Cuban restaurant opens in Port Washington

Sarah Minkewicz

What sets Guajiro apart from the other four Cuban restaurants in Long Island is the their passion for cooking, chef-owner Manuel Matos said.

“I believe that it’s the passion that’s going to make the difference. When you’re passionate about what you’re doing you don’t work, it’s fun and that’s what I’m doing,” Matos said of the recently opened restaurant in Port Washington. “This is my passion and I believe even though the other restaurants are good as well but I believe that my passion is going to be the difference.”

Matos said he choose the location at 95 Manorhaven Blvd. because of the lack of Spanish restaurants in Port Washington.

“I believe it is maybe missing a Spanish restaurant around here and I believe with my background and experience you know I can bring to the table what is missing,” Matos said. 

Matos graduated from Syosset’s Culinary Academy of Long Island, now called Star Career Academy, but said his most important learning was from home. 

 “Everything starts with my mom,” Matos said. “That’s the best culinary school you’re going to get is in your house.”

The location housed short-lived Colombian restaurant Dolce, and before that, ¡Ay Que Rico!, Livorno and Nick & Pedro’s.

Matos choose the name Guajiro, meaning farmer, or a countryside person, according to Matos, because it related to his own life he said. 

“I heard the name 20 years ago from a friend and I really liked the name,” Matos said. “That identifies with me and my family because we’re coming from the country side. 

Guajiro opened last month and Matos said the feedback has been positive. 

“We’ve been getting a good response and people love it, and so they keep on coming back,” Matos said. “That’s a good sign that we’re doing the right thing.”

Village of Manorhaven Trustee Priscilla von Roeschlaub said she was impressed with the Cuban restaurant. 

“I’ve gone there twice this week already. It is fabulous. The food is delicious,” Roeschlaub said during Board of Trustees meeting on March 24. “They have a luncheon and I had rice with shrimp. I think we should all at least once try to go there and support Manorhaven businesses.”

“Everything is good, I’m going to say that myself,” Matos said joking about what he believes his best dishes are. “The people like the stuffed sweet plantain. It’s a whole plantain stuffed with ground beef picadillo and mozzarella cheese melted on top, I can say that is the star of the appetizers.”

Other dishes include empanadas, which are $8 for three, chicharron de pollo, translated to crispy chicken bites and are for $8, picadillo, which is Cuban-style ground beef for $14, shrimp in garlic sauce for $19, ropa vieja translated as a pot roast for $16, pernil asado translated to roast pork, for $15 and churrasco translated to skirt steak for $26.

“I’ve been new to the town but I believe people in Port Washington are really friendly and they’ve been supporting me a lot so far,” Matos said. 

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