Top 10 Restaurants Long Island - 2013 Edition

I did a post a couple of years back about the best restaurants in Long Island. Since then, I've been to a few more and felt that a new list was necessary (plus, apparently a lot of people hated my old list, but a top 10 restaurant list is going to get all types of feedback both positive and negative). Anyway, here's my opinion of what the top 10 restaurants in Long Island are. Upset that one didn't make the list? Leave a comment below.


10. Sushi Ko
City: Merrick
Overview: Everyone has a different place they'd pick as their "favorite sushi". Sushi Ko is mine (although Kumo in Plainview is a close second). I've been to about 30+ sushi places in Long Island and Sushi Ko is my favorite, hands down.
Recommended Dishes: Surf & Turf Roll, Pink Lobster Roll

9. Mim's
City: Rosyln and Syosset
Overview: A few people gave me crap for putting this on my last list, but I still have it in my top 10. The food is always delicious (and consistent) and really don't know of any restaurants that are better in the Syosset area. Plus, they have one of the best appetizers I've ever had in the buffalo chicken spring rolls.
Recommended Dishes: Buffalo Chicken Spring Rolls, Sesame Crusted Tuna, Murrays Organic Roasted Half Chicken

8 Market Bistro
City: Jericho
Overview: Offering organic and an always changing menu, Market Bistro serves up fresh and unique dishes (both small and large plates). This is one of the few places you can get venison when it's in season.
Recommended Dishes: Duck Gnocchi, Duck Breast, Seared Tuna

7. Peter Luger
 City: Great Neck
Overview: Great Neck is the home to many great steakhouses, pretty much all next to each other. While they're all great, Peter Luger is the best offering the tastiest steaks and delicious sides. Be careful, this place is cash only!
Recommended Dishes: The steak, duh! Oh and The Peter Luger Bacon

6. Noah's
City: Greenport
Overview: Greenport has a ton of restaurants, most of them are "tourist traps" for people looking to stop for dinner after a day at the wineries. Noah's isn't one of them and is the best option in the area. From the oysters to the small plates and to the large plates, you can't go wrong with anything you get from here.
Recommended Dishes: Lobster Mac & Cheese, Duck Confit Pasta, Filet Mignon Sliders


5. Swallow
City: Huntington and Montauk
Overview: Huntington is one of the best food spots in Long Island and in a crowded area, Swallow stands out as one of the best options. The restaurant is fairly new, but has made a big splash already delivering fantastic small plates. It's hard to recommend a dish because it changes so often, but you can't go wrong with anything!
Recommended Dishes: Thai Calamari, Short Ribs

4. Smokin Al's
City: Massapequa Park
Overview: Can't compare to the best of the South, but if you're looking for out of your mind delicious BBQ, Smokin Al's is your place. Everything from the pulled pork to the brisket to the sides (corn bread, beans, etc.) are fantastic.
Recommended Dishes: Brisket Nachos, The Big Melt, St. Louie Grand Back Ribs

3. Besito
City: Roslyn and Huntington
Overview: The best way to describe Besito is "upscale Mexican". Besito has tacos, etc., but also has short ribs, salmon, and a ton of different tequilas to choose from (along with their signature margaritas). All of the food is delicious and the free churro and warrior doll at the end of the meal is a nice touch. The place also has the best table side guacamole I've ever had.
Recommended Dishes: Costillas Al Piquin (Short Ribs), Budin De Mariscos

2. Waterzooi
City: Garden City
Overview: If you like mussels, Waterzooi is a must. Waterzooi has the most delicious broths to accompany their mussles that I've ever had (and they don't wimp out on the amount they give you either). The restaurant also has an extensive Belgian beer list and the most delicious dipping sauce for your fries that you'll ever have (garlic mayo).
Recommended Dishes: Thai Mussels, Creole Mussels, Farmhouse Ale Mussels

1. Lola
City: Great Neck
Overview: Lola recently switched to all small plates (literally as of a month or two ago) and while the quantity has been reduced, the quality has increased. Lola ranks as the best meal I've had on Long Island and continues to impress every time I go. Everything on the menu is absolutely delicious.
Recommended Dishes:  Brussel Sprouts, BBQ Pulled Pork, Lola Caesar

Honorable Mention: Tesoro in Westbury

10 Best 90's Songs

The 90's was the decade that contained my favorite music. From Nirvana to Green Day to Pearl Jam and more, there were a ton of bands that made excellent music. I put together a list of my favorite 90's songs. Please note that this isn't a "top most popular 90's songs" list, just my personal favorites. You probably will disagree with some. Feel free to write yours in the comments.

