Lifestyle Cafe opens in Port Washington
Owner Tom Ligouri serves fresh-pressed juices at Lifestyle Cafe in Port Washington. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Tom Ligouri had his eyes opened when, as a young investment banker, he moved to Miami and experienced his first fresh-pressed juices, smoothies and acai bowls. The 28-year-old Kings Park native acknowledged that such things existed on the Long Island of his youth but, he said, “when I was growing up, I was exposed mostly to Italian and a little sushi.”
Eating more plants and fewer processed foods not only inspired him to change his diet, it also motivated him to switch careers. And noting that Long Island was not yet saturated with juice joints, he moved back home to find a spot for a cafe that celebrated his new lifestyle. The old Frank’s Pizza spot on Port Washington’s Main Street fit the bill and Ligouri opened Lifestyle Cafe in early April.
Only 25¢ for 5 months
Tom Ligouri had his eyes opened when, as a young investment banker, he moved to Miami and experienced his first fresh-pressed juices, smoothies and acai bowls. The 28-year-old Kings Park native acknowledged that such things existed on the Long Island of his youth but, he said, “when I was growing up, I was exposed mostly to Italian and a little sushi.”
Eating more plants and fewer processed foods not only inspired him to change his diet, it also motivated him to switch careers. And noting that Long Island was not yet saturated with juice joints, he moved back home to find a spot for a cafe that celebrated his new lifestyle. The old Frank’s Pizza spot on Port Washington’s Main Street fit the bill and Ligouri opened Lifestyle Cafe in early April.
Walk into the bright little shop and you’ll be confronted with a rainbow of juice mixtures, from the deep magenta of Code Relief (green apple, cucumber, beetroot, lemon), to the orange glow of the, well, Orange Glow (orange, carrot, lemon) and the sunshine yellow of Tropical Elixir (pineapple, orange, ginger, turmeric powder). Into the greens, find the verdant Wholegreen (cucumber, celery, kale, lemon), the spruce-hued Total Reboot (green apple, cucumber, pineapple, mint, blue spirulina) and the slightly mossy-toned (but exceedingly vital) Alkalizer (green apple, cucumber, celery, mint, lemon).
Juices ($9.99 for 12 ounces) are processed in an enormous hydraulic press and then triple-strained. No juice stays in the display cooler for more than three days, according to Ligouri. For more concentrated hits of nature’s goodness, there are five “wellness shots” ($5.99 for 2 ounces), including the Health Everlasting (pineapple, lemon, E3 live, ionic trace minerals) and the Reiki Reset (cucumber, lemon, mint, chlorophyll).
For his acai bowls ($12.99), Ligouri mixes unsweetened pulp with Gala apple juice and strawberries, banana, blueberries and vanilla for a taste and consistency and flavor that is more fruit than parfait. There are also smoothies ($8.99), chia pudding ($6.99), overnight oats ($6.99) and other wheat-free, date-based carrot “cake” bites ($4.99).
Avocado toast is served at Lifestyle Cafe in Port Washington. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
On the savory front, Lifestyle Cafe offers some mean toasts ($11.99), wraps ($10.99) and salads ($11.99). They are vegetable-forward but can also be ordered with chicken (which is the only non-vegan item the cook uses).
Ligouri realizes that “healthy” means different things to different people, but folks will find lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, no dairy and no added sugars.
14 Main St., Port Washington, 516-758-3188, mylifestylecafe.com. Open daily 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.