4 New Eateries Open on Main Street

Foodies take note: the Port Washington dining scene recently welcomed four new eateries on Main Street.

Newcomer moves into the space formerly occupied by Bistro Toulouse, bidding au revoir to its all French menu and hello to a menu featuring New American cuisine. The chef-owner Melanie LaRocco offers a mash-up of American classics such as Caeser salads and steaks and dishes rooted in America’s melting-pot. To wit, duck quesadillas with hoisin sauce, a nod to both Asian and Latin American cuisines.

LaRocco describes her menu as inventive, noting that she incorporates influences from a variety of cuisines. “I play around with a lot of different genres if you will,” said LaRocco. “I do Latin American, I do Asian, there’s not just one thing I like to do,” she added.

Francophiles take heart, LaRocco trained at the French Culinary Institute and classic Gallic standbys such as French Onion Soup and pâtés are still on the menu. Diners in need of a sweet fix are also in luck; La Rocco studied at the Pastry Arts Center and makes a wide selection of toothsome treats in house. The Bistro is open six nights a week for dinner; it is closed Tuesdays. Brunch will round out the menu in the spring.

Down the block, two new Japanese restaurants open to make the stretch of Main Street near the LIRR station a veritable sushi corridor. Aki Asian Fusion will open its fourth branch at 46 Main Street in the space vacated by Shanghai Pavilion.

According to Aki employee Kellie Cao, the Port Washington opening is not yet scheduled; the owners are awaiting paperwork from the Town of North Hempstead. The restaurant will offer traditional sushi options as well as Asian fusion dishes such as sushi pizza and blue crab fajitas. Aki has three other branches in the tri-state including one in East Northport.

Down the street from the future home of Aki, is the similarly named , a sushi and cocktail lounge that replaces New Orleans transplant Rock-n-Sake at 90 Main Street. Rock-n-Sake has decamped again to the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City.

Aiko is now open, offering an extensive sushi menu seven days a week for lunch and dinner. Weeknight happy hours run from 5pm to 7:30pm. Aiko is also offering a “getting to know you” promotion with a 15 percent discount on take-out or dine-in meals until December 15.

Elsewhere on Main Street, the frozen yogurt fad shows no sign of abating as another Twisted/Red Mango competitor arrives on the scene in the form of the Brooklyn-born .

Yogo Monster distinguishes itself from the area’s other yogurt chains by styling itself as a yogurt and bakery shop, offering customers premium coffees, baked goods, and a host of high-end organic snacks.

Shelves crammed with Ritter and Lindt chocolates, Bolthouse Farms and Naked fruit and veggie drinks as well as Tate cookies and PopChips make the shop a virtual all-natural snackapoolza. Homemade smoothies, Belgian waffles and pancakes let customers get their breakfast on throughout the day.

Yogurt fanatics, the frozen stuff is self-serve and all-organic; the flavors include the usual suspects as well as standouts such as Green Tea, Green Apple and Peanut Butter. The shop is located at 148 Main Street.