DAN'S PAPERS, December 11, 2009 Page 42 www.danshamptons.com
Restaurant Review: The Roadhouse By David Lion Rattiner I have found pizza heaven. I never thought I’d ever say anything like that, but I have found the pizza mecca. The holy grail of pizza. The pizza of youth. After eating the pizza at the Roadhouse in Riverhead, I feel like I have just discovered the secret to pure, unadulterated happiness. Logically named The Roadhouse, since it is located right on the side of the road, this pizza place is
so good it will bring you to near tears. Owned and operated by Chuck Herman and Janet Greco, The Roadhouse offers brick oven pizza and other wonderful Italian dishes in a setting that is in its own league. Walking into the Roadhouse is like walking into a pizza place painting done by Norman Rockwell after he just finished eating dinner with Frank Sinatra, whose music by the way is almost always on inside the restaurant. The art on the walls con-
“Cheff Tom m Lopezz standss high h among g thee rankss off thee top p n Long g Island.”” ~ Roy Bradbrook, Dan’s Papers chefss on
BAYVIEW INN & RESTAURANT
Peconicc Bay... d porch.... A Wraparound
BEST BEST 2008 OF THE
Lunch & High Tea
Holidayy Luncheonss $222 Perr Person
Wide Variety of Loose Tea and Teaware. Gift Cards Available. Open: 10am -5pm • Tuesday - Sunday
Alll menu u itemss availablee To o Go! “They have a terrific, caring wait staff and a talented chef, Tom Lopez, in the kitchen...” NY Times,
Zagat Rated “Excellent” For Food and Service
Visit our online store
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Corner off Frontt St.. and d Jamesportt Ave.,, S.. Jamesport Open n Year Round
722-2659
1317445
Voted d Best Prixe-Fixe
And d a winter menu u off Cheff Tom m Lopez’ latestt inspirations...
www.greenportteacompany.com
119a Main St. Greenport • 631-477-8744
Motorcoach Service between
Fall 2009 Schedule
The North Fork & New York City
Effective Thurs., September 24 through Wed., January 6, 2010
p
G W
To Manhattan Westbound+
Q
READ DOWN
— — — — 6:00 6:10 6:15 6:20 6:30 6:35 6:40 6:45 6:50 6:55
— 7:00 7:05 7:07 7:15 7:25 7:30 7:35 7:45 7:50 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:10
9:30 9:35 9:40 9:42 9:50 10:00 10:05 10:10 10:20 10:25 10:30 10:35 10:40 10:45
11:30 11:35 11:40 11:42 11:50 12:00 12:05 12:10 12:20 12:25 12:30 12:35 12:40 12:45
DEPARTING
— — — — 4:45 4:50 4:55 5:00 5:10 5:15 5:20 5:25 5:30 5:35
Orient Point Orient Village East Marion Peconic Landing Greenport Southold Peconic Cutchogue Mattituck Laurel Jamesport Aquebogue Riverhead Tanger Outlet
Airport Connection 7:05 8:50Q 9:50 12:20 2:20 5:20 6:50 8:20 9:20 10:35 12:20 7:20 9:00 10:00 12:30 2:30 5:30 7:00 8:30 9:30 10:45 12:30 Manhattan
+
G
2:30 2:35 2:40 2:42 2:50 3:00 3:05 3:10 3:20 3:25 3:30 3:35 3:40 3:45
On select trips, North Fork passengers may be required to transfer in Manorville. The “Greenporter” Non-stop service to and from Southold and Greenport, available Eastbound on Friday; Westbound on Sunday through October.
4:00 4:05 4:10 4:12 4:20 4:30 4:35 4:40 4:50 4:55 5:00 5:05 5:10 5:15
W Sun Only Sept./ Oct.
ARRIV.
AM LIGHT PM BOLD
Mon Mon Only thru Fri 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days
W
Avail. Sun Sept.-Dec. Sun Only Avail. Sat thru Nov. Sept./ Avail. Mon. Oct. Sept./Oct.
5:30 — 7:45 — 5:35 — 7:50 — 5:40 — 7:55 — 5:42 — 7:57 — 5:50 6:50 8:05 9:50 6:00 7:00 8:15 10:00 6:05 8:20 10:05 6:10 8:25 10:10 6:20 8:35 10:20 6:25 8:40 10:25 6:30 8:45 10:30 6:35 8:50 10:35 6:40 8:55 10:40 6:45 9:00 10:45
“Q”: Non-stop service to Midtown Manhattan Q Theon Monday (airport connection is not available).
‡
This trip arrives approximately 20 minutes earlier on Sat. and Sun.
