620561 Sun May 17 13:01:03 -0700 2009 52 20 Tristate Region 0 4691766 Stopped by this New latino restaurant in Commack called Maize Cantina. Saw a post in Newsday and thought I would check it out. They serve tradional pupusas and arepas in a non traditional way. Pupusas can be served tradtional (with slaw and spicy tomato sauce) or they have others like "El Cluck" Roasted chicken chipotle hashbrowns, pickled onions, melted jack cheese. That one was very tasty. We also liked the La Mer Arepa which was stuffed with mexican shrimp, preserved tomatoes, avocado, and crsipy plantains. Their was a lot of items to choose from. The Maize de Cantina app was delicious. Chargrilled corn with chipotle lime butter, cotija cheese and cilantro. Haven't seen food like this on the Island until now. Will be going back very soon, especially since the highest price on the menu was $10.50 (skirt steak dish on pupusa end). Sun May 17 13:01:03 -0700 2009 293537 cia93 1 4692582 Totally agree!! My husband and I went there a couple of weeks ago and loved it. We had a great salad with beets (and I never liked beets before), an arepa with chicken, and a pupusa. All were delicious, but the salad and arepa were exceptional. They didn't have a liquor license yet, so they were giving out free strawberry daquiris. A lot of people brought their own wine or beer. I highly recommend it! Sun May 17 18:39:55 -0700 2009 4691766 22557 valmar 1 4696398 Sounds great. Is it a sit down restaurant or take out? Where in Commack is it? Tue May 19 04:15:53 -0700 2009 4691766 15231 synergy 2 4696404 Here's the info: http://weblogs.newsday.com/features/food/blog/2009/04/not_only_did_michael_merida.html Tue May 19 04:23:10 -0700 2009 4696398 10267 emarcus 3 4699631 Thank you. Will have to try it. Wed May 20 04:23:43 -0700 2009 4696404 15231 synergy 3 4699871 Need to try this place -- sounds very interesting. But you are so right about the location. Nothing has suceeded there -- it's very difficult to see from the road. I have a feeling you need a "destination" restaurant in that space (how about, "Kitchen, A Commack Location"?). Wed May 20 06:30:44 -0700 2009 4696404 10814 sbp 4 4705887 Yes it is located in a difficult spot. but the food speaks for itself! hopefully the word will get out about this place . I took my family of four to dinner there this past weekend. all I have to say is OMG!!! the portions were huge. the prices were fantastic!! wait staff very attentive and friendly!! and in the hard economy that we live in , to be able to go out to dinner leave very full , statisfied, and come home with doggy bags for under 50.00 is major plus in my checkbook!! LOL . Kudos to you MAIZE CANTINA!! I look forward to visiting you again. My kids are still talking about that HUGE plate of nachos mixtos! Fri May 22 05:02:25 -0700 2009 4699871 317392 joannmierzwa 1 4711780 Dang! Tried to go today (Sunday) and it was closed. Supposed to be open Sundays, looks like they closed for Memorial Day weekend. No sign on the door, which didn't help. Sun May 24 18:43:33 -0700 2009 4691766 10814 sbp 2 4717240 Checked it out Saturday night for dinner with 3 friends. Still BYOB until they get license but they did give us a free margarita! The quality and freshness was unbelievable for the price. Baja Grill can learn a few things from Maize Cantina! Chef has a major resume-which is evident in the food. He also mentioned he was adding several new soft tacos to menu after memorial day. Recommend the El Griego Arepa with lemon chicken, feta, spinach and an delicious chile yogurt sauce. We also loved the yucca in the nachos mixtos and the homemade sals. FYI- the pupasa and arepas are gluten free, Tue May 26 19:29:43 -0700 2009 4711780 323211 beans08 3 4717893 Can't wait to try it. Baja Grill has been going downhill for 5 years, at least. I won't even go there anymore. I actually walked in with the family around 2pm once, we were the only people there except for a