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Hidden Gem On Main Street The Davenport Press is an historic, fine continental restaurant in the heart of downtown Mineola. The building was built in 1862 as a bank, later became a printing company and in 1976 it became a restaurant. Through the years the restaurant still possesses all the charm and character of its past. It's decorated with unusual, quirky antiques that have been collected throughout the years including street signs, old cash registers and a large fireplace. There is even a table displayed on the ceiling (below right), which has been there since 1977! (Lino, the manager of the restaurant, says it’s there so there’s always an extra table.)
Owner
Dennis Liberatos has established a restaurant that specializes in a continental menu
including hand selected, fresh seafood and prime meats. The varied menu is
complimented by an extensive list of their famous daily specials prepared by their
award-winning chef who has been satisfying palates at The Davenport Press for six
years now. The dining room has much old world charm compliments of the eccentric décor. Soft music plays as you dine in the subtly lit dining room. Upon entering the main dining area you’ll notice a cutting table set up where fresh bread is cut to order (below left). We received some to start, along with fresh breadsticks and a flavorful serving of bruschetta (below right).
Our
first appetizer, the Coconut Shrimp, were beautifully presented and garnished (below
left). The shrimp were exceptionally large, extremely tender on the inside and
perfectly crisp on the outside. They were drizzled in a sweet glaze, which
complemented the shrimp nicely, and were freshly battered and handmade.
The
Artichoke Oreganata, found on the specials menu this particular evening, looked
incredible as it approached our table (above right). We hoped it would be as
delicious as it looked, and sure enough it was. The stuffing was just phenomenal
deeming this appetizer a standout specialty item that was finger licking good …
literally! The homemade Crabcakes, served with a Napa vegetable slaw and citrus aioli, were perfectly cooked and featured a nice crab to breadcrumb ratio (below left). They were fluffy, moist and ideally crisp on the outside.
We
continued with our first entrée - Potato Crusted Scallops accompanied by creamy
mashed potatoes and freshly steamed vegetables (above right). Preparing scallops in
a potato crust is a rare and delicious find. They were fresh, tender and
protected by the delectable potato crust. The artfully presented Pork Ossobuco was served over a flavorsome mushroom asparagus risotto (below left). If you're lucky enough to dine on an evening that this specialty item is offered, we'd highly recommend it! The pork was extremely succulent, tender and will melt right in your mouth. We were very impressed with both the quality and flavor this entree had to offer.
Another
impressive item we found on the specials menu was the fork tender Bronzini, a superb
fish, cooked to perfection (above right). Served with creamy mashed potatoes and
broccoli rabe, the fresh bronzini is cooked as a filet, but is also available whole
if desired. It was topped with a light sauce, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes and
capers. Rounding out our entrees was the Sliced Sirloin Au Poivre served with a roasted polenta and spinach in a black truffle sauce (below left). The sirloin was cooked to an ideal medium rare and featured a hint of peppery spice. It had abundant flavor and we were equally impressed with the tasty polenta and fresh spinach.
The
homemade desserts at The Davenport Press will provide a sweet ending to your meal. They offer a variety of options including Chocolate Mousse, Key Lime Pie and a
fantastic homemade Tiramisu, which we were fortunate enough to sample (above right).
The cake was extremely light and topped with a dense mascarpone. It was a divine
ending to our meal. The Davenport Press is a quality restaurant with much to offer. The prices are reasonable and the specials are delicious and constantly changing. Allow the chef to pamper your taste buds and enjoy a fabulous meal in their delightfully unique atmosphere. You won't be disappointed!
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