Bites Nearby: Grand Lux Cafe

You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, Garden City Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here’s this week’s choice:

GRAND LUX CAFE: Patrons who dine at Grand Lux at Roosevelt Field may think they are eating at a larger-scale Cheesecake Factory. And they would not be wrong. That is because Grand Lux and Cheesecake Factory are sister restaurants operating under the same ownership.

If you have never dined at the Lux, know this: Grand Lux as a restaurant is large in size and the portions often match the footprint. This is an ideal place to go with a group to celebrate friendship or an event. A romantic dinner? Not so much, because the noise travels here. There are more than a dozen items on the “Things To Share” menu, including favorites like Vietnamese Chicken Summer Rolls (chicken, asparagus, red and yellow peppers, carrots and rice noodles rolled in a wrapper. It is served cold with spicy peanut sauce.); and Crispy Flautas (flour tortillas filled with chicken, poblano chiles, cilantro and pepper jack cheese, fried crisp and served with Avocado sauce).

If you are in the mood for salads, pizza or burgers, there is more than enough to satisfy the taste buds; for entrée seekers, there are no fewer than 15 items – among them try Jamaican Pork Tenderloin (with black beans, mashed sweet potatoes, rice and very spicy Jamaican black pepper sauce. Topped with cool mango salsa); Yankee Pot Roast and Grilled Pork Chop.

Tavern favorites include chicken pot pie, Southern fried chicken and the ever-popular BBQ pork ribs. The menu claims the ribs fall off the bone, and this does happen. The ribs are glazed with Grand Lux’s special sauce, which is served with fries and cole slaw. 630 Old Country Road (Roosevelt Field Mall), 516-741-0096. Hours of operation: Monday to Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Patio seating is available; Large print and Braille menus are available.

Found a great place to dine? Let us know about it in the comments section below.