FOODIE

Good Food, Great Deals At Feed & Grain
By Danny, Betty and Mike/foodie@longislandernews.com

The Northport Feed and Grain, named after its original tenant – the Village Stables, according to legend – is back to the trough for a second coming.

Reopening after a nearly 20-year hiatus in September 2008, the restaurant’s original run lasted from 1978 to 1988. Owner Robert Tyler’s son then opened the Clam Bar at the 73 Main Street site, followed by Tavern on the Harbor in 1996. After that closed in 2007, the Tylers took advantage of a 35-year lease that expires in 2012, resulting in the Feed & Grain’s encore – same wooden sign, same chef.

Another part of the allure is the promise of a good meal at a good price – this winter, the Feed & Grain offered “Recession Buster” specials where diners selected from a $10 or less entrée menu. Last week, they wrapped up the “New Deal” specials, which held to a similar concept.

Following that Feed & Grain tradition, the first thing that caught our eye during our lunchtime visit was the $14.95 lobster and mussels special. After all, it’s Northport, a village where their mayor is a lobsterman and a Village trustee is in shellfishing. We’re sure it’s in the foodie bylaws somewhere to support the locals’ major food trades. We’re nuts about the stuff, and the menu is loaded with it.

Eating on the front patio, with fresh, unsweetened iced tea in our hands and the afternoon sun beating down upon our heads, the mussels/lobster platter presented us with a dozen mussels, served in a light sauce that accentuates, but does not overwhelm, the tender shellfish. A generous portion of lobster flanked the mussels – ours was pre-cracked for our dining convenience and lack of hand cramps. It was tasty, tender and served with lemon and butter.

We also hit up the Feed & Grain Burger ($9.95) for the meat-eaters, which makes a fine lunchtime choice as well. The burger we had was juicy and cooked to order. Our compliments in particular go out to the fresh, springy sesame bun, which complemented the burger very well. Check out the Steak Salad ($12.95) as another savory choice to keep in mind.

Lunchtime salads run from $6.95 - $8.95 and include House, Tuscan and Caesar. Fish and Chips ($9.95) were another tantalizing, quintessentially Northport dish we have our eye on for another lunchtime visit. Ditto on the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($8.95) served with tomato and mozzarella. We saw one come out to another group and it looked like a winner to us.

Even with economic times still a bit tenuous, to be sure, the Feed & Grain has a fine chance at a bountiful second harvest, and one we hope foodies around town will be able to take advantage of.

Feed & Grain
73 Main Street, Northport Village
(631) 651-2684
http://feedandgrainnorthport.com

Atmosphere: A Northport casual classic

Cuisine: Seafood and staples of Americana

Price range: Inexpensive – Moderate

Hours: Noon – close, every day
Dinner served after 5 p.m.
Check for happy hours

Main Menu