At Macadoo’s, Comfort Food With A Twist
/By Tes Silverman
info@longislandergroup.com
Macadoo's Grille owner Nicole Offerman presents baby-back ribs.
Driving east on 25A, there’s a restaurant that one could easily miss. But if you happen to come upon it, Macadoo’s Grille in Northport is worth the stop. Formerly occupied by Smoking Sloes, Nicole Offerman took over and established Macadoo’s Grille four years ago as an extension of Batata Cafe, which sells breakfast and lunch, along with desserts and drinks.
From the outside, Macadoo’s Grille is a casual eatery that serves burgers and wings. But the menu is quite surprising once you decide to dine in.
Macadoo's Grille has been at 847 Fort Salonga Road for the past four years.
Starters like the smokehouse slider made from pulled pork, bacon and barbecue sauce ($7.95), loaded potato skins with pulled pork ($6.95) and gumbo with spicy andouille sausage, shrimp and rice ($5.95 for 12 ounces, $7.95 for 16 ounces) are great to choose from. The barbecue sauce of the pulled pork from the smokehouse slider is not too sweet and combined with the saltiness of the bacon, brings out great flavors. Combining the potato with pulled pork creates great texture and makes standard potato skins seem boring. The gumbo has a slight kick that you don’t taste until it’s passed down your throat. The combination of the andouille sausage, shrimp and rice creates a hearty dish, but not too heavy to weigh you down.
Smokehouse sliders, pulled pork quesadilla and jerk-seasoned fries are great starter options.
For entrees, Mac’s sandwich melt ($8.95), and pulled pork quesadilla ($8.95) are great choices. The sandwich melt, made with breaded chicken cutlet, bacon, sauteed onions and mushrooms, is a great combination due to the crispiness of the chicken and bacon. Adding Swiss cheese to the sandwich may not be that exciting, but adding onions and mushrooms elevate the flavors to another level. The barbecue flavor of the pulled pork quesadilla with caramelized onions and cheddar may seem too heavy, but instead brings out the sweetness of the onions and creaminess of the cheese.
If sandwiches and quesadillas are light for your appetite, consider having one of Macadoo’s burgers. What makes these burgers different from any old burgers are the “styles” patrons have in creating their meal. This process starts with choosing either ground beef, ground turkey, veggie burger or chicken breast. Then you can choose a style. You can order the classic style (without cheese, $5.95; with cheese, $6.95). But if you’re more adventurous, you may want to try the Mexican Mama with jalapenos, guacamole, pepper jack cheese and chipotle sauce ($8.95), or the Cuban with pickles, grilled ham, swiss cheese and honey mustard sauce.
For patrons with very hearty appetites, you can’t go wrong with either the baby-back ribs ($12.95/half rack, $22.95/full rack) or the pulled pork dinner ($12.95). The baby-back ribs fall off the bone, are filled with flavor and not dripping in sauce. The pulled pork is served with sauce but is not covered with it, so one can taste the tanginess of the sauce, but not drown in it.
If you’re looking to add sides to you meal, the ones to choose are the jerk-seasoned fries with sweet maple dip ($5.45) and the macaroni and cheese ($4.95). The fries are seasoned with just the right amount of spiciness, crispy, but not greasy and the maple dip lessens the kick of the seasoning. The macaroni and cheese is made with four types of cheeses, but is quite light and creamy.
In addition to sandwiches and quesadillas, Macadoo’s offers wraps and salads as healthier options. Any sandwich or quesadilla can be ordered as vegetarian options and according to Offerman, vegan options are in the works to be served soon.
For Offerman, opening Macadoo’s Grille four years ago stemmed from her love of creating and combining foods that may not seem to go well together initially, but result in amazing dishes. What does she want her patrons to come away with after dining at Macadoo’s? To know that they have “a casual, comfortable place where great food is the main focus.”
Macadoo’s Grille
847 Fort Salonga Road
Northport
631-754-4442
Ambience: Casual
Cuisine: American/Comfort Food
Price: Moderate
Hours: Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 12-9 p.m.; Sunday, 12-8 p.m.
