Exceptional Hospitality, Incredible Italian Food, and a Pasta-Making Experience That’s Becoming One of Long Island’s Hottest Reservations
In a time when dining out often feels rushed, transactional, and increasingly expensive, one new Huntington restaurant is proving that hospitality still matters. Since quietly opening its doors at the end of May, Aunt Jake’s (located at 10 New Street in Huntington) has quickly become one of Long Island’s most talked-about dining destinations.
Guests aren’t just stopping by once—they’re coming back again and again, bringing friends, family, and coworkers with them. The reason is simple: Aunt Jake’s delivers something that has become increasingly rare in today’s restaurant landscape—genuine hospitality paired with exceptional food and remarkable value.
Founded in 2015 in New York City by restaurateur Nick Boccio and Executive Chef Carmine DiGiovanni, Aunt Jake’s built a loyal following in Manhattan with its fresh handmade pasta, warm service, and viral pasta-making experiences. Now, Huntington residents finally have the opportunity to experience the concept for themselves—and word is spreading fast.
The Story Behind the Name “Aunt Jake’s”
Even the restaurant’s name reflects its mission. Aunt Jake’s is named after a fictional character who represents that person everyone knows—the host, the connector, the one who brings people together around the table.
That spirit can be felt throughout the restaurant. Rather than creating simply another place to eat, Aunt Jake’s has created a gathering place. A place where families reconnect, friends celebrate, and strangers leave feeling like regulars. In a world that often feels disconnected, it’s a concept that resonates immediately.
Hospitality Is Found in the Details
What truly separates Aunt Jake’s from many restaurants is its commitment to the guest experience. The details start the moment guests sit down. Complimentary house-made focaccia arrives warm alongside hot honey butter. A menu that allows every eater to venture into something comfortable, yet exciting, and…there are no credit card fees added at the end of the meal.
While these gestures may seem small individually, together they create an experience that feels thoughtful and welcoming. At Aunt Jake’s, guests aren’t treated like transactions. They’re treated like company.
Chef Carmine DiGiovanni Is Raising the Bar
The driving force behind the menu is Executive Chef Carmine DiGiovanni, whose culinary vision has already earned the restaurant a devoted following. Guests frequently describe the food as approachable yet unforgettable. The menu celebrates Italian comfort food while elevating it through technique, quality ingredients, and creative execution.
Perhaps the most popular offering is the restaurant’s build-your-own pasta experience, allowing diners to pair up to 10 fresh pasta shapes made daily in-house with up to 10 distinctive sauces.
Among the standouts are the rich Sunday Sauce, featuring short rib, veal, and sausage, and the White Bolognese—a slow-cooked chicken ragù made without tomatoes, layered instead with thyme, rosemary, garlic, and pecorino for a lighter yet deeply satisfying flavor.
In addition, Chef Carmine offers a Stuffed Pasta of the Day that is a “must order” when visiting Aunt Jake’s. The restaurant also offers gluten-free rigatoni (hand-made daily), ensuring more guests can enjoy the experience.
Aunt Jake’s Offers Appetizers Worth Arriving Hungry For
The opening course sets the tone for what’s to come.
The All-Beef Meatballs combine chuck, short rib, and brisket, served over marinara with stracciatella (the inside of the burrata), and focaccia.
The Calabrian Chili Shrimp delivers a balance of spice, citrus, and richness, while the Avocado Grapefruit Salad provides a refreshing contrast with fresh herbs, fennel, pickled onions, and bright citrus notes.
Each dish feels carefully crafted while remaining approachable and satisfying.
Entrées That Steal the Show
While the pasta often receives much of the attention, Aunt Jake’s specialty entrées deserve equal recognition.
The Pork Chop Milanese features a heritage-breed bone-in pork chop pounded thin, breaded, and finished with arugula, shaved parmesan, and a flavorful pan jus.
The Short Rib arrives fall-off-the-bone tender after a long braise in red wine and veal stock, accompanied by muffaletta relish, braised beans, and a Roman-style semolina gnocchi cake.
Seafood lovers gravitate toward the Sicilian Branzino, pan-roasted and finished with artichokes, olives, capers, white wine, and blistered tomatoes.
Meanwhile, the Roasted Lemon Chicken has quickly become a guest favorite, served over broccoli rabe and creamy polenta with fragrant herbs and a rich chicken jus.
The Dessert Program Has a Surprising Secret
One of Aunt Jake’s sweetest success stories comes from within the family. Many of the restaurant’s signature desserts are created by owner Nick Boccio’s 15-year-old son, Julian.
His House-Made Cookie that changes weekly with Ice Cream and J’s Seven-Layer Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake have quickly become must-order items.
The cake, layered with buttercream, chocolate ganache, and whipped cream, is large enough to share—but delicious enough to make guests reconsider.
Aunt Jake’s is Already Building a Following for Brunch
On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Aunt Jake’s transforms into one of Huntington’s most exciting new brunch destinations.
Highlights include House-Made Milk Bread French Toast topped with whipped espresso mascarpone and coffee crème anglaise, as well as the Short Rib Hash with poached eggs and Calabrian chili hollandaise.
Unlike many brunch programs, Aunt Jake’s presses its juices fresh each morning. That means guests are enjoying fresh orange juice—not something poured from a carton.
The Pasta-Making Experience Everyone Is Talking About
While the food alone is worth a visit, the experience that is truly putting Aunt Jake’s on the map is its legendary Pasta-Making Experience. For many guests, this isn’t simply dinner—it’s the main event.
Refined and perfected since 2015, the experience combines entertainment, education, and exceptional food into one unforgettable evening.
For just $60 per person, guests receive:
• A hands-on pasta-making class
• Instruction on creating multiple pasta shapes
• The fresh pasta they make to take home
• A full three-course meal from the restaurant
In a market where dinner for two can easily exceed $150, the value is almost unbelievable. The experience works equally well for date nights, birthdays, girls’ nights out, family gatherings, corporate outings, team-building events, and celebrations of all kinds.
It’s interactive, memorable, and leaves guests with more than just a meal—they leave with a new skill and a story to tell.
Aunt Jake’s Pasta-Making Schedule
Tuesday–Thursday: 6:00 PM
Saturday: 3:00 PM
Sunday: 3:00 PM & 6:00 PM
(Reservations can be made through OpenTable)
If recent demand is any indication, waiting too long to book may mean waiting quite a while for the next available seat.
The Verdict
Restaurants open every day. Very few create genuine excitement.
Aunt Jake’s has managed to do exactly that.
Between Chef Carmine DiGiovanni’s exceptional cooking, Owner Nick Boccio’s thoughtful hospitality, the surprisingly affordable pricing, and one of the most entertaining dining experiences available on Long Island, it’s easy to understand why guests are returning multiple times within their first month.
The secret is getting out quickly.
For anyone looking to discover Huntington’s newest dining destination, the advice is simple: make a reservation now. Because if Aunt Jake’s continues at this pace, finding a seat may soon become the hardest part of the experience.
Photo Credit: Lina Gringa
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