10. Artist: Neutral Milk Hotel
Song: In The Aeroplane Over the Sea
Year: 1998
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcgyKo7vbm4

9. Artist: Dishwalla
Song: Counting Blue Cars
Year: 1995
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clxtg2pFTQM

8. Artist: Silverchair
Song: Emotion Sickness
Year: 1999
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHDiN10CDj0

7. Artist: Ben Folds Five
Song: Brick
Year: 1997
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wt5EHAqhR1c

6. Artist: Pearl Jam
Song: Black
Year: 1991
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfhsRIDh1RQ

5. Artist: Live
Song: Lightning Crashes
Year: 1994
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsJ4O-nSveg

4. Artist: Smashing Pumpkins
Song: 1979
Year: 1996
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aeETEoNfOg

3. Artist: Nirvana
Song: Smells Like Teen Spirit
Year: 1991
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTWKbfoikeg

2. Artist: Green Day
Song: Longview
Year: 1994
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c87TKWgRyCE

1. Artist: Radiohead
Song: Paranoid Android
Year: 1997
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPLEbAVjiLA


Honorable Mention:

Artist: Guns 'N Roses
Song: November Rain
Year: 1992
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SbUC-UaAxE

Top 10 Pizza Places in Nassau County

Pizza, along with bagels, are one of those foods that aren't great unless you get them from New York. Because pizza is a staple in New York, Nassau County is flooded with pizza places. Every town has at least a handful, if not more. I personally find that , more often than not, you're going to wind up having at least a good slice of pizza when you enter any pizzeria in Nassau County. However, there are a few pizzerias in Nassau that stand above the rest. Here are the top 10 in descending order.


10. Mario's
Location: Plainview, Syosset, Oyster Bay, Great Neck, Westbury, Seaford
Overview: As you can see, Mario's has a ton of locations in Nassau County to choose from. I grew up eating from the Plainview location (the original one I believe) and had no clue that they were anywhere else. I can only speak about the Plainview place, but they make a delicious slice of pizza and they are heavy handed with the amount of free garlic knots they'll toss your way.
Favorite Slice: Extra Cheese

9. Spasso
Location: Wantagh
Overview: The South Shore is flooded with great pizza places and Spasso is no exception. If you're not one to grab an All American burger (or 5) before heading to the beach (which is my ritual) you can't go wrong with grabbing a couple of slices from here.
Favorite Slice: Buffalo Chicken

8. Gino's
Location: Williston Park
Overview: We're approaching Queens with this location. Even though Queens has a ton of good pizza places, they might want to migrate over to Gino's in Williston Park. Delicious slices, especially their sicilian.
Favorite Slice: Sicilian

7. Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza
Location: Woodbury, Wantagh, & Carle Place
Overview: Hate putting a chain on the list (especially one with locations out of New York), but their pizza is just too good not to include on this list. I can't speak for locations out of New York, but I can you that Anthony's in Nassau makes a mean coal fired pizza pie. The large serves about 3 and the small serves about 2 -3. Being a fat ass, I can knock down an entire pie myself, but not recommended.
Favorite Slice: Cauliflower

6. Umberto's
Location:  New Hyde Park, Plainview, Wantagh
Overview: All three locations are great, but definitely recommend New Hyde Park (the original and still the best).
Favorite Slice: Pazzo
  
