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Authentic Portuguese cuisine in Kings Park arrived late last year and appears like it’s here to stay.
“We’re famous for seafood,” said Claudio Pereira, one of Gardens of Portugal‘s managers. “We have Portuguese wine, so we can provide a nice Portuguese experience.”
Pereira said the restaurant’s chef with more than two decades of experience cooks authentic seafood dishes, such as lobster tail with shrimp in cognac and lemon, fresh bronzini, and lobster champagne.
Of course, there’s plenty of meat, chicken and pasta dishes, including filet minion with portobello mushrooms, peitos de galinha limoeiro (chicken in a white wine and lemon sauce), and penne alla vodka.
The restaurant, located at 4 Main St., also offers rodizio, authentic Portuguese barbeque consisting of 10 meats — from leg of lamb to chicken and sausage — plus rice, black beans, fried bananas, vinaigrette and sautéed collard greens.
The restaurant’s building — more than a century old — operated as The Brooklyn Hotel in the late 1800’s, before evolving into Yesterday’s Pub in 1982. Most recently, the structure was home to the Long River Restaurant, a Chinese food eatery.
As the seasons progress, Pereira hinted at a few changes coming to Gardens of Portugal.
This spring, the restaurant will take advantage of its permit for outdoor dining of up to 100 guests and have live entertainment on Fridays through Sundays.
The restaurant’s owners, who until recently were also partners in the Lisbon Cafés in Mineola and Jericho, also have plans to create a 150-seat private dining room in the building’s basement.
