Erica Marcus
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Articles by Erica Marcus
La Nonna Bella closes in Garden City
Over the last year, Garden City has seen a rash of newsy openings — The James, Tatte, Meli, just for starters — but the village has now lost one of its culinary treasures: La Nonna Bella has closed. On July 4, owners Lino and Erica De Vivo posted that they would be closed until July 13, which hardly raised an eyebrow since the family usually took a week in the summer to visit Puglia, Lino’s native region in Italy’s boot. But the weeks went by and the restaurant stayed closed.
Stereo East End opens in Greenport
It’s become a springtime ritual for the East End glutterati: As soon as the restaurant season gets underway, the Googling starts: Where is chef Cheo Avila popping up this year?
Rolling Spring Roll Vietnamese closes in Commack
After three years, the Vietnamese restaurant Rolling Spring Roll has closed in Commack. Owner Joe Bui said that he would be consolidating operations at his larger Syosset location, which opened in 2016. He cited the increase in wages and ingredient prices as major factors, but took a philosophical approach that might be described as Rolling with the Punches. "I do what the business tells me. I’m getting older.
Torigo sushi reopens in Floral Park
On the surface, Torigo’s move from 196 to 200 Jericho Tpke. was practically seamless. The top sushi spot closed its old doors for only one week to transition this spring. But, said chef-owner Tony San, "it took us two years to make it happen." Still, he considers himself fortunate that, once his lease was up, he managed to stay on the same block.
Jani Chinese closes in Hicksville
A bowl of wonton noodle soup at Jani in Hicksville. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus Jani, a Chinese-Japanese mainstay of the Hicksville community, has closed after 30 years. A photo of a sign in the restaurant’s window — "Jani is permanently closed as of July 20, 2026” — was posted in the Save our Hicksville Facebook group Thursday. Among the more than 100 commenters was the owner’s son, Chris Shah.
Popei's Clam Bar pops up at Amsterdam in Patchogue
Brothers Joe and Ralph Reale, owners of Popei’s Clam Bars in, respectively Deer Park and Coram, have been operating the cavernous venue at 52 W. Main St. in Patchogue for 13 years. And it took them 13 years to bring a little of their storied seafood into their Patchogue kitchen.
Lola's Kitchen & Cocktails opens in Eastport
It often takes a new restaurant some time to find its audience, but less than a week after Lola’s Kitchen Cocktails opened in Eastport last month, it was already mobbed at 5 p.m. on a Wednesday evening, with guests enjoying small plates like seared scallops with Creole corn and bacon stew or Korean fried cauliflower with pickled radish; mains like pastrami-spiced duck or a Wagyu burger with bourbon-balsamic-onion jam — and, perhaps, sipping the signature Lolita (tequila, coconut and pineapple...
Bayman's Clam Bar opens in Patchogue
We’ve all gotten used to obscure restaurant names — mashups of the owners’ children's names, allusions to favorite songs, inscrutable foreign words, straight-ahead made-up words — so it’s a relief when an eatery clearly announces exactly what it is. That’s your cue, Bayman’s Clam Bar. It’s a bar, serving clams, sourced by local baymen. And it opened on June 24 on the western bank of the Patchogue River, where Harbor Crab used to be.
Rockville Centre's Aperitif to close, transform into Sage & Sea
Aperitif, the French bistro in the heart of Rockville Centre, will serve its last supper this Sunday. After a renovation that owner Onur Otkas hopes will take no more than two months, it will reemerge as Sage & Sea Coastal Kitchen & Bar, a more casual concept offering more small plates, more Mediterranean dishes and lower prices. The new name also serves to tie the new eatery to Otkas’ Sage Bistro Moderne, which opened in Woodbury in 2009.
Buy your tickets to The Long Island Pizza Festival
If you’re into pizza, you’ll want to mark your calendar for Sept. 19, the date of the second annual Long Island Pizza Festival. You’ll also want to set a reminder for Friday at noon, when tickets go on sale at thelongislandpizzafestival.com. Last year’s maiden voyage, at Mill Dam Park in Huntington, was such a success that organizers Frank Antonetti, Corey Gluckstal and JB Woodworth have upped the ante for 2026: The event will move to the outdoor plaza at the Nassau Coliseum.
