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A Neighborhood Grill With
Culinary Thrill McQuades
Neighborhood Grill, located on Merrick Road in Lynbrook, was established in 2008 and
is family owned and operated by the McQuade family. Upon entering you’ll notice
the spacious bar area that leads way to the dining and catering rooms. There
are 11 high definition TV's in the bar, deeming McQuades an ideal spot to
watch your favorite sporting events. Jim
McQuade had the restaurant built from scratch from the ground up. It was a huge
investment and luckily for them, it’s become a great investment. Before opening this restaurant, Jim owned Kasey’s of Rockville
Centre, which he sold three years ago. Jim, along with Chef Mo, crafted an impressive menu at McQuades filled with a variety of delicious options. Chef Mo attended Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island and has previously showcased his culinary talents at City Cellars, Montego Bay and Brooks and Porter.
We began our dining experience with three impressive cocktails – a Dirty Martini with bleu cheese stuffed olives (above left), an Absolut Apple Martini (above right) and a Stoli Raspberry Cosmo (below left). All three cocktails were nicely garnished, smooth and enjoyable. We also learned that McQuades is known for serving the best Guinness beer in the area. According to Jim, they have the right system to make it the best tasting Guinness beer possible.
Our
server Lauren presented our table with a breadbasket filled with an assortment of
breads, breadsticks and flat breads (above right). Lauren was friendly and extremely
on point, always providing us with the necessary silverware and plates to accompany
each dish. She previously worked for the McQuade family at Kasey’s and when they made
the move to Lynbrook, so did she. The Tuna and Avocado Tartar was the first appetizer we were treated to (below left). Found on the specials menu, this starter features sushi grade tuna, avocado, cilantro, red onion, mango and coriander with crispy wonton skins. The fresh, diced ingredients make it easy to eat and the wonton skins were perfectly crisp and delicate. The mango is a great additive, as it adds just a hint of sweetness to the already flavorsome tartar.
We
continued with the Kung Pow Combo (above right) of crispy shrimp and calamari in a
sweet and spicy Asian sauce (kung pow sauce) with peanuts, scallions and lime. To
embrace the Asian flare of the dish, it is served with chopsticks. Both the shrimp
and the calamari were very tender, yet featured an ideally light crisp. The sauce
has the perfect balance of sweet and spicy making this standout appetizer a table
favorite, as well as a customer favorite. McQuades has been known for their Tid Bits for years. We couldn’t wait to sample their Filet Mignon Tid Bits served with on garlic toast with a peppercorn cognac sauce (below left). With one bite we were surely able to see why they’re such a big hit. They’re a great finger food and perfect to share amongst others. The filet mignon was cooked to a wonderful medium rare and it was covered in just the right amount of mozzarella cheese. The peppercorn sauce was just right and we also got to sample some of their famous BBQ sauce, which also served as a zesty, delicious dipper.
Not
only are they known for their tid bits, but McQuades is also known for their
burgers. Named one of the “best burgers in town”, we couldn’t wait to try the
Cheddar Cheeseburger with sweet potato fries (above right). The burger was juicy and
flavorful and is served on an English Muffin, which is a surprisingly excellent
concept. The crunch of the English Muffin really enhances the burger and the sweet
potato fries cannot be overlooked, as they were crisp and delicious, made freshly in
house. The Pear Salad (below left) is a specialty item that will eventually be added to their everyday menu. This large portioned salad features zinfandel poached pears over mixed greens, almonds, onions, bleu cheese and tomatoes with a balsamic glaze. All ingredients were top notch and perfectly tossed in the dressing. This salad is a refreshing meal in itself.
Our
final entrée was the uniquely delicious Pretzel Crusted Chicken (above right). The
sourdough pretzel crusted chicken is lightly coated in a honey dijon mustard sauce
and served over saffron rice pilaf and fresh vegetables. The extra crisp outer
coating gives way to the tender, succulent chicken. The dish offers a nice balance
of flavor and is a standout chicken entrée on their menu. Rounding out our dining experience was the Brownie Monster dessert consisting of homemade chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and caramel syrup all served in a tall sundae glass (below left). The brownie was warm and delectable and you can taste a little bit of every sweet temptation in each bite. We washed it down with a tasty Cappuccino (below right).
McQuades is a great neighborhood establishment. Here you’ll find delicious food at affordable prices in an environment that can’t be beat. Not only can you come enjoy an evening out with family and friends or a quick bite at the bar while you cheer on your favorite team, but you can also host your on-premise parties here. They have two huge catering rooms for private parties and special occasions. Off-premise catering is also available. Stop in next time you’re in town. You won’t be disappointed!
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