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FOODIE
Seafood Comes To Life
At Harbor Mist
By Danny Schrafel/foodie@longislandernews.com
With
its extensive seafood menu, attention to detail and fresh
ingredients, Harbor Mist is bringing a new culinary breeze
into Cold Spring Harbor.
Open just a few months now, hosts Barman and Michelle Sharifi
are both veterans of the restaurant business – they’ve
managed Pasta’s Café in Manhasset, Osteria D’Angelo
in Manhattan, Café Rustica in Great Neck and Taverna/Aqua
Blue in Roslyn.
Since Barman has brought restaurants to historic homes before,
making this house everybody’s else’s home didn’t
phase him at all. Walk in and enter the cozy, quiet bar to
the left; a small, bright dining room is in a room to the
right. Upstairs can hold 90 for catered affairs and boasts
a gorgeous view of the harbor; the downstairs dining room
accommodates another 70. Décor of the Amalfi coast
is present throughout the entire three-story home.
A couple of factors make the Harbor Road location key to Cold
Spring Harbor for a restaurateur and the village alike –
coming from Laurel Hollow and Woodbury, it’s the first
thing motorists see in the village, and the bustling night
crowd gives them a great first impression. Until Barman and
Michelle were up and running, there was only one restaurant
in the entire village.
Recent Huntington transplant, Terrence Cave, whose career
highlights include tenures at some of New York City’s
best restaurants, created a menu that draws inspiration from
all corners of the Mediterranean, from Spain through Italy
and to Turkey. Meals begin with a plate of hummus and whole-grain
bruschetta. The thick hummus has a spicy kick that won’t
put off sensitive palates; their bruschetta is cool, crisp
and a little bit smoky.
With tender fish and a mild avocado puree that brings out
the bright flavors of key lime vinaigrette (and a squeeze
of lemon, if you wish), Cornmeal-Dusted Calamari ($10), offers
a new take on the first-plate classic, which is also on the
menu for $9 with homemade marinara. Other appetizer choices
are mostly from the sea, including Mussels Provencal ($9),
Jumbo Lump Crabcake ($14), Clams Oregenata ($10), Yellowfin
Tuna Tartare ($12) and Confit of Duck ($9). Chilled seafood
includes a Wild Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail ($15), Long Island Little
Neck Clams ($8), East Coast Oysters on the Half Shell ($11)
and Lobster Cocktail ($15).
Enticing pastas include Linguine in Clam Sauce ($18), Lobster
Ravioli, Orecchiette ($19) and a Truffle Wild Mushroom Risotto
with Parmesan and truffle shavings ($22), that Michelle said
is one of her favorite dishes on the menu.
Harbor Mist offers a variety of steak, lamb, chicken and veal
for meat lovers, and their work with fruta del mar –
the fruit of the sea – excels. With an eye for local
suppliers, Cave’s Caramelized Sea Scallops ($24) are
superb – delightfully tender in a sage brown butter sauce
that is loaded with flavor thanks to the homegrown spices.
There’s no tricky solution to browning the scallops –
the natural sugar in them makes the magic happen, Cave said.
Also check out the Alaska Salmon ($24), Asian-inspired Sesame-Crusted
Yellowfin Tuna ($26) and Grilled Montauk Swordfish ($26).
Make sure to save room for dessert – Michelle’s
influence is apparent on delightful confections like creamy
Italian Cheesecake ($7), Peach & Berry Cobbler a la mode
($8) bursting with large, warm pieces of fruit, and Cannoli
($7) boast remarkably light, crunchy shells that are filled
just before they’re served.
Check out their weekly three-course Lobster Bake special and
prix-fixe menus, a great way to explore the menu at Harbor
Mist. One dining room is open for dinner and dancing on Saturdays,
and a jazz pianist fills the bar with swinging sounds on Fridays.
Harbor Mist
105 Harbor Road/Route 25A,
Cold Spring Harbor
631-659-3888
http://harbormistrestaurant.com
Atmosphere: Colonial home,
Amalfi coast flair
Cuisine: Fresh flavors of the Mediterranean
Price: Moderate-Expensive
Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m., seven days
Main
Menu
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