Coyle's Ice Cream opens on Main Street in Bay Shore
Since they bought Coyle’s Ice Cream in 2023, Michael Khoury and Quadir Russell have been busy building the brand founded on Howells Road in Bay Shore by Marty and Janice Coyle in 1985. Last May, they opened an outlet inside the new Gemelli’s Gourmet in Lindenhurst. This May, they moved the Islip store six doors east on Main Street into a sparkling new flagship with almost three times as much space. But, said Khoury, there was a critical link missing from the South Shore chain.
Inside one of Long Island's most exclusive clubs where members spend up to $4,000 ... for meat
All eyes were on Ned and Tina Hickok. The couple had been quietly sipping their drinks at the bar of Bistro Eté in Water Mill when a huge wooden cutting board was set in front of them and then a 17-pound prime strip loin was set upon the board. Now the restaurant’s chef, Arie Pavlou, extravagantly braceleted and fedora-ed, emerged from the kitchen bearing two red-hot branding irons that had been sitting directly in the flame of a burner.
Via Cuma pizzeria in Oceanside closes temporarily
The capricciosa pizza at Via Cuma in Oceanside. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus Via Cuma Sourdough Pizza & Cucina of Oceanside, a Newsday Top Pizzeria, has shuttered temporarily while founder Luca Schiano Di Cola buys out the silent partner with whom he opened the restaurant. "We had different ideas about running the business," he said. The pizzeria closed on June 17 and Schiano Di Cola is hoping to reopen July 21. The closure came barely two months after the April launch.
Great lobster meal deals at Long Island restaurants
Lobster dinners are, traditionally, Big Deal Meals. But, on Long Island, it’s become a summer tradition to offer them for a good price, often on a night of the week when a restaurant might not otherwise be busy. (There are even a few places where it’s always Lobster Night.). It’s always a good idea to call to reserve because supplies are limited. Here are 25 seasonal deals, one of which is sure to suit your budget.
Bread and Butter Market opens in Riverhead
Fans of "Harry Potter" may recall the Room of Requirement, a hidden chamber at Hogwarts that, Dobby the house elf explained in "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," "is always equipped with the seeker’s needs." I was put in mind of that room while exploring Bread and Butter Market, a compact month-old shop in Riverhead that is poised to meet any and every takeout, grocery and retail challenge. Need pancakes for breakfast, a pressed panino for lunch, a grab-and-go salad for dinner?
Lily's Seaside food truck debuts in East Moriches
Silly Lily fishing station in East Moriches is hosting Lily's Seaside food truck on summer weekends. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus With two restaurants, two delis and a pizzeria, East Moriches could not be less of a dining destination. But, during summer weekends, it boasts one of Long Island’s most idyllic eateries: Lily’s Seaside serves food and drinks at Silly Lily, the histo sjd gjtijoh tubujpo po uif cbolt pg Uvuijmm Dpwf xijdi, jo uvso, pqfot pvu joup Npsjdift Cbz.
Benvenuti Salumeria Italian market opens in Manhasset
When I came across Benvenuti Salumeria’s Instagram page, I was intrigued by the elegant typeface and logo, a pen-and-ink drawing of a pig, which suggested a team with its heart in the right place — in the leg (prosciutto), belly (pancetta) and jowl (guanciale). I sent a private message, which was promptly answered: "We are targeting a November or December opening." That was in June 2023. Last Friday, Bevenuti opened for business.
Long Island spots for great takeout barbecue
There's no better occasion than July 4 to celebrate barbecue, one of America's greatest culinary traditions.
Bellmore's Tavlin market opening in Greenvale
After more than 30 years on the South Shore, Tavlin is heading north. The owners of Bellmore’s beloved kosher Mediterranean market have signed a lease on a spot in Greenvale, taking over a former day spa in the same little shopping center as Centro Cucina. Partner Ittai Azoulay said the decision was a natural one. "We have a lot of customers coming here from the North Shore," he said.
Long Island farmers markets for 2026
Long Islanders sometimes forget that our suburban island also is home to a remarkable agricultural bounty. Most of us don’t encounter farms on a daily basis, and it’s inconvenient to drive out east every time we need a head of lettuce or an ear of corn. Luckily, Nassau and Suffolk's 38 weekly farmers markets provide a consistent source of just-picked fruits and vegetables that make supermarket produce pale in comparison.
