My friend, H. Singh, who owns the stunningly-located Waters Edge in Long Island City, also owns several restaurants and catering facilities on Long Island, including The Woodlands on the North Shore and H.R. Singletons in Bethpage on the South Shore. The Singh Hospitality Group also several eateries along Jones Beach and soon, on the beach in Mt. Sinai as well as a great steak and sushi restaurant in Wantagh.
So when he renamed and changed the menu of his place near Nassau Hospital on Hempstead Turnpike, we visited and enjoyed the Italian specialties menu at Besi in East Meadow.
The restaurant is nestled in a small shopping strip on a busy street, set back and inviting with umbrella tables in front. But when you step inside, you enter a warm and relaxing environment where you have a choice of booths or tables. There is a long, well-stocked bar with multiple TVs for sports fans.
We chose a cozy corner to look out onto the handsome room, painted in warm reds and yellows. The wood tables make it a great place to take children because you don’t have to worry about spills on a white tablecloth!
They have signature appetizers featuring pizza margherita, pollo pazzo or fried mozzarella. I tried the scrumptious fried mozzarella and chewed slowly to relish each bite. We also ordered the perfectly cooked stuffed whole artichoke. There’s something sensual about scraping each leaf and finally reaching the tasty heart at the bottom. It’s like searching for a treasure and finally finding it!
The baked clams were special because they were whole, lightly breaded, so as not to overwhelm the flavor. A grand beginning. Now we were ready for our main courses. I must admit we waited to order because we wanted to savor our appetizers and "prepare" our stomachs for more!
Our main courses included a tasty grilled shrimp in a rich marinara sauce. I ordered it with grilled asparagus that was cooked preserving the crunchiness. Stu had his favorite – baby back ribs in a rich brown sauce. He said it was the best he ever had! My friend Ruby Singh had a soft and tasty grilled red snapper on a bed of spaghetti surrounded with mussels. It was good to look at and tasty to the palate, a great combination. Her husband had a house favorite, chicken alla caprese, a juicy breaded chicken cutlet topped with luscious tomatoes, fresh melted mozzarella, served over mesclun greens and tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. A great combination.
The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and part of the grand opening specials is 10 lunch entrees for only $10 (served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday). It includes the overflowing basket with freshly home baked bread and tasty dips, choice of grilled eggplant, bruschetta or the chef’s special soup of the day. What a bargain!
There is also a new customer reward. During the month of May, returning customers will receive a free appetizer.
Of course, for me no meal is complete without dessert and Besi has a unique selection, all made on the premises. I adored the chocolate chip sandwich filled with vanilla ice cream, and the cannoli. There is a tray offered with luscious cakes and pies. What is life without a few treats and they are bountiful at the new Besi. Try it you’ll love it!
Besi Ristorante
2367 Hempstead Turnpike
East Meadow, Long Island
Telephone: 516-280-6657
Open seven days a week
Monday to Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Sunday, 1 to 9 p.m.
Handicap accessible
Major Credit Cards accepted
Parking lot on premises
