Bocaito Wine Bar
81-15 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY, 11372
Bocaito Wine Bar Menu
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Address :
81-15 Northern Blvd
Jackson Heights, NY, 11372 - Phone (347) 617-1606
- Website https://bocaitony.com
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Eric B.
Love this place. You know why? Because everything is good here. They just know what they're doing with food. Great free garlic knots the moment you sit down.... fish tacos, meats, entree salads, soft-shells, whatever! Everything is delicious. Yes, it's tucked away in an odd little shopping center, and it can be hard to find if you don't know where it is. But the decor is great, the service is superb, and the food is just darned good. Always.
(5)Sophia F.
Went here for restaurant week. It was ok but nothing too special. First of all, the location shoulda gave a clue... It's in a shopping strip next to a Joyce Leslie? Thought we were getting a good deal on a high end meal but don't think you'd find that in a parking lot of shopping carts. The waiter was nice & dedicated. The rolls were warm & toasty but too oily, kinda like large garlic nuts. The appetizers were decent. My BF got the cheddar ale & liked it. The duck tacos were flavorful but a little on the salty side. The entrees - we both got hanger steak. It was fatty but tasty. My BF did not like the wilted spinach or the blue cheese mashed potatoes that was more blue cheese than potato. The molten lava cake had no molten chocolate in it... Was it just overcooked? My BF got a stomachache after the warm apple crisp... Overall, not that impressed & not sure we'd be coming back.
(2)Mark M.
Always dependable but never overly impressive. They do have some creative seasonal drinks, I had the southern (something) that used muddled peach and cucumber vodka, that was served in a cute little ball jar with mint on top. Note that I said little, after the ice and cucumber slices the drink was less than 4 ounces at best. I do not mind paying for an artisan drink but not if I get less than 3 good swallows. My chicken was excellent as was my wedge salad to start, although had they used a thick sliced bacon on the wedge it would be greatly improved. So overall, good meal, nice atmosphere but just misses from being much better in my book.
(3)Jane K.
The food at West End Cafe is fantastic and beautifully presented. This intimate restaurant is tastefully decorated and offers a prix fixe menu which is excellent! They also do a dynamite job for private parties! I've been here many times for different occasions, meals and menus. Never a disappointing meal. The short ribs, shrimp and fusilli, goat cheese ravioli, duck tacos all are delicious. There's plenty of free parking, wait service is excellent unless they are understaffed (happened once and everyone is given one free pass)..drinks are tasty, desserts are wonderful if you have a sweet tooth. If you ever come here and are disappointed, give it another try. It really is a well run establishment with an excellent menu that is well prepared.
(5)Ben L.
More like a 4.5. This really is the tale of two trips. I first came here like 10 years ago and I really wasn't wowed by my meal, I remember leaving unimpressed. Fast forward to last week and this might be one of the better meals I had all year. The restaurant is a little more upscale but definitely has a Cheesecake Factory feel to the decor, but the place has been around for a long time, so I forgive them. The crowd is much older, my friend and I were easily the youngest people there and we ain't no young chickens. The food is classic, very flavorful with a lot of developed flavors, this is a must visit especially after some shopping at Roosevelt Field or looking for a nice dinner. Also, the free garlic knots are good, don't fill up! The food: Burrata- Heirloom tomato salad/Prosciutto di Parma/balsamic-fig syrup. Where do I begin, first, this might be one of the best appetizers I had all year. Burrata and tomatoes are not a new combination, but this is by far the best version I ever had. The Burrata itself was amazing, so perfectly rich and creamy, the tomatoes were the best tomatoes I ever had and it seems crazy to me that I am raving about tomatoes. Every element of this dish was perfect. The prosciutto added a wonderful saltiness and the balsamic offered a wonderful sweetness. Then the few sprigs of basil was the cherry on top, this dish is an absolute must. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Red Wine Braised Short Ribs- Black truffle potato purée/rainbow carrots/glazed baby carrots. I really enjoyed this dish a lot, the short ribs were amazing, it was a nice hunk of meat and it had a lot of flavor. The short ribs were so tender and flavorful but the only criticism, it was a smidge dry. I don't normally say this but the veg was outstanding, the carrots were cooked to absolute perfection, potato purée had amazing flavor and the cipollini onions added a nice sweetness. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Herb Roasted Organic Chicken- Roasted Yukon Gold potatoes/spring vegetables jardiniere/tarragon pan juices. I thought the chicken had so much flavor, it was so moist and tender and then the skin was nice and crisp. It was good but kinda a safe dish. yelp.com/user_local_phot… House-Made Carrot Cake- Pecan-Cream cheese frosting. This is where they lost the half star, the desserts were just OK. The Carrot Cake had great texture, the cream cheese had nice flavor but was on the sweet side, it was interesting since you can actually taste sweet and salty at the same time, and I was not a fan of the raisins, the raisins didn't work for me. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Bourbon Pecan Pie- Belgium chocolate/creme chantilly. There were a ton of pecans and the flavor was nice but I thought the dessert was too sweet. The biggest issue I had with this dessert was the crust. The bottom was too soft, borderline mushy and the crust was weird, it had this weird chalky feel. But the whip cream was so perfect though, it was so light and airy and fantastic. yelp.com/user_local_phot…
(4)Michelle E.
When this restaurant first opened years ago, I thought, "Wow!" finally a decent restaurant on Long Island. After a recent dinner, I now think that it is resting on its laurels a bit, and really needs to update its menu and look to reflect a more modern aesthetic and whole food dining trends. Where does the meat and produce come from, is it organic? These are things todays diners deserve to know. Otherwise, it continues to serve good food in a pleasant atmosphere. Bring along mom and dad to a fix prixe special meal and feel like you are getting real value too.
(4)Marisa D.
Overall I think the West End Cafe deserves a 3. It wasn't bad but it wasn't superb. Maybe they are better at dinner? Who knows? I came for lunch. First things first... It's a good looking restaurant. The bar is long and the seating area is a good size. Second of all... it wasn't a bad lunch just as I said to my mom and Aunt "I definitely ordered the wrong thing" and man I was bummed fo' sho'. We ordered: The Soup of the Day: which was Roasted Cauliflower, Pistachio, and I believe Raisins. Honestly it wasn't that great. I expected some chunks of cauliflower and the soup was thick but had next to no flavor. We all sampled it cause we were starving. They brought over delicious Garlic Knots. Heavy but delicious. I could've skipped the soup and gone for the knots and been a happy camper. The water situation was nice at first but a little odd after the fact. I love when I get a bottle/carafe of water to pour into my own glass...really. But when we're out of water and the water is warm cause there was no ice then I got a small problem. Nothing major but just.. noted. My mom ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich with Fries. The lump crab cake was delicious. Her complaints were that the bread too much and the crab cake was falling apart. Therefore it wasn't as advertised; a sandwich and ate the crab cake with the avocado on her plate. My aunt ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Goat Cheese. Man I love almost anything with Goat Cheese. She had no complaints and her dish was delicious. I ordered the Chicken with Brie and Double Smoked Bacon Panini with Fries. I also asked for Garlic Aioli. I'm sorry. Here I am thinking that this is going to be awesome and it was blah. Fries were good dipped in the aioli. What can I say? European Republic has turned me into a fry dipping connoisseur. After our lunch we all decided we'd split the Molten Chocolate Cake. It came with a scoop of Dulce de Leche ice cream. It was your typical Molten Chocolate Cake. Would I come back? Maybe.
(3)Nicole M.
Still great service and classy setting, I just preferred what I ordered last time compared to this time. I didn't even realize until my 2nd visit, but the ceiling decor is beautiful!!! Drapery everywhere, adds to the classy vibe. We did the same thing where we got 1 prix-fixe menu for $30 plus a shrimp-lobster quesadilla to share between the two of us. I thought the shrimp-lobster quesadilla was okay (I'm not a huge fan of lobster but I definitely liked the cheesy shrimp with the tomatoes and mango that came on the side) and (as part of the prix-fixe menu) with the jumbo shrimp pasta I wasn't a fan of the sauce that was used. However, compared to last time, the burratta cheese was even better than it was originally (they added prosciutto under the cheese this time- YUMMM two faves in one). I also thought the molten cake was better this time with enough of the "ooze" that I was looking for during my last visit. The garlic knot balls they give in the bread basket are amazing- ask for extra :P Entree prices are on the higher end, so I think it's really worth it to do the prix-fixe menu to get more bang for your buck - we left superrrr full.
(4)Robyn C.
We dined at the West End Cafe for lunch on a Saturday. I was pretty impressed with how the outside of the restaurant looked- it was lit well by Christmas lights and really stood out amongst the other storefronts in the shopping mall it's located in. Inside ambiance was even more beautiful. An upscale cafe, perfectly lit and well decorated. The restaurant was steadily busy while we were there. I had the lunch Rigatoni Alla Vodka with shrimp. The rigatoni was cooked perfectly..it was slightly al dente and so wonderfully chewy. Yum! The sauce was just right- not too creamy or heavy but definitely hearty, just what I was looking for on a cold snowy day. My fiancé had their burger with three toppings- mushrooms, onions and cheese with a side of sweet potato fries. Although I did not sneak a bite, it looked wonderful. Our aunt had the steak quesadilla which was one of the lunch specials. I also didn't taste this dish but I think the fact that she finished the entire entree is proof enough that it was tasty. The menu was varied and had many options. The prices ranged between $9 and $20. The only thing that wasn't perfect was that our server never came to check on us to see how our food was but everything else was pretty perfect. A total gem!
(5)Amador A.
I have been coming to the shopping center where West End Cafe is located for years and never new about this place. Tucked away in a corner its quite a surprise how many people come here. After realizing how good their service and food is, now I know whey people come. Eats: - Jumbo lump crab cakes was a decent size and delecious - Rare Ahi tuna with cold soba noodles was just to die for. The tuna was prefectly cooked and the noodles paired well with it. - Balsamic glazed short ribs are juicy to the bone and delecious as well Likes: - Homey atmosphere - Bar has a big selection of wine and they also carry craft beer - Service is good - Portions are huge - House bread is really good Dislikes: - Gets a bit loud but hey it gets busy here so I guess what can you expect Overally I am glad to have stopped in here. Everything was just enjoyable and I cant wait to come again
(4)Nicky M.
Small place tucked away in a huge lot. Food was great. Lamb, Steak & Salmon were tender and flavorful. Staff was friendly.
(4)Maura P.
OK menu alert!!!!! Just added Heirloom Tomato Tart - incredible no make that a GREAT....then there is the Duck Duo - duck breast and a leg ......a WOW!!!! If you like/love White wine - think Pino Grigio style be sure and taste then drink the white for the Fess Parker Vineyard!!!! Great for a hot summer night.....
(5)Mani G.
My husband and I went here for restaurant week. The staff was really friendly . The clientele was a little turn off- seemed like everyone was 65+ , not that anything is wrong with that -it just killed the vibe lol. Food was good- fish tacos were great , pork chop was tasty and huge and the molten lava cake was missing the lava !! Presentation of food was excellent :) . It was good but not enough to go back .
(3)Sybil R.
I just had dinner with my coworkers here, and I'm officially a believer. The restaurant is located in a corner of a shopping center and I honestly haven't had an inclination to try the food there because of that. There's plenty of parking, which is a great advantage. The decor is very laidback, the wooden framed ceiling and draping is beautiful. My coworkers and I were throwing a baby shower, so they already had a little corner set up for us by the window, which was nice. We all had the price-fixed twilight menu. For starters, they served a variety of bread, from poppy seed rolls to my amazing garlic bread roll. I chose the meatballs with grilled sourdough bread as an appetizer. The meatballs were amazing and the sauce they came in was one of the best I've had. However, the accompanying sourdough bread was hard as a rock. I couldn't even taste the flavor. For my main course, I had a romano crusted chicken filet, which was served with fettucine and a variety of herbs. It was one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had.It was seasoned perfectly and juicy. It took all of my control to resist scarfing it all down, because I had to save room for dessert. I had the creme brulee for dessert, which was ok. I'm not a fan of sweets, so this was a great compromise compared to the other options, which included chocolate cake, pecan pie, peach cobbler and ice cream. My friend had the sorbet, which she said was just ok. The service was a little slow, but the waiter and busboys were great, and I understand that it can be hard to have a table of 15 during the busy Friday night rush.. We did not feel rushed, even though we stayed a little past the allotted time and it was dinner time and it was busy. Drinks are ok; they have a full bar but a really sparse beer collection. Everyone seemed happy with their food. I can't wait to drag the bf back here to try the other dishes!
(4)Dave G.
We've been coming here for years but it's time to move on as the quality has gone down hill. Cleanliness. We were seated next to the wall towards the front window. There was food debris stuck on the wall about shoulder height and there was salt spread about on the flat surface just above that. We noticed it after the bread had already come so it would've been a hassle to change tables. But the point is that patrons shouldn't have to change tables because of the yuck factor. The food. My girlfriend ordered the French onion soup as an appetizer. It was flavorless and did not have the deep brown color it formerly had. Completely lackluster. Beat salad. She took two bites and left it. The roasted beets tasted like they were boiled, with no hint of a charred flavor and they were soggy. 1 diet coke $3.50. We know the West End isn't a bargain basement restaurant but $3.50 for a Coke? No. I had the WEC Burger. I ordered it medium and it came almost rare but it was still very good and their french fries are excellent. Upon removing my girlfriend's untouched plate of food the waitress didn't express the slightest interest in why she didn't eat it. Not that we were expecting anything but you would think there'd be some curiosity about why a patron simply walked away from a $12 lunch entrée, barely touching it.
(2)Andrew G.
West End Cafe is an awesome little restaurant in Carle Place. Their food is absolutely delicious vs the prices. I went with the duck tacos. OMG. It was phenomenal. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes. West End is a hidden gem.
(4)Payton M.
I hate giving bad reviews, but seems like they are doing well enough that this will not affect them too negatively. That being said, my husband and I wanted to try more local places since we moved from Queens. We used to frequent a lot of restaurants in the city. Some background, some of our favorite places are Jean George, Eleven Madison Park, NoMad, Babbo, our favorite Queens places were Salt and fat, M.Wells Dinette and steakhouse, Danny Brown, and a few others that do very well there. We love all kinds of food and usually go places with low expectations so that (hopefully we are blown away). This was not the case here. After reading all of the countless 5 star reviews we were sold... and ripped off. The bill was around $125.. and we didn't enjoy a single thing... The Caesar salad was awful! I mean I've made better at home, just throwing some lettuce, croutons and salad dressing together. Theirs was flavorless, my husband had 2 stale grocery store croutons, and hardened (not freshly shaved) romano I think.. it was so obvious it was pre-shaved and kept that the cheese had lost all its flavor. So salad horrible. I got the tuna tartare... ugh so gross! tasted some what funky, mushy and overly soy sauced... but still managing to lack any flavor. Even after I got over the weird (not freshly cut) melded, the taste was just so off! I couldn't eat more then 2 bites... we both thought it was the worst tuna tartare we ever had. Didn't help that was a not cold enough, like it had been kept out for a bit. Terrible! Entrees. I got the lamb, he got the hangar steak. The steak came with overly al dente mac and cheese that somehow did not have enough cheese... the steak was so chewy, just not tender. I don't know if the cut was a fat stringy one or the way it was cooked had something to do with it. I do know that I don't cook steak that often and mine comes out a heck of a lot more edible then that was. It was also served with a glob of steamed spinach. The lamb, the only sort of shining light to this mess of a dinner. It was cooked to perfection! lucky? don't know, which only made the flavorless, bland, un seasoned taste that much more depressing. Do they have something against salt and peppering their meat before cooking? I mean it is the easiest way to add a punch of flavor, especially when they are being cooked so simply. Bottomline, not a place we would ever return to. However the staff was personable, and they kept our water glasses full. This along with cooking my unfortunate lamb to perfection, I felt it deserved at least 2 stars. The ambiance and decor are traditional, small town fancy, the clientele is of a greater age group. perhaps they are appealing to the bland taste buds and low sodium appetites. Note;... After we left we went to Spuntino, for one or two of their small bites... and the flavor in those two small dishes, was abundantly better then the entire meal we had here.
(2)Restaurant G.
I have heard about this place for countless years and finally made it in. You hear about location, location, location when you open a restaurant. Well this is not it. This is about a great dining experience from a superb staff member to incredible food. Located in the back corner of a dead strip mall by the train you would expect this place to close immediately but their reputation has enabled them to stay open for 24 years. After eating here I can see why. I look forward to coming again soon.
(4)Tom C.