table of four playing cards. No one came to give us menus, drinks, anything. After 15 minutes, we got up to leave -- then one of the people playing cards asked if we wanted a menu! Wed May 27 04:38:23 -0700 2009 4717240 10814 sbp 4 4731883 just curious, are pupusas and arepas generally gluten free, or does this restaurant make a special effort? Mon Jun 01 06:24:53 -0700 2009 4717893 28170 themook 1 4740639 Wow! Just ate there with the family. Excellent both in conception and execution. Everything is clearly made to order -- and with care. The chef really pays attention to details. The little things done right -- the Corn with chipotle butter/cotija, for example, was nicely browned, giving it that popcorn aroma and slighlty caramelized bite. The cotija added a great touch, too, like sprinkling parmigiano on grilled vegetables. The pupusas and arepas were perfectly grilled, retaining a crunchy surface, but tender and flavorful inside. I was intially apprehensive about a pupusa/arepa based menu, since they can be like lead hockey pucks, but these were hearty without being heavy. I had the El Cluck pupusa and an El Rey arepa (shredded beef, fried yucca chips, black beans). I know, it was more than I could eat, but I wanted to try one of each. Both the pupusas and arepas are basically thick masa tortillas (or maybe more coarsely ground cornmeal -- had a more "grits" like texture than a masa taco tortilla). The arepas are griddled plain, then split and stuffed with the menu choice. The pupusas are filled with beans and cheese or pork/cheese, etc. prior to griddling, then topped withe menu choice. We also split churros for dessert. Comes with a scoop of chocolate ice cream and a little bowl of melted chocolate (and a nicely intense chocolate at that). Looking forward to returning. It's different and good. Wed Jun 03 18:15:30 -0700 2009 4691766 10814 sbp 2 4784909 Going back for another meal with the family tomorrow night. Their review came out in Newsday today. Now I hope I can still get a table at this little gem in commack! I have been craving a pupusa. The free margarita is a definate plus. Will report back. Thu Jun 18 11:37:02 -0700 2009 4740639 293537 cia93 3 4785794 We went back last weekend. The remolacha salad is one of the best salads I've ever had. Perfect combination of flavors, and the lemon vinaigrette was very lemony. Our waiter was a bit lost (no salsa with the chips, forgot the sodas), but still a delicious and inexpensive dinner. And the Clipper advertising mag that came in the mail even had a buy one get one entree coupon!! Thu Jun 18 16:27:38 -0700 2009 4784909 10814 sbp 4 4795613 Wow, who read the review! They got it right on target. Have been back a few times since my last posting and have enjoyed everything. Did not have any issues with my server, but they were quite busy when I went on Saturday afternoon. Check out the specials next time you are in, very nice pulled pork arepa. Mon Jun 22 13:24:32 -0700 2009 4785794 323211 beans08 5 4815560 One thing the review got wrong: the hours of operation. They're closed on Mondays (something I discovered only after a 45 mile round-trip drive) Mon Jun 29 12:29:56 -0700 2009 4795613 23843 Scott_R 1 4863136 Went with companion and had one "tasting menu" and one pupusa with the works. Also, free margaritas. Great salad, really good salmon dish and awesome rice pudding. Got the bean & cheese pupusas with garlic brown beans...very filling. Happy to find out the chef/owner uses some produce from Rottkamp Farm and he's all about gluten free. Will be back and am spreading the word. However, it did make me want to go to the Red Hook ballfields (or wherever the vendors have gone that were at the Red Hook ballfields...Brooklyn Flea/Coney Island). Thu Jul 16 01:04:00 -0700 2009 4691766 27145 sjz 2 4863240 I am planning to get take out tomorrow for dinner, since I'll be in the area in the afternoon (hope they're open at lunchtime). I will