You could stand on a corner and look around until a restaurant sign draws you in. But we've got a better idea. Each week, New Hyde Park Patch picks a great restaurant either in town or nearby that is worth checking out. Here's this week's choice:
Beyond its modest storefront, the intimately small dining room of Jane Café is full of personality, pleasant hospitality and memorable Korean and Japanese cuisine waiting to be discovered.
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Chef and manager Bruce Shin, who co-owns the restaurant along with his wife Stephanie, welcomes each customer with a big smile. In one key word, he describes the most commonly received review of his food as simply “delicious.”
Shin elaborates, “Customers say that our food is delicious…and our prices are good.”
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For almost eight years, Jane Café has been cooking up a mixed menu of both Korean and Japanese fare. Japan is mostly represented at the sushi bar with sushi, sashimi, maki and temaki rolls made fresh to order; for large groups, assorted platters are available in a variety of sizes.
Japanese entrees include assorted teriyaki bento boxes and noodle bowls. And while all make for good choices, the well-prepared Korean food is the heart of Jane Cafe’s appeal.
To start, there is a range of Kimbap selections; a seaweed wrap with rice and chosen meat or vegetable, Kimbap can be described as a Korean sushi roll. There are also appetizers of steamed and fried dumplings.
Many come to Jane Café for their Bibimbap. The signature Korean one-pot dish is made up of rice topped with vegetables and a fried egg. After it is presented, everything is mixed together with spicy/sweet bean paste. The popular Dolsot Bimbibap comes with bulgogi beef and is served sizzling in a hot stone pot.
Additional specialties worth noting are the Hwedupbap raw fish salad and Japchae pan-fried vermicelli noodles.
If you are looking for a different kind of barbeque experience this summer, try Korean. Galbi or Korean barbeque short ribs are marinated in a mixture abundant with soy sauce and garlic and then grilled. Similarly, marinated tender strips of beef known as Bulgogi are also served. On a nice day, both are just right for enjoying on the restaurants back patio.
Jane Café, 92 Main Street, Mineola, (516) 742-0031. Monday-Saturday, 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
