Americana Eatery & Bar — Restaurant in Town of North Hempstead

We tried Americana tonight and we weren't at all impressed, unfortunately, and probably are not going back. I want to start off by saying what's the deal with an added 3% service fee before tax? Why was it there? Who was it for? What was it for? Why not work it into your prices instead of a tacked on fee at the end? Were you expecting no one to look at it and question it?

There are a few things I'll address here that you may ask, why didn't I bring it up during the meal? And that would be because I genuinely wanted to know the consistency of service and quality of food in it's first impression, and not what it was fixed after my requests or concerns.

The drinks were very weak, and I'm certainly not asking to get drunk on one drink, but I'd like to taste some of the gin in the Collins ($17) I paid for. The coconut margarita ($15) was not special either, and it lacked coconut flavoring. This will be a reoccurring theme in the review.

We ordered the truffle macaroni and cheese ($13) to start. The mac was overcooked and it was all roux and no cheese -it's literally in the name. It had okay truffle flavoring otherwise, but way too wet and no cheese, not even cheese flavored roux.

We ordered a wagyu pastrami and a burger which came with soup or salad, we chose soup. The soups tasted bland and kind of like low sodium canned soup to be honest. There was no salt or pepper on the table for taste. Nothing much else to say about that.

The burger ($20) was a patty between a bun, no lettuce, onion, or tomato to build on the side. You probably have to pay for that, along with the 3% service fee. Thankfully there was a mixed green that I used to add. The burger came dry with no condiments. Ketchup was provided when asked, instead of just being there in a little portion cup. The pastrami ($23) was okay, but it was also lacking condiments. It also had a mixed green on the side and coleslaw. The coleslaw tasted like the classic bucket slaw from Restaurant Depot.

The owner mentioned that he's trying for a 2025 diner, "a modern diner," and I'm not entirely sure what that means, because it genuinely doesn't give that feeling. The atmosphere feels like it should be high end, maybe to reflect the slightly higher prices, but the menu feels like it's a cost cut stripped back bistro for the lunch/dinner menu. As for calling it a diner... the essence needed to call itself a diner genuinely feels lost or simply falls short, but it's like they're still trying to hold onto the title so they can be open for breakfast. Again, just call yourself a bistro.

The atmosphere feels mostly copied over from the redesigns from the Greek restaurant that was briefly here before it.

Not trying to be hurtful,...

This place is next door to my elderly mom’s doctor’s office. So we used to come here all the time when it was Seven Seas, because it’s a one minute wheelchair ride from the doc, no need to get her back in and out of the car (IYKYK). We were sad when Seven Seas closed. Then today we saw it was open again as Americana, and came in for lunch.

The positive reviews are right and the negative ones seem nostalgic for something that hardly exists anymore — the classic slightly greasy and old school Long Island diner with cheap prices.

This isn’t that. It’s a more limited menu and the prices are higher than most diners, but only by a little bit.

However, we experienced exceptionally kind and solicitous service from the moment I wheeled her wheelchair in, the kitchen was happy to make my mom what she wanted even though it wasn’t on the menu (when I asked the waiter said “of course!”) and the food was really well prepared and fresh and high quality, with quite decent portions.

And yeah it’s now a lovely space, airy and light and well designed and decorated. Tables are well spaced, quiet and easy to talk.

In the space of 15 minutes we went from thinking it was a somewhat fancified and expensive diner to thinking it was a quite reasonably priced restaurant. Mom loved her food, and so did I (we just had sandwiches but the side salad was excellent, the slaw obviously homemade and not canned, the bread super fresh). Service was quick and friendly but never overbearing.

Worth the price, very nice people, great atmosphere, and still an easy wheelchair ride from the doctor’s office next door. We will be back. Very good wheelchair access too.

And by the way, I don’t remember ever before having restaurant staff actually come over to help me get mom out of her dining chair and back into her wheelchair at the end of a meal. That was a lovely touch.

If you’re super kind and helpful to my mom in her disabled state, and served high quality fresh food at a fair price, you get a five star review. I don’t make a lot of them.

Well done Americana. See...

We came yesterday with the friends who live in the area and who already had an awesome experience with the American Eatery. We were met by a very handsome and super professional host. Then we noticed a really contemporary and sophisticated interior design of the eatery , light and breezy color, and very modern artisan art on the wall and strategically placed tables.That's all to start with. We were right for time for the branch/lunch menu, and it's always an adventure. The choice was :starter salads , shakshuka( they's no life without eggs ), turkey kivbasy, chicken burger, and hamburger. We did take pictures, but it definitely didn't do justice for the food presentation, so until the next time and better pictures. However, guests' next table, were absolutely impressed with the hamburger presentation and eloquently expressed the visual effect hamburger did on them. Thanks to the owner , cheff and staff for the unforgettable time in the...