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The Parkview is now cooking in Wantagh after rebuild of old Scuttlebutt spot

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The Parkview bar and restaurant is now open, and things are humming along in Wantagh after an ambitious makeover of what used to be Scuttlebutt Tavern.

The gleaming-new Parkview spot is unrecognizable from the old watering hole, which had operated at 3355 Merrick Rd. since the 1970s.

“The build-out was very involved,” said Liz Griesch, a co-owner at The Parkview. “We wanted to create a space that was classy and clean. It took a few months and was a process, but we had a vision and stuck to it!”

The makeover is highlighted by the real brick, warm light fixtures and marble-style floors and table tops.

The Parkview opened Oct. 23, offering small plates, burgers and other handhelds, as well as an array of entrées (the Fork & Knife section of the menu) that range from shrimp Luciano to streak frites to crab cakes and salads.

“Everything from our French fries to our cocktail mixers are made in house,” Griesch told Greater Long Island.

How it happened

Griesch and her partner and the executive chef, Brendan Banks, teamed up with the building’s owner, Scott Arenella, on the project.

That all came together in June after some mutual introductions.

“Scott had recently purchased and started renovating the building,” Griesch said. “For me, Chef Brendan came to mind right away, so I asked him to come to the meeting with me. Brendan and I always had a tremendous mutual respect for each other, and over the years always tried to bring each other various opportunities, but the timing had not been right as of that point.”

Both are industry veterans. However, Banks is also a war veteran who served as a Staff Sergeant and completed three tours in Iraq and a fourth in Afghanistan with the U.S. Army Infantry. Long Islanders also might recognize him from his time at the local Burgerology chain, or his popular Brendos in Williston Park, which he still owns.

He’s the mastermind in the kitchen at The Parkview.

As for Griesch, she works the front of the house and has been working in restaurants since bussing tables at 14. She went on to run high-volume French and Italian restaurants, including her own venture, Gio’s Atlantic Beach.

“I stepped away from that to have the freedom to do what I do best: make fresh cocktails and create an ambiance that’s both elegant and sexy,” she told Greater Long Island this week.

“I knew the South Shore needed a place like The Parkview,” she continued. “So often, people have to choose between elevated cocktails and a sexy vibe, or great burgers, sandwiches and wings. The Parkview felt like the perfect marriage of those two worlds.”

If you go

First, the parking. There is street parking in front of the building. There is also street parking on the side streets that straddle the The Parkview to the east (Fir Street) and west (Pine Street). There are no meters.

The team is currently in discussions with its neighbors to secure more parking, which could be announced as soon as this spring.

For drinks, go with the namesake cocktail The Parkview, which is the best-seller. That’s lavender infused vodka with hibiscus bitters, freshly puréed peach and a hint of lemon.

The espresso martinis are also a can’t miss, Griesch promises.

“Our espresso machine has been imported from Italy and is situated behind our bar, similar to how it is in all of the cocktail bars of Europe,” she said. “We buy only high-quality espresso that is made exclusively for our machine.”

As for the food, you’ll have plenty of choices. The Parkview has become instantly known in the neighborhood for its wings, with a choice of Buffalo, Korean BBQ or Nashville style, all house-made. The other big seller is the steak tidbits served with crispy onions and aus jus. Or a burger. Griesch suggests the All-American.

The team also said the lettuce boats (pictured above) have surged in popularity, especially in January and among the more health conscious diners. These are like tacos, but use Romaine lettuce instead of tortilla.

“Our guests really seem to love the fact that it’s a lighter option, but still packs a punch when it comes to flavor,” Griesch said.

For the boats, the Parkview currently offers Buffalo chicken, fiesta chicken or shrimp and avocado.

Click here for the full dinner menu. Click here for the drink menu.

Top: The new bar at The Parkview, located at 3355 Merrick Rd. in Wantagh. (Michael White)

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