So I went there for a company dinner with 15 people. When you walk in, it's a very cozy looking place. It definitely looks like a place to bring a date or your wife to for a nice dinner. Maybe it was the group size, but the 3 course prix fix dinner was definitely one of the slower services I've ever experienced. The appetizers didn't come out until almost 30 minutes after we ordered them, and that's after a 20-30 minute wait just to get the order taken. The entree was another 30 minute wait as was the dessert. The somewhat unique duck taco was only 2 bites. While it tasted good, it wasn't so memorable that I would think about it after the meal. The steak was cook to the correct temp, was flavorful and tender. Honestly, if it weren't for that steak, I think I would have rated West End one star lower. The molten chocolate cake was actually one of the worst I've had. There was no chocolate lava and the cake itself was extremely dry. Overall, while the restaurant looks nice, I don't think they can handle large groups. I'll come back when it's a date night and see how they fare.
(3)Michelle A.
Unexpected, cozy restaurant with a very relaxing, pleasant atmosphere. We came here for lunch and were very happy with the service and meal. Started with the soup of the day, Butternut Squash with Chantilly Cream. It was good, but had a simple flavor with a nice hint of nutmeg. The Chicken Quesadilla was excellent with a fresh, flavorful salsa accompaniment. My husband had the special fish tacos which were overstuffed with tasty, fresh fillings and accompanied with chive sour cream, salsa and guacamole. They were tasty, but he would have preferred the fish grilled rather than breaded and fried. We will definitely return to try other menu items which also sound amazing.
(4)Abby F.
Had lunch here day before Xmas - which would account for very few people. Overall good what I liked: Comfortable and classy atmosphere inside. Menu with variety I had the duck wrap - very tasty. Others enjoyed their selections. Nice beer and wine menu. Allowed me to substitute a small salad on side instead of starchy food. Needs improvement - service staff not attentive re water refills - two of us were drinking only water and they knew that.
(4)Deb R.
Went there for a dinner in honor of a dear friend for her birthday. 6 ladies, we're foodies, and since it's Long Island Restaurant Week, I wasn't expecting too much. I WAS BLOWN AWAY! Service was excellent. Don't be distracted by the strip mall - don't be such a snob that an excellent meal will be harmed by the location. The strip mall means no parking problems! And then there's the food - so good! I had duck tacos (excellent, tasty, perfect), hanger steak (cooked just like I requested, mashed potatoes delicious, spinach perfect) and for dessert bourbon pecan pie (really good!) I've eaten in the finest restaurants, and I have to admit the folks who run this place know what they're doing. I would go back any time. I even had a wonderful glass of chardonnay. Congratulations West End Cafe. You're doing something very right!
(4)Joanna S.
This review is solely for service. Last night, I brought my parents for dinner at one of my favorite spots for over 10 years now. We are just in time for the twilight (prefix) menu. Long story short, my father has a pepper allergy, which yes, is annoying as most foods contain pepper. BUT usually is happily accommodated by not using it. Every dish he ordered, the waitress said the chef could not remove it. Only thing he could eat was the salmon of shell steak (which was a $5 surcharge). I suggest removing the $5 surcharge since the chef was not able to accommodate his allergy needs on ANY of the dishes he wanted. The server seemed willing and ready but went to check with her manager. Manager comes over and says "Sorry, but can't take the surcharges off, he can either have the steak or Salmon" in a dismissive tone. Being that I've worked in hospitality in NYC, I ask "as a courtesy since you weren't able to accommodate your customer?" answer was still no. I am truly appalled by the lack of customer service by this manager (with short brown hair). Knowing I am a customer for years now, honestly, I would easily give you $5 dollars. But the principal of the fact that she was not able to accommodate ONE persons need based on an allergy, is disgusting. There was no sense of sympathy and/or initiative to resolve the problem. Working in hospitality I've seen these kinds of problems arise, among others in the business, our value is always on the customer. Our goal is always to provide an experience and/or damage control that can impress them enough to come back and spread the word. NOT LOOSE ALL VALUE FOR THEM OVER $5 dollars! I don't know if I could go back. Which is truly sad, as I have a huge family that has been supporting this business for years. It seems we are just numbers and revenue.
(1)Michelle Y.
I called on Monday for (same week) Friday reservations for a relatively large group. The reservationist was super accommodating even though I kept calling back and changing the time. It's always nice when people are understanding and patient. 6 of us arrived for our 8pm reservation and we were promptly seated. We were served an assortment of breads (all very filling, but none particularly unique). For the table, we ordered the Tuna Sashimi Pizza (Green onion pancake/avocado/tomatoes/sweet peppers/sriracha sauce) and the fried calamari with roasted garlic aioli and spicy tomato sauce. The pizza was pretty good and the calamari I enjoyed thoroughly (particularly the aioli). As my entrée, I had the shrimp and lobster meat linguine. The shrimp were too hard (either undercooked or overcooked), there was barely any lobster meat, the sauce was extremely watery, and the dish overall lacked flavor. There was also an overbearing taste of fennel in the dish. Fennel is one of the few things I do not like at all. Granted, this is a personal taste, but I think it is prominent enough in the dish to list in the ingredients. I tried some other dishes such as the ribs which were completely dry and tough. My friend had also ordered a chicken dish which basically turned out to be a salad with chicken. She had also ordered a side salad...since the waiter should know the dishes, I would have expected him to at least mention that she would be basically ordering 2 salads. I can't even say just my dish was off. Everything seemed to be subpar. We were too disappointed to even bother trying dessert. With all the great reviews, I was really expecting a fabulous meal but my expectations were too high, I guess.
(2)Tracy E.
The space is gorgeous, however, when I dined here with a friend, we found ourselves to be the youngest patrons there by a couple decades. For a Thursday evening during prime happy-hour hours, we were hoping to see a younger crowd of 20-30 somethings, but that wasn't the case. This really isn't a big problem but it's something to consider if you want to spend a chunk of your time at the bar. The food is great. We really appreciated their pre-fix menu which offered smaller portions of their best sellers for $31.95. It included an appetizer, a main dish, and dessert. Their beet and goat salad was tasty though pretty standard, however my friend ordered their duck tacos and absolutely loved it. Their squash and goat cheese ravioli is phenomenal! It's a perfect balance of rich, hearty, and sweet for an enjoyable winter meal. I wish I could say that their desserts were impressive. They were pretty standard. I was hoping that they'd take a bolder approach to the classics, but they didn't.
(4)James R.
Only 3 stars because of the service. Waiter was good, food not worth the trip or a return visit. in a strip mall. sad because the place inside in nice, too bad the food wasnt
(2)NycSkyline H.
This place is amaziing it is a hidden gem just across form the Roosevelt Field Mall and only locals really knkow about it. Anything you try is sure to amaze form a simple burger that is devine to their delicately arranegd entrees they are all superb. I never had anythign there that I did not like to the fullest. Lillie the bartender is amazing and the chips they serve up are hand cut and browned to perfection. Whenever there is a wait I just eat at the bar and find that to be the best route faster service and easier access to drinks. I recommend this hotspot with the highest possible regards!!!
(5)Robert P.
Delicious! Beautiful place with exciting decor. Good service. Great food. Every dish was beautiful to look at and tasted even better. I would recommend anyone to come eat here.
(5)Lance K.
Wow sitting here now enjoying the afterglow of a delicious meal. Everything was cooked and prepared to perfection. Excellent service the wait was minimal. Try the artichoke flatbread and goat cheese salad. Amazing. Will be coming back. Nice ambiance.
(5)Joseph T.
I came here for lunch which is probably not the optimal time to patron West End Cafe. It's definitely more of an evening restaurant for a modern dinner and some cocktails. When I have stopped by during the evening a sizeable waitlist had accumulated, so I'd recommend placing a reservation during prime operating dining hours over the weekend. The menu has changed since I last dined here which demonstrates the modern approach of the restaurant but leaves me unable to offer a substantial recommendation.
(4)Cuppy E.
My fiancé and I had an early dinner at West End Cafe last night and decided to order from the twilight menu. This was our first time dining here. I ordered the Asian crispy duck taco as an appetizer. It was ok. It was served in two mini taco shells. I found the BBQ sauce to be a tad too sweet but the napa slaw was delicious. As an entree, I ordered the Butternut squash and goat cheese ravioli. The walnuts and raisins imparted a great flavor to this dish. For dessert, I went with the Creme brûlée. I found it to be standard and I wouldn't order it again. They have a great looking cocktail menu. I ordered the Pomegranate lemon drop martini. It was supposed to have a sugar rim but it tasted more like cinnamon. It was quite tasty. My fiancé chose the chilled seafood salad. I didn't taste it but he stated that the dressing was too "lemony." I tasted his organic chicken and it was very good and was seasoned and roasted to perfection. He enjoyed it. Overall, this a good place for a date night or a girls' night out. The service was ok and the restaurant has a nice decor and perfect lighting. The music that was blaring at the end of the meal was a bit unnecessary but it didn't detract from the meal as a whole. I'm actually looking forward to trying a few items on the menu. We will return.
(4)Adam K.
Great menu and delicious food, nice ambience, prices are reasonable. You'd never know that sitting in the back of a somewhat deserted strip mall was this hidden gem unless someone tells you "you have to try this place". Thankfully someone told us that! Very crowded at 8pm on a Sat night however our reservations were perfectly honoured and we sat at 8 in a quiet corner in the back. The restaurant was packed and because its not a huge restaurant, it can get kind of loud so we were lucky to secure this somewhat secluded table. A quick bread basked with delicious pesto rolls and the waitress was there within seconds. She was a wonderfully attentive waitress and I wish I had her name to share. All I know is she was half Puerto Rican and half Italian and had a tattoo on both arms and had a great friendly personality! Our apps were amazing and included tuna sashimi pizza, duck tacos (my absolute favourite dish of the night) and a delicious refreshing salad with beets, pears, almonds and all good greens. Entrees included a braised lamb shank (my dish and it was tender and full of flavour), huge scallops, venison and striped bass. All served with great sides like squash, mashed potatoes and more. All of we're raving about our entrees and were sufficiently stuffed. We squeezed in an amazing piece of piece of pecan pie and some coffee! I walked away with the totally satiated feeling of great service, great food and can not wait till we eat there again (next week)!
(5)Jenna W.
Went there last night for a great Valentine's Day dinner. Service was great and food was delicious. Wine was great and desserts were perfect! Highly recommended!
(5)Risa S.
Great food! Excellent menu, lots of choices. I've enjoyed every meal I've had at this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. Very reasonable prix fix too with so many items in this menu. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)David M.
Stopped into this modern-looking bistro for a business lunch. It appeared pretty busy during my visit and since I was alone, I took a seat at the bar to review the lunch choices. I was a bit surprised at the relatively high prices, but maybe its good I thought. Well, I was right. This place had really tasty food. I was very close to giving this a five-star, but three things irked me. First, I ordered chicken quesadillas with mango salsa, and sweet potato fries. The salsa should have been put in a separate bowl as the juices from the salsa rolled all over my dish causing my quesadillas to be crunchy on top, but soggy and wet below. Not a good combination. Especially when your trying to enjoy the food. Second, Regular customers got preferential and faster treatment. So many places do this it really bothers me. I saw people come in long after me and get their food way before me. Third, The service was on the slow side for lunch. I think it was obvious from my attire I was on a business lunch and needed to be in and out within about forty five minutes to an hour at the most, however It took that long just to get the food in front of me. To get me to return at lunchtime this needs to be addressed. I would definitely return to the West End Cafe for dinner to see what they have. The food was tasty, but somewhat pricey. They also need to address some of the issues I have raised.
(4)Frank M.
I was looking forward to eating here - seems to cater to an older crowd - food quality relative to what you pay wasn't great in my opinion - seems more focused on portion size - service was fine - the place was OK but just not my thing and I likely wouldnt go again but I can see why certain segments would enjoy.
(2)Kristen T.
Love this place and was my spot with my husband for many years. I love all the specials and the food is always very consistent and delicious and the manager always managed to find us a table even in the busiest nights
(4)Sharon A.
We have dined at the West End Café several times in the past and had not been back for quite a while, so we were looking forward to going there for a celebratory birthday dinner. We were taken right on time for our 8:00PM reservation. We placed our order which included a bottle of wine, appetizers, and entrees. Within 10 minutes, our bottle of wine was brought to the table, which was great. About 5 minutes later our appetizers were brought over. My daughter had about 1/3 of her salad left on her plate, but as soon as she put her fork down, the busboy came over to ask if she was finished. She said we were still eating and he left. Not even 10 minutes later, as soon as all the forks were on the table, our plates were cleared away. Within another 10 minutes our entrees were brought out to us. When the waitress asked how everything was, I said the food is okay, but that it was brought out much too quickly. Her response was that we should have told her that we did not want the entrees right away. Then when the hostess/manager (?) came over to see how our dinner was, I expressed the same sentiment. We were told that, that's how they serve...'the entrée is brought out about 10 minutes after the salads/appetizers are cleared away'. So we were seated at 8:00PM and finished by 9:05PM. If we wanted 'fast food' rather than a nice meal on a Friday night we would have gone out to the local pizzeria. In addition to eating very mediocre food, the 'dining experience' was horrendous and we will never go back.
(1)Mariya S.
Came here about a month ago with some friends. My coworker suggested it. Very disappointed! The menu is very small and has some odd flavored choices on it. The app we got was plantain chips and guacamole, which was far from great. I think a best word for it is "adequate", which is a strange word to use to describe food. I got seared tuna and noodles salad. It was absolutely horrible, impossible to eat. I usually get something similar at our fav restaurant. Here the tuna was not sushi grade and the veggie mixed in with noodles tasted as it they were marinated (like pickles). I could not eat more than a few bites. My friend got chicken which was nothing special for the price. The service was also lacking as waiter took 20 min to come to our table. Never going back there again. There are much better restaurants around the area to spend your money at.
(2)Marty F.
Consistently delicious ! After several dining experiences I can conclude that the West End Cafe is well worth the trip. Great food, service atmosphere !!
(5)Jojo D.
Came here for lunch and the food was just ok & the service was lackluster. The waiter while he did know everything about the menu had a bad attitude. Strange. The food was decent and I was shocked because a friend of mine raved about this and place. I would give it one more chance for dinner however.
(3)Visna H.
Perfection at its finest. Tuna Tartar Duck Tacos Short Rib Organic Roasted Chicken ...Pecan Pie
(5)Bryant O.
My friend and I had a reservation. We received our drinks and the waiter was lingering at our table. He was rushing us to order because he needed to put the order in ASAP because it was a busy night and he needed our table. I was appalled as were the people at the neighboring tables. The manager witnessed this and came over and said he didn't mean to sound as rude as he did. I said a little too late... Actually a lot to too late. She said they were very busy that night and overbooked with reservations. That's THEIR problem, not mine. No apology. That being said... The food wasn't anything to write home about. The soup of the day that the waiter recommended tasted like it came out of a box from a supermarket. There was no remorse for the rude service. Not even a comp of the first round of Drinks. The service was disgraceful. I will NEVER return to WEC.
(1)Thomas G.
If you liked it the last time you were here then you will like it the next time. One of the most Rock Solid restaurants around. Food and Service always Very Good. I like it for lunch...
(4)Kate Y.
This place is my go-to restaurant for cocktails (quality cocktails in LI are so hard to find - sad) and "fancy" food in this neighborhood. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's located inside a shopping complex! My top favorites: I love their White Grape martini (has frozen grapes in it!) and their Perfect Pear martini is refreshing. I also highly recommend the grilled flatbread with arugula and goat cheese; the portions are huge - definitely made to share. Go with a friend and munch on complimentary, made in house potato salad and enjoy a good drink.
(4)Mark B.
Had a very good meal here. The service was average but the hostess was great in getting me seated fast. The food really was enjoyable. I had the flatbread with figs and bleu cheese. I also had the salmon and ratatouille. Both were excellent. It is a popular place for a reason. Sometimes food and atmosphere trump location!
(4)Paula Jean K.
Read about this place on Yelp. Thought about giving it a try. Didn't have reservations here or anywhere else on a Saturday night so we just stopped by for a peek. The dining room was full with a 30 minute wait so we moved ourselves to the bar area. Wierd. Very Very Wierd. I am so surprised that not one single review remarks that the waitstaff must go thru the entire bar area to get to the dining room. And it's a tight squeeze. "Excuse me! Pardon me! Behind!! Don't Move! Be Carefull! " Is this the pink elephant in the room? Literally? Yikes! Thank goodness we got seated soon because I was very uncomfortable. We were also happily surprised to see a couple of bartenders that we used to know from long ago. They made us feel right at home. Food was very good. Service was excellent. It was A-OK. But, it sure was tight.
(3)Edward W.
Very disappointing. My wife and I like to try different restaurants and do a fair amount of research before making a reservation. We arrived at 6:05 with a 6:00 reservation and were promptly seated. Although we were given water by a busboy immediately, we we were not greeted by nor given any attention wait staff. Ao, after being ignored for 25 minutes we simply walked out and went home to our favorite local restaurant. A very disappointing experience given the generally positive reviews.
(1)Anthony F.
