It’s Lunchtime In Huntington Village

By Pete & Mike/ foodie@longislandernews.com

We’re out to lunch almost daily – usually in the Village – but we have ventured as far as Skippers in Northport. For three months we’ve been meeting and eating as we get to know each other and plan for the growth and betterment of The Long-Islander group of newspapers.

One of the newspaper decisions we’ve made – during a lunch at Christopher’s -- was to launch this page to share with our readers weekly, a culinary collection of choices in our area – the restaurant capital of Long Island. Along with other writers who know and enjoy their dining, the two of us will be using this space to offer our take on local eateries and dining experiences.

Some of the places like Canterbury Ales and Mundays, perhaps due to the proximity to our office, comfort level and service or maybe just plain fun, have become regular lunch spots for us. Indigo is an old favorite dinner spot. We have already ventured out to dinner several times at several places and look forward to sharing those experiences, too. And we sure look forward with gusto to what is to come.

We will bring you the news of the restaurant, wine and food industry in Huntington along with (hopefully) weekly reviews of the wonderful dining establishments that fill our streets and our stomachs. The two of us are uniquely qualified to launch and contribute ingredients to shape this page for our paper. We both love to eat and love to dine. We both claim to know good food. We both insist we know great food. Peter, with a specialty in pastries and desserts, has spent a good portion of the last several decades as a close friend to an established Manhattan pastry chef. Mike, prior to being introduced to the South Beach diet, clearly showed his all-around eating skills.

But this will be more than our page. Other foodies will be joining our writing effort. We also invite our readers to share their culinary thoughts, experiences, restaurants and reviews. We invite the local restaurants to share their news.

And, if we haven’t been around to review your restaurant, we invite you to invite us. You can reach us at Foodie@longislandernews.com or by mail at Foodie, Long-Islander Newspapers, 322 Main St., Huntington, NY 11743.

And now, on to lunch . . .

What can you say about a couple of salads?

Behaving during lunch limits the options and sadly skews the reviews. Yes we are daring eaters, love our food, but most often one of us tries to keep it low-carb while the other pretends he has to be conscious about his weight. (Stop it Peter!)

Though we’ve sampled more than bare-bone salads at lunch places and occasionally “cheat,” our lunch fare is often simple and our lunches relatively quick.

Our purpose here is to present lunchtime alternatives and not to use the same critical eye – or tongue – we use when reporting on a dinner experience. Not that lunch is not as important a meal – they say it is more important nutritionally – but we frequently talk work through lunch, while we prefer to savor our supper. We are like many who spend the midday experience to socialize and accomplish, while we leave the true dining for dinner. We attempt to distinguish where you might wish to do which.

But if it is an hour of good times and good food you seek, come along with us as we lunch Huntington.

Mundays, 259 Main St., 631-421-3553; inexpensive; fine food luncheonette

Munday's is the place – it perhaps best defines the uniqueness of the village. It is old-fashioned, quaint, and whimsical with real good food. A throwback to the candy store of the 50s or 60s with red vinyl booths and counter seating – you remember spinning ’til you’re dizzy on them as a kid – the atmosphere is carried through to the back dining room. It is comfy, as is the food and service. A luncheonette pace with an efficient, friendly wait staff is what you’ll find in this the top of the list of “must” lunch experiences in the village.

The standard breakfast, lunch and grill fare is available at Munday’s. The salads are a big step above luncheonette or diner norm. The chef salad, Caesar with chicken or deluxe with tuna are each ($8.95) a satisfying meal. The variety of offerings including their pancakes, omelets and sandwiches will keep everyone happy. If you do the French toast ($4.75) or pancake ($4.50, short stack) thing, spring for the extra buck and get the real Vermont maple syrup.

They basically have everything you’d expect on a lunchtime menu. But we love their specials. Their California Shrimp Salad ($8.95) – whole shrimp and avocado with mayo on homemade honey wheat bread blew us away. The Chicken Pesto Sandwich ($8.95) is another special to watch for. We look forward each week to what wholesome, creative offerings grace their special menu – they also have the not-so-wholesome stuff if you’re so inclined. We avoid dessert but we’ve seen desserts at Munday’s bring big smiles on the faces of small and big kids.

