Around midday, when the halls of justice echo with the sound of rumbling stomachs, those summoned to jury duty must really begin deliberations: Do they hit the vending machines? Dig into their purses for an apple? Go for some cellophane-wrapped ham sandwich in the cafeteria? Or, with 90 minutes to spare, court some culinary excitement and eat out?
Restaurateurs in the vicinity of Mineola, Riverhead and Central Islip, Long Island's three major court areas, use due diligence when feeding the sizeable court-generated lunch bunch. Jim O'Leary, owner of The St. James in Mineola, credits the courts with 30 to 40 percent of his afternoon crowd, many of them lawyers. Nearby, at the Benchmark Delicatessen, owner Joe Sciulara gauges the court clientele at about 50 percent; his eatery closes when the courts do. Rob Garrido, manager at Vinnie's Mulberry Street in Islip, said that a little less than half his afternoon crowd is from the judicial system. And, in Riverhead, Anthony Meras, owner of Star Confectionery, estimates his court crowd at 75 percent.
The fact that, annually, about 60,000 people report for jury duty in Nassau County, with roughly the same amount showing up in Suffolk, means that there are a lot of people casting about for places to lunch. Who better to consult than those who work at the courts every day?
Suffolk County Commissioner of Jurors Michael O'Donohoe is a regular at Star Confectionery. "Papa Nick's is the local name for it," said O'Donohoe. "It's like going back in time to the '50s -- you can still get an egg cream and a hamburger. And they make their own ice cream."
Attorney Bruce L. Roistarcher, with offices in Hauppauge and Uniondale, favors Digger's when he has business in Riverhead. "They have fantastic steak sandwiches and terrific salads," he said. "The service is great and you see a lot of lawyers, judges and jury members." When stopped on his way out of the courthouse, attorney Steven N. Preziozi of Smithtown extolled the hard-to-find Farm Country Kitchen, where he relaxes on the porch in nice weather. "Most everything is under $6 and made with Food Network flair," he said.
Among the local restaurants frequented by Nassau County Commissioner of Jurors Thomas G. De Vivo Jr. are B.K. Sweeney's in Garden City and The St. James in Mineola. Mineola defense attorney Ed Jenks, another fan of The St. James, calls Ben's Kosher Delicatessen & Restaurant in Carle Place "a good spot for a nice thick sandwich and a diet cream soda."
On a warm day, John Healy of Merrick and Michael Soffer of Manhattan, both assistant district attorneys, were spotted at an outdoor table in front of the Benchmark Delicatessen. "There's good quality, good variety," said Soffer of the place. Healy said he also likes Gonzo's on Mineola Boulevard for Mexican food.
The security guards manning the metal detector at the Suffolk County Court in Central Islip, while forbidden to give their names, spoke freely of how much they enjoy Vinnie's Mulberry Street in Islip. Islip Terrace attorney Arthur Graseck said he prefers Tuscany House in Islip Terrace, where the calzones suit him just fine. And Attorney Lawrence S. Youshah of East Meadow, cross-examined while leaving the Central Islip court building, said he enjoys the Irish Coffee Pub and "the school" (the restaurant within New York Institute of Technology Culinary Arts Center at Central Islip).
Out in the court parking lot was taxi driver Juan Diego, who rolled down his window to put in a good word for the El Salvador Restaurant in Central Islip. His advice led to a lunch of savory pupusas (cheese- and pork-filled corn cakes) and a supernal chicken soup that was a meal in itself. Taxi drivers, it seems, know as much as lawyers when it comes to eating well.
North Shore
