Sweet Mama’s: A Comforting Blast From The Past

By Jano Tantongco

jtantongco@longislandergroup.com

Stepping into Sweet Mama’s, diners may feel transported back to their own mother’s kitchen.

Pots and pans brimming with flavor permeate the room with a feeling that can only be described as comforting.

Classic Coca-Cola advertisements and nostalgic decor, including Miami Maid Bread packages and dated egg beaters, also line the walls at Sweet Mama’s, sending patrons back to the 1950s.

And it’s all done as a compliment to dishes that pack the extra touch of a home cooked meal.

When owner Marios Patatinis first encountered the restaurant around nine months ago, he saw an opportunity to take the Northport diner and turn it into a premiere American comfort food establishment

“The minute I walked in and sat down, I thought there’s so much potential here,” Patatinis, of East Setauket, said.

While well-versed in the field of business, Patatinis is a newcomer to the restaurant industry. He’s currently in the process of transitioning the menu to focus on breakfast and brunch items to satisfy palates of all kinds.

“If a customer leaves here happily with what they had, that’s what I’m doing it for,” Patatinis said, adding that it’s a given that customers walk out with a satisfying, “filled-up gut.”

“It’s not just the food, it’s the whole experience.”

One of Patatinis’ favorite new brunch special is the Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs Platter ($14.99) serves up a mouth-watering, tender steak battered in a crunchy fried chicken batter, topped with Sweet Mama’s Sawmill Gravy with two eggs, any style, all served with buttered grits and biscuits. The steak straddles the line between crunchy on the outside and buttery soft inside, topped with a thickly spread gravy that elevates this savory special to new heights.

Turning to the Ricotta & Lemon Zest Pancakes ($12.49), the plate features a full stack of pancakes topped with lemon zest with a side of homemade honey citrus maple syrup served with a choice of bacon, sausage or ham. The pancakes carry a slightly creamy and richer texture from the ricotta, topped with lemon zest further enhanced by the mildly sweet honey citrus syrup.

The California Avocado Toast ($12.49) spreads a fresh homemade guacamole on a toasty slice of multigrain bread with fresh tomatoes, two eggs, any style, topped with a thinly sliced turkey bacon with a side of garden greens. A crunchy, creamy delight, you’ll never go back to a standard eggs and bacon plate again.

The Summer Strawberry & Shrimp Salad ($12.99) mixes together char-grilled shrimp over mixed greens, freshly sliced strawberries, goat cheese, sliced almonds and red onion with a raspberry vinaigrette. The succulent shrimp pairs well with the sprinkle of goat cheese, and grounded by the earthy almonds and sweet strawberries.

The OMG! Chicken and Waffles Sandwich is set to appear on the revised menu scheduled to debut next month. Between two fluffy waffles is juicy chicken with mozzarella cheese and sweet coleslaw with a side of honey mustard sauce with a maple syrup infusion, next to sweet potato cross-cut fries. The soul food staple takes on new life as a sandwich, with all the richness of the American dish packed into a sandwich that will leave your jaw dropped from delicious creativity.

One way to end a meal is the Cookie Monster Milkshake ($6.49), which features Oreos and chocolate chip cookies that are delicious and dyed blue in a homage to a certain fuzzy cookie enthusiast.

Meanwhile, the Cookie Dough Sundae, which could pop up on the regular menu soon, blends vanilla ice cream and edible cookie dough for a satisfying sundae experience that tastes straight out of a baker’s prep line.

Sweet Mama’s
Good Kitchen
9 Alsace Place, Northport
631-261-6262
Sweetmamasnorthport.com

Cuisine: American comfort food
Atmosphere: Traditional, homey
Price: Moderate
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m.