I have been coming here for years. The food is ALWAYS good and they will tailor to your liking. The wait staff is very attentive and the bar makes quality drinks. I highly recommend this restaurant for nice evening out. It is very crowded but you are never rushed out to make way for another customer. You can really enjoy your meal. The location is kind of off. It's in the corner of a strip mall but don't let that change your mind about going.
(5)Diana Q.
I went here for a friend's baby shower. The food was excellent, the waiters were on top of their game and the coffee was great too. They helped to make my friend's baby shower awesome, fun and memorable.
(5)John S.
This is how a restaurant on Long Island should be ran. Walked in on a Sunday night with two other people. Every table was full, and instead of the Hostess saying get lost you should have made a reservation. She said with a smile that we would be happy to sit you at the bar with the full menu available. I had the seafood salad, and the swordfish with risotto cake. Owners should take a note from this place on how to train your staff and cook the basics well.
(5)Jean T.
I came here tonight for my first time. I been wanting to come here for a few years now. I got the pear martini. It was delish. not too sweet and not too strong. I got two appetizers as my meal. the Sashami pizza it was sooooo good. and the portobello mozzarella that was delicious as well. I want to come back and try the duck tacos and the goat cheese ravioli. My date got the skirt steak and said it was amazing. The portions are good size for your money. The place is very cute and small. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Amy K.
One of my favorite restaurants on Long Island. It's my go-to place for special occasions. I have never had a bad meal here. The waitstaff here is exceptional. They are extremely friendly, accommodating and very knowledgable about the food, wine and drinks. They make great recommendations. Recently had the yummy duck tacos and scallops. I have suggested this restaurant to many others who all reported back that they loved it. Can be noisy and crowded (you must make a reservation), but we usually request a table in the back which is quieter.
(5)Lindsay S.
Went here on a weekday night, the place was fairly empty but packed by the time we left at around 8. Drinks and food were all around great, even the bread basket was quality. Had the tuna tartare pizza to start which was well portioned and you could really taste the tuna. For my entree I had the salmon. The skin was perfectly crisped and the fish itself was super buttery not dry at all. There were a lot of veggies on the plate which I love. Tried my friend's scallops which were also quite good. Service was maybe a little slow but since I was catching up with a friend I didn't mind. Would go back again but is a little pricey so come for a nice dinner date!
(4)Mike S.
Finally returned to this place and wondered why I stayed away for so long. Made a late reservation for Saturday night and the place was hopping so we sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. I must say, the bartenders know how to make a good drink. I ordered a Negroni. The bartender asked my preference of gin and he proceeded to make a drink that was heavy on the gin - which is different then the 1:1:1 ratio I'm used to but I must say I liked way better. Table was ready and we ordered the mussels for an appetizer which I enjoy in the summer time. Nice, light, briney, tomatoey, and nicely flavored. Delicious. I ordered a new addition to their draft beer menu - a rye beer which I wasn't sure I would like so the waiter brought me a sample. Fantastic! I ordered one. For our mains my wife ordered an another new edition - a lobster cobb salad which was out of this world. Upon a generous mound of salad that contained nice size chunks of lobster layed a perfectly cooked split lobster tail! Fantastic! I ordered the Scallops that were seared and seasoned to perfection which came laying on top of snow pea ravolis. For dessert with finished with the mint chocolate chip parfait that we split. Everything was absolutely on point! The service and atmosphere is also excellent - aside from the location in strip mall that others have mentioned. You walk in and you are transported from its common location. Even being so busy I didnt feel rushed or neglected. The waiter keep the whole meal flowing nicely. I must say I am looking forward to going back, which won't be so long this time!
(5)Anthony V.
Excellent hidden spot. Not many people know about this place when I tell them about it, but what a find. Came here with my girlfriend for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. Really can not say a bad thing about our experience. The waitress was excellent as well. She actually made me want to be a waiter again.
(5)Steven R.
Came for lunch a few days ago.....had heard great things about the place. very disappointing to say the least. Served rock hard doughy rolls. Caesar was salty, very cheesy, didn't taste too much anchovy. Friend had shrimp quesadillia, was greasy! hardly any shrimp, onions still had some of their peel on it. I had fish tacos, total joke. Cabbage slaw was already turning brown, said it was fluke, but I highly doubt it, maybe monkfish.....fluke isn't usually thick and in rectangular shape. Guacamole that came with it was salty and lacked any pop. Fish wasn't seasoned. Friend had sweet potato fries and the aioli had that "hasn't been covered skin like substance on the top", kinda like pudding . Also found a piece of a regular fry in the ailoi. Really not good at all, very sloppy and no pop or pizzaz with any of the food....all very one note
(1)Derek D.
Wow, so glad I came across this place as it may be my new favorite joint. The tuna sashimi pizza is by far the best I have ever had... writing this I may just have to go back tonight!!
(4)Dan H.
While the food and service is usually good, today not so much. I ordered the lunch special- shrimp with summer vegetable quesadilla. It was extremely oily and barely any shrimp or vegetables, just cheese.... dissappoiting.
(3)Jeff L.
One of my favorite places to eat on LI. I could have the tuna shashimi pizza every day of the week and be perfectly happy. Amazing food, friendly staff, great decor and moderate price. A must-go!
(5)Vincent D.
This is a surprising little restaurant located near Nassau County's shopping hub at Roosevelt FIeld. We had the scallops and the chop. Very excellent
(5)Dick G.
Re-visited West End Cafe with friends after a 6 month hiatus and found it still looked the same and was as crowded as ever on a Saturday night around 9pm. Made Open Table reservation which is usually beneficial. We enjoy the energy of the room and the lack of small kids making a raukus. Firstly we missed the Duck Tacos which were taken off the menu. They were so good I have had them as an entre! Replaced with lackluster Duck Sliders...Two people had seafood dishes on risotto. Scallops and Shrimp were great but the risotto was over cooked, mushy and starchy...should have sent it back but what the hell... Ordered the Rack of Lamb, looked marvelous and served as requested, but had no taste to speak of even though had herb crust. Service was fantastic and I will recommend the restaurant but am in hopes that the kitchen reconsider the tacos and pay attention to details such as the risotto and lamb. I hesitate recommending West End until I return and am satisfied with the food...its embarrasing telling people its great and then they go and report it was less than acceptable. Please bring the JU JU back to West End Cafe!!!!
(4)Nathan H.
This is a great place that's kinda hidden. Good selection of scotches, and wine. The food is really upscale. I didn't eat but my friend got the lamb chops which looked awesome. The bar staff is great too.
(5)Kat L.
Everyone I've talked to has raved about the West End Cafe. We went there for my sister's birthday and had a great time. The entrees were fantastic and the portion sizes were sufficient for the pricing. I love the creativity of the dishes - pecan crusted tilapia with mango relish, lobster, shrimp and scallop ravioli, Asian duck tacos, gnocchi with lamb ragu. I had the special of Black Stripped Sea Bass over leeks, fennel, baby artichokes and fingerling potatoes - phenomenal. The decor is akin to that of a Manhattan restaurant, and the size is similar too (it has about 20 or so tables). Only criticisms would be location (canNOT see it from the street, takes a lot of driving around in a busy area that is not kind to slow drivers!), uncreative desserts (do we really need another place on Long Island that serves tiramisu, cheesecake and creme brulee?) and their guacamole was not as advertised (I was expecting a bowl of guacamole, the dish's starring ingredient in the title, and was presented with three little squares with sour cream, salsa and guac inside them. They should call it chips and dip instead!). Could also use some more savory cocktails, I thought I was looking at the dessert menu when trying to choose a drink! I would recommend going and tasting their more innovative dishes - leave familiar appetites at the door!
(4)Fran R.
One of my husband's friends gave us a gift certificate for this restaurant and what a find. We've been going there now for the last two years for times when we want to celebrate and occasion or just want to have a really nice dinner. The ambience is wonderful and the food is even better. Waitstaff and hostess is always very friendly and helpful. Would recommend this restaurant as one of the hidden gems on Long Island. Suggest calling for a reservation and on a Saturday night, wise to call a week ahead if you want to get in at a certain desired time. Their fig goatcheese flatbread is yummy as well as the Tuna Sashimi Pizza. Shortribs and spaghettini is a favorite as well as the rack of lamb. Fish is fresh and delicious - never disappointed. Have a good drink/beer/wine selection as well.
(5)C. M.
The maitre d' there on Saturday (10/20 dinnertime, black hair in ponytail) was not only curt and rude to my guests when we arrived, but also made a table of senior citizens sitting near us relocate to another table (of the same size) across the restaurant. Witnessing her treat us and the other guests so poorly was a very unpleasant way to start the evening. (The food was otherwise great, but restaurants are in the service industry.) I'll consider restoring the five-star rating if the next time I return, this maitre d' lost her attitude or job.
(2)Joan R.
Ambiance: A+ Amidst a drab and shady strip mall, the West End Cafe is a little oasis of goodness. The yellow canopy lined with soft twinkly lights at the restaurant's front is the silver lining to this questionable area. I was a little skeptical of this place when my bf brought me there for a Valentine's Day dinner, even though I was forewarned about it's location but I was pleasantly surprise. There were plenty of parking space which is a plus. The interior is very nice, lovely, and elegant. It's bigger than your typical restaurant in the city and I think it's a good side. There's a small bar near the entrance and when we went there for V-Day it was packed. Make reservations for dinner. Service: A+ The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and sweet. She made us feel welcomed and she was very friendly. My glass of water was never empty, they kept on filling it up, which of course is great. Food: A+ The food was great. We had a special menu for V-Day and I don't believe the dishes are available in the regular menu; but if the dishes were so well executed on such a busy night than I'm sure it'll be as good on regular nights. Everything was fresh, flavorful, tasty, and well made. High quality food. Worth the price. Their specialty cocktails were yummy and strong. Overall, it was a great dining experience.
(5)Kelly F.
Overall, I was really really disappointed. I am here on work and saw the great ratings so I thought I would give it a try. They even had a great 3 course "twilight menu" for $30.95. I ordered the crab stack, short ribs and peach tart. The crab stack had little crab and too much overly sweet mango sauce. The short rib was dry and the fava beans didn't mesh well for me at all. The peach tart had very little peach and was basically just crust and streusel.
(2)Craig H.
Excellent restaurant! The menu is diverse and filled with something for everyone's palate. What really made this meal enjoyable, excellent fare aside, was the incredible staff. The bar tenders and wait staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The Boat Scallops and homemade ravioli was superb, as was the ahi tuna and avocado tartar.
(5)Cat C.
West End Cafe was good, I would definitely go back. The butternut squash soup was great (thought I didn't see any cinnamon dusting like they said there'd be) and the tuna sashimi pizza was AMAZING, I love it. I would go back again just for that. My friend's meals weren't as great, but they were still good. They felt the prices were too high for what they got. Their lamb and pork were tasty but a little blah and the side dishes were not very good. Our waitress was really sweet, we liked her, but the bussers were a little strange (tilting our plates down in front of us, asking if we were done when we were mid bite!). Everyone was polite though so no major complaints. Beer sampler was nice and I agree with someone else who said the bread wasn't that great.
(3)Jay R.
Really big fan. I grew up in Long Island and it feels like "home" to go eat there and rub elbows with the locals. I've been there twice; best onion soup on the planet, great bread assortment, generous portions. Desserts are hit-or-miss, but by that point you're probably too full anyway.
(5)PJ S.
Second visit after our friends introduced us to WEC last year. (We do not live nearby, so we do not have a chance to come often.) We had a group of seven and stopped by without a reservation on a Saturday night. Plenty of cars in the lot and tables full. That said, after ten minutes at the bar and a great micro-brew suggested by the bartender we were seated. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the ambiance. Service was a little slow, but at the peak time on a Saturday, acceptable. If you are in the vicinity, say headed back to NYC and near the Meadowbrook/Northern-State interchange, it's a short drive south on Glen Cove Road and worth the visit. Despite our recent luck, I would suggest calling to make a reservation. We'll be back.
(5)Monica L.
Heard such great things about this place - how it was a NYC restaurant transplanted onto a strip mall, etc. Meh. If you're trying it for the first time, I'd go for lunch, since it's better priced then. My soup of the day was clam chowder, and it was decent but nothing to write home about. My friend and I split the grilled flatbread with chorizo and gorgonzola and the Asian style duck wrap. The flatbread itself was tough and hard to cut with a knife, even though the topping was nice. The Asian style duck wrap was practically inedible due to the tidal wave of sickeningly sweet hoisin BBQ sauce and the questionable banana slices. I should have definitely asked for the sauce on the side. Overall, it wasn't terrible, the food was ok, but I don't think I'd ever go back.
(2)Joseph F.
Completely hidden in a strip mall, this place has a great atmosphere once you walk in. Its a relatively small space, with a decent sized bar. We did the prix fixe. which was a really good deal - recommend it. They offer plenty of variety on this menu. Food was generally very good. Started with the crab mean tower, which was mostly mango salsa and not so much crab. Still, it was tasty - maybe alittle too sweet. Then I had the short ribs. The portion was huge. (almost too big) The meat had a nice glaze on the outside, but was slightly dry. It could be because the piece of meat was so large. It came with potato gnocchi, which were pretty good. It was seasoned with rosemary, which I usually love - but it was very overpowering. Drinks were good, nice beer selection. Service was average, felt rushed at time. Overall, I would recommend it if you are in the area.
(3)V M.
I was completely underwhelmed !! First, how can they get away with charging Manhattan prices in a Carle Place strip mall??? Secondly, my salad, YES, a SALAD, cost $22 !! The salty calamari that was placed on top was inedible. Next, the waitress never came over to ask how the meal was. I have a feeling she knew I wasn't happy with this strange, salt- laden combination. Lastly, and most importantly, my friends and I were given the bum's rush, even after spending over $200 of our hard- earned cash there. Needless to say, I will NOT be returning to this over- priced, over-hyped establishment.
(1)David S.
Excellent, New American food at its best. I went on a Thursday and it was packed. The place itself is a little crowded but very nice, it did remind me eating in Manhattan as their website suggests. There was a 45 minute wait without reservation so we sat at the bar. Very nice Bartender, and there were a few people eating at the bar along side us. The food was fantastic. The onion soup au gratin was huge, we could not finish it. The cheese on the soup was excellent. I've had plenty of variations on their Tuna tartar with avocado dish, and this was one of the best. Lots of flavor, and a real nice size portion. For the main course the pork chop was huge and juicy. Lot of flavor in the sauce as well as the fruit on top of the chop, real nice portion again. I had the fish special, which was wild sea bass over spinach and mushroom risotto. This was fantastic, the fish was another nice portion. It was flaky, fresh and cooked perfectly. The risotto was packed full of fresh mushrooms, excellent with the spinich. All the flavors went together perfectly. I get this impression i could order just about anything on the menu and i would enjoy it. Next time I will try the duck taco's which i usually love. Nice staff, amazing food, expensive but not to bad prices, highly recomended, but only if you make reservations or done mind sitting at the bar to eat.
(5)Ashley B.
West End is small, so expect a long wait (and very little room to do so) on the weekends. However, the food is worth it. It's so delicious. I've enjoyed everything I've eaten from here, even the bread. I always sit at the bar to eat and Adam and Christine (the bartenders) are both very friendly and fun. They always give good recommendations too. We always have fun talking to them. It is in a nasty looking strip mall but who cares? There's plenty of parking at least. I would suggest making a reservation, even on the weekdays.
(5)michael f.
Buried in the corner of a nondescript strip mall, this place is wonderful. The first time my Ex took me here I thought she was off her nut for telling me to dress nicely... there was an pet store next door at the time. But a lovely interior quickly makes you forget you are dining next to a Mandee's. They have a great bar, which sports a couple of good martinis, like the Harvest and a pretty decent wine selection. The food is really special. Serving New American Cuisine that is flavorful and portioned perfectly. They are great for Lunch, when prices are a bit lower, but can fill up quick, since the place is not huge and the local office workers clearly love the place. They sport a lot of return business. Their soups and ravioli dishes, whether they be menu items or specials, have always been my personal favorites. My mother once have a crusted tilapia dish here that she still talks about. It may be a little tricky to spot from the street, but West End is definitely worth the hunt.
(5)mike n.
The place is tight especially if you need to wait or get a table near the steps. The salads are better than most any place I've been to. I ordered the Rack of Lamb which looked better than it tasted. Where was the seasoning? I see i am not the only one on Yelp to mention that but everyone in my party of 5 ordered something different and all complained of the lack of flavor. Food was good but not special. I also dislike when chefs put the meat on top of mashed potato's and you can't get a clean bite of just meat.
(3)Rosemary K.
