Seasoned Restaurant Owner Brings American-Style Tapas to Seaford

Venturing into the corporate world is great for some, but for Pete Mangouranes, the hospitality business was the only one that seemed fit.

Mangouranes opened The Phoenix, his third Nassau County establishment, last month in at 3915 Merrick Rd. in Seaford, the old location of Pomodorino that closed late last year. A current resident of Massapequa, Mangouranes grew up within the restaurant business with his father since age 10. After a brief stint as a financial adviser, Mangouranes knew he needed to return to his roots, a job that he loved.

His latest endeavor is something new to both Mangouranes and the Seaford community. The Republic in Farmingdale and The Good Life in Massapequa serve more of a bar crowd while The Phoenix focuses on food.

"I don't think restaurants in the area are offering what we are," said Mangouranes. "I like adding to a neighborhood, not taking away."

"When we first signed the lease, I walked over to Runyon's and introduced myself," he added. "I wanted them to know we wouldn't be doing anything to compete with their business. I want to bring more people down to our community, make our neighborhood better as a whole."

Seasonal, American-style tapas are the highlight of the menu, but The Phoenix also features a core set of sandwiches, salads, soups and pizza that remain all year round.

"Our interpretation of tapas is small plates, 3-4 ounces per serving and $3-$8 per plate," Mangouranes explained. "Right now we're serving a chicken-fried pork belly and brussell sprouts with honey rice vinegar that are really popular."

Open for less than a month, the restaurant has already been a packed house on the weekend nights. Mangouranes hopes that his passion shows with his service and that diners of Seaford continue to see that.

"If you go into a place and you like it, it's probably because the owner cares," Mangouranes said. "A lot of people do this badly, but this is what I'm supposed to be doing."