Shrimpy's Burrito Bar Opens In East Islip

EAST ISLIP, NY — In 2018, roommates Ryan DiPaola and John Nasta took a chance.

DiPaola, a math teacher, and Nasta, a union delegate in New York City, left their jobs to start their own Tex-Mex business, with no prior experience in restaurants.

"We were making food from scratch at at our apartment. And long story short, we felt we had something good."

Now in 2023, Shrimpy's Burrito Bar has come along way from DiPaola's and Nasta's kitchen.

The business is now a beloved chain across Long Island, and opened its third location in Nasta's hometown of East Islip on Monday.

DiPaola told Patch that the restaurant offers traditional Tex-Mex items on the menu, such as burritos, tacos, quesadillas — but with their own twist.

"From our homemade sauces to the quality of meat that we use, the concoctions we put together we definitely have like a cool mixture of ingredients," he said.

The restaurant, located at 322 E Main Street, also features a unique avocado bar, and has food trucks available to rent for parties or events. They also run Taco Tuesday and Burrito Thursday specials each week, as well as a new special burrito of the month on the first of every month.

The Strong Island Burrito, a surf-and-turf dish with steak, shrimp, guacamole, peppers, and onions, is DiPaola's favorite menu item.

"You get a mix of Land and Sea type of vibes," he said. "And We use a filet tip steak, which is really tender."

But what makes Shrimpy's stand out from other Tex-Mex restaurants, he said, is its ability to understand the local customers.

The duo started with their first location in Massapequa Park. In 2020, they opened a store in Huntington, where DiPaola grew up. He also owns The Ivy Kitchen and Bar in Huntington Village.

"It's like a dream come true to be an entrepreneur and bring a restaurant but a business of my own to my hometown," he said.

Opening a store during a pandemic is not easy, he said, but he is grateful for the support of his employees and the community.

"We went through the pandemic COVID craziness, and thankfully, we were still able to thrive and push forward," he said.

Three years after the pandemic hit, DiPaola said it's a "breath of fresh air" to bring the business to East Islip.

"It's a great feeling that we were able to grow it, to come home and bring it to our family and friends," he said.

To learn more about Shrimpy's Burrito Bar, click here.