When one walks into s on Merrick Road in Wantagh it might feel like a journey into a time machine from the 1950’s
When Keith Drucker purchased the popular restaurant from its previous owner two months ago, his goal was to revamp and renew the burger joint, which has been a staple in Wantagh for the last 16 years.
“We thought it would be a good opportunity to take an old fashioned burger joint and bring it up to modern times,” said Drucker about the restaurant’s recent re-opening. “We wanted to move in on something old and make it better.”
Drucker points out that Long Island Cheeseburgers in Wantagh never actually closed its doors and shut down, as was the fate of its restaurant in Lindenhurst – it simply moved on to bigger and better things. This restaurant, now under family ownership, was purchased by Drucker, redecorated and restructured. Now, inside the restaurant the booths and tables are surrounded by vintage signs and murals, which make anyone dining feel as if they’ve stepped onto a movie set from the 1950s.
So what’s different with the food now that the restaurant has been restructured compared to two months ago? Fresh food with a gourmet twist, says Drucker, who emphasized that healthier options and alternatives are now featured.
Fresh bought each day are all of the ingredients used to prepare the gourmet meats, using the family’s own formulas to seal the deal. Drucker said the goal was to provide a healthier appeal to a meal choice that people already enjoy.
Don’t be fooled by the name though as Long Island Cheeseburgers is not just a burger joint. The restaurant team also prepares fresh an array of wraps, salads and sandwiches, curly fries and cheese steaks, as well as the famous “Fat Guy’s Wings.” Long Island Cheeseburgers also offers smoothies, floats and a variety of fountain sodas for customers to choose from.
Long Island Cheeseburgers is open seven days a week and the family takes shifts in operating the daily routine of the restaurant, according to Drucker. Customers can dine-in, take-out, or even have Long Island Cheeseburger cater their next event. Diners stopping by for the first time are encouraged to try out the restaurant’s signature dish: “The Crooner” – sure to please one’s appetite, and taste buds.
