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RUSTIC ITALIAN
Orto, the stylish offspring of Kitchen A Bistro and Kitchen A Trattoria in St. James, is growing tastefully in Miller Place.
Chef Eric Lomando prepares refined, flavorful variations on what's billed as "rustic Italian" cuisine in his new kitchen. And, whether you're ordering a la carte or enjoying the fixed-price menus, you're getting plenty for your money.
Orto sprouts on the former address of Brian Scott's American eatery. The newcomer's name suggests a vegetable or kitchen garden. So, you can begin with tasty roasted cauliflower accented with a "bagna cauda" vinaigrette and Parmesan cheese; or slather sundried-tomato tapenade on the house's good bread. Also recommended: braised meatballs atop polenta, sauteed duck with farro and sweet-sour cherries, and a delicious raviolo with ricotta, mushroom and egg.
A three-course, fixed-price dinner is $38; four-course, $48. A la carte, main dishes are $23; pastas, $12. Credit cards are not accepted.
Orto, 90 North Country Rd., Miller Place; 631-473-0014. -- PETER M. GIANOTTI
NO PARKING, NO CHOW
Philippe Chow has served its last green prawn in Jericho. The two-star Nassau outpost of the upscale Chinese mini-chain closed on Sunday. Managing partner Stratis Morfogen said that the reason was parking.
Since Philippe Chow opened in November, 2010, it had used about 30 parking spaces on the property of the neighboring Mobil gas station that were, Morfogen said, "a necessary part of the puzzle." That station closed a few months ago, and the restaurant was unable to reach an agreement either to buy the property or to continue leasing the spaces, according to Morfogen. "And on a busy night," he said, "the parking just couldn't hold up." -- ERICA MARCUS
FAIRWAY COMING TO WESTBURY
The rumors have swirled around for the last few weeks, but now the lease has been signed. Fairway Market will be moving into the Roosevelt Raceway Center in Westbury. The specialty supermarket will occupy about half of the 128,000 square-foot space on Corporate Drive that used to house Home Depot Expo, which closed in 2009. The opening, expected in August, is to create 400 to 500 jobs, according to a company spokeswoman.
The Westbury location will be Fairway's 11th, and its second on Long Island; the Plainview store (at 50 Manetto Hill Mall) opened in 2001. Asked why he chose Westbury, Fairway's chief executive Howard Glickberg said that "this store is more accessible to our South Shore customers." -- ERICA MARCUS
