Editor’s Note: This article was written and submitted by Chris Boyle.
Situated directly across from the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road Station at 216 Pettit Ave., Lincoln Station combines the class of a posh restaurant with the casual comfort of a neighborhood pub.
The restaurant’s owner, who declined to be named until he pulls off their imminent grand opening celebration, boasts 20 years in the food industry, and says that Lincoln Station will have something to offer everybody in search of a quality dining experience.
“It’s a cross between an upscale-type of restaurant environment, but it’s also inviting and warm for families and the community as well,” he said. “And, of course, we’ll have sports and entertainment as well.”
For Lincoln Station, it’s been a long journey that only recently lead into the Bellmores, where the owner finally felt he had found the perfect location for his eatery.
“I’ve been looking for many years at many different spaces, properties and opportunities,” he said. “When this came about, I loved the location, and I loved the area, the town, and the people who live here.”
Lincoln Station’s Pettit Avenue location has seen several tenants come and go. The last one, Clearwater Charlie, was a café/diner that was unable to stand the test of time, a goal Lincoln’s owner feels he’ll be able to achieve due to his different approach.
“The previous places were not full-blown grills and restaurants,” he added. “They did not have that kind of environment. I loved the opportunity of knowing that the previous businesses in that spot weren’t very successful. I’ve had many people over the past several months come up and tell me to run away and run fast, but knowing what I was doing, I think it’s going to be very successful.”
John, Lincoln Station’s head chef, is a Brooklyn native who has been in the culinary business for the last 20 years, running kitchens and expertly honing his craft.
“My background is pretty eclectic,” he said. “I was trained in classical French cooking, I worked with a couple of guys from Italy for a few years and I’ve basically been doing this since I was a kid. I’ve been all over the country doing this.”
John feels that, when it comes to food, creativity and improvisation are the keys to success, and that’s the approach he took when designing Lincoln Station’s menu.
“It can be described as modern pub cuisine, with a leaning towards tapas and smaller plates,” he said. “Fried raviolis, spring rolls, chicken, broccoli rabe...things like that. However, there’s also more upscale entrées as well, like filet mignon. The menu right now is a little all over the place because I want to see where it goes.”
“I like to do different things with food because I can,” John added. “I like common ground food, but then I get a little creative with it. I have the ability to do it all.”
Originally, Lincoln Station had intended on holding their grand opening on Oct. 18; however, delays have possibly pushed this milestone back at least a week or so, according to its owner.
“There’s just a lot of detail that’s involved with the whole process,” he said. “I just want to make sure everything is perfect. I was very aggressive with the opening date and we’re probably going to do a soft opening on Oct. 23 or 24, with the grand opening probably on Oct. 25. I want everyone in Bellmore and beyond to come by and give us a try. They won’t be disappointed.”
Are you excited for Lincoln Station’s impending arrival? Tell us in the comments below.
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