So a few weeks ago I’m sitting in the parking lot of an ice cream parlor (as I often do). As I’m sitting in my car, waiting for my wife to come out with our ice cream, I see a sign on the store next to the ice cream parlor that says “Home of Suffolk County’s Best Hamburger”. Hmm, I thought… I have ice cream on the way –dare I go in and see what Suffolk’s Best Hamburger is like? I thought better of getting the hamburger, but I did take a look inside…

The store is Badolato’s Market it’s a smallish Italian market that features not just hamburgers but also homemade Italian specialties, salads, meats and lots more. Almost as soon as I entered the market, I was being offered samples of homemade meatballs and homemade kielbasa — Both were excellent by the way.

The owner then showed me the different salads –all homemade of course. I sampled their Sour Cream Potato Salad, made with baby red potatoes –very good (the sour cream gives it a nice fresh flavor). It was explained to me that they make all their own salads (most deli’s buy pre-made salad). They also make their own mozzarella cheese, sauce, kielbasa and sausage - plus some other unique dishes you simply don’t find elsewhere. Oh, and a they get all their breads, pastries and cookies from an Italian bakery in Brooklyn.

I left the market that day with a half a loaf of stuffed bread (awesome! full of melted cheese and chunks of sausage and ham, wrapped in just enough warm dough to hold it together), some fried eggplant (very nice with a hint of garlic) and a copy of their menu.

The following Sunday, I pulled out their menu and ordered up a late breakfast. Being a breakfast guy, I went with their “bodybuilder” sandwich. It’s a fresh baked hero roll with three fried eggs, cheese, ham, bacon, sausage and home fries. My wife went with one for their signature sandwiches —their home-made mozzarella, roasted peppers, basil and balsamic vinaigrette on focaccia bread. Once again, both sandwiches were excellent.

So what about that hamburger? I finally had one last night. It’s a nice big hunk of beef on a crusty bakery roll, they’ll put whatever you want on it –bacon, cheese, fried eggplant, Portobello mushrooms, pretty much anything, order it anyway you like it. It was a very good burger but not as good as some of the other things they offer.

Final analysis – this is a great Italian market. They don’t have the selection that some of their competitors have – but what the do offer is excellent. Oh and their prices are also very good. I’ll be heading their soon, try it yourself…

Badolato’s Market
1315 Middle Country Road
Centereach NY 11720

–They’re located right next to the Cold Stone Creamery

Phone: 631 696-0411
Fax: 631 696-0111
Web Site: Badolato’s Market (49 hits)

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