FOODIE
Hills Grad Opens ‘Ludlow Bistro’
By Leah & Alesa/ foodie@longislandernews.com

When Brian Connelly graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East in 1993, he dreamt of one day opening his own restaurant.

Yesterday, April 18, marked the one-year anniversary of Ludlow Bistro on Deer Park Avenue, which brings the flavor of New American cuisine to an avenue filled with fast food restaurants and pizzerias.

Ludlow Bistro, in the building that was formerly Mulberry Street, is the inception of Connelly and Commack High School graduate Mathew Treanor’s combined passions.

After meeting at a restaurant in Huntington years ago, Treanor, a chef who graduated from Johnson and Wales, and Connelly who studied restaurant management, started to create the plans for their ideal restaurant.

Connelly said his father Brendan, a Melville resident, is responsible for making his dreams come true.

The atmosphere is hip and relaxed and the food has a clear personal touch from Treanor, whose high standards are evident.

The menu dabbles in cuisines and flavors giving customers the option to enjoy their favorite dish or try something new.

A personal pizza with sausage, mozzarella and broccoli rabe, was the special appetizer for the night.

The Roasted Duck Wontons ($8) are a stand out for originality and taste. The crispy wonton doesn’t overwhelm the flavor of the duck inside and came with a jicama, endive, radish, and blood orange salad drizzled with a port wine raspberry sauce that compliments the wonton well.

The Lump Crab Cake ($10) was light with an abundance of flavor, on top of a roasted corn salsa, lemon, caper and herb remoulade. Also available is Shrimp Tempura ($10), Calamari ($9), and Cajun Seared Tuna ($12).

The menu holds four salads, which change by the season, ranging in price from $6-$8.
The Roasted Beet Salad ($8) is in season right now, with its cucumbers, roasted peppers, frieze, goat cheese, walnuts, and shallot red wine vinaigrette.

The menu also features a variety of pasta dishes ranging in price from $13 -$18. A stand out item is the Lobster Ravioli ($18) with lump crab, sautéed spinach, roasted tomatoes, and a white wine lemon and butter broth.

Even though Penne Vodka ($13) is fairly simple, at Ludlow it is guaranteed to taste top notch. The Prosciutto and Fontina Sacatini ($18) comes with grilled chicken, roasted peppers, asparagus, black olives and a goat cheese cream sauce.

The most popular entrée is the Almond Crusted Chilean Sea Bass ($26) with roasted corn, shitake mushrooms and sun-dried tomatoes in a red wine reduction.

Even at some of the best restaurants, sea bass is often saturated in butter or sauce.
Here, the natural flavor is paired with a toasted almond crunch that changed opinions about the fish itself.

The corn, mushroom and sun-dried tomato blend was unique, something Rachael Ray might cook up, and something we will try to attempt at home. Although Treanor said that fish is his forte, we tried a rack of lamb, with mashed potatoes and broccoli rabe that showed he could do anything well.

It was one of a few specials for the evening, including a Cajun-seared rib eye steak and a boneless duck.

The first year has been hard, but worth every moment for these two young men who have spent their entire lives on Long Island.

Both of these guys are perfectionists in what they do. With their passions combined, they have created an overall wonderful dining experience.

Ludlow Bistro
1945 Deer Park Avenue
Deer Park, New York 11729
631.667.9595

Atmosphere: Modern, Casual

Cuisine: New American

Price: Moderate

Hours:
Open for lunch
Dinner
Tues-Thurs 5-10
Fri-Sat 5-11
Sun 4-9

Main Menu