Wish I could give 1/2 star, or less than that! I am amazed to read all the great ratings. This restaurant has ATTITUDE and is RUDE. We arrived at ~ 4:15 and were told that the restaurant does not open until 5 pm. OK, I understand that. Staff was there preparing and I said we would shop around (in a strip mall with barely any stores), and we would return in 1/2 hour and get drinks at the bar before being seated for a 5 pm start. We killed time and returned at 4:50 pm. The door was now locked. We looked through the window and staff was there and saw us. No one came to the door. We left and went to dinner at Vincents around the corner. Is this customer service??? Why would we wait another 10 minutes when the establishment obviously closed/locked the doors after we said we would return. We would have sat at the bar, spent $$$$ on drinks, and then ordered dinner, and spent more $$$$. I can't even rate the food, never got a chance to order or eat any of it. I can tell you with all the restaurants out there, and the competitive nature of the business, I am totally amazed that West End Café can have this attitude. I did call and spoke to the women who dealt with us and she was all explanations for why the doors may have been shut, but no empathy or consideration for us as customers. She said she would get to the bottom of this... and I said what good would this do me... and her reply was still the same... I will get to the bottom of this. It should have been... I am so sorry, please come back, the first drinks will be on the house to welcome you, and let us show you how great our restaurant is. Your loss West End... it will eventually catch up to you.
(1)Yelp L.
Classy joint. Nice decor. Quality staff. Very nice meal. Short on vegetarian options, but meat eaters can indulge. Dessert was divine. Crowd seemed about 40+ Would head to Seasons 52 first for a more young, modern atmosphere.
(3)Shoesoffnrun R.
This place is probably more of a 3.5- 4, but I am simply extremely disappointed in their current menu. The literally have not one single entree vegetarian option. YES in their defense the chef is very accommodating, but still guest go out to enjoy themselves not have to figure out how to mix and match to create a dish. Overall the creation they made for me was alright, nothing spectacular, i'll wait for the next menu before trying them again.
(3)Rachel P.
I love this place. My favorite dish is the lobster and shrimp ravioli. I have been getting this dish for over a decade and it has never disappointed. The Southwest shrimp Caesar salad is another hit. Their rolls are delicious. Skip the soda, it never has bubbles. I would definitely make a reservation. The place is so crowded I have seen people get turned away at lunch if they didn't have a reservation.
(4)Mani R.
Week long biz trip to Long Island and first night we go here for dinner. Our car turns into the lot and we are like WTF. where the heck are we going. This restaurant is situated in the corner of a small janky strip center that has an arts and crafts store, toy store and a local clothing store. We walk in to start a gastronomical delightful evening. On Sunday night they had a 3 course special for $29. We were all eyeballing the first table munching on muscle's and mini duck tacos. When we were finally seated though there was a full menu the eight of us decided to order off the 3 course appetizer, entree, dessert. Though I wanted the muscles we were eyeballing I started with the Pecan salad, crispy and tasty, for my entree I had the braised short rib on spaghettini. Didn't need a knife since the meat was moist and delicious. The spaghettini had a nice bold taste that I could not get enough of. Dessert I had the pistachio Sunday, thought it was going to be mini but it was a full on glass filled with ice cream and a creamy chocolate sauce. Oh had a Gretzky wine as in Wayne throughout the dinner, that paired perfectly with my meal. The rest of the party was just as satisfied as me. Now 5 days later last night in NY we couldn't figure out where to go.. Guess what back to West End. The waitress we had on Sunday remembered us out of towners and where we came from. Unfortunately she was not our server but stopped by our table to say hi. ( Our server this time around was just OK but who cares the food is fab. I had the duck taco's which where dynamite, crispy shell moist duck meat and crispy greens hit the spot and though I would have wanted another short rib asked for a plate of just the spaghettini. Oh and another glass of Gretsky's fabulous wine. I will be back again.
(5)Rachael Anne E.
I would have never given this place a chance if it wasn't for Yelp. The hotel clerk had not heard of it and it has a strip mall location between a craft and discount clothing shop. I drove past the strip center, assured that my GPS was incorrect. The pork chop was great, the butternut squash was addictive with the squash. I had their soup of the day, which was portabello and I could not stop eating it. I got the soup on a whim and it was my favorite part. I got my order to go and it was well packed. Though I did not eat inside the restaurant, it had a nice atmosphere and the staff was attentive.
(5)Jennifer G.
Great food especially the steak.. I had the duck which is mediocre... But go for the dinner special I think its from 5-6:30 there a price fix for 35 dollars.. and the best part is the pumpkin cheesecake... YUM YUM
(4)Sanjay S.
Don't judge this place by the neighborhood. It's basically in the corner of a run down strip mall, but from the moment you step in, you know you have just walked into something special. Great food, great ambiance, great service.
(5)Marisa F.
West End gets 5 stars because I previously didn't believe this kind of restaurant existed on Long Island. It's like they picked up a NYC trendy establishment and dropped it in the corner of a strip mall in Carle Place. When we walked in at 5 pm last Saturday, the place was empty and our reservation seemed unnecessary, but by 5:30, the whole room was filled with boisterous chattering tables. Our waiter was a pleasure -- all smiles and recommendations, but not overbearingly so. He helped us choose a wine (something with chocolate in the name & in the flavor -- mmmm), and steered us toward the apple pie for dessert which might just be the best apple pie I've ever had. I went with the nut-crusted goat cheese salad to start (if there's a goat cheese salad, I always pick it!), and it was fantastic. For dinner I had the short rib and spaghettini, which was good but I think I'd go in a different direction next time. The short rib was a HUGE chunk of meat, and I barely made a dent in it. But the fiance was happy to have it the next day at home. Overall this is pretty much as good as it gets in the area, and I will most definitely be coming back to sample all of the other tempting menu items. Quite a find!
(5)Cindy C.
My husband and I decided to try this place for the first time because of all the great reviews. We live in the area and didn't even know it existed until just a few weeks ago. We were MORE than impressed. The parking was a breeze. We were seated immediately. The staff were all extremely friendly and courteous. The food was amazing. We had fried calamari and crab cakes for appetizers and rack of lamb and pork chops for dinner.. and of course pecan pie and cheesecake for dessert. Everything was delicious. There was plenty of food and everything was brought out in a timely, but not rushed manner. West End Cafe has made life long friends/customers with us. We can't wait to go back there!! A+++ Cindy C
(5)Steve B.
Returned after after a long abscence. Don't know why I stayed away. If you are a fan of pork chops, one of the best around.
(5)John W.
Never had a a bad experience at the West End. The staff is fantastic, the food is tremendous but the best spot is at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a proper drink and give you attention that makes you feel like a celebrity. There haave been times when I've asked the bartender to surprise me and they have never disappointed, You can't go wrong with any menu items but my favorites are the roasted chicken and the cioppino (seasonal). I understand the complaints about the location but I think it creates a spot that only is not overwhelmed with customers. The crowd tends to be an older mature crowd. I'm in my early 40"s and I'm one of the youngest people there. Enjoy. Now I'm hungry.
(5)Jennifer C.
Yeah was very excited after seeing a good review in a local town paper. Now I know I can't trust Randy Gordon's reviews, but anyway, yeah it just looked like they wanted to look like a gourmet high end foodie place, but didn't actually have the cooking skills to pull it off. They had the facade of being one of those places worth spending $30 plus on a meal, but in the end I wouldn't return. Even the bread was meh. I went there so far back now I can't remember even what I ate, but that should show even more it wasn't memorable and I remember even the bread wasn't good, LOL. So you've been warned, that's all I'm gonna say, why bother when there's other good places to go. Wild Honey on Main in Port Wash was good up until my dessert and I've liked Brasserie Cassis in Plainview.
(2)Sal V.
Great restaurant and staff. Valerie in particular was very helpful in helping us get reservations, dinner and to the show at Westbury last night. The Rack of Lamb is very flavorful. We added a salad as an afterthought and still got out in time to enjoy. Thanks Valerie. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
(5)Steve C.
West End Cafe is a hidden gem inside a strip mall. The restaurant is simple with elegant décor. I had one of the best seafood pastas here. The linguine was al dente and had lots of shrimp, squid, mussels and clams. The tomato base sauce was so rich and flavorful. It's a nice change from all the of crappy restaurant chains in the area.
(4)B K.
I just demoted this place based on my nasty service experience with them recently. A friend and I went for a celebratory dinner, and started out with ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The waitress immediately informed us there would be a sharing charge, which I told her really puzzled me- who charges to share an appetizer??? Then she said if we weren't ordering anything else, we would be charged. Which infuriates me because we were NOT done ordering. NORMAL servers do not assume you are done ordering after taking your appetizer order, unless you have actually indicated you are done. Then, when we wanted to share an entree so that we would also have room for dessert, we were told there is a $7 sharing fee for that! So we ended up having to order a meal and another appetizer as a meal, and had no room for dessert. This came out to a $100 bill, which they still would have gotten from me if we had been able to order one entree and one dessert. And to top it off, the crabcake appetizer was awful. It tasted like one of those scallion pancakes you get at cheap chinese places. I will never be back- too bad for you west end cafe- I am a big spender, and you have lost my business with your stingy attitude.
(2)A M.
West End Cafe is one of our "go to" favorites, which makes tonights experience so disappointing. My husband ordered the skirt steak special. He said it was horrible. It was cold and undercooked. The hostess came over and said she took it back to kitchen and that "chef was appalled". Lol. The chef is responsible that things are plated correctly and ok to be served. I watch Hells Kitchen! We are good repeat customers and all they did was not charge us for the skirt steak. DUH...HOW ABOUT WRITING OFF THE REMAINING $54 as a good customer relations gesture?
(3)J G.
Usually a no miss experience-fine food with caring service, but not tonight. Waited two hours for our entre. When the manager was advised, she indifferently blamed the salad course and never came to the table. Dirty dishes were unbussed, and two entres were not cooked as ordered. Rough night - indifferent management. For $145/couple I thought we were entitled to a better experience.
(2)Britney G.
I've been here both for a regular dinner and a party renting the whole place out, and both times were excellent. In addition to a great fixed menu at the party, I love the scallops when I went back on my own. Their breadsticks are also great and lots of creative martini options is always nice. I would definitely keep this place in mind for a nice dinner out, important date, etc.
(5)Lauren W.
Been dining at West End for years. Must have a reservation, as the place gets packed early thanks to their early bird dinner (a ton of food - appie, entree & dessert for about $25). The menu is eccentric, some out of the ordinary choices, but usually worth the chance. Great mussels, fabulous steaks, and the macadamia crusted Tilapia is memorable, as is my favorite, a soba noodle and grilled tuna - a mix of veggies, peanut and soy. Save your money by skipping dessert and coffee - nothing special about either. Decent bar, but short wine list.
(4)Anthony D.
What can I say. I love this place. It's hidden in a corner lot, but it's a hidden gem. Try the Turkey Burger. It's so delicious!
(5)Steven B.
One of my favorite restaurants in Nassau County. The food is a mix of American but with a slightly eclectic bent. This was a hidden gem until a few years ago when NYTimes gave it a rave review. Now, you definitely need reservations if going on a Fri or Sat night. Don't let the location fool you - its hard to see from the road since its tucked into a corner. Walk inside and the ambiance is wonderful, staff helpful and almost everything on the menu very eatable - - from appetizer to dessert. Compared to other restaurants in the area, the prices are modest compared to what you are getting. Entrees range from high teens to mid-twenty dollars. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is, its hard to grab a drink if you arrive early. The bar, while pretty big, doesn't have a lot of room. Theres a lot of stepping around waiters and customers if you are having a pre-dinner drink. Small complaint, but a complaint none-the-less.
(4)Alexandra B.
Have a family member in the restaurant business who RARELY will go to a restaurant twice, on account that he is not satisfied with the quality of food. After visiting West End Café, we would all go back. Homey décor, fantastic food. I had seared scallops with a tuna tar tar appetizer, simply delicious. The scallops cut like butter, were plump and juicy. An excellent choice, great spot for a date due to the warm and trendy feel of the restaurant.
(5)Kevin J.
Don't be fooled by the strip mall location and appearance. This small restaurant serves up some incredible cuisine and glorious atmosphere to boot inside. The first time I went, our party had a reservation and the place was packed...on a Sunday evening. We were seated a little later than I thought we would but tended to rather quickly. After deliberating with the menu with my folks, I decided on the flank steak and it was one of the best I've ever eaten. The portions of our food were generous given the prices. By the time we left, the cafe was still pretty busy, the place was that good. Highly considering going back.
(5)Lilah M.
I dined here on the recommendation of a trusted friend and was not disappointed. Service was friendly and efficient. They bring a complimentary bread basket filled with yummy garlic knots, and some type of cranberry whole grain roll to start off the meal. We ordered off the specials menu, and everything was well seasoned and cooked. Half the menu was specials, which is a good or bad thing depending on who you are. It's exciting, but if you love your dish it may not be there the next time you come to dine. Portions are just right (no doggie bags needed for the entrees.) Would definitely recommend!
(4)Maura N.
Can't believe I haven't reviewed this gem yet! Was invited by friends and was dubious about the invitation and less enthralled to be leaving the Hamptons to go there. I've been back at least once a week since, and have converted many friends. We go so often, I run into family there too. Drinks are ok, but the wine selections are really nice, though they change frequently and it can be disappointing if you had your heart set on one. You can very easily make a meal of many of the amazing appetizers they have, for instance, the duck tacos. I have never had duck in my life, but the description sounded so good I couldn't resist. I get them every time. One side of the menu are daily specials, and I often have a hard time choosing. Don't be put off by the location: as other reviewers have said, this place is in a strip mall between a discount clothing store and a discount education store. Inside though, its upscale, clean and the service is pleasant enough. Don't pass up a chance to eat here, its a real treat.
(5)Fabricio S.
i think this place is out of this world. every time me and my wife go there we eat something different and bingo. delicious again. Never had a bad meal, the tuna tartare is something! Excellent !!
(5)rohia a.
Im not a big fan of restaurants in long island....but this place....this place is amazing. The food is fantastic...and the prices are low for the type of fresh delicious food they give you. My family and I came here for sunday dinner, the gorgonzola and beet salad is delicious till the last bite...the crab cake so decadent...the calamari yummy...on to the entrees: swordfish to die for! seared tuna with flavorful noodles! and omg....you have to have the lamb piled on creamy mashed potatoes! loved the cozy decor... very nice restaurant in a very unexpected part of town...will definitely come back!
(5)Geraldine S.
I think it's smaller than I had expected. Perhaps that was the problem to start out. The bar is really nice but was very crowded. Alright, granted it was a Saturday night but it was so...crowded that you just could not even imagine squeezing in there. Luckily, we happened to find seats for our little group and enjoyed drinks and food at the bar. There was absolutely no chance at a table because it was PACKED. That's always a good sign but it was very noisy as well. I had the French martini and it was very fruity, definitely could taste the pineapple but I've had better martinis so this was nothing extraordinary though. The bartender was very friendly. The female bartenders were civil. The service bordered on "help yourself" and I do mean that quite nicely. We had to ask for help a lot. The bartenders seemed to be much more preoccupied with chatting with the customers than making sure that everyone at the bar was getting good service. That's just fine if you are depending on regulars to bring in more customers to your establishment. But if you are really looking for new customers to spread the word about a place, I'd say that management really needs to keep an eye on how well the customers are being treated. They were not rude, by far, but they certainly were more like not fully present and participating in the experience. I'm fussy like that. I do not like to have to ask for service. I like to feel like I'm being treated well in a restaurant and I will tip very well for that. Food? Appetizers are enticing here. We had the duck tacos and calamari. Weird but true. The duck tacos were yummy. Meaty and very tasty. Portions were hearty enough to eat this for your dinner. The calamari though light and crispy, perfectly done but the sauce was boring. The tomato sauce was not really saucy enough or seasoned at all beyond your supermarket ragu. The mango sauce had way too much onion. I only knew it was mango because of the menu description. Aside from that it was really an orange pureed onion. Blah. The dessert menu was inviting so we tried the Oreo Cookie tower and the Granny's Apple Pie. Both were presented well but there were golden raisins in the oreo cookie tower and I'm not sure if that was on the menu but it seemed a bit odd to be biting into a smooth oreo cookie ice cream and then encountering...a raisin? Why for? Weird. The apple pie was delicious with a crumble and scoop of vanilla ice cream. Served warm it was perfect and memorable. I'd get it again. I would recommend this place for dates but reserve a table or maybe go early? I'm not sure what would be the best way to go. There is parking available which makes this a very pleasant experience. The bar is attractive and inviting but was really too crowded. Will have to try the entrees next time because they looked enticing.
(3)Ms. Standard s.
You can't possibly leave this place hungry! My family tends to go here for special occasions and we each have a different favorite. It can get a bit pricey but if you are concerned about that, you can dine early and take advantage of their 3 course specials which also offer good variety. I love the mozzarella and portobello mushroom appetizer, for mains all of their meat and fish dishes are great (I can't really comment on the pastas since I rarely eat pasta at places like this) and I usually finish with the chocolate molten cake. A tip for the ladies: I recommend wrapping half of your dinner to take home, so you can save some room for dessert! Overall, I think you'll be pleased.
(5)Eric B.
