FOODIE

Huntington’s Best-Kept Seafood Secret
By Pete & Bob/ foodie@longislandernews.com

One of Huntington’s best kept dining secrets sits in a small triangle of land where New York Avenue meets Stewart Avenue in Huntington village. Marty’s Gourmet Seafood is well known as a reliable purveyor of fresh seafood, offering a selection of fresh cuts and shellfish from local waters – flounder, clams and scallops – as well selections from farther asea – salmon, halibut, tuna and tilapia, for instance.

For people on the go, Marty’s offers a selection of ready-to-cook items – stuffed flounder filets, feta-filled tilapia fish, crab cakes, and the like – that need only a few minutes in the oven and a squeeze of lemon to be ready for the table.

For those with a little time to spend, at a pair of small tables, customers can learn why Gourmet is Marty’s Gourmet Seafood’s middle name.

Frankly, it’s not because the preparation is so sophisticated. It isn’t. But even the most demanding palate can appreciate that fresh caught seafood, prepared simply, speaks for itself.

Like Ernest Hemingway’s “clean, well-lighted place,” Marty’s is what it is, and not much more. Seafood cases and display areas are clean and there’s little clutter. With large windows on three sides, light fills the room even on a dreary day. The room is filled with whimsical wire sculptures and mobiles, most of which incorporate shells, worn beach glass and driftwood. The sculptures were made by owner Marty’s brother and are not for sale, but they do add to the décor. The only other addition stands in the corner – a pair of tables, one high with a pair of barstools, the other low with regular seating. Their only adornment is a well-stocked napkin holder. Claim a seat and go talk to Rosemarie about what’s fresh today.
The answer will always include littleneck clams, and every trip to Marty’s should start with clams on the half-shell. Fresh from local waters, they can be relied on to be plump, firm and sweet. If you order a half-dozen you’ll just find yourself calling for more, so just go ahead and order 12.
Marty’s Baked Clams have the same sweetness with a bit of spice. Chopped clams in an almost pastelike consistency, they’re not too bread-crumby, and baked in a generously sized Quahog shell. A pair of them practically makes a meal.
Marty’s crab cakes are likewise a must. A generously sized patty, it’s served with tartar sauce and lemon and needs little more, letting the sweetness of the crab meat come through. On a recent visit, we also enjoyed Chinese inspired seafood rolls.
More substantial offerings can be relied on to be fresh, simply prepared and thoroughly enjoyable, but for these two Foodies, an impromptu lunch at Marty’s best consists of a parade of appetizers. Just add lemon, and tell them the Foodies sent you.

Marty’s Gourmet Seafood
266 New York Avenue
Two blocks north of
Main Street
Huntington village
631-673-1188

Atmosphere: Simple

Cuisine: Fresh seafood, prepared simply

Price range: Inexpensive

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