Through word of mouth, I learned of Hauppauge’s new hidden gem. Conveniently located off the north side of the Long Island Expressway on Wheeler Road sits “Nosh Kitchen & Cocktails.”
Nosh, which markets traditional food with a modern blend, was formally Ciro’s, and is owned by the same owners. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Matt Acerno, along with his two partners, decided that Ciro’s needed a revamp.
“I am half-Jewish and half-Italian and both sides of my family use the word ‘Nosh’,” said Acerno. “The word ‘Nosh’ means ‘to eat enthusiastically’ and that’s what I was looking for. I want people to come to a place that was energetic and fun and to have a good time.”
Walking into Nosh, you can automatically tell that Acerno has created what he first envisioned. Upon entering, the center of the floor is taken up by a sharp and sleek bar with stone detail, and what appears to be granite countertops. The word “Nosh” sits above the bar in neon lights, establishing a strong presence amongst a dimly lit room. Although there is table seating by the bar and limited seating in the back of the restaurant, there is an intimate outdoor seating area that is tastefully decorated with lights and lemon garland. This specific outdoor area is a beautiful spot for a local summer date night.
The tapas have been earning a reputation for themselves, so I decided to graze through the menu. For our table, we started with the roasted cauliflower, the Mediterranean flatbread, the Thai calamari, and the pulpo. Believe it or not, the favorite was the roasted cauliflower. I know, we were shocked too. The right amount of roasting and the inclusion of the tastiest dipping sauce. Next in line: the pulpo. The pulpo was presented beautifully. With perfect rounds of pulpo, bacon, arugula, peppers and a butternut squash purée, this starter did have a blend of many flavors that worked well with one another.
The Thai calamari had a decently flavored sauce- a nice blend of sweet and spice. The calamari could have been a little crispier, but this didn’t stop it from being tied for second with the pulpo.
Lastly, the Mediterranean flatbread, which has cannellini bean purée, feta cheese, sundried tomatoes, arugula, and Gaeta olives, could have been a little tastier–but it was a nice little touch to the table.
For an entree, I decided to get the special, which was coconut crusted salmon and mashed potatoes with a sweet sauce. The salmon was cooked to perfection. The specialty flavors, the coconut crust and the sweet sauce were very subtle. Our party received “the butcher block pork chop,” and a good old-fashioned cheeseburger.
One thing said about each plate: the servings were generous, and each dish was cooked exactly how it was asked for, which was obviously a big plus for us.
What stood out most about Nosh was the exceptional customer service. Not only did the owner Matt come around to our table twice, our waiter was attentive, knowledgeable, and went out of his way to make sure we were content. Whether it was tasting different wines to see which one was to our liking, or bringing over a taste of a side, he did it with pleasure, quickly, and with a big smile on his face. A friendly staff is an understatement!
We ended our night not realizing that the venue was closed. We were never pushed out, though. They never gave off the impression they wanted us to leave. In fact, there was live music still playing, tables still occupied, and plenty of people around the bar with their “Noshtails.”
All in all, we enjoyed the modern-day Cheers feel to Nosh, and are looking forward to returning. For those of you who appreciate a more traditional dining experience, Ciro’s of Kings Park is still open with the same menu items and ambiance that once existed on Wheeler Road in Hauppauge before Nosh entered the picture.
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Nosh Kitchen & Cocktails is located at 470 Wheeler Rd in Hauppauge.
