Who’s Hungry?!? Hey fellow food lovers! My name is Doug, and I am Long Island’s Professional Fat Guy! Here on Long Island, there are tons of hobbies you can get involved in. My wife Jessica and I love to go out and try new restaurants. There are so many places to choose from with a vast variety of themes, scenes and authentic cuisines. We are here to tell you about our favorite spot we visit each month.
This month we are trying out a restaurant that has been a part of the Holbrook Community for almost half a century, Joe’s Pizza and Pasta. They are located at 346 Union Ave in the Meat Farms shopping center. I am almost ashamed to say that even though I shop at Meat Farms regularly, I have never been to Joe’s.
Walking in I was immediately impressed. The place was bigger than I expected. To the immediate left was the pizza counter that displayed over 20 different types of pizza and options. The aroma was intoxicating. The décor of the place made me feel like I stepped back in time to the 80’s. Subway tile walls, pizza boxes stacked to the ceiling, big pizza ovens and friendly faces. My favorite part may have been the way the name was displayed on the wall written in tile, Joe’s Pizza and Pasta, Est 1978. To the right you had a nice seating area for those looking to just grab a slice. Just past that was a nice “U” shaped bar displaying wines, beer and a high-end espresso machine. Located next to the bar was the host stand. A polite young lady greeted us and brought us to our table. The true dining room was right on the other side of the bar. The décor felt like you were in an old-style Italian restaurant with the high back red leather benches and wooden tables.
Our server Bonnie came over and introduced herself, taking our drink order and explaining the menu. I ordered a Peroni, it was on draft. A sign of a good Italian restaurant. Jess had an iced tea. We always like to ask the servers for recommendations. We compare it to what seemed appealing based upon the written descriptions. We decided on the Gorgonzola Mussels, Angel Hair Croquettes and Joe’s Seafood Salad. While we waited for our appetizers, we continued to read the menu. They had a wide variety and selection available, but the thing that caught our eye the most was the cost. Dining out as often as we do, we are pretty familiar with the average cost of most dishes. Everything was priced favorably. My first thought was, maybe they make it up with portioning. That idea was immediately dismissed when the appetizers hit the table. These portions were HUGE! First was a mound of mussels drenched in sauce. Now some people may be reluctant to order seafood in a cream sauce, well you don’t know what you are missing with this dish. We finished the mussels and the sauce was so good you could eat it like a soup. The Angel Hair Croquettes were big and the pink sauce added a nice flavor. The Seafood Salad came out last as we were informed it would take a little longer because they make it fresh by the order. Worth the wait! Again the portion was tremendous. Everything in it was fresh and prepared perfectly. There was so much we could not finish it.
When we finished our appetizers, we were greeted by the owner Phil. He sat with us and had an enjoyable conversation. He told us how he grew up here in Holbrook. His father Peter, the youngest of 7 kids, started the restaurant back in 1978. He has 35 first cousins and understands the strain of going out to eat can put on a family. “There’s not many places to go out and get a great meal at a decent price lately,” Phil told us. “You go out and a meal for 2 costs $300. Here a family of 8 could eat for that same price.” But he understands the passion for fresh delicious food. He planned his honeymoon in Europe around reservations at Michelin rated restaurants. (There is a man after my own heart!) That is why he brings in the freshest products from the same places as all of the high-end restaurants. He loves the community and wants to give them a quality meal without breaking the bank. While talking we ordered our entrees, Shrimp Scampi, Fettuccine Alfredo and Chicken Branford Style (topped with vodka sauce and fresh mozzarella). We were served a salad which is included with most entrees. Again, huge portions came out to the table. The Fettuccini was creamy and flavorful. The Shrimp was still sizzling with just a sprinkle of breadcrumbs over the top. The sauce was perfectly balanced with neither the garlic or wine sauce being overpowering. The Chicken Branford Style was what really surprised us. The vodka sauce was creamy and had such a distinct flavor. It was a darker and thicker version of the sauce that I had not had before. Talking with Phil afterwards he explained that it is one of their bestsellers and I can understand why.
To finish the evening we had to get a double espresso and a cappuccino from that impressive espresso machine we saw when we came in accompanied by their award-winning homemade rice pudding. Excellent consistency while being rich and creamy. We left that evening with a box of leftovers because of the generous portion sizes. What a wonderful experience from a place that truly caters to the people. When you visit, tell them Doug and Jess sent you.
Until next time, Bon Appetit!
