eatMOSAIC

Let me just start my review by saying that eatMOSAIC is hands-​down the best dining experience that you will find on Long Island. It’s a quaint, hidden gem located in St. James that offers an innovative 5 course tasting menu that’s reasonably priced and changes every night.
The ambiance is very intimate and romantic, which makes it the most perfect date-​night spot. Each table is candle-​lit, the décor is simple and sophisticated, and the dining area is tiny, but cozy.
The staff is extremely friendly, attentive, and accommodating to your individual needs (they ask if you have any dislikes/​allergies immediately after you sit) which is, in my opinion, a huge factor of why this place is so great. The same 5 or so people are always working, and they are extremely knowledgeable about what food/​drinks they are serving– it’s actually pretty impressive. You can tell that they work really well as a team and strive to make your dining experience perfect.
The food is phenomenal. Like I said, they change their menu each night, so you can come here every day of the week and never know what to expect. Each course is beautifully plated and always delicious. My boyfriend and I are constantly blown away by the unique ingredients and the explosion of flavors in each of the 5 courses. The portions are VERY generous. I always overeat and leave here ready to puke, but you just can’t stop eating– it’s literally impossible. ****Also, I highly recommend getting the wine pairing with your dinner.**** Not only does each selection go great with the meal, but It’s interesting to learn about each one– it’s truly amazing how knowledgable the staff is.
eatMOSAIC is a very special experience, to say the least. I highly recommend coming here, you will not regret it!

Absolutely best restaurant on Long Island Love the food, the service is simply the best. Totally favorite place to eat.

I visited this restaurant in January. The food and staff were excellent! I chose the wine paring and it was perfectly executed. Each wine complimented each dish without fail. I highly recommend a visit to this place, it’s pricey so not as an every week sort of place but perfect for special occasions!
Oh, let me not forget to mention the desserts were amazing!

Based on all the positive reviews, I had relatively high expectations prior to our arrival. The concept is great (though not unique) and the five courses tasting meal was reasonably priced at $ 65/​pp. The first two courses were innovative and lived up to my expectation but the third course (pasta) and fourth course (NY Strip) were underwhelming at best. The dessert was rich and delicious but at that point I was already beyond annoyed.
Without going into details for each course as I’m sure they do change their menu on a regular basis. I commend the chef/​owner Jonathan for his effort and the concept, but 40% of our meal was a miss is just not acceptable to run this concept. I will give them the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up as an off night (hey we are all allowed to have one) and I will update this review accordingly.
Also if you are going to drink, get a bottle as individual glass doesn’t justify the cost.
I really want to like this place, but our first experience was average at best.

I came here for an anniversary dinner with my boyfriend, and it was a wonderful experience. The restaurant is very small and intimate with limited seating, so i recommend making a
reservation.
Our first course was a watermelon gazpacho with chorizo and aioli.
The second course was a seared salmon with mushroom quiche and salmon ceviche. This was my favorite dish of the night. If i could i would come back just to order this dish.
Our third course was turkey with a fried zeppole. This was the best turkey I’ve ever had. Can’t remember what else it was served with.
Fourth course was 2 small steak fillets served with a peanut sauce, and gnocchi and peas on the side. By the fourth dish, I was so full i barely could finish one small filet, I took it home and it tasted great even the next night.
For dessert, there was an assortment of sweets from rice pudding, to truffles, ice cream sandwiches, etc.
I would definitely recommend splurging for the wine pairings. They were all great, and complimented each dish nicely.
I’ve tried many restaurants that offer tasting menus and it’s definitely a great experience. While it’s not like a Maroni’s where the courses seem endless, you still come out feeling full, and it’s both quality and quantity. All the servers were very attentive, and i love how they even offered to take home some of the dishes that I couldn’t finish.
Definitely recommend for couples, or anyone celebrating a special occasion, or just want to try something different.

Had dinner with the wine pairing. DELICIOUS!!! Combinations of ingredients I’d never thought would go together were amazing. Highly recommend!

