Jameson’s of Floral Park, a pub-style eatery, is under new ownership and has reopened with an updated menu and dining room renovations.
“So far, everybody loves what we did with the place,” said co-owner Michael McGlynn.
Roy Bamberger, 60, and McGlynn, 43, have worked together for years in the restaurant business.
Bamberger started his first restaurant job in 1977 at the Crest Hollow Country Club. McGlynn began his restaurant career at 15, when he worked at the Wander Inn in Baldwin. The two first worked together at Louie’s Prime Steak & Seafood in Port Washington.
Both men were already drawn to the New Hyde Park area prior to reopening Jameson’s in November.
“Floral Park is a great town. We were familiar with Jameson’s and the gentleman who owned it,” said McGlynn. “I love that this strip is all small businesses. There’s not a Starbucks and a McDonald’s.”
Before reopening the restaurant, Jameson’s underwent a series of fine-tuning adjustments, like updating the lighting, refinishing the wood, repainting and changing the layout of the dining room.
Bamberger and McGlynn have revamped the menu, which offers burgers, sandwiches, seafood and other classic American fare.
The bacon slab and spicy tuna are Bamberger’s favorite items on the menu, though he also enjoys the specials, like a pork chop special that the restaurant sold out in two days.
McGlynn prefers the short rib and the strip steak, which Jameson’s gets from a butcher shop in Farmingdale.
They say the freshness of the food makes it special, since they receive all of their product fresh daily.
“The only thing we freeze here is ice cream and ice cubes,” joked Bamberger.
The new owners also upgraded their wine list and added a new wine cabinet to the front of the restaurant.
“Luckily a lot of the staff members that were here when we took over were great and wonderful people that were excited for a little new life in the place and they’ve told us it’s busier than they’ve ever seen it,” said McGlynn.
Bamberger and McGlynn said their goal was to create a comfortable, casual atmosphere for customers.
“You can come here and have a couple beers at the bar or you can come here with a first date in the dining room,” said Bamberger.
The co-owners hope to host more events at Jameson’s in the future, whether that be school and church events or private parties.
Both Bamberger and McGlynn mentioned how appreciative they are of the community’s support, including the town.
“People are very, very welcoming here and they’re a loyal base,” said Bamberger, who already has regular customers visiting the restaurant nightly.
The co-owners manage the “controlled chaos” of running a restaurant because of their effortless partnership. Bamberger greets the guest; McGlynn is the numbers guy.
“If I was ever to do a partnership, it would only be with a guy like him,” said Bamberger about McGlynn.
