According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, humans cannot attain self-actualization without first tending to such basic physiological needs as water, sleep, and horseradish. Achieve overall fulfillment with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of new American cuisine at Michael Anthony’s Food Bar in Wading River.
Over the course of 25 years, chef Michael Anthony has dedicated himself to reinventing his own variation of new American cuisine, which he proudly shares on the menu. Aromas of made-to-order specialties swirl throughout the dining area, which features powder-blue and white accents to provide a shore-side dining experience without the minor inconvenience of foghorns or aggressive gulls. Seafood specialties include the swordfish with wild mushroom, cauliflower purée, and truffle oil ($28), and the puff pastry salmon with tomato and caper ragout ($26). The grilled pork chop introduces palates to robust, rustic notes courtesy of chef Michael’s apple cinnamon sauce ($24), and the duck breast carries a blend of sweet complexities with plum-and-date chutney ($25). In addition, the grill bar fires hearty range items such as the T-bone steak ($42) and the porterhouse for two ($72).
Michael Anthony's Food Bar
Cars whizzing down the North Wading River road could easily miss Michael Anthony's Food Bar, a handsome restaurant nestled amid leafy trees and residential homes at the threshold of wine country. The lucky patrons who do find the eatery, however, are rewarded with the dazzling site of pristine white tablecloths set with sapphire glasses, colorful hot-air balloons dangling from lofty white rafters, and bright walls speckled with vivid decor. Diners can then take a seat upon one of the soft cushions to nibble on oysters and toast their great discovery with a glass of fine wine.
Meanwhile, in the restaurant's kitchen, Chef Michael Anthony is hard at work folding fresh seafood, premium meats, and imaginative sauces into a variety of small plates, pastas, and seasonal specialties such as the pumpkin chicken with balsamic-rosemary butter or the duck breast with apricot-apple chutney. Michael has spent the last 25 years perfecting his signature "New American Cuisine" recipes, favoring inventive ingredients such as toasted-sage olive oil.