Amicale

Great restaurant for the most part, a bit pricey but the food and ambiance are excellent. It’s not the largest restaurant so reservations are a must. The food is delicious.

Just a terrible experience at the new Amicale. Do NOT go! We were one of two couples in the dining area and still the service was bad. The food was terrible, with the entrees missing ingredients noted on the menu. Also, the background music was bad ‘70s and ‘80s pop stuff. Yuch. After this experience, I talked with the owner on the phone. He took my name and telephone number implying that he was going to send me a comp. It never happened! Bad food plus bad management equal a bad restaurant. I miss Panama Hattie’s, it’s predecessor.

This establishment changed from Panama Hattie’s to Amicale in July of 2011.
We were there for a dinner dance. The place is beautiful. We were in the left half of the restaurant. The décor is very nice, elegant with chandeliers. The patterns in the carpeting and chairs kind of class though. We had two sets of rest rooms, adequate for our large group. The coats were collected at the foyer by staff. The dance floor was just large enough for our large group.
The food was good (salad with one dressing choice, penne ala vodka, pepper chicken, duet of veal and steak, vegetables, coffee). The veal/​steak dish was a little undercooked and tough to chew in the first batch and wonderful on seconds. The vegetables of green beans, carrots and potato were cooked perfectly.
I’m not a drinker. I went to the bar for water during a coughing jag. I received it in a plastic cup that turned out to have a chip. I let them know, and they seemed receptive.
At the end of the night, the coat check area staff was unable to find our coats. I had to go in and find them.
Prices on the regular menu are pricey. I’m not sure I would return unless for a catered deal of a party.

Had large group party arranged at Amicale who failed to inform group that they would automatically charge $ 100 per person WITH NOTHING INCLUDED (oh wait, they waived the $ 2 coat checking fee, big whoop, they shouldn’t even be charging a coat checking fee, how obnoxious is that!!!) and they only offered one appetizer and entrée off very limited menu. So that means my appetizer cost lets say $ 25 and my entrée cost $ 75. These aren’t even prices you pay in the big apple. They didn’t bother to tell anyone they were giving us a dessert plate that THEY selected and they didn’t pass them out til people already started leaving. RIPP OFF! This was a true scam. They put out only 2 small baskets of bread for a group of 14 and never re-​filled them. They didn’t even include things like inexpensive bar snacks during the beginning when everyone was ordering expensive cocktails. You’d think that for automatically having to pay $ 100 to eat you’d at least get a bowl of nuts with cocktails! So essentially, left restaurant $ 100 (plus $$ for bar tab) poorer & starving. The food wasn’t too great either. Had the grilled octopus & crab app which was loaded with raw red onions and that was all you could taste. Upon leaving the place, you had to walk through a cloud of smoke cause apparently they let people smoke somewhere in there. Will never go back and never recommend this place. If you’re looking for an amazing restaurant experience in Huntington, go to Cassis for French food, Prime for unbelievable steak & seafood including sushi and Joanina’s for terrific italian including wood oven pizzas and a great atmosphere.

I wish that my Tuesday night dinner had been better. We arrived at 7 to find the place empty. We were the only people in the dining room. Although the menu says it is a no — no, the chef was nice enough to allow 2 people of our table of 4 to order the tasting menu. The food that came out of the kitchen was good — unfortunately that was it. Nothing was close to special. Cost of the 5 course tasting menu was $ 75. If you are going to charge «city» prices you best provide a city experience. This fell way short.
Some other thoughts… My wife’s chicken was drenched in pepper… Servers were very raw… No one asked us if we wanted coffee or dessert.

Panama Hatties is set off Jericho Turnpike in an unassuming location. Once you walk in you are taken under wing. We were treated to a very relaxed meal by an attentive, but not hovering, staff who were on point with knowledge of each dish held in memory. It was one of the best prepared and presented meals I have had on Long Island. Our gourmand was very happy with her meal and said she would love to return to have the experience once more. I agree.

