Dom’s Famous Chicken Fingers — a longtime favorite inside Dominick’s Deli in New Hyde Park — is spreading its wings.
The Grosso family is opening the brand’s first standalone storefront in Plainview, bringing their cult-favorite chicken fingers to a wider audience.
For decades, customers at Dominick’s Deli have raved about the deli’s crispy fingers, a recipe perfected by founder Dominick Grosso. With help from his son Vincent and son-in-law Nick Marino, the fingers have earned a reputation as some of the Island’s best.
“The popularity of our chicken fingers took off more than we could ever fathom,” Marino told Greater Long Island. “They’ve got a following that even we can’t believe.”
Now the family is teaming up with longtime friend Vincent Napolitano — founder and CEO of FAVO Capital — to grow the brand. Napolitano, who has roots in both hospitality and Wall Street, saw potential to turn the beloved deli staple into a fast-casual concept.
So what makes these chicken fingers stand out?
“They are sweeter than your standard tender,” Marino said. “We marinate them in a honey mustard dressing, but most importantly, each one is made with a whole lot of love.”
The Plainview shop is expected to open this spring. Signs are already up in the Crossroads Plaza shopping center, next door to La Piazza at Old Country Road and Manetto Hill Road. Marino said the menu will start simple, with plans to introduce new items later on.
Long term, the partners plan to expand beyond Long Island through company-owned stores and franchising — hoping to turn what began as a neighborhood tradition into a national comfort-food favorite.
And maybe answer the old question of why the chicken crossed the road. For the Grossos, it’s to begin their quest for chicken finger domination.
