January 10, 2013
  This weekend started out with a few surprises. Seeing Dave Mason at the Paramount in Huntington on Friday night was great. Meeting friends for dinner before the show was how it all began. Never was a fan of "Blue Honu" and I am still not a fan of "Honu Kitchen & Cocktails. The place has a great bar crowd with a subtle Manhattan type scene but with so many dining choices in the town of Huntington, this would not normally be my first choice.
                 Meeting friends at 6:00 on a Friday is not usually easy for me but I was able to make it happen. 
Upon arrival we were a total of 8 people and 2 others had not arrived. Our waiter Craig was a very nice and knowledgeable server. He showed us the Price Fix menu which had several choices of a three course meal for $27.95  per person. Dishes on this menu were directly from the main menu and allegedly the same portion size. Items included a Skirt Steak, Sage Roasted French Cut Chicken, Seared Salmon, Two different Burgers and a Chipotle Chicken Salad. Each choice was accompanied by an appetizer choice of Caesar Salad, Soup of the Day, Peking Duck or Thai Chicken Satay.
                Each dish ended with a dessert.
Now the question of the day: If the Burger is $16 on the main menu, how do you justify offering it on a Price Fix Menu for $27.95? When I asked this question quietly, I was told that they had to offer variety on this menu. 
OK, if anyone wants a $27 Cheese Burger, I can recommend better places to have one.
        Based on the fact that we were 8 people each of the dishes was ordered. The Chicken was basic with nothing special to make it stand out. The Salmon was cooked well and was very bland with little to no seasoning. The Skirt Steak which I had was served cut up instead of in a strip and that made me question the portion control. The best part of this was the roasted Brussel Sprouts. 
       Service at this restaurant was very good but what suffered was the food runners. They knew we were going to the show across the street and when it was time for dessert, it never showed up at out table so our 3 course dinner was now a 2 course dinner. 
       Sorry but unless you are going for the bar crowd, there are so many more palatable places to enjoy a great meal.

                             Until we meet again 

                             "The Dish With Dean"

Thom Thom Restaurant

Steak and Seafood

3340 Park Avenue

Wantagh, NY 11793

 516*221*8022

Thom Thom was the choice selected in meeting old friends this past Saturday night. Seems to be a classic Steak and Seafood Restaurant along with the accompanying Sushi.

 A variety of Sushi rolls were chosen and each one as good as the other. Crazy Tuna Roll/ Spicy Tuna and avocado inside with Yellow Fin Tuna, Leeks and Wasabi Mayo on top. Added to that the Tuna Tar tar which was fresh and mouth watering. 

The dish of PEI Mussels in a Thai Curry sauce with a hint of Lemon Grass were the ultimate for dippage. Joined by Larry the Chef, he said it clearly was orgasmic. The sauce had an unreal kick that dipped with the Pita Wedges, left quite an impression on the palate.

 We could have just ordered appetizers and called it a night. They seemed to be the hilight of the evening

The three men ordered the Cowboy Rib Eye which is my favorite cut of steak if cooked correctly. The marbling and flavor are usually what characterizes this cut as moist and flavorful. Accompanied by a sauce of your choice I was the only one who asked for one. I chose the Cabernet Demi-Glace and it was a good decision. The other two steaks were just OK lacking in flavor of any kind. Served with a Choice of Sweet or Regular Mashed Potatoes and very nicely cooked green beans.

 

The best choice on the menu for someone who wants a little of each would be the Bento Box. A Chefs salad served with a variety of Sashimi and Tuna Avocado roll and Teryaki Skirt Steak. This dish was presented well and as a sampler, would be a good choice for anyone.                                                      

This dish ordered by Kathy Fitz as an entree was by far the best. You could tell by looking at her that she was really enjoying it. A Diver scallop surrounded by a Red Bell Pepper Risotto with Sausage. This dish had more flavors bursting out that the taste I was offered,  made me want more.

I had to save the service portion for last as it was clearly not what I had expected. Our Waiter was very knowledgeable with the selections and had a strong knowledge of the wine list. Normally I would have no problem naming my server and giving him credit but i did not felt that it would benefit him in any way. The issues with service were clearly not his fault but his what I call "back up team". Six people at a table was getting very crowded when none of our dishes were bussed and they continued to pile up. Our entrees were presented and then taken back to the kitchen so the "Team" could remove our dirty dishes.

                       I will offer another shot to try different items on their menu and see if perhaps it was just a Saturday night fluke but I don't think so. The food as a whole was no different than most restaurants offering the same style only this place has a NYC atmosphere in Wantagh, NY. 

Price was reasonable for the food and the wine also was a house Pinot Noir that was very acceptable. 

remember what I always say. Good food can be spoiled by poor service.

                          As Always, Enjoy

From "The Dish With Dean"