report back! Thu Jul 16 04:34:31 -0700 2009 4863136 11097 coll 2 4863317 Yes -- SPREAD THE WORD. This is the kind of little gem of a place that lasts for about a year because of it's location and the fact that it's menu is off the beaten path. Let's not let this place fail and get replaced by another red-sauce Italian joint (which I like, but on Long Island we have 1 for every 3 people). Thu Jul 16 05:29:15 -0700 2009 4863136 10814 sbp 3 4863753 I was googling them to get their address and saw they have on line coupons: 1 free entree with the purchase of another entree and a beverage. That's gilding the lily! Thu Jul 16 07:56:59 -0700 2009 4863317 11097 coll 4 4863954 I don't want to cast this as a hard-and-fast rule, but it's usually not a very good sign when a restaurant starts putting out coupons. Thu Jul 16 08:49:44 -0700 2009 4863753 23843 Scott_R 5 4864564 That's probably true when a place has been in business for some time but I would venture to say it's a grand opening draw to get people in to try the food. with so many restaurnats to choose from we all look for deals. Didn't know they have a tasting menu as well. I'll be going tomorrow and will report back! Thu Jul 16 11:16:18 -0700 2009 4863954 293537 cia93 1 4870425 Thanks so much for posting about this place! Went today with family and we loved it. Fresh, tasty, decent prices and huge portions. We shared the empanadas as an appetizer--delicious. Then I had an arepa with slow cooked pork in a spicy mango sauce with pickled red onion. Fantastic. Brother had an arepa and a pupusa platter...SIL and DD had "plainer" fare that they custom built themselves--staff was very accommodating and pleasant, even when it got very busy. I live in Brooklyn and would be a serious regular if this was nearby. Send everyone you know!! Sat Jul 18 14:22:50 -0700 2009 4691766 10226 Budino 2 4871438 Got take out Friday afternoon and we had a wonderful dinner that night. The waiter who got my order was the nicest person, so friendly and personable. Couldn't decide so got 3 dinners (all for $26!) : Shrimp arepa with avocado, Greek lemon chicken and feta arepa, and grilled skirt steak papusa with peppers, onions and tomatilla salsa. So good we ate them all up, the cats didn't even get any leftovers! The cole slaw that came on the side of the papusa was the best I've ever had, and the homemade fried plantains that came with the others were so thin and delicate. Used to live right there but now it will just have to be a destination for me instead. Worth the drive. PS the coupons are for eat in only. Sun Jul 19 07:36:40 -0700 2009 4870425 11097 coll 3 4930879 Finally made it out to Maize Cantina, while at at Deer Park outlets nearby enough--had late lunch, they couldn't have been more nice or accomodating, especially with a toddler in tow. They were able to adapt what I ordered for dietary restrictions I'm following--had the Greek chicken arepa without spinach, and with avocado instead--husband had the chicken arepa with chorizo, and got platter of garlic beans, rice,--plantain chips--and flan for dessert, subsitituted the citrus sauce for dulce leche. Dessert beautifully served, arepa's were fresh and filling, and the lemon chicken so moist and perfectly cooked. Beans and Rice couldn't have been hotter heatwise,--was told salsa was excellent and tasted almost middle eastern. Cute comfortable place, and prices are very fair. We will make a point to return. Anyone had the tostones there? Next time we'll get the puposas-- Noticed THE BAKERY in the same strip mall, what happened to that place, I remember years ago, there was one in Roslyn that had killer russian coffee cake, but everything in there, and on a Friday, no less, looked dried out, or burnt, or tasteless--extremely unappetizing looking....not worth a visit at all---- Sun Aug 09 11:44:38 -0700 2009 4871438 11727 janie 1 4925793 My 18 year old son and I ate here on this recommendation about 2 weeks ago