Public House 49 in Patchogue

Stopped into Public House 49 on Main Street in Patchogue (Long Island folks will know where this is.) and I have to say, the food was very good.

It's a loud place. Very loud! Not many seats to eat in. It looks as if it were two stores that they combined into one establishment. One side is the bar/nightclub and the other side is the restaurant with tables and booths.

It was busy on Friday night. We had about 35 there for a friend's birthday celebration. However, without our group, it was still full.

By the time we wanted to eat, they had to set us up on the bar side all the way in the back. I was appreciative that they accommodated us that way. We were ready to eat and I guess we would have had to wait a bit to sit. I had perused the menu online and it looked interesting.

There were five in our party. My wife and daughter and I started with the Savory Trio. It was disappointing. The portion size and flavors didn't deliver. However, our friends ordered the Calamari with lemon garlic sauce. That was a definite winner. Perfectly seasoned. Flavorful. Just the right balance of lemon and garlic. Very good indeed.

I ordered the Lemon Rosemary Roasted Chicken with a Parmesan bread pudding and baby spinach. Now, I know, that's not daring, but I thought this was a good way to judge the food. If you can deliver chicken correctly, the other food would probably be good. At least that's what I thought. I was not disappointed. Not only was the chicken flavorful, but it was moist. I love bread pudding of all types, so I was excited about trying the Parmesan Bread Pudding. Unfortunately it had a very mild cheese flavor. I was hoping for more, but the texture was creamy and pleasant. The baby spinach was excellent also.

All in all everyone at the table agreed that Public House 49 is worth another trip. The food was very good overall. The service was also very good. Friendly, accommodating. Everything you expect from a good eatery.

The one thing I do have to say is that it is very LOUD there. And, although each section is separated by a glass wall, it does not help. Both sides are so loud it forces you to yell, making it even louder in there. And, we were in the back and it was still loud. However, the dining experience wasn't diminished by that. It was an annoyance, but we still had a good time and really enjoyed the food.

Public House 49 is worth the trip. The food and service make it a recommended spot in downtown Patchogue.

Jamesport Country Kitchen

Recently, I went to my favorite North Fork restaurant, Jamesport Country Kitchen. For those of you not familiar with the North Fork of Long Island, it is a quaint area way out on the east end. There are farms, country stores, vineyards and farm stands. It's quintessential small town America.

Matt Kar is the owner of "The Kitchen". His menu is consistently good. He uses locally-grown, in season produce, as well as locally caught seafood. This ensures that his food is fresh all the time.

His creativity with flavor combinations, as well as providing consistently good food at very reasonable prices make this a must visit whenever you are on the North Fork. His local vineyard dominated wine list will also please even the most discerning wine palate.

The pasta special must be experienced at least once and is often my "go to" dish. It often is a mix of seafood (although on my last visit the proteins were a mix of duck and Italian sausage, YUM!) and local vegetables presented with an expertly cooked pasta and sauce, often a "pink" sauce of tomato and cream topped with feta cheese. Again, consistency is the word here. Always flavorful. Always cooked to perfection.

Seafood specials are always fresh and presented with a salsa or other type of sauce. The chef is flexible with ingredients and if you have an aversion to one thing or another (I leave out scallops as I have had a "problem" with them in the past.) or an allergy he can leave out this or that as all dishes are made fresh.

You have a choice of fries or marinated vegetables. I go for the veggies as the dressing is always tasty and the vegetables are always fresh. As a gastric bypass patient, I use the opportunity to get my vegetables in.

Also, if you are traveling with children, the choices, though limited, are good and the kids will enjoy them. The dishes come with fruit and his french fries are delicious.

Jamesport Country Kitchen (website). Consistently good food, good value, good atmosphere, good service. Make it a stop for lunch or dinner (make reservations). It's worth taking a trip to the North Fork to experience this gem.