Wine & Dine
The DayBoat Café In Roslyn Turtle Crossing Walk, Run, Drive or Sail to in a Seafood Lover's Delight East Hampton By Barry Kay By Barry Kay
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n a recent Saturday afternoon, I had a chance to speak with John Durkin in Diane's Bakery and Café in Roslyn. John is mayor of Roslyn and the owner, with his wife Diane, of a growing group of gourmet restaurants in Roslyn and Woodbury, L.I. Upon entering the small (40 seat) restaurant, the decorations, lighting and aromas were evocative of a small wooden fishing boat in the harbor at Cape Cod or Montauk. Pictures of small boats, docks and fish are strategically hung on the walls, which were bathed in a soft, calming light emanating from quaint fixtures. The banquettes and settings are attractive, simple and perfect for the casual vibe and ambiance of this amazing new restaurant. That evening, John was on board and prepared a bountiful cornucopia of seafood dishes, each with its own individuality. Our menu consisted of authentic New England clam chowder, white and creamy with lots of clams, potatoes, vegetables and a hint of bacon flavoring. Next came a DayBoat Caesar salad with fresh greens, croutons and a homemade dressing. The pièce d' resistance was the main course: an incredibly delicious lobster roll, filled with over one pound of large pieces of lobster tail meat, delicately covered in a lemony mayonnaise and garnished with chopped chives on a fabulous homemade roll. This world-class lobster roll, the best I have ever eaten, was accompanied by a large mound of "you can't eat just one" shoestring French fries. This petite seafood restaurant is a gem, and with just wordof-mouth and great buzz, is filled to capacity. Since my visit, the reviews and accolades from major media have continued. Of course, when you have a longstanding reputation for serving exquisite and delectable fine food, it doesn't take long for food aficionados around the North Shore to find you, and they have made DayBoat a prime destination, with reservations a must! This concept restaurant will surely be expanded to larger quarters over time, and could be "cloned" in other localities after getting its sea legs in Roslyn. The ubiquitous Durkin has added another jewel to his ever-growing crown of some of the finest dining venues on Long Island. DayBoat has certainly helped liven up the old town of Roslyn with the sound of happy diners eating some of the best seafood around! Congratulations to John Durkin for his exciting new seafood restaurant. DayBoat Cafe is located at 1361 Old Northern Boulevard, Roslyn. For reservations, call 516-621-2628
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hen you are out in the Hamptons and tired of the "face places" and the "dress-up game," why not try a funky little restaurant with great Southwestern food at really reasonable prices? T-shirts and jeans or shorts are more than adequate attire for Turtle Crossing in East Hampton. This little restaurant has been around for a looong time and with any luck you will spot some of the Hamptons’ celebs and mega-tycoons just "vegging out. " The decor is beyond funky, the seating comfortable, and there are small off-the-wall signs on the walls. Yet this restaurant is amazingly consumer-friendly, with extra-large portions of greattasting food. What's good at this offbeat little place? Just about everything … so let me suggest the following: We had some wonderful quesadillas and a basket of crispy artichokes. Dinner consisted of two large spicy hot corncobs rolled in Cotija cheese and chili powder, then chargrilled. Turtle Crossing is noted for great barbecue so we tried an assortment of BBQ chicken, ribs, brisket and pulled pork. Baskets of cornbread are served with the meal and they alone are worth the price of admission. Taking home leftovers seems appropriate at Turtle Crossing, as the portions are really enormous. After all that BBQ and Southwestern spicy food, who could pass up a homemade dessert? We chose the peach cobbler with a wonderful buttery crust, fresh peaches and a pureed peach sauce that was eaten almost as quickly as it got to the table. Turtle Crossing’s charming owner Sandy Singer was a more than gracious host and made us feel right at home. Executive Chef Arthur Wolf is a graduate of the Culinary Institute at NYIT, and after working in St. Croix and a number of fine restaurants in the Hamptons, made Turtle Crossing his home. Forget the decor, leave the fancy duds at the door and enjoy some of the best and heartiest Southwestern food and BBQ on the Island. Turtle Crossing 221 Pantigo Road East Hampton, NY Forget reservations, but call 631-324-7166. Open daily for dinner and brunch on Saturday and Sundayay.
The Boulevard • December 2008 - January 2009
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