Dining in Babylon: 5 picks
Monsoon Asian Kitchen and Lounge in Babylon offers a whole Peking duck for two served with cucumber, scallion, hoisin and steamed buns. Credit: Doug Young
Babylon boasts one of Long Island's livelier downtowns. And there's plenty of diversity among the restaurants. Here are five flavorful ones.
MONSOON, 48 Deer Park Ave.; 631-587-4400. This four-star restaurant excels with creative Asian fare, served in a high-style setting. The winners include kung pao-style monkfish, Beijing duck, Korean fried chicken, "shaking beef," fiery octopus, pork-belly steamed buns, edamame dumplings, sushi and sashimi.
BARRIQUE KITCHEN AND WINE BAR, 69 Deer Park Ave.; 631-321-1175. Go with a group and enjoy the small plates. Some favorites: artisanal cheeses and charcuterie, clams with chorizo, meatball sliders, grilled bratwurst with spaetzle, braised short ribs with mashed potatoes, sauteed shrimp with creamy polenta, thin-crust pizzas.
HORACE & SYLVIA'S, 100 Deer Park Ave.; 631-587-5081. A friendly, unpretentious spot, Horace & Sylvia's is good for dishes such as southern fried chicken with biscuits and gravy, the pulled pork sandwich, pretzel-bread Reuben, seared tuna crisps, pierogies with bacon and onions, and rack of lamb with mint-shallot risotto.
SHIKI, 233 E. Main St.; 631-669-5404. Traditional sushi and sashimi highlight the choices at Shiki. The casual restaurant also prepares fine soba noodles in light soy broth, negimaki, yellowtail teriyaki, pork cutlet tonkatsu, chicken tatsuta, and the more colorful, inventive sushi rolls.
TRES PALMS, 16 East Court; 631-482-1465. Named for a point break in Rincon, Puerto Rico, Tres Palms is a waterside restaurant worth visiting for the site and dishes such as tuna tartare, shrimp cocktail, New England-style clam chowder, roasted monkfish with cauliflower sauce. The kitchen offers Painted Hills steaks, too.