Love this place. You know why? Because everything is good here. They just know what they're doing with food. Great free garlic knots the moment you sit down.... fish tacos, meats, entree salads, soft-shells, whatever! Everything is delicious. Yes, it's tucked away in an odd little shopping center, and it can be hard to find if you don't know where it is. But the decor is great, the service is superb, and the food is just darned good. Always.
(5)Sophia F.
Went here for restaurant week. It was ok but nothing too special. First of all, the location shoulda gave a clue... It's in a shopping strip next to a Joyce Leslie? Thought we were getting a good deal on a high end meal but don't think you'd find that in a parking lot of shopping carts. The waiter was nice & dedicated. The rolls were warm & toasty but too oily, kinda like large garlic nuts. The appetizers were decent. My BF got the cheddar ale & liked it. The duck tacos were flavorful but a little on the salty side. The entrees - we both got hanger steak. It was fatty but tasty. My BF did not like the wilted spinach or the blue cheese mashed potatoes that was more blue cheese than potato. The molten lava cake had no molten chocolate in it... Was it just overcooked? My BF got a stomachache after the warm apple crisp... Overall, not that impressed & not sure we'd be coming back.
(2)Mani G.
My husband and I went here for restaurant week. The staff was really friendly . The clientele was a little turn off- seemed like everyone was 65+ , not that anything is wrong with that -it just killed the vibe lol. Food was good- fish tacos were great , pork chop was tasty and huge and the molten lava cake was missing the lava !! Presentation of food was excellent :) . It was good but not enough to go back .
(3)Michelle E.
When this restaurant first opened years ago, I thought, "Wow!" finally a decent restaurant on Long Island. After a recent dinner, I now think that it is resting on its laurels a bit, and really needs to update its menu and look to reflect a more modern aesthetic and whole food dining trends. Where does the meat and produce come from, is it organic? These are things todays diners deserve to know. Otherwise, it continues to serve good food in a pleasant atmosphere. Bring along mom and dad to a fix prixe special meal and feel like you are getting real value too.
(4)Ben L.
More like a 4.5. This really is the tale of two trips. I first came here like 10 years ago and I really wasn't wowed by my meal, I remember leaving unimpressed. Fast forward to last week and this might be one of the better meals I had all year. The restaurant is a little more upscale but definitely has a Cheesecake Factory feel to the decor, but the place has been around for a long time, so I forgive them. The crowd is much older, my friend and I were easily the youngest people there and we ain't no young chickens. The food is classic, very flavorful with a lot of developed flavors, this is a must visit especially after some shopping at Roosevelt Field or looking for a nice dinner. Also, the free garlic knots are good, don't fill up! The food: Burrata- Heirloom tomato salad/Prosciutto di Parma/balsamic-fig syrup. Where do I begin, first, this might be one of the best appetizers I had all year. Burrata and tomatoes are not a new combination, but this is by far the best version I ever had. The Burrata itself was amazing, so perfectly rich and creamy, the tomatoes were the best tomatoes I ever had and it seems crazy to me that I am raving about tomatoes. Every element of this dish was perfect. The prosciutto added a wonderful saltiness and the balsamic offered a wonderful sweetness. Then the few sprigs of basil was the cherry on top, this dish is an absolute must. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Red Wine Braised Short Ribs- Black truffle potato purée/rainbow carrots/glazed baby carrots. I really enjoyed this dish a lot, the short ribs were amazing, it was a nice hunk of meat and it had a lot of flavor. The short ribs were so tender and flavorful but the only criticism, it was a smidge dry. I don't normally say this but the veg was outstanding, the carrots were cooked to absolute perfection, potato purée had amazing flavor and the cipollini onions added a nice sweetness. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Herb Roasted Organic Chicken- Roasted Yukon Gold potatoes/spring vegetables jardiniere/tarragon pan juices. I thought the chicken had so much flavor, it was so moist and tender and then the skin was nice and crisp. It was good but kinda a safe dish. yelp.com/user_local_phot… House-Made Carrot Cake- Pecan-Cream cheese frosting. This is where they lost the half star, the desserts were just OK. The Carrot Cake had great texture, the cream cheese had nice flavor but was on the sweet side, it was interesting since you can actually taste sweet and salty at the same time, and I was not a fan of the raisins, the raisins didn't work for me. yelp.com/user_local_phot… Bourbon Pecan Pie- Belgium chocolate/creme chantilly. There were a ton of pecans and the flavor was nice but I thought the dessert was too sweet. The biggest issue I had with this dessert was the crust. The bottom was too soft, borderline mushy and the crust was weird, it had this weird chalky feel. But the whip cream was so perfect though, it was so light and airy and fantastic. yelp.com/user_local_phot…
(4)Mark M.
Always dependable but never overly impressive. They do have some creative seasonal drinks, I had the southern (something) that used muddled peach and cucumber vodka, that was served in a cute little ball jar with mint on top. Note that I said little, after the ice and cucumber slices the drink was less than 4 ounces at best. I do not mind paying for an artisan drink but not if I get less than 3 good swallows. My chicken was excellent as was my wedge salad to start, although had they used a thick sliced bacon on the wedge it would be greatly improved. So overall, good meal, nice atmosphere but just misses from being much better in my book.
(3)Marisa D.
Overall I think the West End Cafe deserves a 3. It wasn't bad but it wasn't superb. Maybe they are better at dinner? Who knows? I came for lunch. First things first... It's a good looking restaurant. The bar is long and the seating area is a good size. Second of all... it wasn't a bad lunch just as I said to my mom and Aunt "I definitely ordered the wrong thing" and man I was bummed fo' sho'. We ordered: The Soup of the Day: which was Roasted Cauliflower, Pistachio, and I believe Raisins. Honestly it wasn't that great. I expected some chunks of cauliflower and the soup was thick but had next to no flavor. We all sampled it cause we were starving. They brought over delicious Garlic Knots. Heavy but delicious. I could've skipped the soup and gone for the knots and been a happy camper. The water situation was nice at first but a little odd after the fact. I love when I get a bottle/carafe of water to pour into my own glass...really. But when we're out of water and the water is warm cause there was no ice then I got a small problem. Nothing major but just.. noted. My mom ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sandwich with Fries. The lump crab cake was delicious. Her complaints were that the bread too much and the crab cake was falling apart. Therefore it wasn't as advertised; a sandwich and ate the crab cake with the avocado on her plate. My aunt ordered the Butternut Squash Ravioli with Goat Cheese. Man I love almost anything with Goat Cheese. She had no complaints and her dish was delicious. I ordered the Chicken with Brie and Double Smoked Bacon Panini with Fries. I also asked for Garlic Aioli. I'm sorry. Here I am thinking that this is going to be awesome and it was blah. Fries were good dipped in the aioli. What can I say? European Republic has turned me into a fry dipping connoisseur. After our lunch we all decided we'd split the Molten Chocolate Cake. It came with a scoop of Dulce de Leche ice cream. It was your typical Molten Chocolate Cake. Would I come back? Maybe.
(3)Nicole M.
Still great service and classy setting, I just preferred what I ordered last time compared to this time. I didn't even realize until my 2nd visit, but the ceiling decor is beautiful!!! Drapery everywhere, adds to the classy vibe. We did the same thing where we got 1 prix-fixe menu for $30 plus a shrimp-lobster quesadilla to share between the two of us. I thought the shrimp-lobster quesadilla was okay (I'm not a huge fan of lobster but I definitely liked the cheesy shrimp with the tomatoes and mango that came on the side) and (as part of the prix-fixe menu) with the jumbo shrimp pasta I wasn't a fan of the sauce that was used. However, compared to last time, the burratta cheese was even better than it was originally (they added prosciutto under the cheese this time- YUMMM two faves in one). I also thought the molten cake was better this time with enough of the "ooze" that I was looking for during my last visit. The garlic knot balls they give in the bread basket are amazing- ask for extra :P Entree prices are on the higher end, so I think it's really worth it to do the prix-fixe menu to get more bang for your buck - we left superrrr full.
(4)Jane K.
The food at West End Cafe is fantastic and beautifully presented. This intimate restaurant is tastefully decorated and offers a prix fixe menu which is excellent! They also do a dynamite job for private parties! I've been here many times for different occasions, meals and menus. Never a disappointing meal. The short ribs, shrimp and fusilli, goat cheese ravioli, duck tacos all are delicious. There's plenty of free parking, wait service is excellent unless they are understaffed (happened once and everyone is given one free pass)..drinks are tasty, desserts are wonderful if you have a sweet tooth. If you ever come here and are disappointed, give it another try. It really is a well run establishment with an excellent menu that is well prepared.
(5)Robyn C.
We dined at the West End Cafe for lunch on a Saturday. I was pretty impressed with how the outside of the restaurant looked- it was lit well by Christmas lights and really stood out amongst the other storefronts in the shopping mall it's located in. Inside ambiance was even more beautiful. An upscale cafe, perfectly lit and well decorated. The restaurant was steadily busy while we were there. I had the lunch Rigatoni Alla Vodka with shrimp. The rigatoni was cooked perfectly..it was slightly al dente and so wonderfully chewy. Yum! The sauce was just right- not too creamy or heavy but definitely hearty, just what I was looking for on a cold snowy day. My fiancé had their burger with three toppings- mushrooms, onions and cheese with a side of sweet potato fries. Although I did not sneak a bite, it looked wonderful. Our aunt had the steak quesadilla which was one of the lunch specials. I also didn't taste this dish but I think the fact that she finished the entire entree is proof enough that it was tasty. The menu was varied and had many options. The prices ranged between $9 and $20. The only thing that wasn't perfect was that our server never came to check on us to see how our food was but everything else was pretty perfect. A total gem!
(5)Amador A.
I have been coming to the shopping center where West End Cafe is located for years and never new about this place. Tucked away in a corner its quite a surprise how many people come here. After realizing how good their service and food is, now I know whey people come. Eats: - Jumbo lump crab cakes was a decent size and delecious - Rare Ahi tuna with cold soba noodles was just to die for. The tuna was prefectly cooked and the noodles paired well with it. - Balsamic glazed short ribs are juicy to the bone and delecious as well Likes: - Homey atmosphere - Bar has a big selection of wine and they also carry craft beer - Service is good - Portions are huge - House bread is really good Dislikes: - Gets a bit loud but hey it gets busy here so I guess what can you expect Overally I am glad to have stopped in here. Everything was just enjoyable and I cant wait to come again
(4)Nicky M.
Small place tucked away in a huge lot. Food was great. Lamb, Steak & Salmon were tender and flavorful. Staff was friendly.
(4)Maura P.
OK menu alert!!!!! Just added Heirloom Tomato Tart - incredible no make that a GREAT....then there is the Duck Duo - duck breast and a leg ......a WOW!!!! If you like/love White wine - think Pino Grigio style be sure and taste then drink the white for the Fess Parker Vineyard!!!! Great for a hot summer night.....
(5)Sybil R.
I just had dinner with my coworkers here, and I'm officially a believer. The restaurant is located in a corner of a shopping center and I honestly haven't had an inclination to try the food there because of that. There's plenty of parking, which is a great advantage. The decor is very laidback, the wooden framed ceiling and draping is beautiful. My coworkers and I were throwing a baby shower, so they already had a little corner set up for us by the window, which was nice. We all had the price-fixed twilight menu. For starters, they served a variety of bread, from poppy seed rolls to my amazing garlic bread roll. I chose the meatballs with grilled sourdough bread as an appetizer. The meatballs were amazing and the sauce they came in was one of the best I've had. However, the accompanying sourdough bread was hard as a rock. I couldn't even taste the flavor. For my main course, I had a romano crusted chicken filet, which was served with fettucine and a variety of herbs. It was one of the best chicken dishes I've ever had.It was seasoned perfectly and juicy. It took all of my control to resist scarfing it all down, because I had to save room for dessert. I had the creme brulee for dessert, which was ok. I'm not a fan of sweets, so this was a great compromise compared to the other options, which included chocolate cake, pecan pie, peach cobbler and ice cream. My friend had the sorbet, which she said was just ok. The service was a little slow, but the waiter and busboys were great, and I understand that it can be hard to have a table of 15 during the busy Friday night rush.. We did not feel rushed, even though we stayed a little past the allotted time and it was dinner time and it was busy. Drinks are ok; they have a full bar but a really sparse beer collection. Everyone seemed happy with their food. I can't wait to drag the bf back here to try the other dishes!
(4)Dave G.
We've been coming here for years but it's time to move on as the quality has gone down hill. Cleanliness. We were seated next to the wall towards the front window. There was food debris stuck on the wall about shoulder height and there was salt spread about on the flat surface just above that. We noticed it after the bread had already come so it would've been a hassle to change tables. But the point is that patrons shouldn't have to change tables because of the yuck factor. The food. My girlfriend ordered the French onion soup as an appetizer. It was flavorless and did not have the deep brown color it formerly had. Completely lackluster. Beat salad. She took two bites and left it. The roasted beets tasted like they were boiled, with no hint of a charred flavor and they were soggy. 1 diet coke $3.50. We know the West End isn't a bargain basement restaurant but $3.50 for a Coke? No. I had the WEC Burger. I ordered it medium and it came almost rare but it was still very good and their french fries are excellent. Upon removing my girlfriend's untouched plate of food the waitress didn't express the slightest interest in why she didn't eat it. Not that we were expecting anything but you would think there'd be some curiosity about why a patron simply walked away from a $12 lunch entrée, barely touching it.
(2)Andrew G.
West End Cafe is an awesome little restaurant in Carle Place. Their food is absolutely delicious vs the prices. I went with the duck tacos. OMG. It was phenomenal. I can't wait to go back and try some of their other dishes. West End is a hidden gem.
(4)Payton M.
I hate giving bad reviews, but seems like they are doing well enough that this will not affect them too negatively. That being said, my husband and I wanted to try more local places since we moved from Queens. We used to frequent a lot of restaurants in the city. Some background, some of our favorite places are Jean George, Eleven Madison Park, NoMad, Babbo, our favorite Queens places were Salt and fat, M.Wells Dinette and steakhouse, Danny Brown, and a few others that do very well there. We love all kinds of food and usually go places with low expectations so that (hopefully we are blown away). This was not the case here. After reading all of the countless 5 star reviews we were sold... and ripped off. The bill was around $125.. and we didn't enjoy a single thing... The Caesar salad was awful! I mean I've made better at home, just throwing some lettuce, croutons and salad dressing together. Theirs was flavorless, my husband had 2 stale grocery store croutons, and hardened (not freshly shaved) romano I think.. it was so obvious it was pre-shaved and kept that the cheese had lost all its flavor. So salad horrible. I got the tuna tartare... ugh so gross! tasted some what funky, mushy and overly soy sauced... but still managing to lack any flavor. Even after I got over the weird (not freshly cut) melded, the taste was just so off! I couldn't eat more then 2 bites... we both thought it was the worst tuna tartare we ever had. Didn't help that was a not cold enough, like it had been kept out for a bit. Terrible! Entrees. I got the lamb, he got the hangar steak. The steak came with overly al dente mac and cheese that somehow did not have enough cheese... the steak was so chewy, just not tender. I don't know if the cut was a fat stringy one or the way it was cooked had something to do with it. I do know that I don't cook steak that often and mine comes out a heck of a lot more edible then that was. It was also served with a glob of steamed spinach. The lamb, the only sort of shining light to this mess of a dinner. It was cooked to perfection! lucky? don't know, which only made the flavorless, bland, un seasoned taste that much more depressing. Do they have something against salt and peppering their meat before cooking? I mean it is the easiest way to add a punch of flavor, especially when they are being cooked so simply. Bottomline, not a place we would ever return to. However the staff was personable, and they kept our water glasses full. This along with cooking my unfortunate lamb to perfection, I felt it deserved at least 2 stars. The ambiance and decor are traditional, small town fancy, the clientele is of a greater age group. perhaps they are appealing to the bland taste buds and low sodium appetites. Note;... After we left we went to Spuntino, for one or two of their small bites... and the flavor in those two small dishes, was abundantly better then the entire meal we had here.
(2)Joseph T.
I came here for lunch which is probably not the optimal time to patron West End Cafe. It's definitely more of an evening restaurant for a modern dinner and some cocktails. When I have stopped by during the evening a sizeable waitlist had accumulated, so I'd recommend placing a reservation during prime operating dining hours over the weekend. The menu has changed since I last dined here which demonstrates the modern approach of the restaurant but leaves me unable to offer a substantial recommendation.
(4)Tom C.
So I went there for a company dinner with 15 people. When you walk in, it's a very cozy looking place. It definitely looks like a place to bring a date or your wife to for a nice dinner. Maybe it was the group size, but the 3 course prix fix dinner was definitely one of the slower services I've ever experienced. The appetizers didn't come out until almost 30 minutes after we ordered them, and that's after a 20-30 minute wait just to get the order taken. The entree was another 30 minute wait as was the dessert. The somewhat unique duck taco was only 2 bites. While it tasted good, it wasn't so memorable that I would think about it after the meal. The steak was cook to the correct temp, was flavorful and tender. Honestly, if it weren't for that steak, I think I would have rated West End one star lower. The molten chocolate cake was actually one of the worst I've had. There was no chocolate lava and the cake itself was extremely dry. Overall, while the restaurant looks nice, I don't think they can handle large groups. I'll come back when it's a date night and see how they fare.