5. Grimaldi's
Location: Garden City
Overview: What's a "best pizza in New York" list without Grimaldi's (be it Garden City or Brooklyn). The line is always huge and with good reason. The first time I tried this place I was aware of the hype and was worried I was going to be letdown because I expected so much. Wrong. Still exceeded my expectations.  They are the one ones on the list where I'm recommending a plain slice as the slice of choice.
Favorite Slice: Plain

4. Salvatore's
Location: Port Washington
Location: Our friends over on the North Shore have one of the best pizza joints in Nassau County, and possibly in Long Island with Salvatore's. Their pies are fresh and delicious and don't require toppings to enhance their delicious flavors.
Favorite Slice: Tomato and Basil 

3. Bella Vista
Location: Plainview
Overview: Most people from Plainview will swear by this place and with good reason. Bella Vista makes a great (and humongous) slice of pizza. Favorite, as with a lot of other places, is the Buffalo Chicken. You can't go wrong with a slice of this or a Buffalo Chicken roll.
Favorite Slice: Buffalo Chicken 

2. La Strada
Location: Merrick
Overview: In my quest for good pizza in Merrick, I was coming up short outside of La Piazza (#1 on this list). I then discovered La Strada and haven't looked back. This place is more of a fancy Italian joint, but they do brick oven pizza extremely well.
Favorite Slice: Kirkwood Avenue

1. La Piazza
Location: Plainview & Merrick
Overview: I'm going to get yelled at for putting a chain like La Piazza at number one, but there is no denying how great their pizza is (and some of there pasta dishes, but that's for another list). Their buffalo chicken slice alone is one of the best pizza slices I've ever had. For you Suffolk County folks, you're in a luck as there is a location in Melville as well. Definitely my go to place for a great slice of pizza.
Favorite Slice: Buffalo Chicken

Top 10 Sushi Places in Nassau County

Now onto Sushi! Sushi places are a dime a dozen in Nassau County, but for some reason there seem to be a lot more "subpar" sushi places than good ones. However, if you're looking for great sushi in Nassau County, check out these places. You won't be disappointed.


10.  Himawari
Location: Long Beach
Overview: Himawari has more selections outside of sushi than the others on the list, but this place ranks as my favorite in Long Beach (where there are more than a fair share of sushi joints).
Try The: Krazy Angel Roll

9. Sushi Time 560
Location: Bethpage
Overview: Bethpage was lacking a really good sushi place and Sushi Time 560 came to the rescue. They offer a $20 all you can eat which is a great deal. The rolls are great, not the best, but more than adequate for an all you can eat place.
Try The: Godzilla Roll

8. Minado
Location: Carle Place
Overview: I love Minado. I probably go here more than a lot of other places on the list. The sushi is very good. Not as great as the others on the list, but still solid. The draw of this place is the "all you can eat" aspect. Not only is it all you can eat for their rolls, but they have a ton of different Japanese food. It's buffet style, but it's not "dirty" like you see with other buffets. Definitely give it a go if you have a big appetite.
Try The: Rock' N Roll Roll

7. Thai Show
Location: Massapequa Park & Levittown
Overview: The only place on the list that has two locations, score! If I had to pick the better location I'd go with Massapequa Park, but both are fantastic. Massapequa Park includes booths that are in line with traditional Japanese seating (where you go inside without shows). The sushi is always delicious and fresh, regardless of which location you choose.
Try The: Riverdance Roll

6. Tobiko
Location: Valley Stream
Overview:  A place not only known for it's excellent roles, but it's excellent services. Makes for an overall fantastic dining experience. However, if you decide to takeout, you won't be disappointed as the rolls rarely ever disappoint.
Try The: Spring Jamie Roll 

5. Matsuya
Location: Great Neck
Overview: Great Neck seems to be the sushi capital of Nassau County. It is impossible to walk a block without seeing a couple of sushi places. In my opinion, Matsuya reigns supreme in a saturated market. Always fresh and always delicious. The locals will agree that this place will easily rank in their top 3 sushi places in the area.
Try The: O.M.G. Roll

4. Sushi Ya
Location: Garden City
Overview: Garden City is a mecca of delicious restaurants, including my all time favorite Waterzooi. If you're in the area and sick of mussels, check out Sushi Ya. They do the basics well (i.e. spicy tuna, etc.), but their special rolls are one of the best I've had.
Try The: Rich & Robert Roll

