Commack Restaurants

The Grill Room brings chic Manhattan style to the most unexpected of places. A visit to the main food court in the Hauppauge Industrial Park just might surprise you if you were expecting the usual spread of fast food joints and coffee shops.

Situated on the far left side of the L-shaped shopping center, the front of The Grill Room is enclosed by privacy walls, tall greenery, and flowering plants that create an outdoor dining area that screens out the noise and traffic of the surrounding area. Inside, an elaborate crystal chandelier at the front of the dining room offsets the trendy lighting fixtures throughout the restaurant. Muted tones, contemporary décor, and scores of votive candles collaborate to create an atmosphere that is simultaneously fashionable and upscale yet warm and inviting.

New owners Mark Jeffrey Taub and Larry Brown took ownership of The Grill Room this past summer, and since then have made subtle changes to the restaurant's décor and menu offerings in order to infuse more of the city style and modern edge that The Grill Room has become known for. Despite the change in ownership, the staff remains eager to please and Executive Chef Hal Goldman and Chef de Cuisine Jim Southard continue to serve up a formidable array of mouth watering delights.

Hits from the Beatles were playing at a low volume when we arrived for dinner at 5:30 on a Tuesday evening. The music added to the laid back environment as we worked our way through appetizers. The seared sea scallops were succulent, and were accompanied by baby arugula, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion, and feta cheese tossed in a lemon-pepper vinaigrette. The delicious Asian shrimp salad consisted of shrimp tempura served over mesclun and mango salsa in a soy ginger vinaigrette.

As we moved on to our entrees, the mood of the restaurant switched gears when the music changed to a club mix and the volume rose. We easily adjusted to the change as we savored the exquisitely prepared rosemary Dijon crusted lamb chops with roasted potatoes and broccoli rabe drizzled in balsamic; and roasted Chilean sea bass with potato gnocchi and spinach. For dessert, we feasted on warm molten chocolate cake that was heavenly.

Those in the 21-35 age group will especially appreciate The Grill Room's cutting edge Manhattan feel, but the restaurant's delectable cuisine will be appreciated by folks of all ages. If you have a hankering to eat out on a weeknight, visit on a Tuesday evening when management offers every bottle of wine on their menu for half price. They also offer a prix fix dinner menu Monday through Saturday from 5-6:30 p.m. You'll enjoy an appetizer, entrée, and dessert for just $24.95 per person. If you prefer to stick with the complete menu, a three-course dinner ranges from $26-$51 per person. You can also stop in for lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Whenever you decide to visit, The Grill Room won't disappoint.