Finley’s Classic Charm
By The Foodies./ foodie@longislandernews.com

Finley’s of Greene Street touts itself as an “eating and drinking club,” and it lives up to both missions very well indeed.

Namesake John Finley, who passed away in late 2010 at age 67, still greets visitors on a painted wooden sign in the breezeway, holding a mug of beer in his hand. His sartorial elegance, including his trademark bowtie and straw boater hat, is on full display.

The two wings of Finley’s are connected by a breezeway in the middle. On one side is the bar, where the Finley’s gang has been on the vanguard of the craft beer scene since they opened in 1993. On the other side is the quiet, relaxing dining room. Its lace curtains and green tablecloths evoke old-world charm appropriate for the circa-1868 building, which is currently undergoing renovations.

While nibbling on a basket of bread, I dove into the chili ($8.95), which, if I had been behaving myself, could have been a meal on its own. A must for meat-lovers, Finley’s hearty recipe is loaded with chunks of beef and topped with green onions, diced tomatoes and cheese. Perfect for sharing, it’s not meant to be eaten with a spoon, but the abundant tortilla chips that surround the deceptively deep crock of chili.

Seafood choices, ranging from shrimp, calamari, PEI steamed mussels, Little Neck Clams and crab cakes, fill the appetizer menu and will be a first stop in subsequent visits; the BBQ baby back ribs were also particularly tempting. The sliders menu, which includes everything from mini Angus burgers to buffalo chicken, filet mignon, lobster salad and everything in between, is also enticing.

Keeping with the Irish theme, I dove into Chicken Galway Bay ($17.95), a savory medley of grilled chicken, mushrooms, green onions, super-thin Julienne vegetables and roasted potatoes served in a hearty sauce. The marriage of grilled and sautéed flavors bring out the best in the tender chicken breast and lives up proudly to the name evoking the Western Irish shores. Pastas, wraps, burgers and entrees of all sorts make Finley’s an ideal place for lunch and dinner gatherings of any size and a great place to unwind.

After overloading myself on chili, dessert wasn’t an option, but certainly will be something to consider. I couldn’t think of a better place to divvy up a dish with a few friends, sipping coffee and unwinding after a week’s work.

Finley’s of Greene Street
43 Green Street, Huntington
631- 351-3440
Atmosphere – Relaxing, soothing hangout
Cuisine – New American with Irish inspiration
Price – Moderate