In any area of New York, it is very hard for any type of business to establish longevity with how competitive each environment is. Food, fashion, technology and more, it is dog eat dog out there and only the smart and strong ones really do survive. Jonathan’s Ristorante, a staple smack dab in the middle of Huntington Village, has been able to do that since 1994 and has done it absolutely beautifully now that I have finally been into this place since living virtually two or three miles from it since I was eight years old. With its refined approach to Italian cuisine, Jonathan’s expertly takes each dish it provides and puts enough TLC into it to really make what you are having not just another plate of food, but an experience.
Jonathan’s Ristorante look and feel is exactly what an Italian restaurant is supposed to give you- warm, subtle and intimate as it is adorned with pale colors throughout the walls and gorgeous tables throughout. It also has a great patio space outside for when the weather becomes much warmer. We were seated right next to the entrance of the location, which is a treat as Huntington Village is one of the most beautiful towns in Long Island so the viewpoint was absolutely fantastic. We were treated to a tasting menu that chef Tito Onofre, who has been with Jonathan’s for quite some time now, prepared for us and were amazed by each selection that they brought out.
We started off with a variety of antipasti’s such as Prosciutto, Olives, Marinated Artichokes and fresh Parmigiano. Not one for olives myself but my plus one who accompanied me simply stated that they were the best olives she has ever tried. Same goes for the Marinated Artichokes which were decorated to perfection. The Prosciutto and Parmigiano were incredibly fresh and paired well with the delicious baked bread and olive oil that was given to us prior to the antipasti’s arriving.
We then started off with their Tuna Tartare (pictured above) which was Raw Yellow-Fin Tuna served over Avocado Salad, Cucumber and Wasabi Drizzle. Not the biggest fan of tartare myself, but Tito turned me into one as the Tuna had a ton of supporting cast members that really made this dish shine. I was particularly impressed by the pairing of the Avocado with the spiciness of the Wasabi. It really all came together for me. They followed that up with their Insalata di Verza, which consisted of Baby Kale, Anjou Pear, Pinenuts, Enoki Mushrooms & Truffled Pecorino. They keep turning me into fans of foods I previously had a so-so relationship with as they really took the Baby Kale and paired it with the right ingredients, most notably the freshness of the Anjou Pear and the Enoki Mushrooms. Kudos.
Onto our pasta course, we were treated to their warm & delicious Agnolotti di Zucca, which was fresh Pumpkin Ravioli with Amaretti Cookie Dust, Shaved Parmigiano & a Butter/Sage Sauce. This is simple- when you pair a pumpkin ravioli with a butter & sage sauce, one of my favorite sauces in the world, you really can do no wrong in my books. And they didn’t. The fish course was the Monkfish with Clams & Shrimp in a Sweet Saffron Citronette with Baby Spinach. Each seafood element was presented fantastically but what really got me about this dish was the Citronette as I could basically swim in it, it was that tasty.
For the meat course, we had their Bistecca, which is Grass-fed Angus Shell Steak with Mash Potatoes, Asparagus and a Peppercorn Sauces. The sauce really jumped off the shelves for me in this dish as it paired well with the steak, mashed and asparagus both separately and all together for my palate. For dessert, we finished with their Fresh Blueberry Tart (picture above to the right) with Marscapone Pastry Cream & Blueberry Coulis and their Flourless Chocolate Cake with Coffee Gelato. Both great reasons to end a meal on a high note.
Don’t just take my word for it. Take a stroll into Huntington Village and see what makes Jonathan’s Ristorante that great of a place to dine at. For more information, check out their official site.