Maroni Cuisine — Restaurant in Town of Huntington

After eating at Maroni's a week ago, I have been really putting off how to review it because I've been truly processing it.

There aren't many tasting menu options in the area, to start. So I was pumped to find this place which offers ~16 courses for $195/person. It is cash only (or check), which is strange, but includes tip/tax and unlimited wine.

The experience ultimately is fascinating. I was expecting a very Italian-influenced night, which at times it was. However, when you walk in you walk into 1960s UK music/decorations (apparently the owner is a big Beatles fan), which really does not seem to connect to the food. The decor is all in line with this. The tables are cozy, which wasn't an issue for us as the place was about 50% full when we went.

In terms of the food, this is also so confusing to me. The following description will be a description of the nonsensical and random chain of events that was the tasting menu. Started with a teacup of lobster bisque, which was lovely (no lobster meat, fine). Then this "medallion" of caviar, which I could've done without. Followed by a California roll, which was fine but seemingly so random (why sushi in an Italian restaurant?). This is when I knew the menu would not really make sense/follow any sort of theme. Oysters and shrimp next. Korean short ribs with a singular gummy bear on top? The rib was fine but I truly have never eaten a heated gummy bear and am not sure I ever wanted to. Kobe beef slider-this was maybe a highlight- with a Heinz packet and 2 tater tots each-strange but delicious. At some point, someone walked around with truffle grilled cheese bites. This was probably my favorite course. Back to courses. Green eggs with a crostini. Pastrami egg roll (this was the most random to me and truly was not well done, why are we putting pastrami in an egg roll?), chicken dish, ravioli, etc.

We ended with meatballs and spaghetti. This was told to be the star of the restaurant and really was not. The spaghetti was very much fine. I was a little disappointed by the meatballs, which they give you to send home with.

Dessert wise, there was a chipwich, mousse, and Crème brûlée. The first two were great! The latter, meh.

The service was excellent and they were really interested in refilling your drinks.

Ultimately, I probably wouldn't pay to go back. Or buy the meatballs to go. It's such a strange tasting menu....If you're without other options in the area it's a solid choice if you live/are...

02/06/2020. Thursday evening. I don't know where to begin. Let's start as we walked in through heavy drapes after the front door. At 65 years young, we entered to Greatfull Dead Sugar Magnolia. Continuous music of mellow Dead and Beatles. Greated by Donna and told us to take any table we preferred. Decor is spectacular, with Beatles, and 60's memorabilia , including a guitar signed by mick Jagger and Keith Richards. We had a reservation for their full tasting menu. Started with an espresso size cup of the most amazing seafood chowder. 13 to 15 courses later, (I lost count), we had a a desert tasting of 4 deserts. We even took food home that we couldn't finish from some of the courses. Caviar, Sushi, oysters, ribs, ravioli, rigatoni, Kobe sliders and more. Best of all, your personal waitress keeps a watch not to over load the table and not rush you. She keeps your wine glass full at all times. Donna is with the company 15 years and loves questions. Very personable. Our last course before desert was their signature meatballs with spaghetti and I don't remember the sauce and a wild boar parmigiana. About 3/4 through the meal the owner came over to make sure all was good. Well, all was great. Probably one of the top 5 restaurants I've ever been to in my life. We were 2 people, and dinner was 2 1/4 hours. Its was $140 per person INCLUDES tax and tip. Worth every penny. Wait there was 1 negative. They didn't supply a designated driver home. We'll have to call uber and go back and get the...

This might be one of the most confusing restaurants that I've ever been to. Each course was, in and of itself, well presented and delicious. However, it was one of the most non-harmonious meals I've ever eaten. They should call this restaurant 'Everything but the Kitchen Sink'. Dishes just kept coming in no particular order...italian dishes, Sushi, raw oysters, pasta and more pasta, grilled cheese bites, Kobe beef sliders with potato nuggets, lobster bisque, sweet Korean BBQ Ribs, etc, finishing with a mixed dessert platter. I would call the Chef's weekend tasting menu a gastronomic overload. I don't know who thought this was a good idea and I'm not sure that this was a great meal for the steep price of $160/ per person. Somewhere toward mid-meal we started passing on some of the offerings that just didn't appeal when paired with the previous 3 dishes. You simply aren't looking for sushi or BBQ ribs after Wild Boar Parmigiana and Ravioli in a black truffle cream sauce. If the menu had been more cohesive, it might have been a better experience. The ambiance is charming, staff super friendly and attentive, plus they give you free containers of meatballs to take home. (I wish I had been in on that meatball throwdown because, frankly, the general consensus at the table was that our family meatballs are better) 'Eclectic' certainly describes the confusing tasting menu selection. An interesting experience but a 'One and...