FOOD.D.LOVE

Everyone knows Ruth's Chris Steak House for what they do best - Prime steak served on sizzling hot plates, oozing in butter. When you want a classic steakhouse meal, Ruth's Chris will certainly deliver. However, you may not know that some locations of this popular chain offer a really great happy hour, called "Sizzle, Swizzle, Swirl" Monday-Friday from 4-7 p.m., where several drinks and appetizers are only $7.

My husband and I, and often times our colleagues,
end up at the Ruth's Chris bar in Garden City on Friday evenings after a long, hard week of work. It is very conveniently located about a block from my office, in the same giant parking lot surrounding Roosevelt Field Mall. I usually order wine, which is discounted during happy hour as well, but a few months ago I had had a particularly stressful day and it was hot out, so I wanted something really cold and refreshing. I ordered a Cosmopolitan on a whim, and it was one of the best drinks I've ever had. I h…

Behind a modest, unassuming storefront on Main St. in downtown Mineola awaits a flavor explosion that is Jane Cafe & Restaurant. I have to be honest, this is the first and only Korean restaurant I have ever been to, and I've been told by some of our Korean friends that it is the best Korean restaurant they have ever been to. So I guess I'm pretty lucky that it is located just a few blocks from our apartment!



Jane Cafe is tiny, and is literally a "mom and pop" restaurant - you will often see husband and wife behind the sushi bar and in the kitchen, with their sons serving the food. Jane only has about six or seven tables, and is completely lacking in the ambiance, decor and service departments, but it really doesn't matter because the food is THAT good. 





Specializing in Korean food and Japanese sushi, the star of Jane Cafe is without a doubt the Dolsot Bibimbap - a hot stone bowl filled with whole-grain rice, tons of fresh vegetables and bean sprouts, and bulgog…

Waterzooi is one of my favorite restaurants of all time, and it's not just because I worked there during law school. :) Named for a Belgian fish stew that is available on the menu, Waterzooi is the only Belgian bistro on Long Island. Located in the heart of Garden City on Franklin Avenue, Waterzooi is best known for its giant pots of mussels served in a variety of delicious broths, its extensive selection of Belgian beer and the intoxicatingly sweet made-to-order Belgian waffles they serve for dessert and at brunch.  



Waterzooi opened in 1999 and has been extremely popular ever since. It is almost always busy, especially on the weekends. It also has a great bar and is a happening happy hour spot for the lawyer and banker types who work in the area. In addition to the 13 different mussel pots they offer, there are also raw bar items such as oysters and clams, appetizers, salads and bistro-style entrees such as (USDA prime) steak frites and chicken cordon bleu. The food is consistent…

Yesterday was a beautiful September day, so my husband and I decided to take a break from our usual weekend beach pilgrimage and visit the quaint village of Huntington, on the North Shore of Long Island. A craft-beer enthusiast friend of ours had just recommended that we check out Sapsuckers on Main Street, so we decided to go there for lunch. We were so glad we did, and we cannot wait to return to Huntington to explore the multitude of dining options there.


The bar, which features 16 ever-rotating craft beers on tap and several more by the bottle, is located right in the front of the restaurant on the left-hand side. High-top tables line the right side, and regular tables for dining are located in the back. It is a pretty small space, so I can imagine they get fairly packed at night. According to their website, they do not take reservations. The restaurant has a pressed-tin ceiling and, as the name suggests, an Audubon theme (a sapsucker is a type of woodpecker). 

The beer menu is aptl…

Growing up in Southern California, In-n-Out Burger was a staple but always felt like a special treat. The first In-n-Out opened in 1948 and claims to have been the first drive-thru restaurant in the United States. Home of the Double Double (two patties, two slices of American cheese), In-n-Out prides itself on super fresh, never frozen ingredients and is believed by many West Coasters to have the best burgers anywhere. 

The In-n-Out menu is extremely limited - a few burgers, fries, shakes and sodas - but there are several "secret" menu items that you can order which utilize the same ingredients as on the regular menu but in more creative ways. Whenever I go to In-n-Out, I order an "Animal Style" Cheeseburger, fries and a Diet Coke (mythical girl math: the Diet Coke cancels out the calories in the burger and fries!). "Animal Style" is one of In-n-Out's not-so-secret menu items - they take your choice of burger and cook it with mustard on the grill, add …