Grand Lux Cafe

As a belated birthday treat to my good friend Ileana, we headed out of Queens into Long Island -- specifically, Garden City. The founders of the popular chain Cheescake Factory (located at the Source Mall) opened Grand Lux Cafe outside the parking lot of Dick's Sporting Goods in Roosevelt Field several years ago to give Long Island patrons more than just upscale American cuisine (already available at Factory). Without getting too much into the history, which you can find on their website, the food here is definitly worth the drive and the wait. Because their menu is pretty overhwhelming, I'll just tell you that they have tried to incorporate Thai, Malaysian and Caribbean flavors in entrees and appetizers, and it works.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

Asian Nachos - fried wontons with grilled chicken in a sweet peanut sauce with wasabi cream. [Share this]

Chicken or Salmon Picatta - Thin chicken breast or filet of salmon served with white rice in a light but creamy picatta sauce with mushrooms and capers. For the Salmon, it isn't on the menu, but if you ask your waiter, they can get it done.

Indochine Shrimp and Chicken- Curry, Plum Wine and a little cream fuse together with shrimp and chicken over white rice. This is definitly a fusion dish that is filling, but very popular.

I like to come here for 'celebrations' because of the Venetian style fancy decor (which I usually can only tolerate once in a while) and atmosphere of other people celebrating. It makes for a good night out with free parking. Besides the food, what is really on my mind when I hear "Grand Lux" is their made to order desserts. Ileana obsessed over their chocolate molten cake which she had once before, and I always wanted to try their New Orleans Beignets which come with an intense rasberry dipping sauce, chocolate sauce and jack daniels sweet cream sauce. All really flavorful but not too sweet. The beignets were dusted with powdered sugar, but I would have preferred them plain and crispy, without a layer of sugar that was starting to harden.



A few things to keep in mind before you go...

-Be prepared to wait. Just like Cheescake Factory, this place has beepers to hit you up when your table is ready, especially on the weekends between 7-9pm. We usually go after 10:00 pm to avoid waiting more than 15 min. To kill time, hang out at the bar and order an appetizer or stalk the people sitting at the bar tables. They'll serve you right there if you can grab a table, instead of waiting to eat inside the dining room.

-The menu can be overwhelming. My suggestion is to avoid anything you can get from a diner like burgers and sandwiches or anything fried like the calamari, fish and chips, fried chicken etc...You can get that anywhere. Try a specialty 'FROM THE OVEN' or from the 'PAN AND GRILL' and if you're still not sure, ask your waiter for suggestions.

-Save room for dessert! Chocolate lovers like me will be satisfied with the gooey chocolate molten cake, served with vanilla ice cream. They ask you to order your dessert at the same time you place your entree order, so think twice. I know its kind of shady, but for me, I ALWAYS want dessert. If you change your mind, I'm sure they won't say 'no' if you decide to order at the end of your meal but it may take a while to get it.

-FREE PARKING!!!

-To work off everything you ate, go to Dave & Busters at the Source Mall just a quick drive down the road, to throw a few rounds of ski ball, or basketball. It works!

Grand Lux Cafe (other locations in Dallas, Chicago and Vegas)
630 Old Country Rd # 1000
Garden City, NY 11530
(516) 741-0096
www.grandluxcafe.com