Erica Marcus
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Articles by Erica Marcus
True Food Kitchen closes in Roosevelt Field
True Food Kitchen, the health-conscious national chain restaurant that opened in 2020 in Roosevelt Field, has closed. Earlier this morning, the Scottsdale, Arizona-based company announced that it had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. "True Food Kitchen has closed 12 restaurants, with their final day of service on Sunday, October 4," the company said in a statement.
'Chefs Against Hunger' dinners to benefit Long Island Cares
The "Chefs Against Hunger" series kicks off with Eric LeVine of Farmingdale's 317 Main Street. Credit: Moe Morales Long Island’s hospitality industry is a generous one, with chefs deploying their considerable drawing power all year long to raise money for worthy causes. But "Chefs Against Hunger" is a unique event: Over the course of two months, eight prominent local chefs will prepare multicourse dinners for about 30 diners each night.
Burgerology to open in Patchogue, replacing Spycoast Kitchen
Two years after General Douglas MacArthur declared, "I shall return" to the Philippines in 1942, he made good on that promise.
Crescent Duck Farm ducks are back on Long Island restaurant menus
Almost two years after Crescent Duck Farm in Aquebogue was shuttered due to an outbreak of bird flu, the ducks are back. Long Island duck became famous the world over when scores of farms here were raising the Pekin breed, originally from China. The name persisted even as our farms began to close during the mid 20th century. By 2015, only Crescent, founded in 1908, remained. Then, in January 2025, state and federal authorities instructed Crescent to euthanize its entire flock of about 99,000 birds.
Vitolo Sorrentino Italian Supper Club opening in Garden City South's former ITA Kitchen
A venerable NYC Italian restaurant has partnered with a relative Long Island upstart and the result, Vitolo Sorrentino Italian Supper Club, is planning to open in Garden City South by early November.
Vincent's NYWF Pizza opening in St. James
After more than six years of operating pizza trucks, Vincent DeMarzo is putting down roots, sort of. He is adding a third truck to his Vincent’s NYWF Pizza fleet and parking it, permanently, at a property that he and his wife, Andrea, bought in St. James. He’ll still be making pies and serving from a truck, but all prep, marketing and sales operations will be conducted from a former lawyer’s office at the corner of Lake and Woodlawn avenues.
Blackbird Kitchen & Cocktails team opening Bar Franco in Commack
Chris Perrotta and Frank Ubriaco may be Long Island’s lowest-key restaurateurs. Certainly their Blackbird Kitchen & Cocktails in Wantagh (est. 2016) is one of the least flashy spots on Newsday’s Top 50. When they took over Woodbury’s Rustic Root in 2021, it took customers (and one noted food reporter) a while to figure out that there had been a change in ownership.
The Giving Table partners with Long Island restaurants to raise money
For his day job, Chris Graziose, helps restaurants market themselves through his Digital Resource Group. His side hustle is running the 40,000-member Facebook group, Best Restaurants of Long Island. But his passion is The Giving Table, a new initiative that makes it easy for restaurants and their patrons to contribute to a worthy cause.
Abigayle's opens at Preston House in Riverhead
Patricia and James Mangiacapre are betting on their understanding of the Riverhead dining scene to make their two-week-old restaurant, Abigayle’s, a success. "You have to listen to what local people want, you have to provide real hospitality," Patricia said. "It’s not ‘the trick’ to success; it’s the reality of the situation." The couple has taken on a location that looks eminently promising, but has proved a challenge to its predecessors.
Long Island's legacy eateries make FeedMe's Top 50 restaurants list
Our annual list of Long Island’s Top 50 restaurants has arrived. It is designed to delight, to reveal, to explain and, yes, to inspire debate. Our fervent hope is that we will lead you to a wonderful spot you’ve never been to, whether it’s a hidden gem you’ve driven by a hundred times or a distant eatery worthy of a meal-focused day trip.
The Marin opens in Northport
When Lindsay Ostrander took over the former Whales Tale, her vision for The Marin was to transform the rowdy, seasonal watering hole at the Britannia Yachting Center overlooking Northport Harbor into a year-round dining destination. "They were only open half the year," she said. "All the tables were outside on the deck with just a bar inside." The Marin’s cool dining room now seats 75, with another 50 outside.
Review: Lale in Lindenhurst
Long Island’s Turkish restaurants are generally of a very high caliber, but Lale rises to the top thanks to its flawless renderings of standards (eggplant salad, lentil soup, kebabs, 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 of stuffed cabbage or a crackling sunburst of fried anchovies.
Review: Abu Zayn in Rockville Centre
Too often seen as an undifferentiated expanse of hummus and kebabs, Middle Eastern cuisine contains multitudes — with each country contributing its own dishes, flavors and techniques. On Long Island, the scene is dominated by Turkish, Israeli and Persian restaurants, but here comes Abu Zayn with its irresistible Egyptian fare.
Review: 18 Bay in Jamesport
When 18 Bay opened in Jamesport last year, it was the third iteration of a restaurant whose first address was 18 Bay Ave. in Bayville (2005-10) and rose to universal acclaim during its tenure on Shelter Island (2011-22). Chef-partners Adam Kopels and Elizabeth Ronzetti in the kitchen at 18 Bay in Jamesport.
50 best restaurants on Long Island
FeedMe’s annual Top 50 restaurants is a monthslong project that highlights the best restaurants on Long Island. This year’s list is more accessible than ever, with new options like a beloved South Shore burger spot, fast-casual Egyptian shawarma and a stellar Turkish restaurant inside a food market. You’ll also find critics’ picks for regional Italian, fine dining, Chinese dim sum and the omakase experiences that are truly worth it. Bookmark this page and get ready to eat.
