A Staycation Day in Riverhead By: Patricia Scholl Long Island has so much to offer; just a change of scenery can make you feel like you took a vacation. Spending the day at the Long Island Aquarium then, having lunch at TRP right across the street can fulfill that need. My sister and I decided this was how we would spend our staycation. After enjoying the sights at the Long Island Aquarium, we walked right across the street to The Riverhead Project for lunch. The Riverhead Project (TRP), located at 300 E. Main Street, is a casual, upscale restaurant that caters to the unique palette of today’s foody. The interior has a Zen-like feeling, but is modern at the same time. The atmosphere emits a feeling of calmness and relaxation. There is a glass wall that houses a long fireplace and on the opposite side is the lounge area. TRP offers outside dining as well. It was a hot day so we decided to eat inside, but if you choose to sit outside, the creative privacy walls and the table lamps offer a unique style of dining. The menu is eclectic and the drinks, exotic. The servings were pleasing and presented in unique style dishes. For starters, we had deep fried olives with a side of lemon Aioli sauce for dipping and grilled asparagus. Since we were there for lunch, we opted for the burgers. My sister had the veggie burger which was made with King Oyster mushroom, roasted pepper with a chickpea puree and served with a pickle and fries. I enjoyed the tRP burger, and we both had their signature cocktails to compliment the meal. Besides lunch, TRP also offers brunch, dinner, and a lounge menu. For the summer, they are offering movies outside on their Bar Patio starting at dusk. To make the experience even more memorable, they will be serving a specialty cocktail and popcorn. You can make reservation online at their site and check out their events calendar which includes wine parings, novel nights, and industry Mondays. Patricia Scholl pscholl15@gmail.com
