Restaurant review - Laverne of Great Neck

On Cutter Mill Road, Laverne of Great Neck offers a wide variety of excellent choices of Asian fusion cuisine. Set in a cozy, casual atmosphere with soft lighting and soft music, the restaurant features dark-toned tables surrounded by deep-hued, paneled walls, with an occasional adornment of glistening tiles.

The meals are an exquisite blend of the best that Japanese, French and Thai have to offer, all beautifully presented by friendly, attentive waitstaff. From a variety of sushi to meat, fish, poultry and vegetarian options, there is much to choose from at this dining venue.

You're in for a treat when you dine at Laverne of Great Neck. The prices are moderate and the tastes are superb. The hardest part of your dining experience will be choosing from a vast array of tasty offerings.

Appetizers run the gamut from Cajun Shrimp sauteed with Laverne's special blend of Creole seasonings to Beef Tataki seared with creamy yuzu and shoyu reduction.

My husband and I had lunch at the restaurant and he enjoyed the Magret de Canard appetizer. The slices of meat were pan fried and served with a rich complexity of flavors in the sauce, which included hints of orange and raspberry, and were served with strawberries. It was accompanied by a mesclun salad with balsamic reduction.

I opted to start with the Coquilles St. Jacques, a staple of French cuisine, but prepared with an Asian twist. The scallops were tender and served in a delicate, shell-shaped crust, complemented by a sweet yet piquant sauce that included soy, sake, mirin and more.

For my main course, I ordered an entree with shiitake mushrooms, scallions and bamboo shoots topped with a savory Thai Style Garlic Sauce. The meal can be served with chicken, beef or shrimp, but I asked for tofu. Although the soy product was not on the menu, the chef accommodated my request.

The restaurant offers a variety of beers including Sapporo, Bluepoint Toasted Lager, Brooklyn Chocolate South and more, as well as Redbridge, which is gluten free. Wine is served by the glass or bottle and their list includes Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Pino Grigio and more.

One of the highlights of Laverne of Great Neck is the presentation. Visitors who order dragon rolls will be presented with their sushi in the form of a sinuous dragon, ready for the eating.

The dessert menu does not disappoint. I enjoyed the Banana Spring Rolls with just the right amount of sweetness in the deep fried bananas, while my husband had the Key Lime Pie, a tart yet sweet lime custard on a graham cracker crust, topped with fresh whipped cream.

There are also other sweets including the gluten free Green Tea Temptation, which features a green tea-flavored white chocolate mousse with chocolate almond meringue, and the Caramel Apple Tart, filled with golden raisins and served with a dollop of vanilla gelato.

Laverne of Great Neck address: 9 Cuttermill Road, Great Neck, NY
Phone:(516)829-8200
Website: www.laverneofgreatneck.com
Cuisine: Contemporary American and Seafood
Hours: Monday through Thursday: 11 a.m.- 10 p.m.
Friday & Saturday: 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Sunday: 2 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Note: they also deliver. Call (516) 829-8200 to order.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our Ethics Policy.