Food The passing of Tony Mazzarella, a pillar of a man in Long Island City, was deeply felt in the early months of 2015. A retired boxer and relentless giver, Mazzarella’s contributions went far beyond charity or money. His restaurant, Waterfront Crabhouse, provided a place for the community to gather, for fellow former pugilists to catch up, and for local families to mark moments in their lives. The old Waterfront Crabhouse was as beloved by the people of Long Island City as Mazzarella, and when it followed its founder into the great beyond just a month after Mazzarella’s death, its absence was felt keenly. Thankfully, local restaurateur Joseph Licul and his partners, known for their work at Skinny’s Cantina and SHI, saw an opportunity to rescue a cherished neighborhood institution from the fate of being turned into another Hunter’s Point high-rise. Working closely with the Mazzarella family, their team gave Waterfront Crabhouse a modern update while preserving elements from the previous iteration: the iconic street lamp in front of the restaurant, the ivy hanging from the chandeliers—and the dedication to seriously good crabs. Rebranded as Crabhouse and reopened in August 2016, the restaurant offers both a crabhouse and a steakhouse experience. Fried softshell crabs share table space with luxuriously tender rib eyes, while diners clink glasses of dry red wines or fruity whites over lobster arragiata. If you like chicken, beef, pork or fish, you’ll find something you like here. Photos by Bridget Kenny Crabhouse Rebooted By Sean Curry 40 April 2017 i LIC COURIER i www.qns.com
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