We just had our father’s 70^th birthday at the restaurant (we had already been there years back for my Mom’s 60^th), and I have to say that everything about the party (the food, service, room and atmosphere) were outstanding. Kudos to Matt and the team there for creating a night that will be remembered by all.
First, the food. They had a tough crowd from NYC, all of us used to the best that NYC has to offer. But they delivered, from the passed hors d’oeuvres (highly recommend the crab cakes, dumplings, spanikopita and mini hot dogs), to the soup and salad, and especially on the entrees. I had the Chilean Sea Bass, which was outstanding, and everyone still talks about the filet and the chicken (heard a few people say it was the best chicken that they’ve had in a restaurant). Ultimately it is about the food though, and they rival the best in the city.
The service was impeccable. Tons of servers who were always there and professional (even when dealing with a group of 10 young kids). And the banquet room is fantastic… perfect for our group of 70 and beautiful. If you need a large private room for a large function on Long Island, this is it.

We were completely underwhelmed by this restaurant. After ready so many great reviews, our expectations were quite high. After viewing the filthy restooms we were fairly concerned. The potato salad as appetizer during the cocktail reception was horrible and awful. This was our first exposure to this restaurant after being invited to a private event. After enduring the slow, indifferent service; the over-​salted, barely warm food; and, error after error in the various requests, we will certainly NEVER return to the restaurant. What an embarrasment — for the owners, the servers and the hosts (those spending the money on this excuse of a restaurant). I honestly can say this restaurant was terrible.

Sunday night, Restaurant Week. The place was almost fully packed. Word has gotten out that a tremendous three course meal can be had here, at this time, for only $ 24.95 vs. $ 69 and up otherwise. Not the entire menu, and a few items are extra charge supplements, but well worth it. They also have other fixed price specials from time to time during the year.
My Dining Partner started off with an appetizer of Fried Calamari, which was more like an entrée sized portion. Lightly breaded, fresh tasting and tender. Next time she plans to order it as her main course. I was equally pleased with the unique Grilled Octopus, tasty cool tentacles, under several thin deep-​fried tostones slices. $ 6 supplement. Pay it and enjoy.
We both had the Boneless Short Ribs, over mashed potatoes, a dish that’s always been too much trouble to make at home. What would otherwise have been a cliché was turned into something very special by a layer of mushrooms and escarole in between. The tang of the escarole properly enhanced the flavors of other ingredients, and the mushrooms added even more flavor and body.
Desserts were an Apple Strudel, which I took home to sample and report on tomorrow, and a flowing Chocolate Lava Cake, plenty of chocolate and eagerly devoured. Looks like they have their own Pastry Chef.
The above was accompanied by a glass of Cabernet (she) and Bordeaux (me) from an excellent, diverse, selection of fairly priced wines by the glass or bottle. Guys, if you want a memorable evening, start out by wining and dining her at Panama Hattie’s.
Service was prompt, friendly, and helpful, including the owner/​chef Matt Hisiger, who made the rounds and I’m sure was pleased to see such an appreciative Sunday night crowd.
Monday Morning. A perfect belated finish to the meal. Apple Strudel had good solid dice-​sized chunks of apple, flaky dough, walnut filling and just the right dab of whipped cream.

After reading raves of this place, my wife and I had dinner a couple of weeks ago… on a Monday night. There were 4 other people there at 7 pm… I wish we hadn’t stayed. Our steaks were cooked nicely and tender, but the sauces were watery and flavorless and ruined the meal. At these prices I would have thought they could prepare a steak dinner that was decent… not the case… never again…

My partner and I stopped there one (mid-​week) night for dinner. We barely even got in the door before we were greeted by the most snotty, stuck-​up maitre-​d imagineable. He made it clear to us (we asked to see a menu before being seated) that we could not afford to eat in his establishment. I could not tell whether it was the fact we were two women, or that we were dressed casually, that clued him in… we’ll never go back here. There are plenty of other places in the area to get an excellent meal with excellent service and much more open and polite service staff.

Top notch, excellent food and service. The menu is what I would call «new American» but it is always wonderful and interesting.
The price tag is high but definitely worth it. In reality, the price is not much higher than any other excellent restaurant in Manhattan — the bonus is that you don’t have to travel in to enjoy a stellar meal.
Doesn’t look like much from the outside and the word «Banquets» in the title might throw you off but it is definitely a place to go for a special occasion.
Service is impeccable.