while in LI on business. Thank you! Enjoyed it very much, food was delicious and fresh. Our waiter, Anthony was very attentive and made excellent suggestions. Can't wait to go back, we don't have this in Richmond Va! Fri Aug 07 08:31:44 -0700 2009 4691766 238818 ChessieU 1 4947969 Rated Number 1 tacos on Long Island yesterday in Newsday! We have enjoyed eating here since Maize Cantina opened and were so happy to see it as Number 1. Stopped in today for lunch and everything was delicious as usual. Congrats to what I consider to be the best restuarant on the island with such great prices. Fri Aug 14 20:28:26 -0700 2009 4691766 323211 beans08 2 4988712 The NY Times has nice things to say this weekend, guess they'll be around for a while now. http://events.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/nyregion/30dineli.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss Sat Aug 29 12:41:03 -0700 2009 4947969 11097 coll 1 4986386 Vistied yesterday - excellent fish tacos. Also tried the La Lechon which is an arepa "sandwich" with pork shoulder, pickled onions and mango mojo. Delicious. This is in the shopping center on the northside of Jericho Turnpike with Nokado Jui Jitsu and Northgate Dry Cleaners. The restaurent is a little hidden but worth finding. Fri Aug 28 12:05:15 -0700 2009 4691766 10480 Siobhan 2 4986506 what kind of fish was in their tacos? Fri Aug 28 12:40:54 -0700 2009 4986386 11727 janie 3 4988713 Tilapia Sat Aug 29 12:42:04 -0700 2009 4986506 10480 Siobhan 1 5023127 Looks like the fish changes as it is posted as fish of the dia'. when we went it was wild striped bass (local)! Fri Sep 11 14:41:08 -0700 2009 4691766 293537 cia93 1 5023311 Do they have horchatas or anything like that? Their web site only listed alcoholic drinks. Fri Sep 11 16:12:18 -0700 2009 4691766 23843 Scott_R 2 5024086 Can you post their web site? Thanks Sat Sep 12 05:11:46 -0700 2009 5023311 15231 synergy 3 5024173 http://maizecantina.com/ Sat Sep 12 06:21:09 -0700 2009 5024086 23843 Scott_R 4 5024607 Thanks, Scott. :-) Sat Sep 12 10:21:32 -0700 2009 5024173 15231 synergy 5 5024626 does their website work for you, because it crashes on me and in the descrip for it on google it says it's an extermination company...my virus software says it's dangerous and stay away..i mentioned this to them when I was there, and they said they had fixed it, but it still doesn't work for me. Sat Sep 12 10:35:02 -0700 2009 5024607 11727 janie 6 5024771 Never had a problem--then again, I have a Mac. :) Finally went there today--no horchata, but the waitress said she'd mention it to the People in Charge. I had the El Pollo arepa; grilled chicken, chorizo, avocado, jalapeno chimi-churi. Very tasty, but I was puzzled by the presence of cheese on it--the description didn't mention any. I realize that cheese (especially queso blanco, which isn't what this was) is common in Central/South American dishes, but I'd presumed the mention of it in the descriptions of other dishes and the omission for this one was meant to be descriptive (one reason I'd ordered it was that the other items specified the inclusion but this did not). Sat Sep 12 11:57:05 -0700 2009 5024626 23843 Scott_R 7 5042134 Back last night with my nephew; we both enjoyed it quite a bit. Sat Sep 19 10:38:02 -0700 2009 5024771 23843 Scott_R 6 5026724 No, I have no problem at all accessing their web site. I have a PC. Sun Sep 13 13:27:20 -0700 2009 5024626 15231 synergy 1 5050522 Just found out they have their liquor license now. Tue Sep 22 16:59:26 -0700 2009 4691766 23843 Scott_R 1 5103385 Saw the happy hour specials on Newsday. Will go down on Sunday for the 3 beers and chicken wing special.