Let me start by saying that if 4.5 stars was an option, that is where I would go with this. However, it’s not, so lets get to the meal.
My wife and I visited on a weekday evening about a month ago. The waiter/​bartender was very friendly and courteous along with the chef, who truly has a passion for the art of cooking. This was our first time trying a blind menu.
Drinks: My wife had a glass of wine… I was intrigued by a speakeasy like cocktail but ended up drinking a Double IPA from CT that was excellent.
Bread: Warm and tasty. Enough on that.
1^st Course: A housemade prosciutto broth with spinach, feta, sliced prosciutto, and fennel. Solid dish, and even though I do not like feta, I was pleased with all of the flavors. Some people may find it a little salty, but I felt it hit the spot. Only would have wished for more strands of prosciutto because it was so awesome.
2^nd Course: By far the best «dinner» course of the night, and done with such simple ingredients. The mako shark was cooked with a cumin/​sweet glaze on top, along with a pineapple slightly spicy rice on the side. If I had been given 3 more servings of this dish, I would have never complained.
3^rd Course: Fusilli pasta with braised short rib, fried sweetbreads, with a cream sauce and dollops of espresso vinaigrette. First of all, unlike the lady with the 30 year old merlot on the table next to us thought, sweetbreads are not part of the nether region. They are thymus glands. They basically are like soft little chicken nuggets for those who have never tried them. They were cooked properly and the pasta and short rib was tasty. The espresso vinaigrette was nice, but didn’t fit with this dish in my opinion. It didn’t hamper the flavoring though.
4^th Course: Here is where the 5 goes to the 4. After such a build up from the prior three dishes, I expected the main entrée course to be a huge home run, but it just flopped. The protein was a duck breast. It wasn’t awful, but lacked flavor. Duck isn’t my cup of tea to begin with in all honesty, but seasoning was missing. The bigger gripes were with the kielbasa and the cheddar polenta. The kielbasa was way too salty and just hard to get through. Very disappointing. The cheddar grits lacked flavor. Maybe our tastebuds were just overwhelmed from the first three courses, but just expected so much more from this dish.
Dessert: Dessert provided a more than solid recovery, however. The trio was a pear and berry soup, jasmine rice pudding with what I believe was an apple/​prune compote, and a chocolate almond tart. All three desserts were stunning and full of flavor. Each one was better than the next, and provided a super end to the evening.
In conclusion, the meal here is solid, and the experience is one of a kind on Long Island. The space is a little small, and the lighting a little dim, but yet it works for what the place is going for. Maybe I will revisit this review if I try EatMosaic again, and make a final determination on 4 vs 5 stars. But for now, because of the 4^th course, it remains a 4. Don’t let this stop you from trying the experience though. I am sure you will enjoy it.

I had been dying to try this place since I first heard about it. Loved the idea of a 5 course tasting menu. We came here for my birthday, there were 6 people in my group. First off the place is super tiny and the tables are really close together. The food was definitely different than what we were used to, interesting combinations of flavors. It’s a fun experience to eat here and the service was good. Not good if you have very picky eaters, two out of the six people in my group didn’t enjoy the food. They thought there were too many seafood dishes and nothing special. We were all stuffed by the time we got to our dessert dish. Worth going at least once.

while the menu is a secret till you sit down, it is DELICIOUS!
we have been there few times and love the service, food, and pairings!
they do try to accommodate food allergies and are professional and very knowledgeable but if you need to know what you are eating prior to ordering, this is not the place
BTW, the portions work… I thought that I would be hungry despite the small portions but by dessert… I did not want any more food.

