Was nearby with a friend and decided to stop in for lunch. It had been years since I'd been here, and I remember being disappointed with the food last time, but I decided to give it another try. The crowd was pretty much the same as I remembered, mostly an older crowd in their 70s. They still have a great lunch menu, but I decided to stay away from the pasta and go with a safer choice with the steak quesadillas. For $18, they also come with French fries, which I thought was a great deal. I was pleasantly surprised! Everything tasted great, the steak quesadillas were flavorful, and I really enjoyed my lunch. If I'm in the area again, I'd definitely stop in and give them another try. read more

West End Cafe - Lunch steak quesadilla comes with fries - New American Near Me - Carle Place, New York

I never noticed this restaurant before because it's in the corner of a somewhat deserted shopping center. But it was good and crowded for Mother's Day weekend! We were promptly seated and the wine and cocktail selection is good. The wine pours were a little meager but the wine pretty good. The pesto knots they serve for the free bread were great! My husband also loved how they offered us one more each for free without his asking to ask. We split the salmon and Black Sea bass. I loved the salmon sauce, how well the salmon was cooked, and the gnocchi it came with. The Black Sea bass wasn't as good in my opinion. The pesto sauce was bland and could do with being more flavorful like the free knots. The accompanying vegetables and potatoes were good. For dessert we split the apple crumble which was quite good. The staff were very friendly and the ambiance really nice. We enjoyed our date night a lot there and the we plan to go back and try their happy hour especially since we live nearby and drive by there all the time. Recommend! read more

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The food here is very good. The dinner rolls are to amazing. Loaded with good olive oil and herbs. The staff is very accommodating. We arrived in time for the pre-fixe meal and we all enjoyed what we had (salmon, pork chop and short ribs). Dessert options are plentiful and even the decafe cappuccino was delicious. Served in a tall glass with a cappuccino flavored sugar stick for an extra lovely touch. Definitely make a reservation. Ladies, if you chill easily when the air conditioning is on, bring a good sweater! read more

West End Cafe - Short ribs. - New American Near Me - Carle Place, New York

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Amazing venue, service and ambiance were retro diner but very elegant. We're here on a group date with our gym friends, we were surprised by the extravagant and rich menu. Our friends love the salmon over roasted vegetables. I had a salmon over salad mango walnut salad. We all enjoyed the shrimp and mushroom risotto, it was so flavorful. Yet another group favorite was the steamed Prince Edward Island mussels, the bread is absolutely amazing to dip into the broth and honestly we couldn't stop eating. After that decadent sharing experience we dove in for another few items. The duck tacos were high on our list as I love duck and the Asian Style Duck Tacos did not disappoint - very well balanced flavor, upfront and perfection, you'll wish there were more. Finally, for my main course I had the red wine braised short ribs. The flavors come very well together in every bite and although the short rib was very tender, I think more seasoning could allow it to shine more. When you eat it all together it all pairs very nicely, but when you go for the short rib bite, it seems lacking in flavor. Eventually, we finish our heavenly main course and are staring at the desert menu. We need a coffee to go with this, so we ordered a cappuccino along with our two deserts for sharing. We ended up choosing the Warm Peach Crisp and the White Chocolate caramel cake and both were perfect. It was a great finish to an already amazing meal. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area - can't wait to try more of the menu. read more

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Update. I ordered two soupy dishes (appetizer and entrée) plus dessert for $44 on the Sunday night special. It seemed worth it, considering several of the entrées alone were priced in the high 30s. First was the mussells, which I usually find are ironically less about the mussells, since most seem similar, but more about the broth in which they are prepared. This one was good, and rather than using a soup spoon, I dipped their onion roll(s) into it until the roll was gradually consumed. Second was the soupy risotto, which came with a half dozen large shrimp (tails off) and lots of chopped vegetables (mushrooms, tomatoes, etc.) inside the rice. It was fresh and tasty, but too much oil or butter. Yet these days that seems à la mode ... my preference would be a lighter sauce instead of one so soupy that the rice becomes drenched throughout. We took the dessert "to go." read more

West End Cafe - "jumbo" shrimp risotto - New American Near Me - Carle Place, New York

The food I ordered was good. But the service was terrible. First he got my sparkling water order wrong. Then it took forever for him to correct it. He was in generally just interminably slow. Could have been a problem with the kitchen, of course. My husband usually over-tips. On this occasion he undertipped. read more

I would've liked to have given four stars, but there were a few things that were offputting. I was seated right beneath an air-conditioning vent and had it blowing super cold on me. I know that's not the fault of the place, but it mean an uncomfortable experience. My string beans came out cold and the hamburger was less than warm. Also, the beet salad was nothing special. The other issue is it's deep in a completely empty strip mall with homeless people living there and not a place I feel safe at. read more

