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Nearly a year after a beloved Sayville restaurant shuttered its doors for good, its trendy replacement has opened in its place.
The Wayward has begun a soft opening downtown at 98 Main St., and has discreetly yet instantaneously garnered the attention of the community. The new restaurant cropped up in a familiar prime location, where for more than three decades, Peter Moreno’s Cricket’s provided a welcoming atmosphere.
Ownership confirmed the restaurant is currently open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The eatery offers a unique menu loaded with apps, a few entrees and assorted other options.
Wayward, which is currently operating in a soft opening capacity, is cooking up such appetizers as Pete’s Kung Pao cauliflower with shishito peppers, scallions, celery, cashews and Ku Pao sauce and Dice’s Spice Sticky Ribs covered in peach hoisin sauce, sesame and scallions. Diners also munched on the double patty smash burger with cheddar, house sauce, lettuce and tomatoes and Big Andrew’s spicy chicken sandwich topped with chili crisp mayo and ginger pickles.
Last weekend, Wayward’s menu boasted the Sayville crab cake with corn chowder and herbs; the ribeye steak sandwich with gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, arugula, Dijon horseradish sauce; sesame crusted salmon with black rice and vegetable stir fry, shitake mushrooms, soy and Thai chili sauce, and pea shoots; and chicken under brick with mashed potatoes, roasted wild mushrooms and thyme chicken jus.
While introducing customers to the new menu, the restaurant opted for a dry soft opening so that guests could try the food “without any intoxicated bias,” a Wayward Instagram post reads.
Continue to follow greatersayville.com for updates on the grand opening of Wayward’s in Sayville.
Top photo: Exterior of The Wayward in Sayville.