To The North Fork Eastbound+G READ DOWN AM LIGHT PM BOLD
DEPARTING
g
ARRIVING
p
Fri Only ‡ Sept./ Sat Only 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days 7 Days Oct.
8:00 Airport Connection 8:20
9:20 9:25 9:30 10:00 10:20
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7:50 7:55 8:00 8:30 8:50
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11:40 11:45 11:50 11:55 12:00 12:05 12:15 12:20 12:25 12:35 12:45 12:50 12:55
1:40 1:45 1:50 1:55 2:00 2:05 2:15 2:20 2:25 2:35 2:45 2:50 2:55
3:40 3:45 3:50 3:55 4:00 4:05 4:15 4:20 4:25 4:35 4:45 4:50 4:55
6:15‡ 6:20‡ 6:25‡ 6:30‡ 6:35‡ 6:40‡ 6:50‡ 6:55‡ 7:00‡ 8:00 7:10‡ 8:10 — — — — — —
7:45 7:50 7:55 8:00 8:05 8:10 8:20 8:25 8:30 8:40 — — —
8:40 8:45 8:50 8:55 9:00 9:05 9:15 9:20 9:25 9:35 9:45 9:50 9:55
10:10 10:15 10:20 10:25 10:30 10:35 10:45 10:50 10:55 11:05 — — —
86th St. bet. 3rd & Lex.
7:20
Wed thru Fri 7 Days 7 Days
69th & Lex (bet. 69th & 68th) 7:25 59th & Lex (bet. 60th & 59th) 7:30 44th St. & 3rd Ave. (corner)
Tanger Outlet Riverhead Aquebogue Jamesport Laurel Mattituck Cutchogue Peconic Southold Greenport East Marion Orient Village Orient Point
Visit our website www.hamptonjitney.com for Online Reservations, Information and Value Pack orders
(631) 283-4600 (212) 362-8400
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sists of old-world New York and there are plenty of tributes to America everywhere. The Roadhouse is your average, loveable pizza place, but it is done so well, it can be compared to fine dining. You can bring a date here, you can bring your family here, you can celebrate an anniversary here. The extensive menu offers classic pizzas and heros as well as a fabulous array of pasta choices and salads. At the Roadhouse, you can be treated to a waitress or get your pizza to go. The elevated tables allow you to look down into the brick oven as the chefs whip dough into the air. I’m somewhat of a pizza connoisseur, so I gave a regular cheese slice my first test. I have to tell you, this pizza nearly changed my life. It was so unbelievably good I couldn’t deal with it. The cheese was melted perfectly, not falling off the dough and was still hot. And the dough! Whatever they are putting in it makes it so soft and perfect that you just sit back and have to breathe for a moment. All of the pizza is cooked in a large brick oven that when you look at it, gives off the same feeling you get when you see an old-fashioned steam engine train rumbling down the tracks. This is an old-fashioned place that’s real, and there simply aren’t enough places like this in the world. Like any pizza place, much of the quality of the pizza depends on the dough, and here they get it right. I tried a piping hot chicken roll wrapped in mozzarella cheese and a marinara dipping sauce that was incredible. Everything on the menu here is reasonably priced. Calzones are just $6.95 and a large Neapolitan pie is just $14.95. You get the unbelievably high quality here, but you also don’t have to worry about your wallet. Ravioli or stuffed shells with sauce is just $8.95 and a chicken parm, which can be grilled or deepfried depending on what you prefer, comes with pasta or salad for $12.95. If you are looking to stay away from carbs, there are plenty of options at The Roadhouse. The array of salad choices supasses most pizza places that you’ve ever been to. There are the standards Gorgonzola salads and the caesar salads, but there is also a fabulous antipasto plate with a large selection of meat and cheeses that is other-worldly. You can also get a great Italian chef salad and, of course, a sensational fresh mozzarella with tomato and basil salad. If you can still manage to eat dessert, you must give a cannoli here a try. They are perfect. Other highlights here are the cheesecakes, which are, again, just perfect. You have to go see the inside of The Roadhouse for yourself. It is worth a trip to Riverhead. They offer plenty of beer and wine options to go with your meal and when I was there, I literally didn’t want to leave. There is so much charm and life happening here you can’t help but observe. The chefs all have personalities and laugh while they work, while the waitresses and waiters take care of everybody with smiles. I can’t recommend this place enough. It’s exactly what it should be and the quality of the food is remarkable. If you live in Riverhead, you already know, but if you’ve never been, make this a place to visit. You won’t regret it. The Roadhouse is located at 1111 W. Main Street in Riverhead. They can be reached at 631-208-9888.