Where to go for dinner and dancing on Long Island
Adrienne Sam of Howard Beach and Franz Nelson of Baldwin dance at Puglia's in Garden City (987 Stewart Ave., 516-342-6500) on Jan. 10, 2015. Credit: Aaron Zebrook
Going out on Long Island, very often you have to choose whether you want to enjoy a meal or boogie into the wee hours. What if you could combine both activities?
Here are four places to go get dinner, then stick around for dancing.
WHEN | WHERE 6 p.m.-4 a.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 246 Voice Rd., Carle Place. $10-$25 cover after 10:30 p.m., cover is waived for dining guests.
ON THE MENU American fusion -- a tapas menu featuring Hawaiian skirt steak, crispy chicken taquitos and BBQ pulled pork sliders.
ON THE FLOOR House music, EDM and hip-hop.
When it came to celebrating her birthday with friends, Merry Goldfarb, 60, of Westbury chose Love. "I liked the idea of combining dinner and dancing," she says. "After dinner, everybody needs to move. It keeps you young."
After 10:30 p.m., the supper club turns into a nightclub.
"The dinner is a relaxed upbeat atmosphere," says waitress Bettie Leto, 46, of Levittown. "Once the music starts it's a completely different feel."
INFO 516-248-7600, lovenightclubli.com
WHEN | WHERE After 7 or 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 987 Stewart Ave. in Garden City. No cover.
ON THE MENU Italian
ON THE FLOOR Standards to contemporary dance music.
Walking into Puglia's in Garden City on the weekend is like being thrown into a scene from the Copacabana. A live band jams nonstop dance music ranging from Beyoncé to James Brown, while gnocchi and seafood fra diavolo is served a few feet away.
"This is a very friendly atmosphere," says Michael Chambers, 72, of Islip Terrace. "Everybody dances with everybody. It's a fun meeting place."
Five nights a week the 40-and-over crowd orders dinner and cocktails in between cutting a rug. "You have a good time here no matter what," says Mafalda Fishman, 41, of Massapequa. "It's like a party every week."
INFO 516-222-1421, pugliasofgardencity.com
WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Tuesdays, 170 Post Ave. in Westbury. $20 per session includes buffet.
ON THE MENU Italian-French-Haitian buffet
ON THE FLOOR Argentine tango
For the past 11 years at Mirelle's in Westbury, the Argentine Tango Lovers of Long Island host an evening that consists of a dance lesson and dinner followed by social dancing centered on traditional Argentine tango.
"I started this as a way to keep my husband and I close. It's very romantic," says club president Sherry Palencia. "When you dance, it's like one body with four legs."
Miriam Wirski, 50, of Sea Cliff comes weekly because she always wanted to learn the tango.
"My skills have grown exponentially," she says. "I'm glad I took the leap. I should have done it a long time ago."
This month, Donald French, 68, of East Quogue is traveling to Buenos Aires and wanted to brush up on his dancing skills.
"You don't have to be the best dancer in the world," he says. "It's very forgiving."
French even enjoys eating dinner with his dancing partners. "It makes it more community-like," he says.
INFO 631-242-0686, argentinetangolovers.com
WHEN | WHERE 7 p.m. Tuesdays at 323 Main St. in Farmingdale, and Wednesdays at 60 E. Main St. in Bay Shore (631-969-9700). $8 cover.
ON THE MENU Pub fare
ON THE FLOOR Country line dancing
At "Nutty Country" night at the Nutty Irishman in Farmingdale, you'll find guys and gals wrapped in denim, boots and bandannas line dancing to country music. Don't know the moves? No problem. Free line dancing instruction is offered by the L.I. Boot Kickers.
"We break it down and make it real simple for everybody," says instructor Frank Spano.
A live country band plays two 45-minute sets while DJ Cowboy Ben E. Minelli spins in between. Folks down Texan burgers, chicken quesadillas and sweet potato fries with Pabst Blue Ribbon cans and pickle juice shots.
Stacy Patrick, 26, of Commack has been coming for the past two months and she's catching on.
"It's pretty easy to pick up," says Patrick. "After a couple of times you get it."
For Steve Modula, 23, of Bay Shore, it's a great workout.
"I lost 20 pounds in the first two weeks," he says. "I'm loving it!"
INFO 516-293-9700, thenuttyirishman.com
