The weather may have been chilly and damp for Thursday morning’s preview opening of Main Road Biscuit Co. in Jamesport but inside the shop it was cozy and fragrant. And everyone was smiling.
Owners Marissa and Bryan Drago went from table to table visiting and welcoming patrons while the staff hustled to keep up with the steady stream of biscuit-seeking customers coming through the door.
“We started at 7:00 and from the minute we opened the doors we were jamming. People were ready to buy their biscuits,” says Marissa Drago.
The restaurant, which will stay in preview mode until its grand opening Nov. 10, is a dream come true for the Dragos.
Marissa Drago, who has spent much of her career in corporate catering, has been commuting for the last five years from her home in Mattituck to Manhattan, where she worked as the director of catering at Financier Patisserie.
“I was commuting but I had a flexible schedule. I was going in two, three, sometimes four days a week. It was a difficult lifestyle although I had gotten used to it,” says Drago.
“Things changed at the company and it gave me an opportunity to think about doing something closer to home. We always wanted to do our own thing. With the changes at my company it seemed like a good time to take a step back and say, ‘Okay, maybe now is the time.’ This building came on the market and we decided this is what we wanted to do.”
Drago worked on the recipes most of the winter and spring, developing a core menu that will feature the addition of savory items and specials. Her goal is to source as many ingredients as possible locally and to keep the menu homemade and comfort style.
“We’re just really partial to comfort food. We lived in Brooklyn for years in the epicenter of some really artisinal restaurants, bakeries and cafes. When we came out here – and while there’s some excellent restaurants – we still felt like there were some holes in what was available for the community. We felt like there was a need for more places to go for breakfast and brunch and we felt it would fit perfectly here. It’s a very family-oriented area.”
In the kitchen, chef Vincent Purcell flips an omelette while laughing and joking with the staff. But make no mistake, Purcell is a serious chef. He’s just finished up a season at Claudio’s Restaurant in Greenport and has an impressive resume.
Born in London, the ebullient Purcell has been cooking since he was 11 years old. He’s lived and worked in Spain, Australia, Germany and many other countries around the world. One of his favorite stints was working as head chef for the Irish Olympic team in London in 2012.
“Yeah, that was fun,” says Purcell.
Although this is his first job on Long Island working in a farm-to-table restaurant, he’s quite familiar with the concept.
“I was brought up on farm-to-table in East London and I’ve worked at farm to table restaurants all over England.”
The restaurant will be keeping regular hours during the preview while the owners tweak and modify the menu.
“Everyone is welcome,” says Drago. “Sit and stay a while. Bring your family.”
Main Road Biscuit Co. will be open weekdays except Wednesday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. with dine-in starting at 8:00 a.m.
Weekend hours are 7:30 to 3:30. Dine-in starts at 8:00.
For more information: http://www.mainroadbiscuitco.com/
