Vauxhall Serves Up Craft Burgers, Brooklyn Vibes
/By Tes Silverman
info@longislandergroup.com
Vauxhall co-owners Dan Valentino, seated, and Eric Finneran present the Wild Life burger and Fish Camp Taco entrees.
Meet Vauxhall, Huntington village’s newest must-dine-at eatery that offers up a little taste of Brooklyn to go alongside its signature burgers, beer selection and rustic atmosphere.
Co-owners and musicians Eric Finneran, Salvatore Mignano and Dan Valentino opened the 26 Clinton Ave. bar and restaurant in December as an extension of their love for music. The name of the eatery is a nod to English rock star Morrissey’s 1994 album, “Vauxhall and I.”
Vauxhall is the trio’s newest business venture, coming in addition to The Amityville Music Hall, which they also own, and which is known to promote and support local bands.
When you walk into Vauxhall you feel as though you’ve left Huntington and have been spirited away to a trendy Brooklyn eatery. Inside you’ll come upon the bar, which occupies the front part of the restaurant, while the rest of the space consists of dark woods, exposed beams and cigar box guitars made by Finneran, creating a rustic feel throughout.
Vauxhall opened its doors 26 Clinton Ave. in Huntington village last December. It’s been serving up signature burgers and a Brooklyn-esque vibe ever since.
To go along the Brooklyn-esque urban vibe, Chef Mike Meehan has created dishes that will make you want to come back for more.
To help jumpstart your burger bar adventure, try the poutine classique house cut fries ($11), which are crispy and with the cheddar curds, green onions and gravy on top. For an additional $3 you can add to the mix either duck sausage or beef short rib. This appetizer is sure to whet your appetite.
As a prelude to what’s in store, the Vauxhall salad ($9) is pretty substantial and healthy, consisting of baby kale, wild arugula, marcona almonds, chickpeas, dried pears and topped with cider dressing. It’s tasty and filled with various textures from the almonds, chickpeas and dried pears.
Vauxhall’s main attraction is its burgers. The Wild Life burger ($16) will surely impress even the most discerning burger lover. Ordered medium-rare, the burger is juicy and tender. Made with caramelized onions, roasted wild mushrooms and gruyere cheese on a brioche bun, the burger is elevated by the sweetness of the onions, the nuttiness of the wild mushrooms and creaminess of the gruyere cheese.
The Fish Camp Tacos at Vauxhall are complex in flavor.
Elsewhere on the menu, seafood lovers can find the Fish Camp Taco ($12) as a great alternative. The taco is comprised of local flounder, napa cabbage slaw, lemon Sriracha sauce and pico de gallo. The mild, sweet flavor of the flounder, along with the freshness of the pico de gallo and slight kick of the Sriracha sauce creates an entree that’s complex in flavor.
For diners with dietary restrictions, Vauxhall also offers vegan and gluten-free choices like the vegan poutine ($10) as appetizer, and the black bean sweet potato burger ($14) as an entree, just to name a few.
For those with room left for dessert, the must-haves include the Warm Donuts ($5), and the vegan Fresh Fruit Sorbet ($5).
The donuts are served warm so the doughy goodness can be dunked in choices of chocolate sauce, raspberry coulis and bourbon creme anglaise, which adds to the decadence of the dessert.
As for the vegan fruit sorbet, it’s creamy, and the fruit flavors vary from week-to-week so diners can expect a different flavor each time.
The entirety of Vauxhall’s menu is available until 4 a.m., making it the perfect spot for diners who want a little snack or drink after a show or night out. To go with craft burgers, Vauxhall offers craft cocktails and craft beers to round out the culinary experience.
For Finneran, Mignano and Valentino, Vauxhall is more than a burger bar. It’s their way of catering to diners who don’t want just any burger and beers, but food and drinks that go hand in hand with their creative senses.