I’m really hovering between 3 and 4 stars, but I’ll give them the 4. People do rave about this place, and I liked it, but I didn’t feel it was outstanding. A couple of things: it’s very small, you need a reservation, and if you haven’t been here before, keep a close eye out for it or you’ll miss it quickly driving past; it’s in the corner of a tiny strip of stores. If you see the St. James Bagel place, pull in, it’s right next door.
For $ 69, you get a five course tasting menu. You can tell them what you don’t like or what you’re allergic too, and presumably they alter the menu slightly (I just said I didn’t like shrimp, but it wasn’t an option anyway that night). Cocktails are $ 13 each. They are pre made. I feel like that should be a point against them; my cocktail (the Arctic Sunrise) was only ok.
I can’t exactly recall the entire 5 course menu details, but a basic outline is this: an Asian-​inspired (I think) soup with a meatball in it (that was very good); a fried fish dish with Mexican-​inspired rice (the fish didn’t taste like much more than a fried taste; the rice tasted like it came out one of those Mexican rice mix bags you buy at the supermarket); a pasta dish with pastina (!) and goat cheese and mushrooms (this was tasty, but I eat pastina, and this was a dressed-​up pastina. Pastina! The stuff you eat when you’re home sick. I mean, I love the stuff, but this dish, while tasty and dressed up, was not exactly inspired); a steak dish, which was very good, and which made the meal worth it; it’s the biggest item you get, and while it could have used some more potatoes, it was overall very good. Dessert, which consisted of a butterscotch and pear cream (excellent), a chocolate crème brûlée (divine), and a fruit tart (not my type of thing, but my friend loved it), was a great end to an otherwise up and down meal for me.
Service was very good; I wish the waiters would speak up a little, though; I couldn’t hear them over the music, so sometimes I didn’t know the nuances of what I was eating.
With drinks and a tip, I think my half came to $ 115. Pricy. Worth it? Eh. Not for me, again; the food was good but just simply not good or interesting enough. Also, they do two seatings a night: 6-​ish (I guess between 6 – 6:30) and 8-​ish. Important to know when you’re planning your evening. Kitchen a Bistro is up the block, and personally, I think that’s a better option over Mosaic.

Here is the process. Reserve table at eatMosiac, find eatMosiac (see my tip), savior eatMosiac, and then dream of eatMosiac.
If you have read any of the other reviews you can see that they offer a five course meal that changes daily. There is no purpose in providing the details of my meal since it may never be offered again. The only thing I will share is that it was the most flavorful and interesting food I have had this side of the Atlantic. The experience is not just what’s put in front of you, but the aromas, textures and plating all work together to make the difference between a meal and cuisine.
The service is personal and caring with detailed explanations of each course including the wine flight, if you take this option. If you don’t spend the next few night reflecting on the meal with a smile, you might just have something wrong with you.
So if you can be a little adventurous and deal with a little freedom FROM choice, make this bookmark eatMosiac now and mark it must try!

Four months later and nothing has changed: eatMOSAIC is still the bomb. Two dear friends of our’s joined us and were smitten with every dish.
If you’re reading my review and still have reservations about going here, just take a few deep breaths and take the plunge. These talented men have created an eatery that is beyond worthy of your money and your time.
Thanks again, Jonathan, Tate, and waiter (I’m so sorry that I don’t remember your name)!

The food was really good. I like how they ask you you dietary needs. The only complaint I have is that it was a bit too salty. I think for the price the flavor of the food should be present not the taste of salt. It just make me feel they are trying to mask something.

Have wanted to eat here for awhile based on recommendations. oNe of things I liked right off the bat was that the restaurant is small and intimate, under 10 tables. The staff was excellent, service was professional. The restaurant is tucked away in a strip shopping mall. I found it too dark, as most of the light is from candles. I like to look at the colors of the dishes and found it hard to discern. 5 course tasting menu of whatever the chef prepares is just my thing! Surprises! My favorite was a seared pork dish. Plating is beautiful. The dessert was a little too much of everything… Too many components but it was delicious nonetheless.

Excellent! Best dinner I’ve had in a long time. I love the creativity and the element of surprise with the fixed menu. Everything was perfect. I will definitely be going back.