3. Nisen
Location: Woodbury
Overview: Nisen is located in a shopping center of deliciousness with Laguna Grille and Butera's also located in the same place. Nisen trumps these two excellent places because of how innovative and delicious their sushi is.  While I love their sushi, go with some of their unique appetizers as well including the white tuna truffle and lobster taco.
Try The: Mama Buddha Roll

2. Sushi Ko
Location: Merrick
Overview: I discovered this place recently and am extremely glad I did. I've been searching for a great sushi place in Merrick for the last few months and finally found it in Sushi Ko. If you like Sushi Bar & Tea, which a lot of people seem to enjoy, this blows it out of the water. Not only are the rolls delicious, but they are extremely unique (even having a filet mignon one with Japanese bbq sauce). The staff is also super friendly.
Try The: New Orleans Roll


1. Kumo
Location: Plainview
Overview: Kumo is a little bit on the expensive side (which is the only drawback), but the sushi is phenomenal. It actually not only ranks as my favorite sushi place in Nassau County, but probably ever.  Their pizza sandwich is at another level in terms of deliciousness. Don't confuse this one with the location out in Suffolk (this is a million times better).
Try The: Pizza Sandwich

Top 10 Mexican Restaurants in Nassau County

As someone who likes to dine out fairly regularly (mostly in the Nassau County area), I'd thought it would be good to point out the top restaurants by cuisine, in my opinion. This post is focused on Mexican, but will be doing others revolving around Italian, Chinese, etc.


10. Three Amigos Mexican Grill
Location: Massapequa
Overview: What's good about this place is not only the food (which is excellent), but has something for non-Mexican lovers as well (i.e. salads, mozzarella sticks). Tacos are about the same price as Taco Bell's and much fresher (and better).
Favorite Dish: South West Burrito


9. Little Mexico
Location: Westbury
Overview: The name matches the size of the place. Very tiny, but place packs a lot of flavor. Definitely more of a takeout joint, but worth it if you're in the area. Also extremely inexpensive and has dishes you can't find elsewhere (i.e. beef tongue sopes and tortas)
Favorite Dish: Sopes De Lengua (beef tongue sopes)

8. Don Juan
 Location: Massapequa Park
Overview: One of the more well known places on the list, Don Juan provides consistently good Mexican food (and drinks) at fairly inexpensive prices. A lot of people will list this as their favorite (mostly due to them not trying others on the list). While I don't agree that it's the best, it certainly is worthy of top 10.
Favorite Dish: Don Juan's Especial

7. On the Border
Location: Hicksville
Overview: On the Border is not only a great place for Mexican food and drinks, but one of the better Mexican joints to go to for Cinco De Mayo. I'm not usually a fan of putting a big chain on a list (hence why no Chipotle), but On the Border is good enough to make the top 10.
Favorite Dish: La Bandera

6. Aztec Emperor
Location: Wantagh
Overview: I love how this place is fairly unknown compared to others on the list (means less of a wait for me :) ). This place has the best salsa I've ever had making the chips and salsa they serve worth the trip alone.
Favorite Dish: Mole Poblano 

5. Laguna Grille
Location: Woodbury
Overview: This place is always packed - and with good reason. Laguna Grille serves up above average Mexican food that's constantly great. They also not only give you salsa and chips before the meal, but plantain chips as well (a very nice touch). Laguna Grille is my pick for best steak fajitas on Long Island
Favorite Dish: Steak Fajitas

4. Cozymel's
Location: Westbury
Overview: Great place to visit during the summer as Cozymel's offers an outside patio. Regardless, if you enjoy Mexican food you'll enjoy the food at Cozymel's. The place also makes one of the best margharita's you can get on the island.
Favorite Dish: Homemade Tamales
 

3. Mangoes
Location: Bethpage
Overview: Casual, but still a good place to take a date to. Mangoes serves up great Mexican food at fairly decent prices.   A big plus about the place is the Mariachi band that plays on Fridays and Saturdays. Definitely something you don't want to miss. Even if you come here on another day, the food alone will make it worth the trip.
Favorite Dish: Lobster Quesedilla