Novah to open in troubled Great Neck spot
Here’s hoping the third time’s the charm. The Pashalis family, operators of about two dozen Mediterranean restaurants, have taken over the old Seven Seas Diner location in Great Neck. And, according to Nick Pashalis, they believe their plan will succeed where two others — Paros Grill and Americana Eatery & Bar — have failed. Born and raised in Douglaston Manor, Queens, Pashalis is familiar with the area. "Great Neck is a strong neighborhood," he said.
Best lobster rolls on Long Island: Critics' picks
Once the exclusive province of seaside shacks along the New England coast, lobster rolls have become a Long Island summer staple. They've become so ubiquitous, in fact, that the FeedMe team takes it upon themselves to compile a list of Long Island’s best. You will find a wide range of prices out there, from the mid $20s up to the $50 mark, and we've included examples at every level. Price can be related to size, but not all similar-size lobster rolls are created equal.
Off The Wheel cheese-charcuterie shop opens in Bellport
Jennifer and Collin Preziosi had both worked in hospitality since they were teenagers — she in the front of the house, he in the back — but after they got married last year, they set about putting into action their plan of working together in a family business. Everything came together on May 22 when they opened Off the Wheel, specializing in fine cheese and charcuterie, things made with them and things that go with them.
Lola in Great Neck to close
When it opened in 2009, there was no other Long Island restaurant remotely like Lola and, after it closes its doors after dinner next Friday, its elegant, Middle Eastern-fusion cuisine will be enshrined in the taste memory of its many fans. Chef-partner Lenny Messina said that after years of splitting his time between the restaurant and Hudson Valley Farms, its sister company in Ferndale, New York, the farm had won.
The James opens in Garden City
The biggest challenge Andrew Affa and Steven Squirito faced in opening their second The James location, in Garden City, was transforming an attractive space into a spectacular one. The James II opens Thursday night in what used to be Primehouse. The partners took over Art Gustafson’s restaurant late last year, served a final New Year’s Eve meal and spent the next six months transforming it into a venue that could hold its own alongside The James in Babylon, est.
West Hempstead bakery Sydney's Sweets scored spot at Knicks championship party
Sydney and Jermaine Perry were already Knicks fans when the team’s victory on Saturday night gave them the opportunity of a lifetime: The owners of Sydney’s Sweets in West Hempstead were commissioned to provide baked goods for the championship party at Flyfish Club on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. "We both grew up in Queens," Sydney, the baker, said. She runs the business with her husband, Jermaine.
4 new dessert spots open on Long Island this summer
Summer and sweets just go together. Whether it’s the school-vacation mentality that persists into the seasonless slog of the grown-up work calendar, or that more daylight means more time for dessert, our defenses are lowest when the temperature rises. It’s always the right time for ice cream, but don’t sleep on pies, cannoli or cookies either. 3 Sons Ice Cream, Kings Park 625 E. Main St. Mint chip, black cherry and coffee chip ice cream in a waffle cone at 3 Sons Ice Cream in Kings Park.
Smuggler's Cove opens in Greenport
One of Greenport’s loveliest berths has a new occupant: Smuggler’s Cove has replaced Porto Bello (est. 1992) at the Safe Harbor Stirling marina. Joseph Donagher, owner of the three-floor Beer Authority in Manhattan’s Times Square, took over Porto Bello’s lease and recruited his brother and sister-in-law, Southold residents Patrick and Roz Donagher, to run the place.
The Pizzeria opens in Yaphank
The Pizzeria can’t stop, won’t stop. On Wednesday, the 6-year-old chain opened its eighth and easternmost outpost in Yaphank at The Boulevard, a 322-acre mixed-use development comprising retail, restaurants and about 700 residential units. Owners Cliff Weinstein and Paul and Dan Saccoccio hadn’t been considering Yaphank until a real-estate agent boasted about the area.
The Pizzeria opens in Yaphank
Drinking 11 hours ago I Made a Beer Slushie, and It’s the Only Way I’m Drinking Blue Moon for the Rest of Summer tasteofhome.com - Lindsay Parrill • 11h The bubbles disappeared, yet the drink's texture stole the show. For a long time, I was convinced I wasn’t a beer person. This was a perfectly … Ice Cream 11 hours ago Chefs Agree: These Are the 7 Best Store-Bought Ice Creams You Can Buy The Kitchn - Mara Weinraub • 11h My favorite season is easily summer.
