Changing of the guard at Panama Hatties

Big doings at Panama Hatties in Huntington Station. While chef Matthew Hisiger is to remain as a consultant through the end of the year, the restaurant has been bought by George Echeverría, who last week closed his French/continental Woodmere restaurant, Soigne.

According to Echeverría, who is now executive chef at Panama Hatties, Hisiger will be around to ease the transition and will honor all contractual obligations for the private holiday parties he originally booked. The entire kitchen crew from Panama Hatties is to stay on, joined by the sous chef from Soigne, Echeverria said.

“I will slowly do a fusion of Soigne and Panama Hatties,” Echeverría said, adding that the restaurant, which received a four-star Newsday rating under Hisiger,  will still be a “high-end establishment.”  A future name change is under consideration.

Changes in the menu are coming. Instead of a three-course prix-fixe, Echeverría plans on giving diners the flexibility of an a la carte menu. He will keep Hisiger’s five-course tasting menu and add his own seven-course option. Lunch will also be offered on weekdays.

Also in the plans: a total face-lift, inside and out, done a little at a time, so that holiday affairs won’t be in any way disrupted.

Panama Hatties is at 872 E. Jericho Tpke., Huntington Station, 631-351-1727