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FOODIE
Bonwit
Inn Boasts Classic Tastes
By
Alessandra & Luann/foodie@longislandernews.com
If you’re looking for a place to stay for a couple of
nights, Bonwit Inn of Commack is not the place to go. But,
if you’re looking for a wonderful place to eat for a
night out on the town, well, that’s a different story.
The Bonwit Inn is just as rustic and romantic inside as it
is on the outside, but don’t be fooled by the name. Although
people may want to walk up the brick pathway to the entrance
of the restaurant, toting behind them a suitcase or two, it
is not for lodging. The origin of the restaurant’s name
remains a mystery even to Bonwit’s current owner, who
simply kept the name bestowed on it by its previous owners.
When we first walked inside, we were met by a smiling staff.
But behind them was even more to grin about. Awaiting us was
an array of rooms decorated with wood carvings on the moldings
and an Old World stone fireplace that gave us as warm a feeling
inside as it would have on the outside had it been on.
Bonwit’s menu encompasses all the standards of pasta,
seafood and meat, with a few extra delights. Before we ordered,
a plate of hot bread came to the table with whipped butter
that melted as soon as it touched the warm dough. Next came
the complimentary and refreshing Greek salad given to each
table before dinner for guests to share.
We started off with two appetizers, the baked clams ($8),
and fresh mozzarella ($8). The Baked Clams, a “Bonwit
classic,” are made special at Bonwit, restaurant staff
said, though they wouldn’t reveal the secret recipe.
They were deliciously plump and tasty. The mozzarella was
paired with prosciutto, vine ripe tomatoes and roasted peppers
in a balsamic glaze. The tangy taste of the mozzarella made
it irresistible – the taste of the balsamic stuck to
the mozzarella like water to a sponge, and the mozzarella’s
taste stuck to the tomato, and so on. Other appetizers, such
as the Clams Casino ($9) and Fried Calarmari ($9), served
with spicy garlic-tomato sauce, also caught our eye. They
even had Roasted Beets ($8) layered with goat cheese, candied
walnuts, arugala and cider glaze.
Completion of our appetizers left us that much closer to the
satisfaction of our main meals, which included the Seafood
Fra Diavolo ($28) and the Pecan Crusted Chicken ($19), both
popular dishes. The impressive and generous seafood platter
was filled with a lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, calamari,
mussels and clams in a spicy garlic tomato sauce over linguini.
The chicken entrée was pan-seared and finished with
a pineapple citrus glaze, leaving you this taste that leaves
you wanting more for weeks after. It came with apple compote
and whipped potatoes on the side.
Other dishes we hope to try include: the Veal Windsor ($24),
which is sautéed scaloppini garnished with jumbo shrimp
in a chardonnay wine sauce with fresh herbs and tomato; Chilean
Sea Bass ($27), which is pan seared and oven roasted in a
chardonnay beurre blanc with spaghetti squash, julienne zucchini
and whipped potatoes; the Bonwit Seafood Special ($30) with
a lobster tail, stuffed shrimp, sea scallops, baked clams,
filet of bass, salmon, and Maryland crab cake served in a
white wine sauce; and the Rack of Lamb ($30), which is roasted
herb and mint crusted rack of lamb with au jus.
Only one more thing was left for us to try: dessert! Every
dessert on the menu is $6 and the list of choices was tempting.
We ended up going for the Chocolate Tartufo, which is chocolate
and vanilla ice cream with a raspberry middle covered in scrumptious
chocolate, and the Parfait, which is layers of chocolate mousse,
custard, chocolate pudding and pralines. A long, decorative
thin piece of chocolate stuck out of the tall parfait glass.
If you aren’t the one eating it, you will definitely
be jealous of who is.
Part of Dine Huntington Restaurant Week next month, Bonwit
Inn also does catering and has private rooms for parties.
The restaurant is quite spacious; the main floor can seat
up to 275 guests, whereas 140 guests can be seated upstairs.
There are always new people and regulars coming in and out
of the doors, and funny enough, they sometimes have luggage
with them, the manager said.
So whether you’re with your flame or just a group of
friends, this place is one where you definitely leave happy.
Just remember to bring your appetite, and leave the suitcases
behind. Also check out the marvelous Sunday brunch.
Main
Menu
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