Table for Two

If you love fresh tacos and avocados every way

Posted

Pure Shore Kitchen
655 E. Park Ave., Long Beach
(516) 442-5807, www.pureshorekitchen.com

Open since last August, Pure Shore Kitchen was a passion project for its owner, Kevin Donnelly. With the input of Chef Chad Pagano and General Manager Lisa Newman, who worked together at the Institute of Culinary Education, a unique coastal-inspired eatery was born.

The laid back theme is beachy and breezy, with barn wood and blue tiled walls lined with surfing photos, and just a few tables up front. A full bar allows additional seating. Everything is eco-friendly, boasting disposable wooden cutlery, sugarcane plates, paper straws and take-out boxes. The place is family oriented, with accommodating servers and fresh, homemade fare.
Menus start with the Avocado Bar – guacamole and chips, or avocado toast with your choice of add-ons ($8 to $12). Tacos - on a flour tortilla or lettuce wrap - are $3.50 to $6.50. Cheese quesadillas are $7 to $12. Small plates, sliders, and salads range from $4 to $14. Children can get a quesadilla or tacos (one or two) with chips and carrot sticks for $4 to $6. Desserts are $4.50 to $7.
We started with a generous serving of homemade guacamole, diced cherry tomatoes, red onions, charred corn and plenty of tortilla chips. Taco-wise, the shrimp version had mango salsa, slaw and spicy crema. Filet mignon was surprisingly tender, flavorful and juicy, with Chimichurri sauce and pico di gallo. Lobster taco was loaded with butter poached morsels, avocado, and pico de gallo. Of the sliders, we enjoyed pulled pork (three to an order), topped with pickle slices, slaw and spicy crema.
From the “Small Plates” we adored seared Ahi tuna, five slices with Asian dipping sauce. Totally unique was Mexican “Street Potato” – grilled slices of sweet potato sprinkled with spicy crema, Cojita cheese, dusted with chili powder.
Don’t miss the Choco Taco for dessert, a homemade pastry shell filled with ice cream, dipped into chocolate shell, covered with rainbow sprinkles. Other treats include churros, tres lech cake and sorbet with tequila-honey drizzle. They serve house made craft sodas (ginger, mango and grapefruit) and lots of creative alcoholic options.
Hours are noon to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and noon to 9:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. They are closed on Monday. Off-site catering and take-out are available. Delivery is available to Long Beach, Point Lookout, East Atlantic Beach and Island Park. Outdoor seating is available during the warmer seasons.

Recommendations:
■ Homemade Guacamole & Chips
■ Shrimp Taco
■ Filet Mignon Taco
■ Lobster Taco
■ Mexican “Street Potato”
■ Seared Ahi Tuna
■ Pulled Pork Sliders
■ Choco Taco