Restaurant Review: The Cooperage Inn

Everybody at the Cooperage Inn in Baiting Hollow seemed happy to be there last Wednesday evening.

Every Wednesday is Girls Night Out. There are ladies-only specials on drinks and food – including some $3 desserts! Plus live music in the bar.

I found the dining area a bit dim for menu reading  – but I can’t complain about that – our waitress offered us flashlights from her apron!

The Cooperage Inn’s Regular Menu is extensive and there’s also a daily Specials Menu.

Their Wine List offers a respectable selection of regional wines including the North Fork’s own Lenz, Macari and Raphael wineries. Plus there’s Long Ireland Celtic Ale, Pumpkin Ale,  and Fire Island Beer Company Red Wagon I.P.A.

I ordered a Cooperage Inn Cooler of Mount Gay and Malibu Rums, pineapple and orange juices with a splash of sour and a slice of orange. Coconut with a bang. I found it sweet, but not over-sweet. [expand]

My husband enjoyed his Gin Martini with Beefeater served straight up with an olive. He found it “Great. Very dry and very cold.”

I started with the Autumn Harvest Clam Chowder. It has a cream base with vegetables and bacon. Thymey and rich, savory and hot.

Husband went in an Asian direction and started with the Sesame Chicken Spring Roll. A very crispy wrap containing a pleasing mélange of textures. Hot and so good. It’s served upright in four pieces, a beautiful presentation. Sweet chili emulsion, the freshest crunchy bean sprouts, peanut dipping sauce.

Both of our entrees came with salads of fresh greens, shredded carrot, cucumber and grape tomatoes.

I ordered the Country Style Pasta from the Specials Menu. Sweet and hot sausage, chicken, shrimp, broccoli rabe, sun dried tomatoes and herbs served in a roasted garlic white wine sauce over penne. It’s a lot to take in. I ate up the broccoli rabe and some bites of sausage, then had the rest wrapped to take home.

Husband had the Broiled Seafood Medley of jumbo shrimp, stuffed filet of flounder, sea scallops and baked clams. He also ordered up a first crush Bedell Cellars Chardonnay. Such a light and refreshing white. He found the scallops outstanding, but the entree salty to his taste overall.

Husband drank his usual dessert of heated Remy Martin V.S.O. P.

I ordered a Carrot Layer Cake. A big slice layers of moist, tender, cinnamonness covered with a fine cream cheese frosting, coated with toasted, chopped walnuts. Fresh fruit on the side. Yum! This is proof positive that it pays to have (not one but) two pastry chefs on staff. I wish I’d had the room to try some of their other handiwork, like the Rice Pudding or…Homemade Ice Cream. The night we were there the ice cream flavors available were Cheese Cake, Oreo and Almond Joy. Wow.

It’s no wonder that so many people order their holiday desserts from The Cooperage Inn. Plus it seems like a great place to hold a party. There was an extended family having a ball in the dining room next to ours.

The Cooperage Inn is also big for brunch. There’s a good excuse to get out of the house. Say it with me: Weekends are NOT for housework!

The Cooperage Inn, 2218 Sound Avenue, Baiting Hollow. 631-727-8994. www.cooperageinn.com.