Little Lucharito’s: Fresh Flavor

In Aquebogue, there’s a hot new place for the freshest food: Little Lucharito’s, a small, brightly-colored take-out, eat-in spot, an offshoot of the larger Lucharito’s in Greenport.

“Lucharito means ‘little fighter,’’’ said owner Marc LaMaina, as we sat at one of the picnic tables outside on a gorgeous early evening last week. “Our first son had some issues as a newborn, so we named the place after him.”

When another son came along, LaMaina said with a smile, it was time to another location, Little Lucharito’s, which served its first meal in October.

The interior is decorated with colorful posters of cartoony Mexican wrestlers, the staff exceedingly friendly and fast.

The food is so fresh. Fish tacos were prepared with monkfish brought in that day from Braun’s Seafood. The duck for the duck taco — pulled barbecued duck with cilantro, onion, and mint radish — comes from the farm around the corner. A shrimp taco with pickled slaw and corn salsa was exceptional.

This is not like any other chain or taco stand in the area. The accent is on super-fresh and local. And it shows in the flavors.

A young, attractive couple at the next table, Terry and Eric, admitted they were regulars. Eric loves the tacos, and Terry is a big fan of the salads. “Everything is just so fresh,” she said. And as far as the drink menu, “the white sangria is amazing,” she added.

The lobster guacamole was a little pricey, but it’s all relative; most items on the menu are $10 and under. A veggie quesadilla (there are vegan options as well) burst with fresh flavor; and Mema’s BBQ wings were smoky, crunchy, sticky, and delicious.

The place is popular, and LaMaina sees the company continuing to expand.

“I guess we’ll just need to keep having kids,” he joked.

For more information and menus, visit www.littlelucharitos.com.
bridget@indyeastend.com