Bites Nearby: Jonathan’s Restaurant

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, New Hyde Park Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:

Jonathan’s Restaurant

Marked by its lustrous gold sign, Jonathan’s can be distinctly noticed when driving down the Jericho Turnpike strip in Garden City Park. Equally matched by its elegant outer landscape, the restaurant’s vast menu and inner ambiance makes it a standout option for dining out in the area.

“We have been here for 17 years and have a nice family-oriented following,” says part-owner and manager Dean Mavrikis.

Jonathan’s several spacious dining areas and fair price range are what make it especially appealing to families. Also available for catering, they can accommodate groups of 25 to 100 guests.

Renowned chef Alain Ribiere has been with the restaurant for the majority of its years in business. The menu he’s created, featuring fresh seafood and steaks, offers contemporary American food with Mediterranean accents.

Maryland crab cakes with horseradish mayo are a favorite in the appetizer department. For dinner, try the tender braised short rib of beef or the Mediterranean bronzini served with spinach and roasted red potatoes.

In addition to meat and fish standards, other options include dinner salads, pasta, veal and chicken, burgers, chops and vegetarian items. At lunch, sandwiches, wraps and burgers are prevalent.

If sweets are your favorite part of the meal, all desserts are homemade and baked fresh daily. Try the sampler for two for a tasting of the crème brulèe, apple crisp and chocolate mousse.

Mavrikis notes, “We are the only restaurant in the area that serves 41 wines by the glass.”

Perhaps one of the best spots to enjoy a glass of vino from their award-winning wine list is in Jonathan’s newly renovated tapas bar and lounge. Accompany your wine with such tempting tapas selections as mini paella, chorizo risotto croquettes and the sandwich of the day.

All drinks including wines by the glass are half off at the bar Monday through Friday between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 pm. Annual wine tasting dinners are also something to look out for. The events are available to those who sign up and are usually offered a couple of times a year.

Jonathan’s is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Every Sunday, they have brunch from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Rrom omelets to lamb chops with Tsatsiki sauce, all brunch items come with a mimosa or Bloody Mary, coffee, mini bagels, and muffins.

Jonathan’s Restaurant, 2499 Jericho Turnpike, Garden City Park, (516) 742-7300.  Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.; Sunday 11:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. http://www.jonathansrestaurant.net/index.cfm