Whatever you want, they have. They’ll serve it with a smile – especially if Joan is your server -- and a straw and you won’t have to wait very long.

Begin your week of lunches at Munday’s. It’s a throwback that is one step ahead.

Bistro Cassis, 55B Wall St., 631-421-4122; moderately priced; French Bistro

Walk down Wall Street and have a delightful, inexpensive lunch on Paris’ left bank. Bistro Cassis, inside and out, is reminiscent of the informal Gallic charm that highlighted our trips to France. The fine food, the décor, the aproned wait staff – even their attitude when we wanted to alter menu ingredients – shouted France. Don’t mistake French Bistro for the heavy, perhaps cream-laden food of French restaurants of old – this is Bistro – with the fun, light fare you can find along the French countryside or in a small café aside the Seine or even on Wall Street in Huntington.

Cassis is the latest offering from the Pomodoro food mini dynasty that began in Huntington more than a decade and a half ago – Mac’s Steakhouse, Pomodoro, Pomodorino – we’ve been to more than a half dozen of their locales – all exciting with fine food.

Lunch at Cassis is an hour of out-of-the ordinary dining. The menu includes a variety of mussel dishes beautifully served (moules $12) – we recommend the Provencales. Offerings include a variety of salads ($8 and up) – we loved the Salade D’Epinard et Crevettes, warm spinach with shrimp in an orange caper sauce; crepes ($9 to $13) – we heard the Fromage et Jambon was superb; sandwiches from a traditional Croque Monsieur (Emmenthal cheese and ham - $9) to Sandwich De Boef (sliced hanger steak with caramelized onions and gruyere cheese and French fires - $13); ravioli of the day ($12); bacon and cheese omelet with roasted potatoes ($10); steak tartar ($13); tuna tartare ($15) and lots more.

Try Cassis for a little attitude, a little accent and lots of fine food, just a block off Main Street but oceans away.

Bon Apetit!

Canterbury Ales, 314-316 New York Ave., 631-549-4404; inexpensive; Old English Pub

In the late 1300’s a group of 30 people who traveled as pilgrims to Canterbury, England told stories to each other to kill time on their journey. One could picture Huntington’s favorite watering hole, Canterbury Ales as a stopping place for the weary group in Geoffrey Chaucer’s classic work, Canterbury Tales – you remember it from school.

Canterbury Ales is a regular stopping place for our lunchtime respite. The re-creation of the very old English Pub adorned with old pictures, stained glass pub paraphernalia and a picture of the Queen, adds to the comfort of Publican Billy Hoest’s New York Avenue watering hole.

We’re there for lunch -- frequently. And it is always a pleasant, satisfying experience. The staff is wonderful -- the friendliest bar maids and servers this side of the Atlantic – and quick, too. The offerings are varied and tasty and they’ll gladly modify their menu with a smile, to please you.

The savouries include: Angels on horseback ($9.99) – plump oysters wrapped in bacon broiled in garlic butter, sherry and herbs; potato skins ($6.99); mixed zucchini and mozzarella sticks ($7.50) and Buffalo wings ($7.99).

The Chef’s or Spinach salad ($11.99) are each a meal and a half – with a variety of wonderful dressings. The burgers (from $6.99) are sublime and in every size and combo served with cottage fries right up to the Archbishop of Canterburgers (with ham, mushrooms, bacon, green peppers, Swiss & American cheese - $11.29). Substitute the sweet potato fries for an additional $1.75.

From Bangers & Mash ($9.99) to Scottish Meat Pie ($8.99) to Clams ‘n Chips ($9.99), a bit of the old country names and style will delight you.

There are frequently specials – sometimes price and sometimes taste. We always like to try whatever the restaurant thinks is worthy of promotion. You won’t go wrong following the advice of the folks at Canterbury’s.

Not our lunchtime activity but Canterbury offers 16 Imported and American Microbrews on draught and 30 bottled selections

Take a trip back to Old England for fun times and fine food.

Enjoy lunching Huntington!

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