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Culture Fine Food & Cocktails adds new American restaurant, late night dining option in Babylon

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Two longtime friends from Bayville are living their dream out in Babylon Village.

Patrick Mack and Wells Brauner, who befriend each other in their teens, are opening Culture Fine Food & Cocktails, a contemporary American fine dining restaurant at 94 East Main Street.

“We always wanted to do [open a restaurant together] but [Mack] went through his life’s route and I went through mine,” said Brauner, Culture’s co-owner and executive chef. “Now we’re finally at a place where we could make it happen.”

In July, the two took over village staple Don Ricardo’s, which closed down after 30 years operating in the area.

“We decided Babylon because it is such a foodie town,” said Brauner, who has worked as an executive chef in several restaurants, including places in Manhattan, Las Vegas, and Palm Beach, Fla.

The two redesigned the building’s layout, adding a 9-seat bar on the main floor while updating the interior with an “artsy and progressive vibe,” described Brauner.

For food, Culture will be offering a variety of dishes that are locally source. The menu will also change seasonally.

One of the highlighted dishes is its Surf and Turf burger, which is a short rib patty topped with grilled shrimp on a pretzel bun. “It’s so delicious,” said Brauner.

A part of Mack and Brauner’s vision for Babylon Village is to offer the area late night fine dining options.

“We’d like to be open until 2 a.m. most nights,” Brauner told GreaterBabylon.

According to the two, the late hours are to provide quality dining options for night owls rather than bar hopping revelers.

“We’re 107 seats of dining,” said Brauner. “We acquired a great team of chefs, who have the same passion as us for great food.”

Culture Fine Food & Cocktails plans to host a grand opening on Saturday, with late night hours starting next week.

Top: (L-R) Sous chef Joe Wylie, co-owner Wells Brauner, Matt Watson.

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