Bites Nearby: Upper Crust Café

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:

UPPER CRUST CAFÉ – For more than 25 years, Upper Crust Café has treated village residents to upscale dining in a comfortable setting, primarily for weekday lunch and brunch. Now, however, the Franklin Avenue restaurant has gained a following for its dinner menu. Chef and co-owner Nicholas Lucchesi makes everything from scratch. His portions are generous and artfully presented. 

So many choices, so little time? The best advice is to come here for brunch, lunch and dinner. Upper Crust Café’s brunch menu offers specials like “Smoked Salmon Benny” with two poached eggs, smoked salmon, tomato avocado and hollandaise sauce for $10.95.

Lunch must-haves include the “The Day After,” originally marketed as a post-Thanksgiving Day dish of roasted fresh turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce, gravy and mayo for $9.95. Another treat is “The Package,” an 8-ounce hamburger patty with caramelized onions, Virginia ham, barbecue mayo and cheddar in a toasted flour tortilla for $12.

For dinner, start with the crowd favorite – the crab mac & cheese appetizer. Chef Luchessi’s recipe of crab, mushrooms, tomatoes, herbs and a pesto crust is a hit. The entrees are all good. One standout is the “Blackened Jumbo Shrimp,” which is pan seared, with mashed cauliflower, Nantucket fried rice and shrimp bisque. 931 Franklin Avenue. 516-248-5677. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Prices: $16 to $26 for entrees.

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