One of the best meals we’ve had. A very fun dining experience as you never know what is coming. Very eclectic menu, and it allowed us to try things we would not normally order.
* Very casual and inviting atmosphere, but they take their food very seriously.
* Completely receptive and understanding of allergies and preferences.
* The food was fantastic, and the attention to detail put into every plate was amazing.
* The entire staff was friendly and knowledgeable.
I highly recommend it and will definitely be returning.

Fine dining in a completely non-​pretentious way. This place is all about the food. The flavors and presentation are some of the best I’ve ever seen. You can tell these chefs take a lot of pride in what they do, and rightfully so.
The whole experience is incredible. It is a five course tasting and they will accommodate any food allergies/​strong dislikes you may have. I personally (luckily) don’t have either so I was able to experience the meal exactly how it was intended and it was phenomenal. From the Bloody Mary inspired Gazpacho all the way through to the dessert which was like a whole new tasting in and of itself (and I’m not a «dessert guy»).
The wait staff is friendly, courteous, attentive and accommodating. The restaurant itself is SMALL. If you blink while driving by, you’ll miss it but that’s all part of it’s overwhelming charm. Atmosphere is intimate and laid back. Overall, it just has a really nice «vibe».
I can not say enough good things about this place. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better restaurant on Long Island.

Let me just say if I were to be on death row, my dying meal request would be a Mosaic meal. My boyfriend and I took a chance and called on a random thursday, and were elated to hear they had room for us. I only eat fish as a protein, and they were happy to accommodate my needs, though they do recommend calling a week or so in advance for a reservation if you have a dietary restriction so they can be sure to collect a variety of ingredients that cater to your needs.
We let each thing be a surprise– and if you’re a food, you too can do this. Everything was so delicious and enchanting from the drinks to the incredible flavor combinations that my ambition to take pictures of everything failed miserably as I was completely immersed in the experience.
So so lovely, and the little desserts blew me away. It’s a pretty penny, but the price is right for the experience you get, truly. I can’t wait for my birthday, graduation, or any excuse I can get to come back. Incredible business!

The girlfriend and I have been trying to get here for about 4 months, finally found the time last night, very impressed.
First, we were running late for an already late reservation. No problem, excellent treatment from our waiter, great relaxed attitude in the place. Not rushed at all. Very uncommon on weeknights not to be rushed.
Didnt know which pinot noir we wanted, so i asked for the waiter to pick one. No, he didnt bring the most expensive one over. They brought two bottles over, explained the differences between them, and let me choose. The french one we had was delicious, exactly as described.
Food was excellent, just every course was scrumptious. Portion size was actually larger than expected. The beef course, cooked to a perfect med rare. The salmon cake over soba noodles was insanely good!
Though we were sooooooo full after the fourth course, out came dessert with about 9 different things on the plate. Very rich chocolate inventions, I cant remember what they were but obviously of very high quality with a rich flavor. The peanut butter thingy with crushed pretzels was ethereal!
I had asked for some vodka intially upon arrival. Normally I drink Stoli. The waiter shook up what appeared to be about two or three shots worth of a small batch potato vodka served in a spotless rocks glass. This was the smoothest vodka ever. I could get in serious trouble starting to drink that stuff on the regular.
Just overall one of the best restaurant experiences i have had in a long time. The bill was very reasonable for a 5 course meal with an average priced bottle of wine. Put my girlfriend and I back in a great mood, of which we did not arrive in. We will be returning!

