Brooklyn Chef/Owner Expands Portfolio With L.I. Restaurant

BELLMORE, NY — While many businesses were lost to the pandemic, others are resilient. Albert Di Meglio decided this was the opportune time to expand his restaurant footprint. The Brooklyn chef and partner looked east, eventually finding a vacated Red Robin in Bellmore.

One of his partners handles the real estate end and had the property on Merrick Road available in March.

"We looked at demographics. We looked at what's out here," Di Meglio told Patch. "We looked at what's going on the south shore."

The land from the former upscale burger joint comes with 80 parking spaces.

"That's priceless on its own," he said.

He runs the Italian restaurant Barano and wine/liquor store Spirit Animal in Williamsburg.

The new location is called Bluebird Kitchen and will feature predominately American fare, including burgers, sandwiches and pasta. But "everyday food that you want to eat, just ways you probably haven't had it yet," Di Meglio said.

Di Meglio, who hails from Staten Island, lived in Manhattan and worked in Brooklyn, wants Bluebird Kitchen to become a staple of Bellmore.

"The community has been amazing," he said.

His head chef Brock Katz grew up in Bellmore. Di Meglio and Katz had time to tweak the menu, now "locked and loaded."

There aren't too many chefs in the Bluebird Kitchen.

"Al's great about that. It's not like he's in charge and I do what he says," Katz said.

After some delays, mainly with getting the proper equipment, the restaurant is expecting a mid-December launch.

While the taste is important, Di Meglio said service is just as paramount to returning guests.
"If you make a little mistake in the kitchen, it's easier to deal with," Di Meglio said.

Getting Bluebird Kitchen off the ground, Di Meglio will focus much of his time at the new restaurant. He feels the menu will be a good marriage for the neighborhood.

"A lot of people out here like to go to Manhattan and they like to go to Brooklyn. I'm bringing a little Brooklyn to Long Island," he said. "I think if we prepare something really good, something that's familiar but a little bit different than you normally have, I think it's a good chemistry."

Now that all of the construction is completed, putting the final touches on hiring his staff is all that remains for Di Meglio. A help wanted sign sat in front of the restaurant leading up to the opening.

"I'm excited to be in a new area, learn and meet new people," he said. "I think at the end of the day we make edible art and we make people happy with it."

Bluebird Kitchen is located at 2405 Merrick Rd. in Bellmore.