Dining Review: Frank and Maria’s Italian Pork Store

By Lorna Luniewski10 West Main Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 631-665-0047 Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday: 9 a.m.-3 p.m.On a recent beautiful Wednesday, I hopped on my bike and headed to Main Street in Bay Shore for lunch at Frank and Maria’s Italian Pork Store. The mission was twofold: a review for the paper and a chance to catch up with my editor, and friend, Shoshanna, as another season of Fire Island News wraps up.I have been here before for coffee and cookies but never for a meal. Shoshanna was smart; she looked at the extensive menu the night before and was ready to order the Montana Panino, turkey, Monterrey jack cheese, bacon, tomatoes and ranch dressing. After looking at the many choices, I opted for the Fall of Rome, grilled chicken, roasted peppers, melted fontina and an Italian style basil mayo served on a hero. We decided to share a side of potato salad, light on the mayo but big on taste with red onion and bacon pieces. We both went home with lunch for another day.While we were there, the staff was kept busy with a brisk lunch crowd. The three tables outside and the five or six inside turned over frequently. Once you place your dine-in order, you can sit and your lunch will be brought to the table.Salads include Greek, Caesar, Sesame Chicken, Glazed Walnut, Garden and The Nature Lover, baby greens and fresh mozzarella over grilled vegetables in a balsamic vinaigrette.If you can’t resist pasta (and who can), there is Penne a la Vodka; Rigatoni Bolognese, with Frank and Maria’s homemade meat sauce; Orechiette with broccoli rabe and sausage, sun dried tomatoes and pine nuts; Linguini and Clam Sauce (white or red); and Tortellini Alfredo, just to name a few.Diners can stop by and pick up dinner to take home with entrée selections such as Marinated Skirt Steak, Veal Rollatini, Sweet Sausage with Broccoli Rabe, Chicken Sorrentino, Eggplant Parmigiana and many more choices, all under $16.The cold sandwich menu features Frank’s Classic Italian, sopressata, ham cappy, provolone cheese, roasted peppers, arugula, oil and vinegar; Maria’s Favorite, breaded chicken cutlet, fresh mozzarella with marinated artichoke hearts, oil and vinegar; The Peconic, homemade chicken meatballs, fresh mozzarella, bacon, pesto and chipotle; The New Yorker, roast beef, muenster cheese, roasted peppers, red onion and honey mustard; and Bay Shore’s Finest, grilled or breaded chicken, fresh mozzarella, roasted peppers, arugula, oil and vinegar.There is an equally large hot sandwich and panini menu with everything from Chicken and Meatball Parmigiano to The Fuego with buffalo chicken and The Rueben, pastrami, Swiss and sauerkraut on rye. Personal pizzas are also available.And even though we both packed up half our lunches to take home, there is always room for dessert! There are many bakery items: rainbow cookies, biscotti and cannoli, and while they all looked amazing, we could not resist the gelato. Shoshanna chose pistachio gelato and an espresso, both of which were deemed “delicious,” and I went for caramel gelato and a cappuccino (sprinkled with just the right amount of cinnamon) and agreed with her assessment. The perfect ending to a delightful lunch.Frank and Maria’s Italian Pork Store carries quality meats (veal, lamb, poultry), imported specialties such as olive oil, groceries and produce, a full line of imported and domestic cold cuts and fresh pasta and their homemade sausage recipe has remained the same for 35 years. Catering is available for every occasion.As we were leaving, I was able to pick up something I needed at home. Packing my bicycle basket with purchases and leftovers was no easy task, but after a great lunch, a delicious dessert and cappuccino, the ride home did me good.