Woodbury is serious restaurant country. This suburban hamlet without so much as a proper downtown is teeming with places to shop and dine. Should your car break down along Jericho Turnpike, you may not find a service station right away, but chances are you're within walking distance of a fine Asian chicken salad, a pastrami sandwich, a sashimi platter or a Kobe steak.
In fact, the Woodbury Village Shopping Center, at the corner of Jericho Turnpike and Southwoods Road, is home to five major restaurants that run the gamut from Italian to New American to Nuevo Latino to kosher deli to contemporary Japanese: a culinary tour of the world within a single parking lot.
Woodbury Village Shopping Center:
Ben's Kosher Delicatessen Restaurant, 7971 Jericho Tpke., 516-496- 4236. A bowl of pickles helps stave off hunger pangs as you wait for your pastrami on rye to arrive. And it's a dandy, as are the corned beef and tongue sandwiches, too. Hand-cut French fries are must-orders.
Butera's, 7903 Jericho Tpke, 516-496- 3633. This popular branch of a Long Island mini-chain serves huge portions of satisfying Italian fare and, at the same time, knows how to keep the lunch crowd happy with big, creative salads and robust soups. Pizzas are especially appealing.
Cafe Diane, 7955 Jericho Tpke., 516-677-5120. New, elegant and justifiably popular, this offshoot of Roslyn's Trattoria Diane features the carefully crafted cooking of executive chef John Durkin and chef de cuisine Nick Molfetta. Standouts include the Berkshire pork chop with garlic mashed potatoes and the beef "duo." Desserts by co-owner Diane Margaritis include such calorific treats as flourless chocolate cake and cinnamon-sugar doughnut rounds.
Nisen Sushi, 7967 Jericho Tpke., 516-496-7000. This über-hip modern Japanese restaurant has eye-popping decor and ambition to spare. Chef Kent Monkan (formerly of Heirloom and Panama Hatties) gets creative with Kobe beef, while sushi chef Osan Weng serves yellowtail with blueberries and jalapeños, making it work. Sake aficionados will appreciate the restaurant's extensive offerings.
Laguna Grille, 7927 Jericho Tpke., 516-682-8000. This flagship restaurant of a small chain of Nuevo Latino spots is often packed and clamorous. People come for the vibrant quesadillas, salads (the low-carb steak salad is a real winner) and fruity tropical drinks.
Elsewhere:
Baang Cafe & Bar, 8285 Jericho Tpke., (Woodbury Common) 516-692- 0809. At this Asian fusion spot, salads are a big draw at lunch. Try the crackling calamari salad or the chicken salad made with Napa cabbage and sesame vinaigrette. Entree options include barbecued salmon and charred rare ahi tuna.
Graffiti American Cafe, 8285 Jericho Tpke. (Woodbury Common), 516- 367-1340. This perennial crowd-pleaser is salad central at midday, when plates are piled high with mountains of mesclun. Pizzas are crisp-crusted, and the wraps and entrees hearty and colorful.
Majors Steak House, 8289 Jericho Tpke., 516-367-7300. As mid-priced steak houses go, Major's is a major contender, offering value in terms of its flavorful, juicy red meat, cooked precisely to order. You also can get a fine burger, best enjoyed with the oniony home fries.
Stresa East, 7940 Jericho Tpke., 516-364-1565. Robust yet refined Italian cooking and seamless service are what make this offshoot of the Manhasset original a dining destination. Standouts include the malfatti (spinach ricotta dumplings) in basil-tomato puree and the pollo della Nonna, a lusty chicken, potato and sausage dish. If the chocolate soufflé is available, order it; you won't be sorry.