Been loyal fans and ate many times at this obscurely-located restaurant with out of town friends. Last night's dinner was disappointing and we will not return. After two of us returned the Parmesan Chicken because it was tough and inedible, we were encouraged to order fish as a sub to reduce waiting time. We ordered a fish and a burger dish, both coming out 15 minutes after the rest of us were finished with our meals. The manager wouldn't comp us for desert or even coffees. Manager didn't even come over to our table.Sad that they would value a couple of bucks over keeping loyal customers. Every restaurant has missteps. The best ones handle it with grace and retain long-time customers. Alternatively, when you treat your best customers like this, word gets around. Plenty of other choices on the Island, where your business is appreciated. read more

Food is always great! One of my favorite dinner spots. Lamb chops were amazing Short Ribs always awesome ! read more

We hadn't been to WEC in a while - but the location was perfect to meet friends. The restaurant was less than half-filled as it was a Wednesday evening. As we remembered, everything we ordered - from the drinks to the food and the service was very good. We're sure to again in the near future. read more

I'm not sure if the public knows that the West End Cafe is a hidden gem or a neighborhood gem . Either way it's a great restaurant, it has the intimate vibe. I recommend reservations if you go during the busy dinner or lunchtime. The service is excellent starting with the hostess followed by the rest of the staff. The menu and drinks are varied and all is made to order. Give it a try read more

Always good dining. The service was great. It has a nice atmosphere. We always enjoy dining there. There are excellent menu selections. We have never had a bad meal there in all the years we have been going there. read more

Everything is awesome here. Always great service and the food is really done right. Highly recommended

The food was, as always, perfectly prepared & served. Service by Kim was spot on. Never overbearing, perfectly attentive! We love the simple decor & comfortable seating. Our favorite restaurant! read more

West End Cafe didn't 'wow' me but I guess would recommend. Food was good. A turn off was while waiting for the rest of our party before going to our table my husband ordered a beer from the bar. Small glass. $11! That was too much. Don't live near the restaurant and wouldn't go out of our way to return. One and done. read more

Great menu, wide variety of choices.... Food was very good and service was excellent. A solid choice for sure.....

3.5 stars for food, 4 stars for service by our lovely waitress Kim. She was friendly and attentive throughout the evening. Seems we were the last to leave even...but she never rushed us. Overall, the place was warm and beautifully decorated for the Holidays. The dining room was comfortable and well spaced out. There is a full bar with TVs and plenty of counter seating. From the outside, you didn't expect such a quaint dining room. With the word cafe in the name, I definitely didn't expect it to look this smart casual. On a Wednesday night no less, the dining room was pretty full. (The restaurant is tucked in the corner of this shopping plaza in between a furniture shop and pet store). Onto the food: - complimentary garlic knots were served as we waited for our drinks and courses. I'm told they are made fresh in house, daily. - I opted to try the soup of the day, "cream of cauliflower". Surprised to find it contained golden raisins and pumpkin seeds. It was also more gray in color than I expected. It was indeed creamy. - the meatball appetizer with provolone cheese was pretty good, not dry and definitely cheesey. Served alongside three petite garlic toasts. - the octopus salad - just okay, you can skip. It didn't have a good balance of acidity and texture. The cubed mangoes and avocado were a nice visual but the dressing or drizzle of wasn't pronounced enough for me to taste like it worked together. Entrees: - Striped Bass was really good - crispy skin and well seasoned. Paired with rutabaga and red cabbage. Each item worked well together. - Pan seared sea scallops with lemon risotto. I liked the mushrooms that were mixed in but the risotto was a bit too moist for my taste. And the scallops were okay, not particularly memorable but had great color. Two pieces were a bit too seared, tasted slightly burnt, but the rest of the generous portion was perfectly cooked. Needed more seasoning. Always room for Dessert. As we were finishing up our dinner, a nearby table had ordered a few desserts that caught our eye. So, it was necessary to try. - brownie and ice cream - Vanilla ice cream, served as a parfait in a round glass. It was good but I was too full to enjoy the whole thing. read more

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Delicious food and great flavors. Huge portions. Good variety of options. Nice ambiance. read more

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This place discriminated against me and I felt very bad thereafter. A friend and I attempted to dine here and were told that they were completely booked at the door. Yet... there were literally 3 tables sat. I went online and looked at their reservations and saw that they were completely AVAILABLE. What was the discrepancy!? No clue. Would not ever patronize or return. read more

I love this restaurant. We've been going there for years now and they never disappoint. The food is fresh and delicious and the service is top notch! read more

