Graze Smokehouse — Restaurant in Town of Hempstead

Great place and great food. Solid choice for a fun and delicious dining experience.

I know this is a smokehouse, and we should have dug into the smoked menu items, but we love trying burgers everywhere. So on two different trips we ordered burgers with our other food.

Let's just say, I would go back again, and again, just for the burgers!

The patties were exceptionally delicious, grilled to perfection. 10/10. Our sandwiches (we tried the Delancy and MOAB burgers) were huge and tastefully plated, and packed with flavor and creative layers and trimmings.

On both visits, we had the 16 hour brisket, burnt ends, and turkey. The turkey and brisket were the same both times: soft, moist, delicious, albeit not hot. (Perhaps I have the wrong idea, but I would have wanted the meat to be hot.)

The taste and consistency of the burnt ends were different on both occasions. We liked it better on our first visit; it was succulent, soft and plenty of flavor. The second time, it was more, well, burnt and dried out.

The truffle fries were a bit disappointing. They were shoestring and seemed to have been recooked (deep fried a second time, to be heated). They were stiff and lacking fluff.

Try the chicken soup! Flavorful, hearty and hits the exact spot you are looking for in a chicken soup. Would have loved a larger bowl, though.

Desserts were small but hit the spot, and their non-dairy milkshakes were superb! (On the first visit, we ordered a milkshake with the rest of the food, but it came after we finished... In time for dessert.)

Would recommend, and hoping to have better and better experiences here because we love a good burger and would love to keep...

It’s hard for me to write this because as a fellow Jew, I truly believe in supporting Jewish businesses. That said, I feel it’s important to share my honest experience so improvements can be made.

First, when I sat down to eat, the staff started sweeping the floor and were pushing the dirt right toward my table. I waited patiently, assuming they’d stop—but they didn’t. It’s really unappetizing to eat while dust and debris are being swept in your direction. I understand the need to clean between customers, but this should be done with more awareness and care.

Second, the portion sizes are shockingly small. I paid $14 for guacamole, and the portion was tiny. On top of that, it didn’t even taste homemade—it seemed like prepackaged guacamole. At that price point, it should absolutely be made fresh in-house. You can really taste the difference.

Third, the burger was disappointing. The bun completely overpowered the meat—it felt like I was eating a bread sandwich with a bit of burger in it. The bread-to-meat ratio needs serious adjusting.

Lastly, I tried the Santa Fe salad with brisket, and personally, it just didn’t work for me. The brisket was oily, and it clashed with the crisp salad ingredients. Also, there were jalapeños in the salad, which I didn’t expect or see mentioned anywhere on the menu.

I’m leaving 3 stars because I believe in the potential of this place and I want to see it succeed—but some key things really...

Wow, where do I even begin with graze?! As soon as we walked into this kosher restaurant in the five towns, we knew we were in for a treat. The aroma of smoked meats wafted through the air and we were practically drooling by the time we were seated.

Our group of 11 was starving, so we went all out and ordered the smoked brisket, smoked Dino ribs, pulled beef tacos, mashed potatoes, and Mac and cheese. And let me tell you, every single dish did not disappoint. The brisket was so tender it practically melted in our mouths, the Dino ribs were fall-off-the-bone delicious, and the pulled beef tacos were the perfect combination of savory and spicy.

But the real showstopper was the Mac and cheese. It was creamy, gooey, and oh-so-cheesy. I think I heard a few angels singing as we devoured every last bite.

Overall, graze is a must-visit restaurant for anyone in the five towns looking for some seriously mouthwatering smoked meats and burgers. And with 11 satisfied guests in our group, I think it's safe to say we'll be...