2. Zim Zari
Location: Massapequa Park
Overview: Not a fancy place by any means. This place reminds you of an eatery you'd see right off of the beach - including the surfboard shaped menus. The place boasts one of the best meal deals on Long Island with "taco Tuesday" which are $2 prices for their signature tacos. There tacos are the reason to come here ranging   from their take on a surf and turf to tuna tacos and more. Taco lovers will not be disappointed.
Favorite Dish: Surf & Turf Tacos

1. Besito
Location: Roslyn
Overview: Besito is not only the best Mexican restaurant in Nassau County, but probably one of the best restaurants on Long Island (tied with Waterzooi as my favorite). It's upscale, not cheap whatsoever, but well worth the price. They have the best table side guacamole I've ever had and everything I've gotten there was beyond delicious. Plus, they have an amble amount of tequila and other alcohol. A+ all around.
Favorite Dish: Tie between the  Costillas Al Piquin (short ribs) and Budin De Mariscos (shrimp and crab pie)

10 Great Bands Who Have Jumped the Shark

The term "jumping the shark" refers to a person, band, TV show, or anything that was once great, but has now surpassed that greatness with their new releases. There are many bands that made some outstanding albums, but are now releasing material that doesn't even come close to the greatness of their older work. We've identified some of these bands below.


1. Green Day
    Best Album: Dookie
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: 21st Century Breakdown
    Why? There really is nothing like old Green Day. Dookie, Insomnia, and Nimrod were all fantastic albums. Warning was more experimental for the band, but good and American Idiot was a solid rock opera. 21st Century Breakdown, however, felt like a B-sides compilation of American Idiot, which could be forgiven if it wasn't for the horrendous Uno, Dos, Tres albums that followed. Those felt like it came from a mediocre band trying to imitate Green Day. Gone are the glory days of Dookie


2. Smashing Pumpkins
    Best Album: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Machina: The Machine of Gods
    Why? Smashing Pumpkins were one of the 90's best rock outfits. After some lineup changes and Billy Corgan becoming more experimental, they really haven't been the same since Mellon Collie. Adore was different, not as good as Mellon Collie and Siamese Dream, but still a good album. Then Machina came out and it was very disappointing. They haven't put out a good release since then (although their most recent album, Oceania, is the best of the worst). 

3. Weezer
    Best Album: Weezer (Blue Album)
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Make Believe
    Why? I remember the days when entire Weezer albums were great. This was the case with the Blue Album and Pinkerton. Most of the Green Album and Maladroit were excellent as well. Then Make Believe came out and there was this wrong of mediocrity. 2-3 great songs followed by  mostly filler that has spanned their last four albums.
 
4. Red Hot Chili Peppers
    Best Album: Blood Sugar Sex Magik
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: By The Way
    Why? You should expect a band's sound to evolve and change 20+ years into a career, but the Chili Peppers changed for the worse. Blood Sugar Sex Magik was the best album they released and did their signature funk rock better than any other album. One Hot Minute wasn't a good album (with the exception of 2 or 3 songs), but they redeemed themselves with Californication. That album wasn't as good as Blood Sugar, but was still a great album loaded with some of their best songs. I was excited for By The Way after hearing the title track, but was extremely disappointed when I realized that was the only great song on the album. Their last two releases haven't been much better. Stadium Arcadium did have some good songs, but the double album concept didn't work for them.

5. 311
    Best Album: 311
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Evolver
    Why? A band with a sound like 311 can hardly be described as "boring", but since Evolver that has been the case. I loved Music through From Chaos (some might argue that they jumped the shark starting with From Chaos), but Evolver is a disappointing album bookend with two great tracks: "Creatures" and "Sometimes Jacks Rule the Realm". It's only gotten worse from Evolver making it very improbable that 311 will release anything on par with their self-titled album, Grassroots, or Soundsystem.


