|
|
|||
Port Washington's Newest Addition Haven
Grill is one of Port Washington’s newest additions. Previously known as Café
Capriccio, Haven Grill is a European Style BBQ restaurant that offers a taste of
real charcoal grilling. They’re making the transition from Italian restaurant to
BBQ restaurant and so far, so good. The restaurant is the fifth venture for owner Bobbi and chef/owner Elio. Together they’ve owned and operated a number of restaurants throughout Long Island since the 1980’s. Bobbi handles the front of the restaurant, greeting guests and always tending to the needs of the customers. You’ll find Elio in the kitchen for the most part, although he makes appearances in the dining room to ensure his guests satisfaction when he can. Upon entering you’ll sense the cozy and relaxed atmosphere of the restaurant. The lighting is subdued and music plays softly as you dine, creating a relaxed dining environment.
Shortly after being seated our table was presented with a breadbasket (above left), along with a salad to share amongst the table (above right). The salad featured fresh ingredients and a fine house dressing.
As our dishes were being prepared we were offered some cocktails to enjoy. We sampled the Coconut Martini (above left), the California Martini (above right) and the Abyss Martini (below left), all of which were smooth and pleasant.
All entrees are served with family-style servings of salad, rice (above right), vegetables (below left) and French fries (below right). Our rice was cooked to perfection, the broccoli was fresh and the fries were nicely salted and presented a nice crunch.
The Grilled Shrimp and Calamari over Linguini is a surprisingly light pasta dish (below left). Tossed in garlic and oil, the pasta is cooked in water and sea salt and was prepared to a perfect al dente. The shrimp were also prepared flawlessly and the seafood presented a nice char grilled flavor.
We continued with the Grilled Swordfish marinated in extra virgin olive oil, white wine and California garlic (above right). This fresh catch is delicately grilled with fresh herbs that just clamor for attention and the combination of ingredients create a flavorsome delight for your taste buds. The Roasted Crispy Long Island Duck quickly became a unanimous table favorite (below left). From the crispy skin to the tender meat found inside, everything about this entrée was impressive. It was grilled to perfection and the sweet sauce served alongside further complemented the duck.
Our
final entrée was the Braised Short Ribs (above right). Served on the bone to
preserve their tenderness, these ribs were fall of the bone tender and presented the
ideal charcoal flavor. They are a great find on the menu and something
you’ll surely want to sample if you’re in search of real charcoal grilling. Rounding out our dining experience were three homemade desserts from Chef Elio. The Meringue Bomb (below) can be best described as, “sugary air!” Served with a nucello, custard and cream sauce, this dessert is a unique find and a must order.
The Ricotta Cheesecake is another homerun on the dessert menu (below left). Chef Elio has been making it for years and has really perfected his recipe. It was extremely moist and we all thoroughly enjoyed it.
Lastly we sampled the Crepes Suzette (above right). In fact, Chef Elio emerged from the kitchen to flambé the crepes right in the dining room. His presentation was admirable and the crepes were a delight. Haven
Grill is open for dinner from Tuesday through Sunday beginning at 5pm. Enjoy their
fantastic Happy Hour Tuesday through Friday from 5-7pm and take advantage of half
price martini’s, wine, Coors Light and Bud, as well as half price appetizers at
the bar. They even have a private party room available for your private functions
and events. Be sure to stop by Haven Grill next time you’re in the area and
experience all they have to offer.
|