(3)Michelle A.
Unexpected, cozy restaurant with a very relaxing, pleasant atmosphere. We came here for lunch and were very happy with the service and meal. Started with the soup of the day, Butternut Squash with Chantilly Cream. It was good, but had a simple flavor with a nice hint of nutmeg. The Chicken Quesadilla was excellent with a fresh, flavorful salsa accompaniment. My husband had the special fish tacos which were overstuffed with tasty, fresh fillings and accompanied with chive sour cream, salsa and guacamole. They were tasty, but he would have preferred the fish grilled rather than breaded and fried. We will definitely return to try other menu items which also sound amazing.
(4)Abby F.
Had lunch here day before Xmas - which would account for very few people. Overall good what I liked: Comfortable and classy atmosphere inside. Menu with variety I had the duck wrap - very tasty. Others enjoyed their selections. Nice beer and wine menu. Allowed me to substitute a small salad on side instead of starchy food. Needs improvement - service staff not attentive re water refills - two of us were drinking only water and they knew that.
(4)Deb R.
Went there for a dinner in honor of a dear friend for her birthday. 6 ladies, we're foodies, and since it's Long Island Restaurant Week, I wasn't expecting too much. I WAS BLOWN AWAY! Service was excellent. Don't be distracted by the strip mall - don't be such a snob that an excellent meal will be harmed by the location. The strip mall means no parking problems! And then there's the food - so good! I had duck tacos (excellent, tasty, perfect), hanger steak (cooked just like I requested, mashed potatoes delicious, spinach perfect) and for dessert bourbon pecan pie (really good!) I've eaten in the finest restaurants, and I have to admit the folks who run this place know what they're doing. I would go back any time. I even had a wonderful glass of chardonnay. Congratulations West End Cafe. You're doing something very right!
(4)Joanna S.
This review is solely for service. Last night, I brought my parents for dinner at one of my favorite spots for over 10 years now. We are just in time for the twilight (prefix) menu. Long story short, my father has a pepper allergy, which yes, is annoying as most foods contain pepper. BUT usually is happily accommodated by not using it. Every dish he ordered, the waitress said the chef could not remove it. Only thing he could eat was the salmon of shell steak (which was a $5 surcharge). I suggest removing the $5 surcharge since the chef was not able to accommodate his allergy needs on ANY of the dishes he wanted. The server seemed willing and ready but went to check with her manager. Manager comes over and says "Sorry, but can't take the surcharges off, he can either have the steak or Salmon" in a dismissive tone. Being that I've worked in hospitality in NYC, I ask "as a courtesy since you weren't able to accommodate your customer?" answer was still no. I am truly appalled by the lack of customer service by this manager (with short brown hair). Knowing I am a customer for years now, honestly, I would easily give you $5 dollars. But the principal of the fact that she was not able to accommodate ONE persons need based on an allergy, is disgusting. There was no sense of sympathy and/or initiative to resolve the problem. Working in hospitality I've seen these kinds of problems arise, among others in the business, our value is always on the customer. Our goal is always to provide an experience and/or damage control that can impress them enough to come back and spread the word. NOT LOOSE ALL VALUE FOR THEM OVER $5 dollars! I don't know if I could go back. Which is truly sad, as I have a huge family that has been supporting this business for years. It seems we are just numbers and revenue.
(1)Michelle Y.
I called on Monday for (same week) Friday reservations for a relatively large group. The reservationist was super accommodating even though I kept calling back and changing the time. It's always nice when people are understanding and patient. 6 of us arrived for our 8pm reservation and we were promptly seated. We were served an assortment of breads (all very filling, but none particularly unique). For the table, we ordered the Tuna Sashimi Pizza (Green onion pancake/avocado/tomatoes/sweet peppers/sriracha sauce) and the fried calamari with roasted garlic aioli and spicy tomato sauce. The pizza was pretty good and the calamari I enjoyed thoroughly (particularly the aioli). As my entrée, I had the shrimp and lobster meat linguine. The shrimp were too hard (either undercooked or overcooked), there was barely any lobster meat, the sauce was extremely watery, and the dish overall lacked flavor. There was also an overbearing taste of fennel in the dish. Fennel is one of the few things I do not like at all. Granted, this is a personal taste, but I think it is prominent enough in the dish to list in the ingredients. I tried some other dishes such as the ribs which were completely dry and tough. My friend had also ordered a chicken dish which basically turned out to be a salad with chicken. She had also ordered a side salad...since the waiter should know the dishes, I would have expected him to at least mention that she would be basically ordering 2 salads. I can't even say just my dish was off. Everything seemed to be subpar. We were too disappointed to even bother trying dessert. With all the great reviews, I was really expecting a fabulous meal but my expectations were too high, I guess.
(2)Tracy E.
The space is gorgeous, however, when I dined here with a friend, we found ourselves to be the youngest patrons there by a couple decades. For a Thursday evening during prime happy-hour hours, we were hoping to see a younger crowd of 20-30 somethings, but that wasn't the case. This really isn't a big problem but it's something to consider if you want to spend a chunk of your time at the bar. The food is great. We really appreciated their pre-fix menu which offered smaller portions of their best sellers for $31.95. It included an appetizer, a main dish, and dessert. Their beet and goat salad was tasty though pretty standard, however my friend ordered their duck tacos and absolutely loved it. Their squash and goat cheese ravioli is phenomenal! It's a perfect balance of rich, hearty, and sweet for an enjoyable winter meal. I wish I could say that their desserts were impressive. They were pretty standard. I was hoping that they'd take a bolder approach to the classics, but they didn't.
(4)James R.
Only 3 stars because of the service. Waiter was good, food not worth the trip or a return visit. in a strip mall. sad because the place inside in nice, too bad the food wasnt
(2)NycSkyline H.
This place is amaziing it is a hidden gem just across form the Roosevelt Field Mall and only locals really knkow about it. Anything you try is sure to amaze form a simple burger that is devine to their delicately arranegd entrees they are all superb. I never had anythign there that I did not like to the fullest. Lillie the bartender is amazing and the chips they serve up are hand cut and browned to perfection. Whenever there is a wait I just eat at the bar and find that to be the best route faster service and easier access to drinks. I recommend this hotspot with the highest possible regards!!!
(5)Robert P.
Delicious! Beautiful place with exciting decor. Good service. Great food. Every dish was beautiful to look at and tasted even better. I would recommend anyone to come eat here.
(5)Lance K.
Wow sitting here now enjoying the afterglow of a delicious meal. Everything was cooked and prepared to perfection. Excellent service the wait was minimal. Try the artichoke flatbread and goat cheese salad. Amazing. Will be coming back. Nice ambiance.
(5)Restaurant G.
I have heard about this place for countless years and finally made it in. You hear about location, location, location when you open a restaurant. Well this is not it. This is about a great dining experience from a superb staff member to incredible food. Located in the back corner of a dead strip mall by the train you would expect this place to close immediately but their reputation has enabled them to stay open for 24 years. After eating here I can see why. I look forward to coming again soon.
(4)Cuppy E.
My fiancé and I had an early dinner at West End Cafe last night and decided to order from the twilight menu. This was our first time dining here. I ordered the Asian crispy duck taco as an appetizer. It was ok. It was served in two mini taco shells. I found the BBQ sauce to be a tad too sweet but the napa slaw was delicious. As an entree, I ordered the Butternut squash and goat cheese ravioli. The walnuts and raisins imparted a great flavor to this dish. For dessert, I went with the Creme brûlée. I found it to be standard and I wouldn't order it again. They have a great looking cocktail menu. I ordered the Pomegranate lemon drop martini. It was supposed to have a sugar rim but it tasted more like cinnamon. It was quite tasty. My fiancé chose the chilled seafood salad. I didn't taste it but he stated that the dressing was too "lemony." I tasted his organic chicken and it was very good and was seasoned and roasted to perfection. He enjoyed it. Overall, this a good place for a date night or a girls' night out. The service was ok and the restaurant has a nice decor and perfect lighting. The music that was blaring at the end of the meal was a bit unnecessary but it didn't detract from the meal as a whole. I'm actually looking forward to trying a few items on the menu. We will return.
(4)Adam K.
Great menu and delicious food, nice ambience, prices are reasonable. You'd never know that sitting in the back of a somewhat deserted strip mall was this hidden gem unless someone tells you "you have to try this place". Thankfully someone told us that! Very crowded at 8pm on a Sat night however our reservations were perfectly honoured and we sat at 8 in a quiet corner in the back. The restaurant was packed and because its not a huge restaurant, it can get kind of loud so we were lucky to secure this somewhat secluded table. A quick bread basked with delicious pesto rolls and the waitress was there within seconds. She was a wonderfully attentive waitress and I wish I had her name to share. All I know is she was half Puerto Rican and half Italian and had a tattoo on both arms and had a great friendly personality! Our apps were amazing and included tuna sashimi pizza, duck tacos (my absolute favourite dish of the night) and a delicious refreshing salad with beets, pears, almonds and all good greens. Entrees included a braised lamb shank (my dish and it was tender and full of flavour), huge scallops, venison and striped bass. All served with great sides like squash, mashed potatoes and more. All of we're raving about our entrees and were sufficiently stuffed. We squeezed in an amazing piece of piece of pecan pie and some coffee! I walked away with the totally satiated feeling of great service, great food and can not wait till we eat there again (next week)!
(5)Jenna W.
Went there last night for a great Valentine's Day dinner. Service was great and food was delicious. Wine was great and desserts were perfect! Highly recommended!
(5)Risa S.
Great food! Excellent menu, lots of choices. I've enjoyed every meal I've had at this restaurant. You won't be disappointed. Very reasonable prix fix too with so many items in this menu. Highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)David M.
Stopped into this modern-looking bistro for a business lunch. It appeared pretty busy during my visit and since I was alone, I took a seat at the bar to review the lunch choices. I was a bit surprised at the relatively high prices, but maybe its good I thought. Well, I was right. This place had really tasty food. I was very close to giving this a five-star, but three things irked me. First, I ordered chicken quesadillas with mango salsa, and sweet potato fries. The salsa should have been put in a separate bowl as the juices from the salsa rolled all over my dish causing my quesadillas to be crunchy on top, but soggy and wet below. Not a good combination. Especially when your trying to enjoy the food. Second, Regular customers got preferential and faster treatment. So many places do this it really bothers me. I saw people come in long after me and get their food way before me. Third, The service was on the slow side for lunch. I think it was obvious from my attire I was on a business lunch and needed to be in and out within about forty five minutes to an hour at the most, however It took that long just to get the food in front of me. To get me to return at lunchtime this needs to be addressed. I would definitely return to the West End Cafe for dinner to see what they have. The food was tasty, but somewhat pricey. They also need to address some of the issues I have raised.
(4)Frank M.
I was looking forward to eating here - seems to cater to an older crowd - food quality relative to what you pay wasn't great in my opinion - seems more focused on portion size - service was fine - the place was OK but just not my thing and I likely wouldnt go again but I can see why certain segments would enjoy.
(2)Kristen T.
Love this place and was my spot with my husband for many years. I love all the specials and the food is always very consistent and delicious and the manager always managed to find us a table even in the busiest nights
(4)Sharon A.
We have dined at the West End Café several times in the past and had not been back for quite a while, so we were looking forward to going there for a celebratory birthday dinner. We were taken right on time for our 8:00PM reservation. We placed our order which included a bottle of wine, appetizers, and entrees. Within 10 minutes, our bottle of wine was brought to the table, which was great. About 5 minutes later our appetizers were brought over. My daughter had about 1/3 of her salad left on her plate, but as soon as she put her fork down, the busboy came over to ask if she was finished. She said we were still eating and he left. Not even 10 minutes later, as soon as all the forks were on the table, our plates were cleared away. Within another 10 minutes our entrees were brought out to us. When the waitress asked how everything was, I said the food is okay, but that it was brought out much too quickly. Her response was that we should have told her that we did not want the entrees right away. Then when the hostess/manager (?) came over to see how our dinner was, I expressed the same sentiment. We were told that, that's how they serve...'the entrée is brought out about 10 minutes after the salads/appetizers are cleared away'. So we were seated at 8:00PM and finished by 9:05PM. If we wanted 'fast food' rather than a nice meal on a Friday night we would have gone out to the local pizzeria. In addition to eating very mediocre food, the 'dining experience' was horrendous and we will never go back.
(1)Mariya S.
Came here about a month ago with some friends. My coworker suggested it. Very disappointed! The menu is very small and has some odd flavored choices on it. The app we got was plantain chips and guacamole, which was far from great. I think a best word for it is "adequate", which is a strange word to use to describe food. I got seared tuna and noodles salad. It was absolutely horrible, impossible to eat. I usually get something similar at our fav restaurant. Here the tuna was not sushi grade and the veggie mixed in with noodles tasted as it they were marinated (like pickles). I could not eat more than a few bites. My friend got chicken which was nothing special for the price. The service was also lacking as waiter took 20 min to come to our table. Never going back there again. There are much better restaurants around the area to spend your money at.
(2)Marty F.
Consistently delicious ! After several dining experiences I can conclude that the West End Cafe is well worth the trip. Great food, service atmosphere !!
(5)Jojo D.
Came here for lunch and the food was just ok & the service was lackluster. The waiter while he did know everything about the menu had a bad attitude. Strange. The food was decent and I was shocked because a friend of mine raved about this and place. I would give it one more chance for dinner however.
(3)Visna H.
Perfection at its finest. Tuna Tartar Duck Tacos Short Rib Organic Roasted Chicken ...Pecan Pie
(5)Bryant O.
My friend and I had a reservation. We received our drinks and the waiter was lingering at our table. He was rushing us to order because he needed to put the order in ASAP because it was a busy night and he needed our table. I was appalled as were the people at the neighboring tables. The manager witnessed this and came over and said he didn't mean to sound as rude as he did. I said a little too late... Actually a lot to too late. She said they were very busy that night and overbooked with reservations. That's THEIR problem, not mine. No apology. That being said... The food wasn't anything to write home about. The soup of the day that the waiter recommended tasted like it came out of a box from a supermarket. There was no remorse for the rude service. Not even a comp of the first round of Drinks. The service was disgraceful. I will NEVER return to WEC.
(1)Thomas G.
If you liked it the last time you were here then you will like it the next time. One of the most Rock Solid restaurants around. Food and Service always Very Good. I like it for lunch...
(4)Kate Y.
This place is my go-to restaurant for cocktails (quality cocktails in LI are so hard to find - sad) and "fancy" food in this neighborhood. Don't be fooled by the fact that it's located inside a shopping complex! My top favorites: I love their White Grape martini (has frozen grapes in it!) and their Perfect Pear martini is refreshing. I also highly recommend the grilled flatbread with arugula and goat cheese; the portions are huge - definitely made to share. Go with a friend and munch on complimentary, made in house potato salad and enjoy a good drink.
(4)Mark B.
Had a very good meal here. The service was average but the hostess was great in getting me seated fast. The food really was enjoyable. I had the flatbread with figs and bleu cheese. I also had the salmon and ratatouille. Both were excellent. It is a popular place for a reason. Sometimes food and atmosphere trump location!
(4)Paula Jean K.
Read about this place on Yelp. Thought about giving it a try. Didn't have reservations here or anywhere else on a Saturday night so we just stopped by for a peek. The dining room was full with a 30 minute wait so we moved ourselves to the bar area. Wierd. Very Very Wierd. I am so surprised that not one single review remarks that the waitstaff must go thru the entire bar area to get to the dining room. And it's a tight squeeze. "Excuse me! Pardon me! Behind!! Don't Move! Be Carefull! " Is this the pink elephant in the room? Literally? Yikes! Thank goodness we got seated soon because I was very uncomfortable. We were also happily surprised to see a couple of bartenders that we used to know from long ago. They made us feel right at home. Food was very good. Service was excellent. It was A-OK. But, it sure was tight.
(3)Edward W.
Very disappointing. My wife and I like to try different restaurants and do a fair amount of research before making a reservation. We arrived at 6:05 with a 6:00 reservation and were promptly seated. Although we were given water by a busboy immediately, we we were not greeted by nor given any attention wait staff. Ao, after being ignored for 25 minutes we simply walked out and went home to our favorite local restaurant. A very disappointing experience given the generally positive reviews.
(1)Anthony F.
I have been coming here for years. The food is ALWAYS good and they will tailor to your liking. The wait staff is very attentive and the bar makes quality drinks. I highly recommend this restaurant for nice evening out. It is very crowded but you are never rushed out to make way for another customer. You can really enjoy your meal. The location is kind of off. It's in the corner of a strip mall but don't let that change your mind about going.