6. Oasis
    Best Album: (What's the Story) Morning Glory
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Be Here Now
    Why? Oasis is on most people's "bands that jumped the shark" list and with good reason. Very rarely have I seen a band go from legendary to bad as quickly as Oasis. Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory were two genre defining albums and one of the best of the 90's. Then all of a sudden Be Here Now came out and you're left wondering what happened to this band? Since then, all of their releases have been bad. It's actually good to see that Oasis is no more since I don't know if I can tolerate another bad Oasis release.


7. Led Zeppelin
    Best Album: Led Zeppelin IV
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Presence
    Why? Led Zeppelin still stands as one of the greatest bands of all time, but even they jumped the shark when it comes to album releases. I don't think any band in rock history has had a good of a six album run as Led Zeppelin did for Led Zeppelin through Physical Graffiti. Their two releases after, Presence and Coda, weren't that good (with the exception of a handful of songs). It makes you wish that the band stopped making music after Physical Graffiti and just toured with those 6 albums.


8. Jimmy Eat World
    Best Album: Clarity
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: Chase This Light
    Why? Jimmy Eat World doesn't fit the mold of the other bands here, but I'm including them because I really think Clarity is the best emo album ever made. Bleed American, their follow up, was an outstanding punk pop album. Futures, which followed after, was kind of a mix between Clarity and Bleed American's sounds. Not as good as those two, but still decent. Chase This Light and Invented (two albums after) are just middle of the road emo music. You might find a song or two that's good, but it doesn't even come close to the greatness of Clarity or Bleed American.


9. Guns 'N Roses
    Best Album: Appetite for Destruction
    Album Where they Jumped the Shark: The Spaghetti Incident
    Why? I almost didn't include them because The Spaghetti Incident was only one album and Chinese Democracy was a completely different lineup (minus Axl and Dizzy Reed and Dizzy didn't even show up until the Illusion albums). However, the Spaghetti Incident was so bad and Chinese Democracy was such a letdown that I'm including them on the list, especially when you consider how great their prior four albums were.


10. Live
      Best Album: Throwing Copper
      Album Where they Jumped the Shark: V
      Why? Live peaked too early with their sophomore album, Throwing Copper, which was an outstanding album that the band never came close to achieving again. Secret Samadhi and The Distance to Here weren't as good, but they were worthy follow ups. Since V, the band has been taken pride in mediocrity making it seem highly unlikely we'll ever hear an album like Throwing Copper again from the band. 
 

2013 MLB Standings Predictions

 Baseball season is right around the corner! It's a little early, but we put together our rankings predictions for this year.

AL East:

1. Baltimore Orioles (97 - 65)
2. New York Yankees (90 - 72) (1st wildcard)
3. Toronto Blue Jays (86 - 76)
4. Tampa Bay Rays (84 - 78)
5. Boston Redsox (75 - 87)

AL Central:

1. Detroit Tigers (90 - 72)
2. Chicago Whitesox (82 - 80)
3. Kansas City Royals (81 - 81)
4. Cleveland Indians (79 - 83)
5. Minnesota Twins (67 - 95)

AL West:

1. Los Angeles Angels (95 - 67)
2. Texas Rangers (87 - 75) (2nd wildcard)
3. Oakland Athletics (79 - 83)
4. Seattle Mariners (73 - 89)
5. Houston Astros (68 - 94)

NL East:

1. Washington Nationals (98 - 64)
2. Atlanta Braves (88 - 74) (1st wildcard)
3. Philadelphia Phillies (83 - 79)
4. New York Mets (74 - 88)
5. Miami Marlins (69 - 93)

NL Central:

1. St. Louis Cardinals (87 - 75)
2. Cincinnati Reds (83 - 79)
3. Milwaukee Brewers (80 - 82)
4. Pittsburgh Pirates (79 - 83)
5. Chicago Cubs (74 - 88)

NL West:

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (93 - 69)
2. San Francisco Giants (84 - 78) (2nd wildcard)
3. Arizona Diamondbacks (82 - 80)
4. Colorado Rockies (78 - 84)
5. San Diego Padres (68 - 94)