eatMOSAIC has been in business for years, it’s an adventurous and upscale restaurant in St. James. I have to warn you, there are no menus. Its a constantly changing menu so if your open and want to have a fun dinner? eatMOSAIC is your place. And what’s with the dopey name?
This place is located in a small Long Island strip mall and with the price point at $ 60 per person, it throws off a lot of local people.
I can’t see my buddy’s wife, who is a meat and potatoes only person who loves Applebees, coming here for a quite dinner. It’s not that type of place.
We walk in with reservations in hand. You aren’t getting in here by a simple walk in off the street. The chef dictates how many covers to make for the night so your not going to rattle the kitchen. This process is just good business. You can get so tight with food costs, you know the ingredients are fresh and spoilage isn’t an issue because of the high turnover.
Cocktails, wines and beers are all priced pretty well. My wife ordered a fun Ginger cocktail. The wine list is pretty good, I ordered a nice Spanish wine to get the party bumpin’.
This is a 5 course meal, so get ready, sit back and lets begin.
First course:
Mango gazpacho with sliced scallops, very flavorful.
Second course:
Salmon with melon, sliced cucumber with arugula and blue cheese canele. The salmon was delicate and the balance of the strong blue cheese and salmon was an excellent starter.
Third course:
Cavatelli with zucchini and crumbled sausage.
Cooked perfectly. The sausage and the zucchini gave this rustic dish a nice touch. (I’m starting to get full.)
Fourth Course:
Grilled Duck Breast with polenta. Perfecto! The duck breast was flavorful and cooked perfectly. The polenta was good, a little dense for me but still gave the dish a nice touch.
Fifth and final course:
A dessert tray with a very small chipwich, a small brownie. small chocolate ganache, small rice pudding, small panna cotta, and a small baby spoon with a dab of banana. Chef… This was the worst plate! How about a 3 bigger items, the baby food banana dab wasn’t satisfying my sweet tooth. I want more chocolate and less, what was that item whipped ricotta and cinnamon? More chocolate please thankyouverymuch.
Overall, a nice special occasion, fun restaurant. Make reservations first and plan ahead.

I wanted to really love this place because I love the concept of the ever changing 5 course meal that caters to your dietary needs. I came here twice before this review and I would say the last time was slightly better than the first. The restaurant is small, intimate, and the service was excellent without being intrusive.
The five courses came as surprises as there was no menu, and the waiter explained each one as they came. The selection of bread was fantastic and I liked every one I tasted… Rosemary olive, pretzel bread, cranberry, sourdough, potato onion. Ok, i think I may have had a carb overload, but I really liked the bread, and the looong wait between each course really gave me too much time to munch on the bread. I guess that’s the first thing that I didn’t really like, the time between each course was too long. Or Maybe I just eat too fast so there’s always a big gap before the next plate comes.
The first course was a soup — roasted potato and cauliflower soup with red cabbage, sausage, and mushroom. This soup was excellent. Light, foamy, creamy with multitude of flavors that occasionally surprise the taste buds,
The second course was an asparagus salad that was composed of tender asparagus, side of thinly shaved cucumber slices, beans with tomato sauce, and strawberry pupusa made with cornmeal. Just writing this makes me confused. Each component tasted good except I wasn’t a fan of the pupusa since the cornmeal was a bit overcooked making it a bit tough to eat. Although each component was good, I just didn’t get the harmony of it all.
The third course was seared salmon with rice and side of lemony yogurt, caper pesto, and rhubarb sauce. Again the recurring problem of having so many components on one dish that don’t go together. The fish was perfectly cooked and well seasoned but I was confused how it went with the rest of the side condiments. It didn’t taste better with the tart, lemony yogurt. The caper pesto was interesting but way too salty for the fish. The rhubarb sauce was lightly sweet. Since each one didn’t enhance the flavor of the fish, I decided to mix all three together, the rhubarb, caper pesto and yogurt, well let’s just say nothing magical happened.
The meat course was the medium rare ribeye with chopped salad, burrata cheese, and grape bbq sauce. This dish was less complicated and fussy but much better composed. Just simple perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned steak with side of good bbq sauce and chopped salad with burrata cheese. Didn’t really need the burrata cheese but that’s just being picky.
The dessert course had mini dishes of jasmine rice pudding with banana purée, chocolate mousse with dark cherry truffle, peanut butter mousse, small bites of chocolate brownie, chocolate chip ice cream sandwich, and dark chocolate orange ganache. What a sampler and each one was excellent.
All in all a good 2 hour meal with a few flaws.