Babalu Restaurant In Huntington Closes: 'I Have Wonderful Memories'

HUNTINGTON, NY — Babalu Restaurant closed on June 15.

The Cuban-Mediterranean eatery opened at 286 New York Ave., Huntington, more than six years ago. The restaurant served brunch, dinner and dessert with a menu featuring tapas, meaty entrees, sandwiches and more.

Alan Gotay, the owner, said the restaurant's lease was expiring and he could no longer afford the rent. Rising costs and labor shortages also made running a family-owned restaurant difficult, he said.

Gotay plans to still do catering, private dinners and events, cooking classes, and more. He will announce plans on the Babalu Instagram and his own account, @Chef_Alan_Gotay.

Gotay finished a professional boxing career and was welcomed into the Huntington community with his family.

"We created something very special at the restaurant and I loved every time someone said 'the food reminds me of my grandmother,' 'I feel like I'm visiting a family member when I come in,' 'this was the place we came to every year for mothers day,' 'this was our special spot - we had our first date here and now are engaged,' etc.," Gotay told Patch. "These comments made us very happy and made it worth our efforts, our hard work, etc. all worth it."

The chef thanked the community for supporting the restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic, which shook the small business world on every local level imaginable in March 2020. For several months, businesses struggled to adapt, while those in the food industry shifted to takeout and delivery models.

Babalu Restaurant had just expanded when the shutdowns came. Customers rallied around the eatery to help it survive, Gotay said.

"I am very proud of what we created," he said. "My family, especially my mother, has been by my side every day since we opened. I have wonderful memories and am proud of what we accomplished. We met so many wonderful people and many have become our friends. I want to thank our staff who stuck with us through the ups and downs. It is bittersweet, but I am looking forward to the future. And one never knows what the future will bring."

Gotay invited people to reach out to him at Chefalangotay@gmail.com for catering, parties, private dinners/events, and more. He also requested people follow his Instagram pages for the latest updates and adventures.

"As always, thank you for the support and the beautiful words that everyone related to us the last two weeks," Gotay said. "You all and Babalu will always hold a special place in my heart. Thank you. Thank you."