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| From Newsday New Moon Cafe 524 Montauk Highway East Quogue, NY 11942-3927 631-653-4042 Shana and Ron have run the New Moon Cafe for nearly 30 years, and it's a low-key, friendly place with a family feel. The restaurant is in a former general store that dates to 1903, and it has a homey feel. Rustic decor is accented with antique mirrors and photographs. It can seat 95. The cuisine points southwest from East Quogue, and nachos made with real cheese, guacamole and sour cream are a popular appetizer. The mesquite-smoked brisket of beef costs $15.95 and comes with potato salad, Texas pinto beans and vegetable of the day. The same sides come with the country pork ribs, for $16.95. The restaurant makes its own barbecue sauce and offers homemade desserts. A prix fixe special is offered nightly until 7 p.m. You get any barbecue dinner, soup and dessert for $19.95. There is a Sunday brunch and a children's menu. New Moon has a full bar with a big selection of Blue Point Brewery beers. Hours: Wed.-Thurs. 5 p.m. to 9 30 p.m. Fri. 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.. Sat. noon to 10:30 p.m. Sun. noon to 10 p.m. Website: www.nmcafe.com Cuisine: American, Barbecue, Tex-Mex Major Credit Cards Accepted: Yes Price Range: Inexpensive (Under $15), Moderate ($15-$25) Reservations: Accepted Special Features: Early Bird/Prix-Fixe Deals, Good for Parties/Large Groups, Open for Lunch/Brunch, Outdoor Seating, Suitable for Young Children From
the New York Times
(Sunday, May 19, 2002) Island's Barbecue Restaurants By Richard J. Scholem At the New Moon Café in East Quogue, the twang of two live guitars playing country music fill the air on weekends, and the menu tells us that the restaurant features "Ol' Tex's famous barbecue and Lone Star Mexican cookin'." A faux cactus with a sombrero casually draped on it and hot chili peppers hanging over the bar reinforce the Old West aura. Barbecuing is accomplished on grills with pull-down hoods, which results in ribs that are meaty and flavorful but firm. The sauce on the ribs, the tender-to-the-touch brisket and the juicy half a chicken is confined to the surface. The most memorable dish sampled was not barbecue, but rather Ol' Tex's chili. Thick with beef and beans, capped with cheese and crowned by sour cream, it was a terrific blend of meat, heat and taste. Homemade dessert (banana cream pie, Texas pecan pie and a raspberry-lemon chiffon pie) was.... From the Soho News NEW MOON Café Driving through East Quogue, look for the Texas flag and you will have found the "New Moon Café" -- just the best little tex-mex house not in Texas. This restaurant is a south shore tradition for ribs and chicken since the Carter administration and still going strong. Truly an American family place where you can "kick back" and not worry if the kids are welcome because they are. You will be greeted at the door by Ron Campsey (Ole Tex), the "oldest bus boy" in the Hamptons and father of eight (8) who has raised his own wait staff and is a truly warm and friendly man. You will immediately feel at home. The mother of the up and coming wait staff and Ron’s long time sidekick, Shana, runs the place and makes desserts so good that strong men weep and children clamor for more. There is a full southwestern menu and a daily blackboard of specials -- fish, pasta, steak American style, etc. -- a full bar provides generous drinks and beer on tap. On the evening we visited, tile fish was a special and mine was fresh and cooked to perfection; served with a medley of vegetables and mashed potatoes it was comfort food to soothe the mind and warm the belly. The perfect dish to follow my tomato, onion and avocado salad and precede a peach cobbler dessert as bright and light as a Texas sunrise. On the other side of the table, a trio of enchiladas, one beef and cheese, one bean and cheese and one chicken and cheese appeared to the delight of my usual dinner companion and co-reviewer, who is clamoring to continue this narrative herself. "Since I am so much more a delicate diner and generally more refined person than my husband, I prefer lighter fare and the New Moon enchiladas fit the bill for me. The combination of cheese, spices, beans and meat was enough to satisfy without bringing on that "sinking" feeling that often follows tex mex food -- a glass of the house white and a small salad put me in the mood for some homemade cake. The cake Mom made with the help of Betty Crocker. The kind of cake that Shana makes so well, but did not make that day. I think she should make one or two every day, so when you go to the New Moon ask for cake -- American two (2) layer -- yellow with chocolate icing or coconut, but ask for cake. Maybe she will learn what people want!! Particularly us delicate types -- a nice wedge of light and fluffy homemade cake. Like all members of his species (Martians), my husband fails to notice most of the important things about his surroundings. Since he completely neglected to discuss the menu in any meaningful detail, I guess the task falls to me, but then a woman’s work is never done. Dinner at the New Moon can start with a homemade soup of the day or an excellent chowder followed by an appetizer of mushrooms stuffed with sausage, nachos grande, jalapeno poppers (which are popular with the kids), clams casino or truly spicy buffalo wings. Along with the specials from which my favorite Martian chose tile fish, there is also a choice of barbecued chicken, ribs or brisket, marinated steak or catfish recently fished from a lazy Texas river. Many of the barbecued items are available as sandwiches, as are hamburgers, cheeseburgers and the like. There is a children’s menu which includes chicken fingers, fish fingers, hot dogs and if your child will only eat peas and honey, Shana will probably provide them if you ask. Speaking of children they are both welcome and plentiful here so don’t be afraid to come early and bring as many of your well-behaved children as you wish. Along with the sometimes appearance of homemade layer cake on the menu, the desserts also consist of Blondie’s (white brownies), homemade pies (pecan and banana creme), cobbler, ice cream, cheesecake and you can usually buy a box of Girl Scout cookies from one of Shana and Ron’s younger daughters. The decor which is never noticed by Martians is funky and down home with a southwestern, East Quogue twist. There are both tables and booths. In summer, the flowers both on the grounds and in the window boxes facing Montauk Highway are truly wonderful. |
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