Weekend Picks: Dinner at the mall
The Capital Grille features an impressive bar near the entrance. (Oct. 27, 2012) Credit: Johnny Simon
On a day when the mall has wrung it all out of you, the notion of splurging on dinner nearby takes on added allure.
Each of these three restaurants, located at or close to a popular Long Island mall, has its own formula for serving you well:
New to Roosevelt Field is The Capital Grille, a handsome and bustling link in a high-end steakhouse chain. Starters, such as lobster and crabcakes, deliver on opulence. So does the Kona coffee-crusted dry-aged sirloin. Crucial: reserving ahead. $$$-$$$$
630 Old Country Rd. Garden City, 516-746-1675, thecapitalgrille.com
At Big Daddy's, a freewheeling Cajun-Southern-BBQ spot less than a mile from Westfield Sunrise Mall, the countdown to Mardi Gras is ongoing. Chef Craig Bedell's rousing andouille sausage and pork gumbo, satisfying crawfish étouffée and smoky baby back ribs keep the good times rolling. $$-$$$
1A Park Lane, Massapequa, 516-799-8877, bigdaddysny.com
A reproduction of the "Mona Lisa" sets the tone at La Spada, a classic Italian dining spot near Walt Whitman Shops. The repertoire includes such soul-satisfying favorites as stuffed baby artichokes, bucatini Amatriciana and bone-in chicken scarpariello. $$-$$$
315 Walt Whitman Rd. Huntington Station, 631-549-3033
