Bijou restaurant closes in Melville, relaunching as Halston American Kitchen & Bar

Bijou Modern American Asian restaurant, which was cited by authorities for violations in April, has closed, but plans to reopen later this month – under a different name.

The pan-Asian Bijou opened in 2021 in Melville, taking over most of the first floor of the Rubie Corporate Plaza office building on Route 110 and serving an Asian fusion menu that included sushi and French-inspired fare. It closed after brunch on Sunday.

Owner Anthony Scotto said the restaurant will reopen as Halston American Kitchen & Bar.

Officials from Suffolk County police, the Town of Huntington and the New York State Liquor Authority inspected the restaurant April 25. Police said they observed that the restaurant was illegally operating as a nightclub, with a DJ playing music and a dance floor. According to Town of Huntington Director of Public Safety Joseph Cirigliano, a code enforcement inspector found the restaurant had no certificate of occupancy, no permit for outside dining and no permit for one of its signs.

A response to a Newsday Freedom of Information Law request showed multiple State Liquor Authority violations were issued from the inspection, ranging from a failure to conspicuously display a sign warning of the dangers of consuming alcohol while pregnant to operating as a nightclub and allowing patrons to dance without a license.

The Town of Huntington citations dating from the April inspection also included having an unauthorized commercial hood and duct in the food preparation area, the maximum occupancy sign being located in a coat closet, electric extension cords being improperly used in place of fixed wiring and more, according to responses to a Freedom of Information Law request.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office, also responding to a Freedom of Information Law request, said the case against the manager is sealed.

Scotto confirmed the restaurant's manager was made aware of three alleged violations involving liquor service signs not being prominently displayed but said he had no knowledge of the other alleged violations and noted the restaurant indeed had a valid certificate of occupancy, and both its outdoor dining and signage were permitted as well. Nor, he said, did the restaurant have any knowledge about the presence of drugs. Police said a “small quantity” of cocaine was found on the floor during the inspection, but no arrests were made because it was unclear to whom the cocaine belonged.

As for the rebranding, Scotto said in a statement that the team began "working on the concept and vision for The Halston close to a year ago."

The restaurant group's other eateries include high-end steakhouses Blackstone in Melville, Rare650 in Syosset and Insignia in Smithtown; One10 Modern Italian in Melville and the upscale Opus Mediterranean in Jericho.