(5)Diana Q.
I went here for a friend's baby shower. The food was excellent, the waiters were on top of their game and the coffee was great too. They helped to make my friend's baby shower awesome, fun and memorable.
(5)John S.
This is how a restaurant on Long Island should be ran. Walked in on a Sunday night with two other people. Every table was full, and instead of the Hostess saying get lost you should have made a reservation. She said with a smile that we would be happy to sit you at the bar with the full menu available. I had the seafood salad, and the swordfish with risotto cake. Owners should take a note from this place on how to train your staff and cook the basics well.
(5)Jean T.
I came here tonight for my first time. I been wanting to come here for a few years now. I got the pear martini. It was delish. not too sweet and not too strong. I got two appetizers as my meal. the Sashami pizza it was sooooo good. and the portobello mozzarella that was delicious as well. I want to come back and try the duck tacos and the goat cheese ravioli. My date got the skirt steak and said it was amazing. The portions are good size for your money. The place is very cute and small. I can't wait to come back.
(5)Amy K.
One of my favorite restaurants on Long Island. It's my go-to place for special occasions. I have never had a bad meal here. The waitstaff here is exceptional. They are extremely friendly, accommodating and very knowledgable about the food, wine and drinks. They make great recommendations. Recently had the yummy duck tacos and scallops. I have suggested this restaurant to many others who all reported back that they loved it. Can be noisy and crowded (you must make a reservation), but we usually request a table in the back which is quieter.
(5)Lindsay S.
Went here on a weekday night, the place was fairly empty but packed by the time we left at around 8. Drinks and food were all around great, even the bread basket was quality. Had the tuna tartare pizza to start which was well portioned and you could really taste the tuna. For my entree I had the salmon. The skin was perfectly crisped and the fish itself was super buttery not dry at all. There were a lot of veggies on the plate which I love. Tried my friend's scallops which were also quite good. Service was maybe a little slow but since I was catching up with a friend I didn't mind. Would go back again but is a little pricey so come for a nice dinner date!
(4)Mike S.
Finally returned to this place and wondered why I stayed away for so long. Made a late reservation for Saturday night and the place was hopping so we sat at the bar and ordered some drinks. I must say, the bartenders know how to make a good drink. I ordered a Negroni. The bartender asked my preference of gin and he proceeded to make a drink that was heavy on the gin - which is different then the 1:1:1 ratio I'm used to but I must say I liked way better. Table was ready and we ordered the mussels for an appetizer which I enjoy in the summer time. Nice, light, briney, tomatoey, and nicely flavored. Delicious. I ordered a new addition to their draft beer menu - a rye beer which I wasn't sure I would like so the waiter brought me a sample. Fantastic! I ordered one. For our mains my wife ordered an another new edition - a lobster cobb salad which was out of this world. Upon a generous mound of salad that contained nice size chunks of lobster layed a perfectly cooked split lobster tail! Fantastic! I ordered the Scallops that were seared and seasoned to perfection which came laying on top of snow pea ravolis. For dessert with finished with the mint chocolate chip parfait that we split. Everything was absolutely on point! The service and atmosphere is also excellent - aside from the location in strip mall that others have mentioned. You walk in and you are transported from its common location. Even being so busy I didnt feel rushed or neglected. The waiter keep the whole meal flowing nicely. I must say I am looking forward to going back, which won't be so long this time!
(5)Anthony V.
Excellent hidden spot. Not many people know about this place when I tell them about it, but what a find. Came here with my girlfriend for our anniversary and we were not disappointed. Really can not say a bad thing about our experience. The waitress was excellent as well. She actually made me want to be a waiter again.
(5)Steven R.
Came for lunch a few days ago.....had heard great things about the place. very disappointing to say the least. Served rock hard doughy rolls. Caesar was salty, very cheesy, didn't taste too much anchovy. Friend had shrimp quesadillia, was greasy! hardly any shrimp, onions still had some of their peel on it. I had fish tacos, total joke. Cabbage slaw was already turning brown, said it was fluke, but I highly doubt it, maybe monkfish.....fluke isn't usually thick and in rectangular shape. Guacamole that came with it was salty and lacked any pop. Fish wasn't seasoned. Friend had sweet potato fries and the aioli had that "hasn't been covered skin like substance on the top", kinda like pudding . Also found a piece of a regular fry in the ailoi. Really not good at all, very sloppy and no pop or pizzaz with any of the food....all very one note
(1)Derek D.
Wow, so glad I came across this place as it may be my new favorite joint. The tuna sashimi pizza is by far the best I have ever had... writing this I may just have to go back tonight!!
(4)Dan H.
While the food and service is usually good, today not so much. I ordered the lunch special- shrimp with summer vegetable quesadilla. It was extremely oily and barely any shrimp or vegetables, just cheese.... dissappoiting.
(3)Jeff L.
One of my favorite places to eat on LI. I could have the tuna shashimi pizza every day of the week and be perfectly happy. Amazing food, friendly staff, great decor and moderate price. A must-go!
(5)Vincent D.
This is a surprising little restaurant located near Nassau County's shopping hub at Roosevelt FIeld. We had the scallops and the chop. Very excellent
(5)Dick G.
Re-visited West End Cafe with friends after a 6 month hiatus and found it still looked the same and was as crowded as ever on a Saturday night around 9pm. Made Open Table reservation which is usually beneficial. We enjoy the energy of the room and the lack of small kids making a raukus. Firstly we missed the Duck Tacos which were taken off the menu. They were so good I have had them as an entre! Replaced with lackluster Duck Sliders...Two people had seafood dishes on risotto. Scallops and Shrimp were great but the risotto was over cooked, mushy and starchy...should have sent it back but what the hell... Ordered the Rack of Lamb, looked marvelous and served as requested, but had no taste to speak of even though had herb crust. Service was fantastic and I will recommend the restaurant but am in hopes that the kitchen reconsider the tacos and pay attention to details such as the risotto and lamb. I hesitate recommending West End until I return and am satisfied with the food...its embarrasing telling people its great and then they go and report it was less than acceptable. Please bring the JU JU back to West End Cafe!!!!
(4)Nathan H.
This is a great place that's kinda hidden. Good selection of scotches, and wine. The food is really upscale. I didn't eat but my friend got the lamb chops which looked awesome. The bar staff is great too.
(5)Kat L.
Everyone I've talked to has raved about the West End Cafe. We went there for my sister's birthday and had a great time. The entrees were fantastic and the portion sizes were sufficient for the pricing. I love the creativity of the dishes - pecan crusted tilapia with mango relish, lobster, shrimp and scallop ravioli, Asian duck tacos, gnocchi with lamb ragu. I had the special of Black Stripped Sea Bass over leeks, fennel, baby artichokes and fingerling potatoes - phenomenal. The decor is akin to that of a Manhattan restaurant, and the size is similar too (it has about 20 or so tables). Only criticisms would be location (canNOT see it from the street, takes a lot of driving around in a busy area that is not kind to slow drivers!), uncreative desserts (do we really need another place on Long Island that serves tiramisu, cheesecake and creme brulee?) and their guacamole was not as advertised (I was expecting a bowl of guacamole, the dish's starring ingredient in the title, and was presented with three little squares with sour cream, salsa and guac inside them. They should call it chips and dip instead!). Could also use some more savory cocktails, I thought I was looking at the dessert menu when trying to choose a drink! I would recommend going and tasting their more innovative dishes - leave familiar appetites at the door!
(4)Fran R.
One of my husband's friends gave us a gift certificate for this restaurant and what a find. We've been going there now for the last two years for times when we want to celebrate and occasion or just want to have a really nice dinner. The ambience is wonderful and the food is even better. Waitstaff and hostess is always very friendly and helpful. Would recommend this restaurant as one of the hidden gems on Long Island. Suggest calling for a reservation and on a Saturday night, wise to call a week ahead if you want to get in at a certain desired time. Their fig goatcheese flatbread is yummy as well as the Tuna Sashimi Pizza. Shortribs and spaghettini is a favorite as well as the rack of lamb. Fish is fresh and delicious - never disappointed. Have a good drink/beer/wine selection as well.
(5)C. M.
The maitre d' there on Saturday (10/20 dinnertime, black hair in ponytail) was not only curt and rude to my guests when we arrived, but also made a table of senior citizens sitting near us relocate to another table (of the same size) across the restaurant. Witnessing her treat us and the other guests so poorly was a very unpleasant way to start the evening. (The food was otherwise great, but restaurants are in the service industry.) I'll consider restoring the five-star rating if the next time I return, this maitre d' lost her attitude or job.
(2)Joan R.
Ambiance: A+ Amidst a drab and shady strip mall, the West End Cafe is a little oasis of goodness. The yellow canopy lined with soft twinkly lights at the restaurant's front is the silver lining to this questionable area. I was a little skeptical of this place when my bf brought me there for a Valentine's Day dinner, even though I was forewarned about it's location but I was pleasantly surprise. There were plenty of parking space which is a plus. The interior is very nice, lovely, and elegant. It's bigger than your typical restaurant in the city and I think it's a good side. There's a small bar near the entrance and when we went there for V-Day it was packed. Make reservations for dinner. Service: A+ The service was excellent. Our server was very attentive and sweet. She made us feel welcomed and she was very friendly. My glass of water was never empty, they kept on filling it up, which of course is great. Food: A+ The food was great. We had a special menu for V-Day and I don't believe the dishes are available in the regular menu; but if the dishes were so well executed on such a busy night than I'm sure it'll be as good on regular nights. Everything was fresh, flavorful, tasty, and well made. High quality food. Worth the price. Their specialty cocktails were yummy and strong. Overall, it was a great dining experience.
(5)Kelly F.
Overall, I was really really disappointed. I am here on work and saw the great ratings so I thought I would give it a try. They even had a great 3 course "twilight menu" for $30.95. I ordered the crab stack, short ribs and peach tart. The crab stack had little crab and too much overly sweet mango sauce. The short rib was dry and the fava beans didn't mesh well for me at all. The peach tart had very little peach and was basically just crust and streusel.
(2)Craig H.
Excellent restaurant! The menu is diverse and filled with something for everyone's palate. What really made this meal enjoyable, excellent fare aside, was the incredible staff. The bar tenders and wait staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The Boat Scallops and homemade ravioli was superb, as was the ahi tuna and avocado tartar.
(5)Cat C.
West End Cafe was good, I would definitely go back. The butternut squash soup was great (thought I didn't see any cinnamon dusting like they said there'd be) and the tuna sashimi pizza was AMAZING, I love it. I would go back again just for that. My friend's meals weren't as great, but they were still good. They felt the prices were too high for what they got. Their lamb and pork were tasty but a little blah and the side dishes were not very good. Our waitress was really sweet, we liked her, but the bussers were a little strange (tilting our plates down in front of us, asking if we were done when we were mid bite!). Everyone was polite though so no major complaints. Beer sampler was nice and I agree with someone else who said the bread wasn't that great.
(3)Jay R.
Really big fan. I grew up in Long Island and it feels like "home" to go eat there and rub elbows with the locals. I've been there twice; best onion soup on the planet, great bread assortment, generous portions. Desserts are hit-or-miss, but by that point you're probably too full anyway.
(5)PJ S.
Second visit after our friends introduced us to WEC last year. (We do not live nearby, so we do not have a chance to come often.) We had a group of seven and stopped by without a reservation on a Saturday night. Plenty of cars in the lot and tables full. That said, after ten minutes at the bar and a great micro-brew suggested by the bartender we were seated. Everyone enjoyed their meal and the ambiance. Service was a little slow, but at the peak time on a Saturday, acceptable. If you are in the vicinity, say headed back to NYC and near the Meadowbrook/Northern-State interchange, it's a short drive south on Glen Cove Road and worth the visit. Despite our recent luck, I would suggest calling to make a reservation. We'll be back.
(5)Monica L.
Heard such great things about this place - how it was a NYC restaurant transplanted onto a strip mall, etc. Meh. If you're trying it for the first time, I'd go for lunch, since it's better priced then. My soup of the day was clam chowder, and it was decent but nothing to write home about. My friend and I split the grilled flatbread with chorizo and gorgonzola and the Asian style duck wrap. The flatbread itself was tough and hard to cut with a knife, even though the topping was nice. The Asian style duck wrap was practically inedible due to the tidal wave of sickeningly sweet hoisin BBQ sauce and the questionable banana slices. I should have definitely asked for the sauce on the side. Overall, it wasn't terrible, the food was ok, but I don't think I'd ever go back.
(2)Joseph F.
Completely hidden in a strip mall, this place has a great atmosphere once you walk in. Its a relatively small space, with a decent sized bar. We did the prix fixe. which was a really good deal - recommend it. They offer plenty of variety on this menu. Food was generally very good. Started with the crab mean tower, which was mostly mango salsa and not so much crab. Still, it was tasty - maybe alittle too sweet. Then I had the short ribs. The portion was huge. (almost too big) The meat had a nice glaze on the outside, but was slightly dry. It could be because the piece of meat was so large. It came with potato gnocchi, which were pretty good. It was seasoned with rosemary, which I usually love - but it was very overpowering. Drinks were good, nice beer selection. Service was average, felt rushed at time. Overall, I would recommend it if you are in the area.
(3)V M.
I was completely underwhelmed !! First, how can they get away with charging Manhattan prices in a Carle Place strip mall??? Secondly, my salad, YES, a SALAD, cost $22 !! The salty calamari that was placed on top was inedible. Next, the waitress never came over to ask how the meal was. I have a feeling she knew I wasn't happy with this strange, salt- laden combination. Lastly, and most importantly, my friends and I were given the bum's rush, even after spending over $200 of our hard- earned cash there. Needless to say, I will NOT be returning to this over- priced, over-hyped establishment.
(1)David S.
Excellent, New American food at its best. I went on a Thursday and it was packed. The place itself is a little crowded but very nice, it did remind me eating in Manhattan as their website suggests. There was a 45 minute wait without reservation so we sat at the bar. Very nice Bartender, and there were a few people eating at the bar along side us. The food was fantastic. The onion soup au gratin was huge, we could not finish it. The cheese on the soup was excellent. I've had plenty of variations on their Tuna tartar with avocado dish, and this was one of the best. Lots of flavor, and a real nice size portion. For the main course the pork chop was huge and juicy. Lot of flavor in the sauce as well as the fruit on top of the chop, real nice portion again. I had the fish special, which was wild sea bass over spinach and mushroom risotto. This was fantastic, the fish was another nice portion. It was flaky, fresh and cooked perfectly. The risotto was packed full of fresh mushrooms, excellent with the spinich. All the flavors went together perfectly. I get this impression i could order just about anything on the menu and i would enjoy it. Next time I will try the duck taco's which i usually love. Nice staff, amazing food, expensive but not to bad prices, highly recomended, but only if you make reservations or done mind sitting at the bar to eat.
(5)Ashley B.
West End is small, so expect a long wait (and very little room to do so) on the weekends. However, the food is worth it. It's so delicious. I've enjoyed everything I've eaten from here, even the bread. I always sit at the bar to eat and Adam and Christine (the bartenders) are both very friendly and fun. They always give good recommendations too. We always have fun talking to them. It is in a nasty looking strip mall but who cares? There's plenty of parking at least. I would suggest making a reservation, even on the weekdays.
(5)michael f.
Buried in the corner of a nondescript strip mall, this place is wonderful. The first time my Ex took me here I thought she was off her nut for telling me to dress nicely... there was an pet store next door at the time. But a lovely interior quickly makes you forget you are dining next to a Mandee's. They have a great bar, which sports a couple of good martinis, like the Harvest and a pretty decent wine selection. The food is really special. Serving New American Cuisine that is flavorful and portioned perfectly. They are great for Lunch, when prices are a bit lower, but can fill up quick, since the place is not huge and the local office workers clearly love the place. They sport a lot of return business. Their soups and ravioli dishes, whether they be menu items or specials, have always been my personal favorites. My mother once have a crusted tilapia dish here that she still talks about. It may be a little tricky to spot from the street, but West End is definitely worth the hunt.
(5)mike n.
The place is tight especially if you need to wait or get a table near the steps. The salads are better than most any place I've been to. I ordered the Rack of Lamb which looked better than it tasted. Where was the seasoning? I see i am not the only one on Yelp to mention that but everyone in my party of 5 ordered something different and all complained of the lack of flavor. Food was good but not special. I also dislike when chefs put the meat on top of mashed potato's and you can't get a clean bite of just meat.
(3)Rosemary K.
