorplan makes it perfect to host private parties. They also have a bar, so why don’t you saddle on up for happy hour and have yourself a Saki?

The bottom line:
Chicken Hibachi Lunch and Rice – Flavorful and light.
Smoked Salmon Sushi – Awesome.
Overall rating: Yeah, gotta agree with Jennifer. Hotoke is a great place and a fine addition to Smithtown’s excellent foodscape.

The Old Street Pub :: 92 E. Main Street, Smithtown

Located in the Branch Shopping Plaza, this Restaurant/Pub is a Smithtown mainstay and a surprisingly good eat.

Jennifer ate:

Mediterranean Wrap ($9.95)

We’ve driven past The Old Street Pub many times. Personally, the name itself has little appeal, probably since a pub-style eaterie is not usually my thing. I have, however, heard great things about this particular place so I felt we had to give it a try.

The inside was dark and the high ceilings make the restaurant noise resonate throughout the dining area. We sat at a booth in the bar section because the dining room was completely empty. The wait staff knew the menu well and seemed to know many of the patrons, too. As usual, it was chilly inside, but not nearly as cold as some of the other restaurants we’ve tried lately.

Nothing was served on the table as we waited, so we sipped our drinks until they brought out the cole slaw and pickles that came with our meals. I have never liked cole slaw of any kind, but I resolved to try it here since the ultimate goal is to write a review. And I’m glad I did because the cole slaw was actually tasty! A surprise to say the least, so if you find yourself at the Old Street Pub, try a bite of the cole slaw even if you haven’t liked it in the past.

Their menu is online so I previewed it before we went. It was nice to see a few vegetarian options that weren’t pasta-based! I settled on the Mediterranean Wrap, which has goat cheese, tomatoes, sliced Portabello mushrooms and mixed greens in a tasty (although white-flour) tortilla. It wasn’t greasy or oily and was very good! A small scoop of red-skinned potato salad on the side was also good, and the small portion was a worth-while indulgence. (Next time I’ll be tempted to try the Portobello Mushroom Burger.)

I didn’t have an appetizer or salad (besides the small scoop of cole slaw), but the wrap itself was filling! We never saw a dessert menu, and didn’t see one online so I’m not sure what they offer. If you try something good while you’re there, let me know!

The bottom line:
Mediterranean Wrap – Very good!
Overall rating: Not bad at all! I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty my lunch was.

Chuck ate:

Chicken Verona  ($9.95)
Baked potato ($1.25 )

So the Old Street has been around since before I was born (est. 1969). While growing up in Hauppauge, my family would frequent the Pub regularly. I always enjoyed it as a child and have eaten there many, many times since 1975 (when we moved to Hauppauge). Well, now that I have the opportunity to review this beloved and nostalgic destination, I was eager to see how it holds up against Smithtown’s other restaurant competition.

The ambiance hasn’t really changed much and has a dark, pub feel to it. For this outing, we opted to eat in the pub section and not the dining room. However, I have eaten in the dining room before and it is pleasant with dark wood and dim lighting. We were seated quickly and even though there weren’t any snackables on the table, the cole slaw and pickles (very good, BTW) came out quickly. I ordered the Chicken Verona sandwich (a grilled chicken cutlet on a garlic toasted roll w/ roasted red peppers and melted mozzarella) and substituted the baked potato for the default steak fries. One word of warning… while the bun was extremely tasty, it was SOAKED with butter and garlic. So if you are watching fat and cholesterol, watch out. (Another cholesterol watch… but sinfully good is the deep fried toast and cheddar spread. I know, I KNOW).

The sandwich was excellent: tender, tasty, with just the right balance of flavors and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Regardless of the fact that there was a lot of butter on the roll, it still tasted great! So while my stomach thanked me, my heart was a bit upset.

The bottom line:
Chicken Verona – Very flavorful, but watch out for the cholesterol-soaked bun.
Overall rating: The Old Street Pub is a tried and true landmark in Smithtown. Good food and a simple (albeit slightly upscale) pub feel makes this restaurant a winner.

Butera’s :: 65 East Main Street, Smithtown

Butera’s on Main Street in Smithtown opened its doors just two months ago. From the inviting front entrance to the lovingly decorated dining room, Butera’s is easily the most well planned eatery in Smithtown (that we have experienced so far).

