68 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • FEBRUARY 2020
MAIN DISH
ZORN’S OF BETHPAGE
TASTE OF TRADITION
Much has changed in the past 80
years, but one thing remains the
same: Zorn’s of Bethpage still makes
its delicious homemade food from
scratch the same way it did upon its
1940 founding.
HOT PLATE
DINING SCENE ADDITIONS
BY SAMUEL PODOLSKY
I•T•A KITCHEN
Short for Italian American Kitchen,
chef and owner Salvatore Sorrentino
incorporates into his new eatery
his decades of experience working
at Matteo’s and Andreas 25.
The cuisine includes items such as
SJ’s Veal Chop, a bone-in breaded
veal chop neatly set in truffle Marsala
sauce, with truffle fries set
aside. Some items diners won’t see
just anywhere include the avocado
burrata toast, which is adorned with
candied prosciutto and roasted red
peppers, adding a tasteful Italian
twist to the trendy dish.
I•T•A also boasts an impressive bar
with happy hours from 5 p.m. to 7
p.m. weekdays excluding Monday. .
45 W Main St., Bay Shore,
itakitchenbayshore.com
KUNG FU TEA
The prolific tea chain with more
than 250 locations nationwide is
opening its third Long Island tea
room, in Williston Park.
Specializing in bubble tea, this
Taiwanese drink consists of milk
teas, each batch brewed fresh
every three hours, combined
with the signature chewy tapioca
pearls, which make up the “bubble”
portion. Served cold or hot,
there are various types of milk to
choose from, with flavors such as
milk green tea, coffee milk tea, and
coconut milk tea, among others.
Other beverage options include
classic tea, espresso, Yakult brand
yogurt drink, tea, and ice-blended
slush, as well as seasonal flavors.
434 Hillside Ave., Williston Park,
kungfutea.com
IN THE SHED
Boasting one of the best
brunches on the Island,
this chic eatery in Huntington
opened a second
location in West Sayville.
All the classic brunch
staples are here, whether
it’s buttermilk pancakes,
Belgian waffles, omelets,
salads, or cheeseburgers.
What’s different is that
the gluten-free choices
taste as great as they are
good for you. Take the
breakfast bowl, which combines
two poached eggs, avocado, home
fries, sautéed spinach, onions,
corn, jalapeño, and chipotle hollandaise.
The Shed serves up a champion breakfast.
Pan-seared salmon and
grilled chicken paillard are other
impressive additions for those
with gluten allergies.
Soup, catch, and butcher’s cut of the
day make up the best parts of the dinner
menu, along with baked clams,
mac and cheese, and other small
bites. The full-service bar includes 13
beers on tap, original cocktails and
mocktails.
21 Main St., West Sayville
intheshed.com
The seven poultry farms that
founder Peter Zorn and his family
ran have long since been sold.
But his granddaughter, Merrill S.
Zorn, who now runs the business,
still ensures that her grandfather’s
good old-fashioned hearty meals
continue to be served up unaltered
through the decades — including
keeping the top secret chicken recipe
in a safe.
“What separates us is we really go
the extra mile,” Zorn says. “We make
small batches … and I think you can
taste the difference.”
While there are still some poultry
farms on the East End, few local
family-run restaurants have proven
to have such staying power. To mark
the 80th anniversary, patrons
should stay tuned for 1940-related
specials all year long.
Initially offering take-out-only,
which proved innovative at that
time, Zorn’s of Bethpage has
since moved from its original
location on Hempstead Turnpike
to a new 8,000-square-foot
building right next door which
includes an indoor and outdoor
dining area.
Despite that major change,
the constant — besides quality
food — remains the Zorn family’s
involvement. Merrill jokes
that family itself is “the secret
sauce.”
“There is always a Zorn in the
kitchen making sure that the original
recipes passed down from my
grandparents are still prepared
with the same quality and pride that
they were 80 years ago,” she says.
“Some of our traditions are looked
upon as old-fashioned by today’s
standards, but this is how we
maintain our high quality
and consistency.”
Upon entering Zorn’s of
Bethpage the legacy is on full
display, which is adorned
with family photos from
over the generations.
“We choose to do things the
hard way,” Zorn says. “Our
food is truly homemade. We
don't cut any corners.”
Zorn’s of Bethpage is located
at 4321 Hempstead
Tpke. in Bethpage. It can be
reached at 516-731-5500 or
zornsofbethpage.com
Zorn’s of Bethpage is celebrating its 80th
anniversary.
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/itakitchenbayshore.com
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/intheshed.com
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