Peri Peri Guys chicken eatery opens in Selden
If Zee Shan has anything to do with it, spicy-savory peri-peri chicken is going to be the next hot fast-casual trend on Long Island. Marinated overnight for flavor and tenderness, then baked and, finally, grilled to order, it's the signature item at Peri-Peri Guys, a 20-seat eatery that opened last week in Selden Plaza shopping center.
Huntington's 1653 Pizza Company and Rust & Gold close
Two mainstays of the Huntington Village hospitality scene — The Rust & Gold sports bar and 1653 Pizza Company — have closed. The two venues share ownership and, in March, they went on the market for $1.2 million. Frank Antonetti, a partner in both businesses, said that "both restaurants are closed while we finalize a sale." The Rust & Gold opened in 2016 and established itself as a sports bar where the vibe, the drinks and the food were a cut above.
Lale Turkish Restaurant opens in Lindenhurst
Long Island’s Turkish restaurants are generally of a very high caliber, but Lale stands out both for its renderings of standards (eggplant salad, doner kebab, etc.) and its commitment to daily specials drawn from the repertoire of home cooks. You might happen upon braised flat beans with bits of beef, or delicate fingers or stuffed cabbage or a crackling sunburst of fried anchovies.
Crispy Karma Indian fried chicken opens in New Hyde Park
Simple concepts don’t come easily to Jay Jadeja and Raquel Wolf Jadeja. Their 6-year-old Sea Cliff restaurant, The Onion Tree (on both Newsday's Top 50 and Top Pizza lists), is a modern tavern serving regional Indian specialties inspired by Jay’s mother, pizza inspired by his love of Neapolitan cuisine and fusion dishes that reflect his restless spirit. So, Crispy Karma, which opened May 11 in New Hyde Park, represents a real departure.
Long Island Ice Cream Tour returns for 16th year
Has this unseasonably cool spring put a crimp in your ice-cream consumption? Here’s a delicious way to rectify that situation: The 16th annual Long Island Ice Cream Tour gets underway on June 6.
Best Long Island restaurants on the water: Critics' picks for dining with a view
Video Player is loading. Current Time 0:00 Duration 0:00 Remaining Time -0:00 Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. TextColorOpacity Text BackgroundColorOpacity Caption Area BackgroundColorOpacity Font Size Text Edge Style Font Family End of dialog window. By Andi Berlin, Erica Marcus and Marie Elena MartinezMay 21, 2026 5:00 am When it comes to dining on the water, it's all about the view.
Best ice cream on Long Island: 2026 Guide
Long Island is well served by ice cream shops, but among the hundreds of chain links and spots that scoop mass-market brands, there are a select few that make their own ice cream right there on the premises. Here's a sampling of independent shops, one of which shouldn't be too far away.
Griffin Kitchen & Bar opens in Roslyn
Long Island native Pasquale Abatiello cut his teeth in local kitchens (among them Porto Vivo and Red in Huntington and Barrique in Babylon) then spent years commuting to Westchester where he was the executive chef of the six-restaurant Wood & Fire group. But the new father of twins decided it was time to work closer to home and, for the first time, become an owner as well as a chef. Early May, he and his partners opened Griffin Kitchen & Bar in Roslyn.
Pasta-centric Aunt Jake's opens in Huntington
In the 11 years since they opened their first Aunt Jake’s in Little Italy, Manhattan, restaurateur Nick Boccio and his partner, chef Carmine DiGiovanni, have been through the ringer, opening and closing locations and, in the wake of COVID, focusing on group classes to satisfy an audience hungry not just for Italian dining, but for experiences. But one thing never changed: their commitment to pasta. When Aunt Jake’s opens in Huntington Village Wednesday pasta will, once again, be front and center.
3 Sons Ice Cream opens in Kings Park
When the storefront in between Rock Massa's 3 Sons Delicatessen and 3 Sons Pizza Kitchen in a modest Kings Park shopping center became available last year, there was no question that it would be subsumed into the growing 3 Sons empire. Rock indeed has three sons, but only the youngest, Frank, who also manages the pizzeria, is involved in the businesses. He’s joined at the ice cream shop by Tom Green, who manages the deli. "It’s the perfect complement to our other businesses," he said.