Jennifer ate:

Grilled Portobello Salad ($11.95 lunch special)

With its big Grand Opening signs out front and back, it’s hard to miss Butera’s on the corner of Main Street and Landing Ave. in Smithtown. From the moment you walk through the new front doors you can’t help but admire the detail in the interior design. Well placed stonework and wooden pillars strategically break up the dining room into smaller spaces, without diminishing the wide open feel. Even the walls, floors and furniture are well designed and planned.

We were given both the lunch and dinner menus, but the lunch menu selection was so extensive there was no reason not to choose from there. Even as a vegetarian there were several healthy selections from which to choose. I chose the Grilled Portobello Salad — sliced, grilled portobello mushrooms atop mixed greens, tomato and red onion with shaved Granan Padano cheese with pignoli nuts, with a balsamic vinegar glaze. Delicious!

But before the food arrived we were treated to a wonderful assortment of warm breads with olive oil for dipping. I was almost too full when my salad arrived, but the salad was so tasty I ate the whole thing. Crisp lettuces topped with chopped tomatoes and red onions and tossed with just the right amount of light, peppery balsamic dressing. The grilled portobellos melted in my mouth and were as tasty as any I’ve had.

I’m positive that dessert would have been equally delectable, but we were too stuffed to try them. Next time, we’ll leave room for dessert!

The bottom line:
Grilled Portobello Salad – Outstanding! Light and filling and perfectly proportioned.
Overall rating: Top notch from ambiance to food to service! You must try Butera’s! This is where we plan to conduct all future client luncheons.

Chuck ate:

Grilled Chicken Gorgonzola Focaccia Sandwich ($10.95 lunch special)
Salad (comes with lunch special)

Butera’s tagline is “New Italian Cuisine,” and I say, if by “New,” they mean “Freaking Fantastic” then they have it right. This is easily the best restaurant I have eaten at so far in Smithtown. I dare to say it’s up there as one of the best, period.

Our lunch began with a very tidy foyer with stonework inside. We were greeted by a very pleasant and accommodating hostess. The main bar area was definitely chilly, but we were informed that it was much warmer in the dining area. It was indeed warmer, but still a little cold (especially for Jennifer). We asked to have the AC turned down, they obliged AND informed us that it would take a few minutes to even out (they were correct). Result: perfect temp

The dining area is designed to a “T” – everything is taken into account, from the faux finish water damage on the “plaster” walls, to the aged bronze lighting fixtures, painted ceiling, camouflaged sprinkler system, and immaculate floor – attention to detail is everywhere. Even the menus were nice! (Oh did I mention the branded napkins? Sweet!).

We were brought amazing bread selections, just enough to stave off our hunger before the meal. The garlic knots where absolutely amazing but the garlic content may scare of the ladies for a few days.

My meal was excellent: Tender chicken, domestic Gorgonzola, fresh tomato diced, caramelized onion, melted mozzarella all on warm and crispy focaccia. Even the salad with light vinaigrette was excellent.

The bottom line:
Focaccia sandwich: Ridiculously good.
This restaurant is, hands down, the best we’ve eaten at so far. From the ambiance to the service to the food, it doesn’t miss a beat. I even texted my wife during lunch and told her we’re coming for dinner on Saturday. Nuff’ said

Union Station :: 155 W Main St., Smithtown

Located just west of the LIRR overpass on Jericho Turnpike, Union Station was once the old Smithtown Hotel. Nice attention to interior detail, excellent food and friendly service round out Union Station’s upscale, tavern-styled appeal.

Website: http://www.unionstationrestaurantsmithtown.com

Jennifer Ate:

House Chopped Salad ($7.00)

[Hearts of palm, roasted tomoatoes, red onions, nicoises olives, cucumbers, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and honey balsamic dressing]

It’s easy to miss Union Station as you pass the busy stretch of Jericho Tpke/Main Street in Smithtown, but look up. Just west of the LIRR overpass is the entrance and you’ll be happy you stopped.

With outdoor seating that looks out over Main Street and is immediately adjacent to the LIRR overpass, it can be noisy at times, but the food and service will be worth it. The food presentation is no-nonsense but well done. The service was pleasant and prompt.

My salad came chopped and dressed and ready to eat without cutting or mixing. The salad was lightly and evenly dressed with a light and flavorful honey balsamic. It probably could have used the splash of ground pepper the server offered and I declined. (I usually prefer to try foods as-they-come the first time.)

We didn’t stick around for any dessert but might next time. The choices were few but interesting.

