Hummus Fit opens at former Good Steer in Lake Grove

What started as a side project — meal prepping for her health-conscious, childhood friends — turned into a family-owned business for Liana Mavruk and her husband, Tony. With more than 20 locations nationwide, the Mavruk family's latest Hummus Fit location has opened in the former Good Steer, Lake Grove’s once-iconic steakhouse.

Since working out of Holbrook’s tiny Hummus Mediterranean Grill kitchen in 2015 — which Liana Mavruk remembers as "a hard year" — Hummus Fit has taken off as a fast-casual takeaway concept embraced by clean eaters. When the former body builder, a self-described "hustler," put some of her meals in the front of the store at her husband’s suggestion, "they went fast," she said. The concept evolved to a presence in nutrition shops, then stand-alone retail locations across Long Island, including in Woodbury, Ronkonkoma, Lynbrook, Lindenhurst and Selden. Nostalgia runs high at the new Lake Grove shop.

"I was dragged to The Good Steer as a kid," Mavruk said. The building was gutted to make way for a gleaming white grab-and-go eatery with a make-your-own-salad and bowl bar for on-location dining. Choose lettuce, a wrap, or grains, a selection of toppings and proteins, douse with dressing of your choice and feel good about your lunch. Customers can see the chef through massive glass windows that showcase the kitchen. "The goal is always transparency," Mavruk said.

If you’re not in the mood to eat in, an entire wall of refrigerated meals ($10-$12), range from 400-500 calories, including a grilled chicken parm wrap, feta meatballs with orzo, steak and chicken fajitas, or the themed Steer-O-Rito ($11) with flank steak, jasmine rice, tomatoes, and chipotle poblano sauce in a soft tortilla.

With a ratio of 40% protein, 40% carbohydrate and 20% fat, the meals take two or three minutes to heat up. (There is a microwave oven on-site, if you’d like to purchase, cook and linger.)

In 2022 alone, the brand opened about a dozen locations, Mavruk said. In addition to the new Lake Grove spot, a Deer Park location will open before the end of the year. The brand’s first Florida site opened last month, in Boca Raton.

Hummus Fit, 2810 Middle Country Rd, Lake Grove, 631-468-8840, myhummusfit.com. Open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.  

By Marie Elena Martinez

marieelena.martinez@newsday.com@mariesworlds

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.