Dine out L.I. Reviews Wave Restaurant
September 2010
Source: Dine Out L.I.

In the heart of the picturesque town of Port Jefferson lies the jewel of the village, Danfords Hotel and Marina. Just steps form the ferry to Bridgeport, Ct. , Wave Restaurant and Lounge is the centerpiece of the 86 room boutique hotel, offering a hip, contemporary place to gather and dine, combining New England charm with an eclectic New American menu.
On an initial visit to Wave, we were drawn in so by the bustling Lounge that we decided to stay and sample items from the Tapas Menu, accompanied by the Razzamatazz cocktail and the Tidal Wave, two spectacular specialty drinks on the Wave drink menu, the first made with raspberry vodka and Chambord, the latter with Malibu coconut rum and blue Curacao, both served straight up in colorful sugar-rimmed martini glasses.
Chef Paul Govin offers an array of tantalizing tapas. The Thai mango lazed calamari is served over sticky rice and micro greens. Crispy and sweet, the calamari were perfectly cooked and tender. The steak house fondue for two is a meal in itself. The meat was perfectly cooked and the cheese dipping sauce was delightful. The pit fired pulled pork flight was satisfying, serving perfectly smoky pork on mini pretzel rolls.
Offerings on the Raw Bar & Sushi Menu include the angry crab & mango roll (delectable) and the Wave roll, consisting of lobster and crab, avocado, cumber and tobiko. The seafood plateau for two, at $47 was a very good bang for the buck, loaded with lobster, shrimp, clams oysters and crab meat.
A second visit to Wave brought us directly to the Admiral's Deck, where al fresco dining is available May through September. The Wave dinner menu offers some repeats from the Tapas Menu as appetizers, with the addition of baked clams, chopped and golden brown, perfectly seasoned and the crab cake with chipotle remoulade and corn salsa.
In true New American style, menu items offer something to please every palate, evoking Asian, Mediterranean and southwest flavors. The sesame crusted ahi tuna is accompanied by a pleasantly spiced kimchee. A pork chop, served char sin is accompanied by an Asian vegetable sauté and tempura rice balls. Cod is served tzatziki style, along with artichoke hearts, roasted pepper and eggplant, olives and feta cheese. A gorgonzola and pine nut crusted Chilean sea bass accompanied by parmesan mashed potatoes and truffled creamed spinach, is understandably the number one seller. Chipotle rubbed hanger stake and pan seared salmon with a creamy shrimp and corn hash are full flavored and satisfying.
Star items on the dessert menu include the chocolate fondue, quadruple chocolate mousse cake, and the New York cheesecake with strawberry sauce. Thank goodness, included with our dinner was free admission to Aqua Nightclub upstairs, where some much needed calorie burning can be done dancing to the music by KTU's DJ Jenny Costa every Friday night.
Wave also offers a lavish brunch buffet every Sunday from 11:30am to 3pm.
* Please note: A single star denotes "a very good restaurant in its category," two stars, "excellent cooking worth a detour," three stars, "exceptional cuisine, worth a special journey," and four stars, "luxury, standards that go above and beyond."
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