The bottom line:
House chopped salad : An excellent choice for a light, healthy lunch.

Overall I’d recommend trying Union Station. Especially during the spring and summer months when you can sit outside and enjoy the fresh air.

Chuck Ate:

Turkey Wrap ($9.00)

Since it was a really nice day, we had the opportunity to sit outside on the patio and have our lunch. The patio is raised a good 10 feet above Jericho and the train tressle runs right by. It had an interesting “Queens” kind of feel (outside with the train right next to us) which was cool. We were taken care of by the bartender who was funny, prompt and efficient (even quickly cleaning up some lettuce that “escaped” my plate while I was eating).

I had the turkey wrap which contained sliced turkey, swiss cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and smoked pepper aioli (which I’ve never had before). The meal also came with a mixed field greens salad with a homemade vinaigrette. The wrap was very good and the salad was excellent. The wrap had a more “gourmet” flavor to it which I typically don’t like, but in this case it it was really nice. The presentation was excellent as well with a large plate and the food laid out in an appetizing manner.

The bottom line:
Turkey Wrap: Very flavorful and filling.
Salad: Excellent, house vinaigrette was excellent as well.
Overall, I recommend Union Station. The lunch was leisurely and served quickly. The price was reasonable as well. I am actually interested in trying it for dinner one night.

Casa Rustica :: 175 West Main Street

Located just east of the Edgewood Ave intersection on Rte 25, Casa Rustica is a great little Italian treasure.

Website: http://www.casarustica.net/

Jennifer Ate:

Portobello Salad ($10.00)

When you arrive at Casa Rustica and enter in the back, you’ll be surprised to be ushered through a narrow hallway back to the front dining room, which is “authenically” deocrated and very tasteful. Just enough natural light shows through the covered front windows, while keeping out the distractions of cars whizzing by on Jericho Tpke.

Although they were slow to deliver menus, the fresh bread and olive oil served at the table was a perfect way to wait. We were also served a plate with fresh bruschetta and a sundried tomato (or olive) spread – both were very, very tasty!

I ordered a portobello salad (an appetizer) as a meal. When it first arrived at the table, it was mistakenly prepared as the dinner version, which is portobello mushrooms in garlic and oil with brocolli rabe and sausage. Since I’m vegetarian, I had to send it back and ask them to bring out the lunch version, which is what I had ordered; portobello mushrooms with field greens in a balsamic dressing and toasted pignoli nuts. Very tasty!

Portions at Casa Rustica were perfect if you prefer not to have leftovers or overindulge. We both cleaned our plates and left feeling satisfied, if not a little bit full. No room for dessert!

The bottom line:
Portobello Salad : So delicious! (Vegetarians beware! The lunch version is meatless, but the dinner version has sausage.)
Fresh bread and olive oil served at each table : Hearty, flavorful! Easy to fill up on the bread!
Brushetta and sundried tomato/olive spread : What a nice sampling while waiting for your food.

Although on the pricey side, Casa Rustica was not only pleasant, the food was delicious and the dining room was cozy! Highly recommended, but prepare to pay.

Chuck Ate:

Ravioli Classici ($18.00)

Great ambiance, great food. There really is much to like about Casa Rustica. To begin with, the look and feel of the restaurant was very old-world Italian. From the stucco walls to the stained glass lighting fixtures, to the padded chairs, the restaurant had a pleasant, comfortable feel.

We were seated promptly and the waiter took our drink order. The menu took a little longer than we expected (Jennifer actually got up and grabbed them for us – unfortunately they were the dinner menus), but that was the only negative about the service. Our waiter was attentive and very pleasant.

Right after the drinks arrived, our waiter brought over 4 warm, toasted breads with bruschetta (2) and an amazing olive spread (2). In addition, warm bread and rolls where brought out with a very tasty olive oil for dipping. I ordered the handmade ravioli with fresh ricotta and pink sauce off the lunch menu. While the portion was average (about 8 raviolis), it was excellent and filling.

The only downside to Casa Rustica is that it is a bit pricey (lunch prices averaged $25 for a pasta dish), however the quality of the service, ambiance and food makes it feel like money well spent.

The bottom line:
Handmade Ravioli and pink sauce: average sized portion, excellent taste!

Overall, this restaurant is the best of the list so far. I would assume dinner is much more expensive, but if you are looking for a cozy, high quality Italian meal, Casa Rustica is it. Period.