Middle Island has a new place to eat, and the chef running it took the long way here. Side Door Social is open at 848 Middle Country Road, with executive chef Jose Nunez running a menu the restaurant describes as approachable food with bold flavors, alongside handcrafted cocktails, weekend brunch and a bar built for game days.

From Lima to Long Island, the long way

Nunez studied culinary arts in Peru, then continued his training in Poland and worked in kitchens across Europe. From there his career went to sea: years aboard cruise ships, where a kitchen feeds thousands of people a night and still has to hold the consistency of a small dining room. The restaurant credits that stretch with teaching him high-volume execution without letting quality slide.

He eventually landed on Long Island, where he led several local kitchens as an executive chef before putting his own name over the pass in Middle Island. Side Door Social is the sum of that route: classic technique, fresh ingredients and a menu meant for a neighborhood rather than a special occasion.

What is on the table

The restaurant publishes four menus: lunch and dinner, weekend brunch, happy hour and a seasonal Oktoberfest card running this fall. A kids menu prices every plate at $12, drink included, with pasta and butter, grilled cheese and fries, chicken tenders and mac and cheese on it.

Sports get their own schedule. The bar runs house-made wings at a dollar apiece with buckets of beer on Thursdays after 7 p.m., Sundays after 1 p.m. and Mondays after 8 p.m., in the restaurant only, which maps neatly onto the football calendar. The dining room also takes private parties and catering orders.

The practical part

Side Door Social is open five days a week and closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The restaurant lists service from noon to 11 p.m. on open days, with weekend doors opening at 10 a.m. for brunch. Pickup and delivery run through its site. It sits on Middle Country Road in the heart of the hamlet, an easy reach for Coram, Ridge and Yaphank as well.

Find it at 848 Middle Country Road, Middle Island, or call 631-775-6201. Reservations and the full menus are at sidedoor.social.

Sources