LI Hospitality Ball returns, showcasing food and drink
It’s been four years since the last Long Island Hospitality Ball, but the star-studded culinary showcase-fundraiser is back with a vengeance. The event takes place on Sept. 28 and, as before, it takes over Woodbury’s Crest Hollow Country Club. Tickets are $200 and entitle the bearer to unlimited tastes from scores of local restaurants. All proceeds benefit the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund.
Tête-á-Tete Cafeteria opens in Rockville Centre
Mariia Rahmani had recently moved her insurance business from Brooklyn to Nassau County and was looking for something very specific in Rockville Centre. "I was looking for a place to meet clients near my house," she said. "Somewhere quiet where we could sit, talk, have a cup of coffee and a pastry." When she failed to find such a place, she decided to create her own. Tête-á-Tete Cafeteria, a chic little spot with four tables and counter seating, opened in August.
Gemelli's Gourmet opening in Islip
The "Burrata Bulldog" hero at Gemelli's Gourmet in Lindenhurst. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus Gemelli’s Gourmet is opening its second shop on the South Shore. The family-run shop — serving sandwiches, pasta, salads and prepared foods — will take over the Islip storefront that had been Coyle’s Ice Cream, which moved down the block in May. Adriana, Alessia and Marc Schutz opened their first Gemelli’s Gourmet, in Lindenhurst, last year.
Blind Bat Brewery in Centerport serves brisket on bialys
Paul Dlugokencky has a thing for the letter B. He established Blind Bat Brewery in his garage in 2008 and developed enough of a following that, in 2019, he moved into a tiny Centerport storefront. He and his wife, Regina, put together a beer-friendly menu and named the venture Blind Bat Brewery Bistro. The menu of soups, salads, sandwiches and wraps has been evolving since then and, recently, he added two new items that work in tandem: brisket and bialys.
Amityville Cellars coming from Massapequa's Salumi team
Something big is coming to the former site of Amityville’s Bulldog Grille, which was shuttered by a fire in 2018 and demolished in 2022. And it’s a project spearheaded by some of Long Island’s most accomplished restaurateurs.
Betty's Burgers & Ice Cream Bar opens in Merrick
Betty’s Burgers & Ice Cream Bar has that beachside burger vibe down pat: The casual menu is focused on playfully deployed patties and elaborate sundaes; the decor is shabby-surf chic and the playlist leans on Motown and doo-wop. As for beachside, it’s adjacent to Open Bay Marina and, if it weren’t for the aqua fence that surrounds the outdoor patio, you could see the water through the parking lot.
Salep Ice Cream Cafe opens in Ronkonkoma
There may be no treat more universal — and universally loved — than ice cream: Sweet, creamy and cold is, apparently, something every culture can agree upon. But that’s not to say that ice cream is the same in every country. Turkey has a long tradition of blending salep, a finely ground powder made from orchid roots, into the milk, cream and sugar to produce an ice cream, "dondurma," with a distinctive texture that is a bit stretchy, a bit chewy, but entirely delicious.
The Brightwaters Market opens with organic, gluten-free menu
The Brightwaters Market dominates the village’s central intersection with a double-height entryway. Big and bright, with scores of menu options and a sparkling open kitchen, the month-old market-cafe looks like the culmination of a long career in food service. In reality, it represents a leap of faith for an ambitious first-time food-service owner who decided to bet on herself.
Mudroom coffee shop opens in Shoreham
In a rebuke to cookie-cutter coffee shops everywhere, Mudroom has neither avocado toast, nor overnight oats nor an Instagram wall. What this idiosyncratic spot does have is a rare commitment to quality and purity.
Luca Steak opens in Huntington
The owners of Luca Steak don’t like to refer to their new restaurant as a steakhouse. "Let’s say steak restaurant," said Rory Van Nostrand. David Tunney chimed in, "When you say ‘steakhouse,’ people think it’s a [classic] clone, or it's that whole steak-and-sushi thing.
Long Island's North Fork Foodie Tour returns for 2026
When the North Fork Foodie Tour began in 2007, the bounty of the region it highlighted was largely unknown — even to Long Islanders. Now the towns of Riverhead and Southold are known throughout the tristate area for their agricultural and culinary treasures. But the tour, organized by North Fork Reform Synagogue, may still be the best way to explore at your own pace. You’ll have access to 19 venues when the tour comes Sept. 13.
Jack's Grill opens in Speonk
When Zach Terzis and Charlotte Olander decided to start a family and buy a house, they quickly learned that they would not be able to afford to stay in the heart of the Hamptons, where they had operated The Hideaway in Montauk from 2020 to 2024. Their search brought them west to Westhampton where, four years ago, they bought a historic (1859) home and, in short order, had two kids.
Farmingdale's Trento hires top Italian chef
After 13 years, Trento Italian Steakhouse was looking to up its culinary game. Emilio and Lorenzo Branchinelli, the father-son owners, decided that the chef for the job was Pierluigi "Gigi" Sacchetti, whose run of top-rated Long Island Italian spots started with Da Gigi in Lynbrook (2017-2018) and extended to Farina 00 in Franklin Square, which opened in 2024 and closed during the winter.
Tucker's Taproom & Smokehouse BBQ shines in Mattituck
Add another stop to your Long Island barbecue itinerary: Tucker’s Taproom & Smokehouse is putting Mattituck on the map. Or, rather, back on the map. It’s got terrific smoked meats that are equaled in quality by the sides and the drinks (18 beers on tap, premium spirits, craft cocktails), all of which can be enjoyed at the bar, in the dining room or outside on the lawn or patio. Dining on the patio at Tucker's Taproom & Smokehouse in Mattituck.
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.
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