$15 I saw the 2 for 1 margarita special. Wonder if top shelf is included in the deal? Wed Oct 14 14:52:27 -0700 2009 4691766 293537 cia93 1 5104842 Was there 2 weeks ago on Saturday night -- at around 8pm. Food was excellent, as always. And for the first time since we've been going, the place was PACKED!!!! Looks like the liquor license made a big difference. Phew! Thu Oct 15 06:47:24 -0700 2009 4691766 10814 sbp 1 5134751 In case anyone doesn't know, Maize has a Facebook page you can become a fan of. They have been posting some cool happy hour deals and this weekend we took advantage of the Yankee takeout special (3beers, 2 quesadillas and chipotle glazed chciken wings for $20. Hope they have it again for Wed. night Tue Oct 27 10:42:54 -0700 2009 4691766 293537 cia93 2 5135324 At Maize a few weeks ago and it was excellent. The Arepas were terrific and the ambience was really nice. ~Fred19 Tue Oct 27 13:42:07 -0700 2009 5134751 12184 Fred19 1 5146916 We finally got to try Maize Cantina last night. EXCELLELNT! Started with their soup of the night, a tomato based soup with shrimp, cilantro, and other spices-terrific...salad...I had 2 pupusas, 1 chicken with the hash & the shrimp with onions/peppers, both terrific. Partner had an arepa & pupusa, don't remember which. Neither of us could finish our dishes. The chips tasted a little stale, but the salsa is outstanding! We will be regulars here, as the list of specials sounded and looked terrific (we kept getting whiplash looking at the plates coming out)..and the menu has so many dishes we wanted to try. Service is very friendly. Food is fantastic. Sun Nov 01 10:20:20 -0800 2009 4691766 15231 synergy 2 5147341 glad they are expanding their specials and doing well..wish they'd fix their website for mozilla and xp because it still crashes on me--- Sun Nov 01 13:58:49 -0800 2009 5146916 11727 janie 3 5147513 Trust all the positive feedback on this subject thread, even if their web site crashes on you. Go & enjoy. You won't be disappointed. Sun Nov 01 15:03:26 -0800 2009 5147341 15231 synergy 4 5148205 I have been----see my post above somewhere...i'm not in the area, so don't get there too often... Sun Nov 01 21:27:07 -0800 2009 5147513 11727 janie 3 5147599 Yeah, I love Maize Cantina, but I think they need to have a bigger selection of non-pupusa and arepa entrees. For some folks, pupusas and arepas are just too "heavy." Also, the chef is clearly talented, it would be great to see him go further afield. PS: The remolacha salad is perfection. Sun Nov 01 15:42:33 -0800 2009 5147341 10814 sbp 4 5148526 I asked the waitress about this last night - she said that is the plan to have more entrees on the menu in the next month or so. He is using specials and the restaurant week menu to test things out. The potato gratin that came with my wife's crispy pork last night was delicious. I wish the rice was better - I find it boring and blah Mon Nov 02 06:15:58 -0800 2009 5147599 17779 jmax 5 5153745 Went to Maize Cantina for LI Restaurant Week tonight. Had the lobster quesadilla and pork chicharron, amazing. Layers of flavor. My husband also loved his dish, the steak was cooked perfect and the all dishes looked visually beautiful. We also talked to the waiter and he informed us that the chef is going to remove some the arepas and pupusas from the menu to make room for entrees like he is showcasing this week. Good move, we love the arepas and pupusas but this chef is too talented not to put more complex dishes on the menu. Also noticed some great new happy hour specials, tonight was $4 mojitos from 5-7. Tue Nov 03 18:10:13 -0800 2009 5148526 323211 beans08 1 5162125 Good call Beans. I went for restaurant week last night as well. Loved the corn pudding. Chef said they are putting it on the menu full time. Had to try the lobster quesadilla as a second course. So tasty! Then the steak with a potato and chorizo hash, spinach and chimichuri. I can eat that all day. Last night the drink special was a beer or margarita and a shot of tequilla for $7. I'm going on NFL Sunday for the $15 combo platter (sliders, wings, quesadillas and tostones I believe) and a bucket of beers for $10. Fri Nov 06 15:11:51 -0800 2009 4691766 293537 cia93