STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Over gooey mozzarella sticks and a steak sandwich made with freshly grated horseradish, three restaurant owners gathered at Ralph’s Sports Bar in Dongan Hills to talk shop.
Ralph Tafuri welcomed Dominick “Griff” Griffo of Griff’s Place and Richie Holmes of Juicy Lucy to his eponymous Dongan Hills Bar. The New Dorp Beach and Ocean Breeze proprietors, respectively, happen to be customers of the new establishment located at 1571 Richmond Road. The address might be familiar to Advance readers as it is former home to Chris’ Polish Restaurant and, prior to that, Carol Frazzetta’s restaurant and cooking school.
Tafuri said he hopes Frazzetta will stop in at his place for drinks one day. His wife was once a student of hers and he wants the retired chef and culinary instructor to get a peek at the new digs. From customers and fellow restaurant owners Griff and Holmes, Tafuri gets high marks for his Tomahawk steak, crispy chicken wings and pounded, butterflied and fried pork chop served parmigiana-style.
Over the course of the conversation at Ralph’s, Holmes relayed his future plans to open a second Juicy Lucy, this one on the South Shore. He broke the news that his barbecue concept will be coming to the former Smashburger location in Eltingville. Now that shopping strip mall will feature be a serious food destination once again with Alfonso’s, China Chalet and a soon-coming Sofia’s Taqueria. The Mexican spot is expanding from its Rosebank and Staten Island Mall homes to the spot of the old Denny’s and former Perkins.
On this broadcast of The Dish, the group was joined by Michele Mershon, a fan of Ralph’s who is a regular on the borough’s eating and drinking circuit. She travelled to the place by Access-A-Ride. She gave thumbs up to the cocktails and kudos on the accessible bathrooms Tafuri designed.
Enjoying the camaraderie and fellowship with the owners on this late Friday morning, Holmes suggested the group meet at Griff’s Place next time. As the sponsor of The Dish program through June, he’s happy to share the limelight — and take the show on the road.
For live broadcasts of The Dish, tune in on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. from the Staten Island Advance Facebook platform. Reruns air shortly thereafter. In the meantime take a peek at prior episodes that have documented Staten Island’s emergence from the pandemic with outdoor dining expansions, new menus, revamped restaurant hours and more.
Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@siadvance.com.
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