Stay Tuned for His Column, “The Food Court, Dining with Lawyer Gary Dvoskin”
Going Local is proud to present our newest Food Reviewer to help spread awareness of Local Restaurants to our line up, Gary Dvoskin! We are so excited to welcome Gary Dvoskin as our newest food reviewer, bringing his passion for local dining to a broader audience.
How Gary Dvoskin Got Started Writing Reviews
Gary, who has been writing reviews for the past nine years, discovered his love for food writing as a refreshing escape from the increasingly heated political climate on Facebook. Stumbling upon the “Tri State Restaurant Club” back then, Gary found solace in sharing his dining experiences, where restaurants, unlike politics, offered a non-controversial and enjoyable topic for discussion.
Gary’s approach to choosing restaurants to review is as organic as his love for food. Most of the time, he reviews places he happens to visit on a given night, especially if the experience stands out. However, he’s also intentional about seeking out lesser-known spots, particularly those that may be struggling or are hard to find. Through his connections with other food critics and his active participation in food communities, Gary is always on the lookout for unique, fun places to share with his readers.
About Gary
A Long Island native, Gary’s personal life is as deeply rooted in the community as his food reviews. He’s a lawyer and has been married to his high school sweetheart, Lisa, since 1991. They first met while working at McDonald’s in 1983, sparking a romance that’s lasted over four decades. Lisa, is whom Gary often refers to as his better half in his reviews. Their daughter, Regan, 28, is a computer scientist living in England with her fiancé.
When he’s not exploring local eateries, Gary is an avid power walker, averaging over six miles a day this year. He’s also a dedicated sports fan, with a particular passion for the Islanders, Jets, Giants, Mets, Yankees, and Knicks. A personal injury attorney by profession, Gary grew up in Plainview and now resides in Melville. His background as a jock, playing soccer and wrestling in his youth, has perhaps contributed to his discipline and drive in both his professional and personal life.
Gary also likes to have fun. A few years back, he published this on social media:
“I hate to complain….but I had the worst experience last night at dinner. First, the place was 30 minutes from my home. When I arrived and told the host about the drive, he just looked at me and didn’t even apologize!!!!
We had reservations for 6 people, but my party was 12 when I arrived and 20 minutes late. I sat there for 5 minutes while the staff rearranged the tables, and we were not even given any free drinks (they didn’t even offer to construct an extra space for us, even though Home Depot was minutes away). When we were seated, there were other people in the dining room and talking, awful.
We were ready to order, but our waitress was busy taking the order of the table near us who had showed up on time. Appetizers were impeccable, very upsetting as I had no ability to ask not to have to pay for them. It gets worse!! The appetizers were such big portions and yummy that I ate all of it.
I was not that hungry so I asked if I could get a half portion of my meal. The waiter said no problem. However, my brother ordered the full portion and when our meals arrived his portion was TWICE the size of mine. I complained to the server, but the dish was still on our bill!!! As we were eating, our food got colder and colder too. Never going back, never!!”
Stay Tuned for “The Food Court”
Readers can look forward to Gary’s upcoming column, “The Food Court, with Lawyer Gary Dvoskin”—a platform where he will continue his mission to spread awareness of Long Island’s local restaurants, celebrating the diversity and richness of the area’s culinary scene. With his unique blend of enthusiasm, local pride, and a genuine love for good food, Gary is sure to bring something special to Going Local Long Island.
