West End Cafe

Damn it. I am very disappointed with myself. Not only did I completely neglect to use the bathroom the entire time I was there, but I also did not read the tell tale signs of what would be best off the menu based on what was going on around me. First, the bathroom will tell you a lot about a restaurant. If the bathroom is absolutely emaculate with all the non essential bath elements such as lightly vanilla scented foaming anti bacterial victorias secret hand wash, you can assume that your meal will not be disappointing. If the bathroom is a tight, abruptly placed closet containing a something made out of porcelain barely worth underage vomit with exposed plumbing and a wall full of graffiti that almost seems chronological with the amount of "wuz's" with following dates and/or times, then you better hope your eating pizza or else you could pretty much garuntee a shit meal. Unfortunately, I did not think enough to even look in the fucking bathroom when ironically enough I can't spend more than an hour in traffic without having to piss my pants.
However, all unexplainable but comfortable bladder expansions aside, my girlfriend and I chose to dine at West End Cafe somewhere in Long Island on a wed. night. We arrived at the restaurant, which lies between a joyce leslie and elementary teacher supply store in the corner of an almost abandoned parking lot, at 6:30. PACKED. The host emerged from a room packed with older diners, all 4 and 5 tops of women over 50 celebrating wednesday I guess with a couple deuces of equally aged people here and there, to relay an hour wait.
After a short verbal domestic "decision" in the parking lot, my girlfriend went in and told the host we would be back in an hour and fifteen, roughly 8 oclock, to which he replied your table will be waiting. Sure enough, when we returned at 7:55 we were immediately recognized and seated within five minutes and in that amount of time the median age of the room was drastically reduced.
The service was excellent. We were seated in the same section, at the same time, as a couple that could have easily been either of our grandparents. The waitress handled the situation perfectly by taking their drink and appetizer orders first and when returning with their drinks taking our order. The wine list was unintimidating, with the cheapest bottle I think just under $30. In hindsight, I guess I acted as the rest of the room may have acted by ordering my girlfriends drink for her, suggesting the special 2005 Spanish Albarino, $9 by the glass. Crisp, kinda like a chardonnay with the stereotypical cat piss characteristic but in the nose instead of on the palate. I chose a $5 Stella Artois from the tap which was served in one of those elegant tall glasses that are just dieing to be knocked over by one of my clumsy elbows.
We chose to have the fried calamari as an appetizer. Definately one of the best I've had. I've actually been trying to describe it to myself the past two days and all I can think about is the seasoning of the flour before you fry it. I was always instructed as a prep cook to season the flour, salt pepper dry garlic and paprika, and once you think it is seasoned enough, do it all once more. Unless you like to taste flour theres no real test for it besides the eye especially if your doing it on the fly. Well, this calamari came out so beautifully seasoned and crisp I was undoubtedly impressed. However, the crispy Duck Confit taco or crepe (i forget) appetizer was looking mighty tempting.
Entree's. My girlfriend got the Butternut Squash Ravioli. Imagine it anywhere else, prepared any other way and you got it. Nothing special besides the assumed, but not contested, homemade element to the rav's. I ordered the shellsteak which I would not normally order. Shellsteak is a little to fatty for my taste and having it prepared medium may leave some parts a little more chewy then desirable but I enjoyed this.
The physical features of the restaurant were definately appealing. Exposed steel framing was covered by maybe six suspended, three foot wide sheets which matched the table covers while accenting the brick orange colored walls and highlighting the painting of an enlarged greek statue's, David? Goliath? IDK, portrait. Pretty descriptively meaty sentence but you'll come to realize that although I may view updated and appealing decor as relevant, it is not as much of a ranking element as quality of food or service.
West End Cafe is definately a restaurant worth visiting, maybe even a trip out of the way. I would probably recognize it as one of the best meals you could find within a stones throw from Roosevelt Field Mall. I would say If but instead, When I eat there again I will definately order one of the lamb items on the menu. The older couple seated next to my girlfriend and I ordered the rack of lamb which had an appearance that would have maintained my attention even if Angelina Jolie were naked in the opposite direction, and the braised lamb shank which had that unforgettable, appetizing, and perfectly 'braised' scent.

I definately have my to-do list once I have the pleasure of dining here again.