Smithtown Restaurants

Sure, most of us have been to a Friday's at least once, but have you been there lately? If not, the new menu choices and excellent values you'll find are worth a trip to Friday's in Hauppauge.

You're probably familiar with the scene at Friday's...lively atmosphere, fun music, funky, youthful décor, and the feeling that no matter what day it is out there, it's "always Friday in here." We stopped in for dinner on a Wednesday night at 8:30, and despite the fact that it was only "hump day," the place actually did make us forget about our exhaustion and the fact that there were two more days until the weekend. With only a couple of empty tables and a vivacious crowd of diners, the restaurant had a festive spirit even while season premiers were broadcasting on televisions at home.

Friday's menu has always been extensive, but there are several new features to be pointed out. Novel appetizers such as crispy fried green beans and Parmesan-crusted Sicilian quesadillas have been added, as well as a selection of Friday's sliders - mini hamburgers with a variety of toppings.

As for entrees, the Jack Daniels Grill menu has been expanded to include eight mouth watering dinners marinated in Jack Daniels original or spicy sauces. They've also added a unique "Right Portion, Right Price" menu that offers a choice of 10 smaller portions at lower prices, a refreshing change in an industry that seems to have a more is better attitude. If you're yearning for the Friday's you knew and loved, no need to worry; steaks, ribs, seafood, burgers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, and low fat/low carb selections still round out the lunch and dinner options.

We decided to take advantage of another of Friday's new features: the 3-Course Menu for just $12.99, or $16.99 for "real indulgences." This menu includes several choices from Friday's complete menu, and certainly has something for everyone.

For appetizers, we chose the fried green beans and loaded potato skins, which were indicated as a "half order" on the menu, but in actuality the portion size was more than enough for the one person it was intended for. The crispy fried green beans were breaded and deep fried to a golden brown crust, and came with cucumber wasabi ranch dip, which was delicious, although the little cup they provided wasn't nearly enough for the large serving of green beans.

We decided on the fire-grilled sirloin (from the $16.99 menu) and the cheeseburger (a $12.99 option) for our main courses. Although the cheeseburger was from the $12.99 menu, my husband requested to upgrade it to a Jack Daniels burger by adding bacon and smoky Provolone cheese. A young and laid-back waitress delivered our meals hot and in a timely manner, and we enjoyed everything on our plates. My 10-oz. steak was cooked medium-rare as requested and was as tender as the waitress had described it to be. It was accompanied by Parmesan-crusted red potato wedges and mixed vegetables. The burger came with French fries. We both opted for the Oreo chocolate cake for dessert, which was as wickedly good as it sounds.

I'm happy to report that all of these new features at Friday's make for a pleasant and wallet-friendly dining experience. Our complete dinner for two totaled just $40 before gratuity. T.G.I. Friday's has distinguished itself from the crowd of restaurant chains, and for that it has earned 4 Dishes.