St. James: Chef’s week off
The exterior of Mosaic Restaurant at 418 Route 25A # 2 in St. James. Credit: Danielle Finkelstein
After dinner tomorrow night, Mosaic, the exuberant, chef-driven St. James restaurant, will take a break until July 13. One chef-owner, Tate Morris, is heading out of town on a family vacation, but the other, Jonathan Contes, is using the time off to try some new Long Island restaurants. On his list are Verace, specializing in authentic Italian small plates in Islip, and Limani, specializing in authentic Greek fish cookery, in Roslyn. He also plans to eat sushi at a favorite haunt, Mizu in Bayport. “It’s this little place in a shopping center, like we are,” Contes said, “and they have cool stuff—like monkfish liver—that you don’t usually see around here.”
Once Contes and Morris return to work, they have a busy month ahead of them. July 13 to 17 is “Bring your own wine week” (no corkage).
On July 20 to 23, it’s a three-course "barbecue'' menu ($42 and that includes wine and beer). Contes expects to serve cedar-planked salmon or trout, marinated rib eyes, pulled pork, barbecued chicken and traditional sides (potato salad, coleslaw, corn) done with a twist.
Mosaic is at 418 North Country Rd., St. James, 631-584-2058.
