Passed through the McCaroll family for three generations, the Good Steer restaurant, located on Middle Country Road in Lake Grove, has finally closed its doors. The restaurant confirmed via Facebook on Sunday that its last day of operation was Saturday, July 9.
“As they say, All Good Things must come to an end,” the restaurant stated. “We have truly enjoyed serving you for these past 7 decades, but it is time for us to end this story.”
While the closing of the Good Steer was “not an easy decision,” the McCaroll family decided to close its doors due to rising costs. Aside from property taxes and rising utility bills, “So many of our ingredients and raw materials doubled in price,” says Robert McCarroll. “It just gets to the point that you can’t raise the prices any more to cover the costs. If it costs you $125 to fill up your car, you run out of money for a cheeseburger very quickly.”
The Good Steer has served as a landmark since 1957 when it was opened by Robert B. and Elizabeth McCaroll. Celebrities such as E.G. Marshall, the Gabor sisters and Ava Gardner were known to frequent the restaurant on their way to and from the Hamptons.
Known for having waitresses on roller skates at one point, this once seasonal “upscale hamburger stand” quickly became a year-round operation. As the area grew- the Good Steer accommodated its clientele and its neon sign, featuring a steer, became the meeting spot for locals for many generations.
“The Good Steer was a nostalgic place to remember how it was years ago before all the commercialization of Middle Country Road, it brought back the comfort of childhood memories,” says patron of the Good Steer, Anthony DeLisio. “The steak was always great and the sliced steak on garlic bread was always my favorite.”
Other former restaurant owners took the time to chime in on just how the industry has changed due to inflation.
“It’s sad when this happens,” says former Long Island Grill owner Pete Sanoudakis, “it’s too stressful to be in the industry anymore with the way costs have gone up. If you’re a high-end restaurant, you should do fine but not a neighborhood restaurant. When you used to pay $3 a pound and now have to pay $10, you eventually can’t make money trying to maintain it.”
However, the restaurant did leave us with a cliffhanger when sending their “final” farewell by stating “Who knows… keep an eye out. We might be back someday!”
While the family does not want to franchise the name in fear of losing the “family feel,” McCaroll, who still owns the property, has suggested a quick service of some sort, and has been “thinking different things depending on what the village will let us do with it.”
Color us at The Messenger, and in the community at large, more than intrigued.
