Mandarin Gourmet: A New York Ave. Mainstay
/By Tes Silverman
info@longislandergroup.com
Mandarin Gourmet owner Albert Leung presents the restaurant’s filet mignon entree.
Mandarin Gourmet on New York Avenue has been serving Chinese and Japanese cuisine in Huntington for 15 years. Owner Albert Leung moved the restaurant from Jericho Turnpike in Huntington, where it was known as Albert’s Mandarin Gourmet for 18 years.
Step inside and you are greeted with a huge space that’s bathed in colors of blue, brown and red, complementing the richness of the food they serve.
If you’re lucky, you may get to interact with Leung himself and see how his persona continues to attract diners, old and new.
Mandarin Gourmet offers dishes that combine sweet and sour flavors, as well as crisp and smooth textures.
To start you on your Asian culinary journey, the appetizers to choose are chicken corn soup ($6.95), tropical shrimp ($6.50) and chicken soong ($7.95). The chicken corn soup is creamy but not heavy and filled with pieces of tender chicken. The tropical shrimp is lightly battered mixed with a slightly sweet sauce that results in a crispy and delicious dish. The chicken soong is made with diced chicken and assorted vegetables served on lettuce leaves, making it the perfect dish for the health-conscious diner.
The chicken soong lettuce wrap appetizer at Mandarin Gourmet.
For Chinese entrees, the ones to choose are Seafood Delight ($21.95) and the filet mignon with asparagus and black bean sauce ($30.95). The Seafood Delight, made with lobster, prawns and scallops, sautéed with vegetables, is presented in a bird’s nest basket made from taro root, which is great for the adventurous diner. The filet mignon melts in your mouth, and balances well with the tender, crispy of the asparagus.
The Seafood Delight entree is made with lobster, prawns and scallops. It is sauteed with vegetables and presented in a bird’s nest basket made from taro root.
For Japanese dining options, sushi and sashimi rolls are available, as well as chef’s special rolls such as the Mango Madness roll, which has spicy salmon, crunch, mango, avocado, black caviar, spicy mango sauce ($11.95); and the Mama Buddha roll, filled with asparagus, avocado, mixed greens, cucumber, soy bean seaweed and sweet miso paste ($8.95), to name a few.
If you want to try a dessert that’s not typical, a platter with green tea, red bean, golden vanilla and pistachio ice creams along with pineapple and honeydew ($12.95) is great to try and large enough to share.
Manager Raymond Lin presents an ice cream and fruit platter.
More of a lunch person? Mandarin Gourmet offers lunch specials in Chinese and Japanese cuisine from 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Raymond Lin, the Mandarin manager for 20 years, credits the restaurant’s longevity to its customers.
“Our customers always come first. On any given day, the dining room and bar are filled with regular customers and new ones. Some live around the corner and others have traveled across the island to see what all the hype is about. We are happy to customize any of our menu items to fit the needs of our customers. Our staff does a great job of making sure that each customer, whether new or old, has a wonderful experience.”