Hidden little gem. Great service, decor and food. Will be back for special occasions. read more

I've returned to West End Cafe several times since my last review, and based on vastly improved service and generally good food I'm raising my rating to a solid 4 stars. High points for their tasty potent cocktails, bargain twilight dinner, toothsome desserts and friendly service. Mains are generally good, however I've also had some so-so dishes (e.g. tonight's special, a bland shellfish arrabbiata loaded with raw fennel and a few tiny overcooked mussels). Also the small space gets super packed out and noisy virtually every night of the week. On balance, however, a nice experience. read more

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I was there last night with my wife. No surprise. Service was fantastic. Dinner was delicious. Like always atmosphere was engaging. Ambient was great read more

West End Cafe is a staple with impeccable service, a comfortable ambiance and delicious food. We came for lunch when they opened noon and by the time we left the entire place had filled up! We really enjoyed the calamari. My husband had the burger - cooked to perfection! I liked the thin and crispy fries. Will need to come back for dinner sometime read more

I've been here so many times and just wanted to update my review. I love their burrata appetizer as well as their shashimi appetizer. The burrata is creamy and fresh and served with peppery arugula, cherry tomatoes which were crunchy and juicy and the balsamic vinaigrette rounded it all out. The shashimi was fresh with a bite of heat. So good. Also enjoyed was the chicken entree and shrimp risotto. The risotto was lemony; it had mushrooms and tomatoes and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. Also impressive was the chef. He was informed someone in my party had a food allergy. He personally came to our table to discuss different options. Wow! Very impressed. Can't wait to go back. read more

It had been quite a long time since I dined at the West End Café tucked in the corner elbow of a shopping center off busy Glen Cove Road. The restaurant has a Mediterranean style flair with wooden floors, comfortable lighting, and a bi-level floor dining room. We were arrived at the restaurant in time for their twilight dinner specials which was an exceptional option. The offer included an appetizer, entrée, and dessert with many choices. I chose their Duck Tacos,' particularly good by the way and their delicious Pork Chop which the waiter recommended. Their well drinks were a good pour, and the service was excellent. Other favorite choices for our next visit will include braised boneless short ribs and their Crab cakes. read more

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Love this place! I have always had a good to great meal here. Just had their short ribs! Delish and my hubby had the seared ahi tuna with salad and soba noodles! Very happy! Just celebrated our 22nd wedding anniversary there!! Waiter Byron was excellent read more

Very uninspired tastes. Much of what we ordered was bland. This included the lamb, the steak, the sauce that came with the steak and the mashed potatoes. The sweet potato fries and the spinach were good. The beet salad was disgusting. It's as if they took beets from a can and cut them into 8 huge slices and plopped them on a bed of lettuce and said "here." They were gelatinous and mushy. The beets should be bite size for a human; not bite size for a dinosaur. Also, the beets should be roasted and firm. The lettuce served were these huge leaves. The lettuce should be cut into pieces, not served as a 12x12 edible plate. The dressing was served on the side. The salad should be fully composed, which means pre-dressed. None of this was acceptable. UTTER FAIL. The ambiance is nice. The service was good. The waiter was professional and attentive. With one of the mains, we asked for a substitution of mashed potatoes for sweet potato fries and this was accommodated without any fuss or upcharge like in so many other restaurants where they try to get away with such bullcrap. The portions were large and all came with multiple sides, so the pricing was fair. The quality of the meats was high. I just wish that the dishes had more complex seasonings and taste. I think you need to hire a new chef and you will get it right because the quality, pricing, service and ambiance are very good. read more

I love rediscovering restaurants that have fond memories and this little kept secret in Carle Place, NY is one of them! From my best friend's bridal shower, first date night, and birthday lunch celebrations...and so much more. Each dish was consistent and flavorful from the appetizers to the entrees. Today's birthday lunch consisted of duck tacos, tuna sashimi pizza, wec burger, and grilled chicken brie panini with sweet potato and regular fries. The service was absolutely amazing and so tentative to your dietary needs, check-ins, etc. The whole staff was approachable and you can tell it's a well established restaurant with top-tier service with warm smiles of course! Don't forget to make a reservation or simply stop in for brunch, lunch or dinner. There's plenty of parking and it's very quaint. The holiday decor is a plus and it feels like home. Cheers...to Chef Lou and the WEC family. Always remember, "The most important thing about cooking for others, is the joy your creations brings them" and it sure does at the West End Cafe. Also, a great big THANK YOU to Brooke Filosa from bfprny (Instagram) for reminding me of this hidden treasure. read more

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I've been going to the West End Cafe for years. I never had any bad experiences or bad food. The service is always great and the food always delicious! It's one of my favorite spots in Long Island. Cheers read more

