LI Trio To Open New Hispanic Restaurant In Lindenhurst

LINDENHURST, NY - Three Long Island friends will be opening a new Hispanic restaurant in Lindenhurst this year.

Kristen Lapof, Sara Pesserillo and Lauren Nash hope to open their eatery, Hermanas on 136 S Wellwood Avenue this spring.

Although the three were born and raised in different parts of Long Island (Lapof grew up in Holbrook and now lives in Massapequa Park; Pesserillo grew up in Smithtown and now lives in Massapequa and Nash was born and raised in Lindenhurst), they are coming together to open the new business.

The trio met in 2005 while working at Mulcahy's in Wantagh and all moved on to work together at The Good Life in Massapequa Park in 2010.

"The dynamic between us has felt flawless since day one," Pesserillo told Patch. "Cumulatively, we have around 50 years of work experience in the restaurant industry, and a large portion of them were spent working side by side each other."

After several years of working in restaurants, the three decided to finally work towards opening their own.

"We stayed focused on creating the opportunity for ourselves because it’s a competitive industry, and even more challenging as women," Pesserillo said. "We looked at several communities and villages before finding the location. The moment we saw the space on South Wellwood, we knew it was perfect for us."

In addition, the trio were excited to be a part of the revitalization of the downtown Lindenhurst.

"The Lindenhurst community has been so supportive and it already feels like we’ve been welcomed into the neighborhood, and it feels like we are members of this family that has common interests and goals," she said. "The goal is to bring the Lindenhurst community an upscale casual dining experience by using the most natural ingredients, freshest produce, and changing the menu often to accommodate seasons."

Hermanas, which is Spanish for 'sisters,' is inspired by traditional Hispanic comfort food and will be serving foods from many different distinct regions including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Spain, Cuba, as well as regions of Central and South America.

The eatery will offer a balanced contemporary menu inspired by Spanish tapas, Latin American street food including empanadas and tacos.

Photo courtesy of Sara Pesserillo