Wish I could give 1/2 star, or less than that! I am amazed to read all the great ratings. This restaurant has ATTITUDE and is RUDE. We arrived at ~ 4:15 and were told that the restaurant does not open until 5 pm. OK, I understand that. Staff was there preparing and I said we would shop around (in a strip mall with barely any stores), and we would return in 1/2 hour and get drinks at the bar before being seated for a 5 pm start. We killed time and returned at 4:50 pm. The door was now locked. We looked through the window and staff was there and saw us. No one came to the door. We left and went to dinner at Vincents around the corner. Is this customer service??? Why would we wait another 10 minutes when the establishment obviously closed/locked the doors after we said we would return. We would have sat at the bar, spent $$$$ on drinks, and then ordered dinner, and spent more $$$$. I can't even rate the food, never got a chance to order or eat any of it. I can tell you with all the restaurants out there, and the competitive nature of the business, I am totally amazed that West End Café can have this attitude. I did call and spoke to the women who dealt with us and she was all explanations for why the doors may have been shut, but no empathy or consideration for us as customers. She said she would get to the bottom of this... and I said what good would this do me... and her reply was still the same... I will get to the bottom of this. It should have been... I am so sorry, please come back, the first drinks will be on the house to welcome you, and let us show you how great our restaurant is. Your loss West End... it will eventually catch up to you.
(1)Yelp L.
Classy joint. Nice decor. Quality staff. Very nice meal. Short on vegetarian options, but meat eaters can indulge. Dessert was divine. Crowd seemed about 40+ Would head to Seasons 52 first for a more young, modern atmosphere.
(3)Shoesoffnrun R.
This place is probably more of a 3.5- 4, but I am simply extremely disappointed in their current menu. The literally have not one single entree vegetarian option. YES in their defense the chef is very accommodating, but still guest go out to enjoy themselves not have to figure out how to mix and match to create a dish. Overall the creation they made for me was alright, nothing spectacular, i'll wait for the next menu before trying them again.
(3)Rachel P.
I love this place. My favorite dish is the lobster and shrimp ravioli. I have been getting this dish for over a decade and it has never disappointed. The Southwest shrimp Caesar salad is another hit. Their rolls are delicious. Skip the soda, it never has bubbles. I would definitely make a reservation. The place is so crowded I have seen people get turned away at lunch if they didn't have a reservation.
(4)Mani R.
Week long biz trip to Long Island and first night we go here for dinner. Our car turns into the lot and we are like WTF. where the heck are we going. This restaurant is situated in the corner of a small janky strip center that has an arts and crafts store, toy store and a local clothing store. We walk in to start a gastronomical delightful evening. On Sunday night they had a 3 course special for $29. We were all eyeballing the first table munching on muscle's and mini duck tacos. When we were finally seated though there was a full menu the eight of us decided to order off the 3 course appetizer, entree, dessert. Though I wanted the muscles we were eyeballing I started with the Pecan salad, crispy and tasty, for my entree I had the braised short rib on spaghettini. Didn't need a knife since the meat was moist and delicious. The spaghettini had a nice bold taste that I could not get enough of. Dessert I had the pistachio Sunday, thought it was going to be mini but it was a full on glass filled with ice cream and a creamy chocolate sauce. Oh had a Gretzky wine as in Wayne throughout the dinner, that paired perfectly with my meal. The rest of the party was just as satisfied as me. Now 5 days later last night in NY we couldn't figure out where to go.. Guess what back to West End. The waitress we had on Sunday remembered us out of towners and where we came from. Unfortunately she was not our server but stopped by our table to say hi. ( Our server this time around was just OK but who cares the food is fab. I had the duck taco's which where dynamite, crispy shell moist duck meat and crispy greens hit the spot and though I would have wanted another short rib asked for a plate of just the spaghettini. Oh and another glass of Gretsky's fabulous wine. I will be back again.
(5)Rachael Anne E.
I would have never given this place a chance if it wasn't for Yelp. The hotel clerk had not heard of it and it has a strip mall location between a craft and discount clothing shop. I drove past the strip center, assured that my GPS was incorrect. The pork chop was great, the butternut squash was addictive with the squash. I had their soup of the day, which was portabello and I could not stop eating it. I got the soup on a whim and it was my favorite part. I got my order to go and it was well packed. Though I did not eat inside the restaurant, it had a nice atmosphere and the staff was attentive.
(5)Jennifer G.
Great food especially the steak.. I had the duck which is mediocre... But go for the dinner special I think its from 5-6:30 there a price fix for 35 dollars.. and the best part is the pumpkin cheesecake... YUM YUM
(4)Sanjay S.
Don't judge this place by the neighborhood. It's basically in the corner of a run down strip mall, but from the moment you step in, you know you have just walked into something special. Great food, great ambiance, great service.
(5)Marisa F.
West End gets 5 stars because I previously didn't believe this kind of restaurant existed on Long Island. It's like they picked up a NYC trendy establishment and dropped it in the corner of a strip mall in Carle Place. When we walked in at 5 pm last Saturday, the place was empty and our reservation seemed unnecessary, but by 5:30, the whole room was filled with boisterous chattering tables. Our waiter was a pleasure -- all smiles and recommendations, but not overbearingly so. He helped us choose a wine (something with chocolate in the name & in the flavor -- mmmm), and steered us toward the apple pie for dessert which might just be the best apple pie I've ever had. I went with the nut-crusted goat cheese salad to start (if there's a goat cheese salad, I always pick it!), and it was fantastic. For dinner I had the short rib and spaghettini, which was good but I think I'd go in a different direction next time. The short rib was a HUGE chunk of meat, and I barely made a dent in it. But the fiance was happy to have it the next day at home. Overall this is pretty much as good as it gets in the area, and I will most definitely be coming back to sample all of the other tempting menu items. Quite a find!
(5)Cindy C.
My husband and I decided to try this place for the first time because of all the great reviews. We live in the area and didn't even know it existed until just a few weeks ago. We were MORE than impressed. The parking was a breeze. We were seated immediately. The staff were all extremely friendly and courteous. The food was amazing. We had fried calamari and crab cakes for appetizers and rack of lamb and pork chops for dinner.. and of course pecan pie and cheesecake for dessert. Everything was delicious. There was plenty of food and everything was brought out in a timely, but not rushed manner. West End Cafe has made life long friends/customers with us. We can't wait to go back there!! A+++ Cindy C
(5)Steve B.
Returned after after a long abscence. Don't know why I stayed away. If you are a fan of pork chops, one of the best around.
(5)John W.
Never had a a bad experience at the West End. The staff is fantastic, the food is tremendous but the best spot is at the bar. The bartenders know how to make a proper drink and give you attention that makes you feel like a celebrity. There haave been times when I've asked the bartender to surprise me and they have never disappointed, You can't go wrong with any menu items but my favorites are the roasted chicken and the cioppino (seasonal). I understand the complaints about the location but I think it creates a spot that only is not overwhelmed with customers. The crowd tends to be an older mature crowd. I'm in my early 40"s and I'm one of the youngest people there. Enjoy. Now I'm hungry.
(5)J G.
Usually a no miss experience-fine food with caring service, but not tonight. Waited two hours for our entre. When the manager was advised, she indifferently blamed the salad course and never came to the table. Dirty dishes were unbussed, and two entres were not cooked as ordered. Rough night - indifferent management. For $145/couple I thought we were entitled to a better experience.
(2)Jennifer C.
Yeah was very excited after seeing a good review in a local town paper. Now I know I can't trust Randy Gordon's reviews, but anyway, yeah it just looked like they wanted to look like a gourmet high end foodie place, but didn't actually have the cooking skills to pull it off. They had the facade of being one of those places worth spending $30 plus on a meal, but in the end I wouldn't return. Even the bread was meh. I went there so far back now I can't remember even what I ate, but that should show even more it wasn't memorable and I remember even the bread wasn't good, LOL. So you've been warned, that's all I'm gonna say, why bother when there's other good places to go. Wild Honey on Main in Port Wash was good up until my dessert and I've liked Brasserie Cassis in Plainview.
(2)Sal V.
Great restaurant and staff. Valerie in particular was very helpful in helping us get reservations, dinner and to the show at Westbury last night. The Rack of Lamb is very flavorful. We added a salad as an afterthought and still got out in time to enjoy. Thanks Valerie. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.
(5)Steve C.
West End Cafe is a hidden gem inside a strip mall. The restaurant is simple with elegant décor. I had one of the best seafood pastas here. The linguine was al dente and had lots of shrimp, squid, mussels and clams. The tomato base sauce was so rich and flavorful. It's a nice change from all the of crappy restaurant chains in the area.
(4)B K.
I just demoted this place based on my nasty service experience with them recently. A friend and I went for a celebratory dinner, and started out with ordering cocktails and an appetizer. The waitress immediately informed us there would be a sharing charge, which I told her really puzzled me- who charges to share an appetizer??? Then she said if we weren't ordering anything else, we would be charged. Which infuriates me because we were NOT done ordering. NORMAL servers do not assume you are done ordering after taking your appetizer order, unless you have actually indicated you are done. Then, when we wanted to share an entree so that we would also have room for dessert, we were told there is a $7 sharing fee for that! So we ended up having to order a meal and another appetizer as a meal, and had no room for dessert. This came out to a $100 bill, which they still would have gotten from me if we had been able to order one entree and one dessert. And to top it off, the crabcake appetizer was awful. It tasted like one of those scallion pancakes you get at cheap chinese places. I will never be back- too bad for you west end cafe- I am a big spender, and you have lost my business with your stingy attitude.
(2)A M.
West End Cafe is one of our "go to" favorites, which makes tonights experience so disappointing. My husband ordered the skirt steak special. He said it was horrible. It was cold and undercooked. The hostess came over and said she took it back to kitchen and that "chef was appalled". Lol. The chef is responsible that things are plated correctly and ok to be served. I watch Hells Kitchen! We are good repeat customers and all they did was not charge us for the skirt steak. DUH...HOW ABOUT WRITING OFF THE REMAINING $54 as a good customer relations gesture?
(3)Britney G.
I've been here both for a regular dinner and a party renting the whole place out, and both times were excellent. In addition to a great fixed menu at the party, I love the scallops when I went back on my own. Their breadsticks are also great and lots of creative martini options is always nice. I would definitely keep this place in mind for a nice dinner out, important date, etc.
(5)Lauren W.
Been dining at West End for years. Must have a reservation, as the place gets packed early thanks to their early bird dinner (a ton of food - appie, entree & dessert for about $25). The menu is eccentric, some out of the ordinary choices, but usually worth the chance. Great mussels, fabulous steaks, and the macadamia crusted Tilapia is memorable, as is my favorite, a soba noodle and grilled tuna - a mix of veggies, peanut and soy. Save your money by skipping dessert and coffee - nothing special about either. Decent bar, but short wine list.
(4)Anthony D.
What can I say. I love this place. It's hidden in a corner lot, but it's a hidden gem. Try the Turkey Burger. It's so delicious!
(5)Steven B.
One of my favorite restaurants in Nassau County. The food is a mix of American but with a slightly eclectic bent. This was a hidden gem until a few years ago when NYTimes gave it a rave review. Now, you definitely need reservations if going on a Fri or Sat night. Don't let the location fool you - its hard to see from the road since its tucked into a corner. Walk inside and the ambiance is wonderful, staff helpful and almost everything on the menu very eatable - - from appetizer to dessert. Compared to other restaurants in the area, the prices are modest compared to what you are getting. Entrees range from high teens to mid-twenty dollars. The only reason I don't give it 5 stars is, its hard to grab a drink if you arrive early. The bar, while pretty big, doesn't have a lot of room. Theres a lot of stepping around waiters and customers if you are having a pre-dinner drink. Small complaint, but a complaint none-the-less.
(4)Alexandra B.
Have a family member in the restaurant business who RARELY will go to a restaurant twice, on account that he is not satisfied with the quality of food. After visiting West End Café, we would all go back. Homey décor, fantastic food. I had seared scallops with a tuna tar tar appetizer, simply delicious. The scallops cut like butter, were plump and juicy. An excellent choice, great spot for a date due to the warm and trendy feel of the restaurant.
(5)Kevin J.
Don't be fooled by the strip mall location and appearance. This small restaurant serves up some incredible cuisine and glorious atmosphere to boot inside. The first time I went, our party had a reservation and the place was packed...on a Sunday evening. We were seated a little later than I thought we would but tended to rather quickly. After deliberating with the menu with my folks, I decided on the flank steak and it was one of the best I've ever eaten. The portions of our food were generous given the prices. By the time we left, the cafe was still pretty busy, the place was that good. Highly considering going back.
(5)Lilah M.
I dined here on the recommendation of a trusted friend and was not disappointed. Service was friendly and efficient. They bring a complimentary bread basket filled with yummy garlic knots, and some type of cranberry whole grain roll to start off the meal. We ordered off the specials menu, and everything was well seasoned and cooked. Half the menu was specials, which is a good or bad thing depending on who you are. It's exciting, but if you love your dish it may not be there the next time you come to dine. Portions are just right (no doggie bags needed for the entrees.) Would definitely recommend!
(4)Maura N.
Can't believe I haven't reviewed this gem yet! Was invited by friends and was dubious about the invitation and less enthralled to be leaving the Hamptons to go there. I've been back at least once a week since, and have converted many friends. We go so often, I run into family there too. Drinks are ok, but the wine selections are really nice, though they change frequently and it can be disappointing if you had your heart set on one. You can very easily make a meal of many of the amazing appetizers they have, for instance, the duck tacos. I have never had duck in my life, but the description sounded so good I couldn't resist. I get them every time. One side of the menu are daily specials, and I often have a hard time choosing. Don't be put off by the location: as other reviewers have said, this place is in a strip mall between a discount clothing store and a discount education store. Inside though, its upscale, clean and the service is pleasant enough. Don't pass up a chance to eat here, its a real treat.
(5)Fabricio S.
i think this place is out of this world. every time me and my wife go there we eat something different and bingo. delicious again. Never had a bad meal, the tuna tartare is something! Excellent !!
(5)rohia a.
Im not a big fan of restaurants in long island....but this place....this place is amazing. The food is fantastic...and the prices are low for the type of fresh delicious food they give you. My family and I came here for sunday dinner, the gorgonzola and beet salad is delicious till the last bite...the crab cake so decadent...the calamari yummy...on to the entrees: swordfish to die for! seared tuna with flavorful noodles! and omg....you have to have the lamb piled on creamy mashed potatoes! loved the cozy decor... very nice restaurant in a very unexpected part of town...will definitely come back!
(5)Geraldine S.
I think it's smaller than I had expected. Perhaps that was the problem to start out. The bar is really nice but was very crowded. Alright, granted it was a Saturday night but it was so...crowded that you just could not even imagine squeezing in there. Luckily, we happened to find seats for our little group and enjoyed drinks and food at the bar. There was absolutely no chance at a table because it was PACKED. That's always a good sign but it was very noisy as well. I had the French martini and it was very fruity, definitely could taste the pineapple but I've had better martinis so this was nothing extraordinary though. The bartender was very friendly. The female bartenders were civil. The service bordered on "help yourself" and I do mean that quite nicely. We had to ask for help a lot. The bartenders seemed to be much more preoccupied with chatting with the customers than making sure that everyone at the bar was getting good service. That's just fine if you are depending on regulars to bring in more customers to your establishment. But if you are really looking for new customers to spread the word about a place, I'd say that management really needs to keep an eye on how well the customers are being treated. They were not rude, by far, but they certainly were more like not fully present and participating in the experience. I'm fussy like that. I do not like to have to ask for service. I like to feel like I'm being treated well in a restaurant and I will tip very well for that. Food? Appetizers are enticing here. We had the duck tacos and calamari. Weird but true. The duck tacos were yummy. Meaty and very tasty. Portions were hearty enough to eat this for your dinner. The calamari though light and crispy, perfectly done but the sauce was boring. The tomato sauce was not really saucy enough or seasoned at all beyond your supermarket ragu. The mango sauce had way too much onion. I only knew it was mango because of the menu description. Aside from that it was really an orange pureed onion. Blah. The dessert menu was inviting so we tried the Oreo Cookie tower and the Granny's Apple Pie. Both were presented well but there were golden raisins in the oreo cookie tower and I'm not sure if that was on the menu but it seemed a bit odd to be biting into a smooth oreo cookie ice cream and then encountering...a raisin? Why for? Weird. The apple pie was delicious with a crumble and scoop of vanilla ice cream. Served warm it was perfect and memorable. I'd get it again. I would recommend this place for dates but reserve a table or maybe go early? I'm not sure what would be the best way to go. There is parking available which makes this a very pleasant experience. The bar is attractive and inviting but was really too crowded. Will have to try the entrees next time because they looked enticing.
(3)Ms. Standard s.
You can't possibly leave this place hungry! My family tends to go here for special occasions and we each have a different favorite. It can get a bit pricey but if you are concerned about that, you can dine early and take advantage of their 3 course specials which also offer good variety. I love the mozzarella and portobello mushroom appetizer, for mains all of their meat and fish dishes are great (I can't really comment on the pastas since I rarely eat pasta at places like this) and I usually finish with the chocolate molten cake. A tip for the ladies: I recommend wrapping half of your dinner to take home, so you can save some room for dessert! Overall, I think you'll be pleased.
(5)