Galiano Wine Bar & Restaurant opens in St. James
Tiny but mighty, Galiano Wine Bar & Restaurant opened last week in St. James, offering boutique wines and world-class cuisine. It’s a neighborhood spot that deserves to draw customers from all over Long Island. Owner Vinny Galiano has been circling the hospitality business since he was growing up in Commack and working at Filetto’s pizzeria in East Northport.
Long Island Pizza Fest moves to Nassau Coliseum for 2026
The maiden voyage of Long Island Pizza Fest last September was such a success that its organizers are taking it out for another spin — and this time the event will be twice as big. Organizer Frank Antonetti said that he and his partners, Corey Gluckstal and JB Woodworth, expected about 1,000 people to attend the 2025 event at Mill Dam Park, "but we got over 25,000." And so, the festival grew. The second Long Island Pizza festival will take place Sept.
Via Cuma Sourdough Pizza & Cucina opens in Oceanside
Since Luca Schiano Di Cola opened Via Cuma Sourdough Pizza & Cucina, his gastronomic ode to Naples, in 2024, he has labored to fit all his ambitions into a tiny Valley Stream storefront. (It worked: Via Cuma is a Newsday Top Pizzeria.) His new Oceanside pizzeria, which opened last month, has more than twice the capacity, exponentially more parking and, very soon, a full bar.
Long Island pizzeria owners prepare for NYS bromate ban
An ingredient found in many local pizzas may soon be banned in New York State. Potassium bromate is an ingredient in the most common flour used in Long Island pizzerias. "Everyone uses it," said Anthony Laurina, the owner of Phil’s Pizzeria in Syosset. "It’s what I’ve always used, and I know how to work with it." A bill that has been passed by the state Senate and Assembly and is currently making its way to Gov.
Adana Grill Turkish eatery opens in Bohemia
Sometimes, the restaurant gods smile down on me. Driving down Sunrise Highway, I missed the turnoff for my regular Giunta’s Meat Farms — then remembered that the one in Bohemia was less than 10 minutes down the road. As I pulled into the parking lot I took in one of my favorite sights: a new Turkish restaurant. I’ve opined before that there is no cuisine on Long Island that is practiced on a higher level than Turkish. We’ve got a number of great ones, and none that are worse than good.
Spring benefit galas coming to Babylon and Farmingdale
The Long Island hospitality industry is a generous bunch, routinely supporting local organizations, sponsoring sports teams and making other unsung contributions. Then there are the organized events where restaurants, markets, breweries, vineyards and more combine forces to raise money for charity. Here are two to look out for. May 13: Chefs for a Cause One of the longest-running culinary-benefit galas around is the Babylon Breast Coalition's Chefs for a Cause at the Piermont in Babylon.
Citarella specialty market opens in Westhampton Beach
Westhampton has always been an outlier among Hamptons towns. True, it has "Hampton" in its name, but it also lies 10 miles west of the Shinnecock Canal and 20 miles west of where Route 27 narrows to two lanes and, thus, produces the most iconic Hamptons experience — sitting in traffic.
Dawat Indian opens in Port Washington
Long Island is in the throes of a full-blown upscale-Indian boom — the latest entry being Dawat in Port Washington. The elegant restaurant takes over a spot that has been a succession of taverns including Versus Sports Bar, Ale'Port Bar & Grill and O’Hara’s Ale House & Grill. The driving force behind Dawat is chef-owner Santokh Singh, a native of the Punjab in India whose first job in the U.S. was at Dawat (est.
What a Newsday food critic would order: Our top 10 menu hacks
As Newsday's food critics, we eat out nearly every day of the week, and over the years, we've developed strategies that help determine whether a restaurant is worth its salt. When we sit down to look at the menu, there's a good chance we'll be ordering one of these "go-to" dishes ... just to see how they measure up. We don't want to give you the impression that we're going to every Mexican restaurant and ordering enchiladas, because as we know, Mexico has an incredibly diverse cuisine.
Jade Eatery & Lounge closes in Port Washington
That’s three strikes for 1029 Port Washington Blvd. Jade Eatery & Lounge, the Asian-fusion eatery that opened there last May, has closed. Owner Arun Kumar, who also operates the 2-year-old Jade in Hicksville, said that it "was much more difficult to get staff" to make the trip to Port Washington. The restaurant identified as "modern Asian fusion," but that didn’t convey the breadth of the menu.
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