ICYMI: The Villager Of Farmingdale's Goal Is To 'Create An Experience'

FARMINGDALE, NY — The Villager came to Farmingdale in June, replacing Farmingdale Brew Co. at 306 Main St.

The gastropub's goal is to give customers an "elevated pub experience" with a well-curated beer list, "sophisticated but approachable" cocktails, and a menu that allows head chef William Ahearnto add an Americana twist to every dish, said James Zeffiro, the general manager. The Villager is all about "really refined" gastropub food.

"What we want to do here is create an experience," Zeffiro, 35, of Lindenhurst, told Patch. "We realize how important it is these days for people to give you their time. And if somebody gives you their time, it’s really actually rewarding that someone took the time to come to your place. We want to give them the best experience they could possibly have with that free time.”

The Villager's self-proclaimed claim to fame is its Gouda fries, which come as an appetizer where waffle fries are loaded with Gouda-beer cheese sauce, bacon and scallions. Diners can also get waffle fries and Gouda on the Villager Burger — the number one sellers at The Villager locations in Farmingdale and Babylon. The pub also offers its spin on a Big Mac called the Big Mick.

"It’s pretty much a well-made Big Mac," Zeffiro said. "If you love a Big Mac, you’ll love that burger."

Ahearn said the most important part of a burger is the blend. Keeping the seasoning simple is also crucial, said Ahearn, who only uses Morton's Kosher salt and black pepper.

"You want to taste the quality of that food," Ahearn said. "It would be like buying a dry-age steak and covering it with ketchup. You wouldn’t do that. So why would you do that to a good burger?”

The Villager also offers rice bowls, tacos, three-cheese macaroni and cheese (yes, Gouda is one of the three), sandwiches, and plenty of shareables.

“When you come to an Americana pub and it’s not just a burger, it’s not just fish and chips, it’s some international cuisine done in kind of an American-twisted way where we can take it and make it more fun or do it traditional," Zeffiro said.

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