The Granola Bar opens in Woodbury
Bacon, egg and avocado on a brioche roll at The Granola Bar in Woodbury. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Who says that breakfast and lunch can’t be as substantial or as ceremonial as going out for dinner? The Granola Bar, which opened its first Long Island location in Woodbury Commons last week, is elevating daytime meals to a higher standard.
The swank space feels more like a sexy downtown Manhattan bar than an all-day brunch bar with its dark walls, stylized wallpaper, leather-backed tufted stools and banquettes. Illuminated by frosted modern globes and crystal chandeliers, and accented by sleek black silverware, the health-conscious, modern comfort food menu includes all-day breakfast, parfaits, loaded salads, hearty sandwiches and an equally robust cocktail menu.
Come to The Granola Bar for breakfast — they open at 7 a.m. weekdays, after all — and you’ll find indulgent sandwiches like The Heisenberg, scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, bacon, Cheddar and hot sauce in a grilled whole wheat wrap ($14); fluffy challah French toast ($13); or a steak and egg burrito ($18) with hash browns, black beans, avocado, pickled onions, chimichurri and jalapeño sauce. Signature toasts include classic avocado ($14) with toppings from feta and crushed red pepper to tuna tartar. Salads and bowls — like the Naughty Cobb ($18) or the Turkey Chili Bowl — can be beefed up with granola, pork carnitas, chicken, salmon, steak, sesame-crusted tuna or tofu. Sandwiches range from a Parm-crusted avocado grilled cheese ($18) to a blackened salmon wrap with green goddess dressing ($17) to a burger topped with soft egg, bacon and American cheese ($21).
Named after one of its founders, The Dana is an egg white wrap with spinach, turkey bacon and avocado at The Granola Bar in Woodbury. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
Co-founders Dana Noorily and Julie Mountain met in 2010, bonding of their shared love of — what else — food. They launched a granola brand that led to a string of eateries in Connecticut: Westport, Stamford, Fairfield, Greenwich and Darien. The Granola Bar's New York locations include upstate Rye and on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Having grown up in Massapequa, Mountain liked the idea of a Woodbury location, calling it "the epicenter of Long Island — close enough to the South Shore, and central for towns like Syosset, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington, Melville and Plainview."
The cocktail list embraces the bon vivant spirit that customers missed during the pandemic spanning lattes — hot or hard iced — to wine and beer to cocktails to smoothies to mocktails. "The alcohol is flowing from 10 a.m. here," Mountain said. But morning coffee fans will appreciate caffeinated twists like a decadent French toast latte ($5.50) or a Nutella latte.
The Woodbury shop closes by 4 p.m. daily, an intentional play to support the chic space's catering business in the evenings. "We want to become home away from home for special events like rehearsal dinners, bar and bat mitzvahs, community events, someone even asked us to host their Canasta (card game) night," Mountain said.
About that granola: It’s sold in 9-ounce bags ($9) and comes in flavors like toasted coconut, cinnamon honey and lemon biscotti.
The Granola Bar, 8285 Jericho Tpke., Woodbury, 845-442-0607, thegranolabar.com Open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday-Sunday 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
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