Dan's Papers - October 12, 2007 -

Finally, the destination for superb dining has arrived. The Country House Restaurant (circa 1710) is located on Route 25A in Stony Brook and should be the programmed into your GPS for your very next meal. When I arrived at the Country House, I immediately felt welcomed, and who wouldn't with the one-of-a-kind, charming appearance both on the outside and inside of the restaurant?

The first things I noticed were the restaurant's beautiful menu and the soft magenta napkins that complimented the fall décor with precision. Make sure you bring your thinking cap, because the menu has so many delicious choices it's a little difficult to pick a winner in this Olympic-grade lineup.

For the first dish, the Country House offers delicacies such as Prince Edward Island Mussels, fresh baked Maryland Lump Crab Cakes and Bluefin Tuna Tartare. Sounds tempting but that's not what Executive Chef Rob Mathews had in mind for us diners. We first tried the seared diver sea scallop, atop a bed of cauliflower cous cous. The presentation was grand and the scallop was tender and satisfying. Without a moment's hesitation and the addition of a prized Geyser Peak bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, we then moved on to the second course, which was one of the finest dishes I have tasted outside of New York City. The Jumbo Aloha Coconut Shrimp, adorned with fresh pineapple, cucumber and three sauces was a truly brilliant plate. The jumbo shrimp was firm and the coconut flavor far from meddled with the pineapple and cucumber salsa - in fact these flavors reinforced the fresh quality of the shrimp. De facto, my plate was clean and I was hoping my guest wasn't going to finish hers but alas, the coconut dream was a bite of the past.

Between sips of the fine, crisp Geyser Peak wine, Mathews served us a andalouse soup with home-and-handmade lobster stuffed ravioli. How could anyone deny the power of this elegant soup? With the delicate flavors simmering in my mouth it was obvious that the Country House's cuisine was not typical, or average, but rather it was a well-planned operation run by some of Long Island's finest restaurateurs.

Also available is an entire Steak & Chop Menu with fine selections of filet mignon, Porterhouse and lamb chops. But I noted that these menu items were not just basic fifteen-word blurbs - where else can you find Sheri Lewis' Fresh Colorado Lamb Chops? Or how about Paul Bunyon's 38-day, 24 oz. dry Aged Porterhouse? You can check out the rest of the names yourself but the creative mind behind this menu, Robert Willemstyn, who has also been the owner for the past two years, sure knows how to get his diners in the mood for great food.

For the main course I ordered the Sea Bass Special, which had lump crab atop a piece of fish and was laid over asparagus, lemon buerre blanc, potato puree and a hint of pesto drizzle. Wow. For lack of better words, this really blew me out of the water and I was no longer surprised that this dish was the "special." My dining companions ordered the rare Bluefin Tuna served over ratatouille, pine and nut and roasted vinaigrette as well as the filet of Pacific roasted salmon that was dressed with butter braised Napa cabbage, Fuji apple, celery root and Dijon. As our dining experience continued and I looked around the room to see many others enjoying the same quality service as us in the boutique and historical surroundings, I found myself impressed and thinking that I was somehow going to have to manage to put the Country House into my "take the long way home," trip advisor.

For dessert, there was nothing like the I can't lie cherry pie that had a coffee cake top and buttery crust. We also tried the luscious creme brulee and the hearty cheesecake. Baked fresh in the kitchen, these desserts were comforting and made with the finest ingredients on the Gold Coast. With a rich and as-old-as-it-gets history, I was impressed by Robert Willemstyn's welcoming demeanor and knowledge of not only the house, dishes but of the town of Stony Brook as well.

The Country House Restaurant is not just another pretty place to dine, it's the complete package - a friendly, romantic atmosphere paired with unforgettable food, and from what I've heard a few "extra" houseguests that have remained through the years from the Revolutionary era.

To learn more about the fascinating history, eat some fabulous food and perhaps meet and greet some of their famous houseguests, call now to reserve a spot for their famous Psychic Wine dinner. This night will include a wine pairings with each of the five courses, palm readings by Donna McCue and Tarot card readings by Valerie Sylvester

The Country House Restaurant is also the perfect place to throw baby showers or weddings. Voted Most Romantic by AOL City Guide.