The Luxe Life

Everyone needs a little (or a lot) of luxury in their life.  Luxury can take many forms, but an excellent meal is a luxury that most people can appreciate.  Grand Lux Cafe in Garden City, Long Island,  attempts to bring a bit of luxe to the masses.

Grand Lux is a corporate restaurant whose luxury theme is very apparent.  The decor is quite opulent, with incredibly high ceilings, abundant venetian plaster and many decorative details designed to create an out of the ordinary ambiance.     It is easy to see that the business plan is working as there is  a significant wait for a table.    While I am sure that the luxury theme has an impact, I know that the consistently good food is what draws the masses.  The extensive menu caters to every taste with dishes ranging from mini tacos to Asian pot stickers to pizza.  The newly added tapas selection caught my attention on a recent visit.

I started with a warm goat cheese salad which was simple in composition, yet complex in flavor.  Yummmmm!   I followed with the mini tacos and duck potstickers.  Both dishes were well presented and had great flavor.  The real winners were the made to order desserts.  After sampling more desserts than I should have, I can tell you that the molten chocolate cake, New Orleans beignets, warm chocolate chip pecan cookies and sticky bun bread pudding are all delightful.

Not every dish on the menu is a winner; the Italian Market sandwich is definitely a failed attempt.  Also, the service can be somewhat inconsistent.  It ranges from superbly attentive to insultingly indifferent.  However, Grand Lux manages, for the most part,  to bring luxury to everyman at reasonable prices.

Grand Lux Cafe
630 Old Country Rd, Ste 1000 (Roosevelt Field Mall), Garden City,New York (516) 741-0096
www.grandluxcafe.com