Millie's Smash Bar opens in Patchogue
Cheeseburger and disco fries at Millie's Smash Bar in Patchogue. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
There’s a shake-up and expansion happening in Patchogue: That Meetball Place rebrands; a speakeasy lounge debuts next door, and Millie’s Smash Bar, a burger joint and retro diner, opens in the space connecting the two.
Having officially changed its name and concept to Amsterdam, the former Meetball Place "is more music forward now," said Mike Stephani, one of the original restaurant’s operating partners, alongside Scottie Campbell with brothers Joe and Ralph Reale. Millie’s Smash Bar is housed behind Amsterdam, in Meetball’s former event and party space, now a glossy red-and-white counter spot lined with banquette seating along one wall and a bar on the other.
The bar and service counter at Millie's Smash Bar, a retro burger joint in Patchogue. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
The group hopes it will fill a void in Patchogue's night scene. "There's really nowhere to eat past midnight on Main Street besides McDonald's or Burger King or Taco Bell. I love smashburgers, and then we came up with the whole 1950s theme," Stephani said.
Partner Joe Reale and chef Pedro Morales worked on the burger blend, adding sauces and a bourbon bacon jam. Now, they’re slinging classic smashburgers on sesame seed buns like The Crusha, featuring American cheese, secret sauce, that finger-lickin’ bourbon bacon jam and pickles ($7.89 single, $12.88 double). The Hot Chick is a spicy fried chicken sandwich with lettuce, tomato, avocado ranch and pepper jack cheese if you'd like ($7.89). There are disco fries ($6.79), which come with an extra side of brown gravy, and onion rings ($7.79), a full bar and a walk-up window for those with the late-night munchies. Offerings include the Adult Happy Meal, made up of a martini, a burger and a side of fries. Daily specials from special milkshakes to limited edition burgers are also on rotation.
Millie's Smash Bar was built behind Amsterdam, formerly That Meetball Place in Patchogue. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
White subway tiles line the walls, black-and-whites checker the floor, Smash Bar is written in bulb-outlined letters above the counter, which faces two televisions broadcasting football games. A retro-cool Vestaboard lists up to the minute stats of the day’s games. "You hook that up to the NFL network — to really anything — and schedule it to every minute, every score change, every time your team scores, whatever you want," Stephani said.
There’s more on the horizon — Aces and Eights, a lounge-style speakeasy and cocktail bar will open in early December and feature an eight-course tasting menu, also by chef Morales.
Millie’s Smash Bar, 52 W.est Main St., Patchogue, 708-863-9516, milliessmashbar.com; Open Monday through Wednesday 4 to 10 p.m., Thursday 4 p.m. to midnight, Friday to 4 a.m., Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 a.m., Sunday 12:30 to 10:30 p.m.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