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West End Cafe is the only constant in a Carle Place strip center where each storefront is occupied by some entity that appears to be either going into or out of business. Tucked into the corner of this lackluster shopping center for decades, West End Cafe has been on our list of go-to-spots for nearly as long. Tonight was our latest visit. Four diners and each of us came away happy. Started with warm, almost hot, garlic rolls....excellent. Two of us had the three course $44 Prix Fixe deal. Here is an incomplete list of what we had....Caesar Salad, The Cast Iron Organic Chicken, The Atlantic Salmon, Roasted Beet Salad, Asian Style Lettuce Wraps, Honey Crisp Apple and Feta salad, and Roasted Cauliflower. Every dish was very good as was the service. Once inside, very comfortable atmosphere. Will be back. read more

The West End Cafe is in the corner of a shopping center that's not very attractive but it's worth the try. The ambiance is nice if you want to meet up with friends to catch up or for a business lunch. So far I've been here for lunch and each time it's been delicious. Today I tried the shrimp tacos. The shrimp was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The slaw was delicious as well. The plating was a bit odd as there was not much space and sometimes eating tacos can be messy. Wish I had taken a picture. My suggestion would be to place the food on a larger platter. Overall the staff was friendly and I would like to come back and try their dinner menu. read more

Came here for my company Christmas lunch today. Was excellent! For starters we split a bunch of apps - the calamari, burrata & duck tacos. I really enjoyed the burrata! For a main course I had the shrimp risotto - loved how the shrimp was cooked & loved the mushrooms! They also made a great espresso martini! Will be back! read more

I have never ate a bad meal at this place. The food is consistently excellent. Tonight we mixed things up with the fried eggplant strips from The Chefs Specials. And their three beef burger is the most underrated burger you will find anywhere. Usually don't order this but was in the mood and it was heaven read more

Amazing! Every part. Service, appetizers, and main courses. Will definitely be back.

Excellent service and food, with a reasonable noise level in the dining room. Only complaint is when they try to clear the table while people are still eating. Clearly there is still food on the plate and instead of asking they reach for a plate to remove. Both a floor manager and waiter did the same thing. Otherwise a nice dining experience. read more

What's a wonderful treat for us. Not surprised one bit that a place like WEC that's been open for 30 years was simply amazing. You can't stay open for that long without having a great product and sensational service. Thank you Joe, Lou and Cesar for your hospitality. We apologize for just stumbling in. Should have been here years ago. Be back soon. At 8:30pm lol. read more

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This venue was one I frequented many times about fifteen years go. As more and more restaurants opened on Long Island, it fell off my regular "rotation". I am happy to say, much like the joy of riding a bike and discovering what you once loved, so was my return experience at West End Cafe. I hosted a table for 8 with a dining group I organize, and we were seated promptly quite close to the bar, right inside the main entrance. I chose Long Island spring Restaurant Week to revisit this highly acclaimed restaurant. While some restaurants lessen their portions and omit popular dishes from their menus this week, WEC did not. I enjoyed an outstanding and handsome portion of their avocado and black bean dip, served with thin sliced plantain chips. For my main course I chose the shrimp risotto, which consisted of six jumbo grilled shrimp and mushrooms, sliced asparagus and other herbs. The risotto itself was cooked to perfection. It was neither undercooked nor sticky. To those experience in both eating it and cooking it, you can attest to how delicate a dish it is to prepare. My table mates enjoyed the short ribs, salmon, and a gigantic dish of chicken served over fettuccini. For dessert most of us opted for the pistachio parfait. A must-have! My only reason for issuing 4 stars was the 30 minutes we waited for someone to take our order and present us with menus. We passed the time with the water and bread basket, and I'll chalk it up to the craziness of Restaurant Week. I told my friend and fellow dinner club organizer that this place will now be one of our regular spots. Kudos to West End Cafe for a fabulous meal and consistency with quality dining after all these years in business. read more

No one will care, since they're always packed. Nice bar and bartender. Dinner for 4, service was ok, started with sharing two salads. Caesar and wedge. Asked the waitress if they could split them in the kitchen. Was told restaurant doesn't do that salads arrived and the wedge salad was the smallest I've ever seen. Definitely not shareable. Caesar was literally 4x larger. Both cost $15. When I politely mentioned the size of the salad to the waitress, ask she asked is if we wanted to order another one. She didn't really care. Two of us had the tuna for $38, maybe 6-7 medallions about the size of a quarter. Was good, but guessing not more than 4 ozs. of tuna. Left there hungry, went home and made a sandwich. read more

Great food, service atmosphere Love this place?' Going there on Mother's Day for dinner. read more