The duo behind Anchor Down Seafood Bar & Grill in Merrick has brought a taste of the Mediterranean to the Long Island waterfront.

“We loved the quaint, waterside atmosphere and similarities to Anchor Down,” said Stephen Rosenbluth who opened Cardoon Mediterranean Grill with Jennifer Rosenbluth on June 12 in the space of the former Parkside Cafe. “We decided to do something totally different. There were no Mediterranean restaurants on the water, so we went for it!”

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To complement the seaside location, Stephen, Jennifer and the chef Jason DeLeo, who also mans the kitchen at Anchor Down, crafted a menu full of fresh, local seafood and seasonal ingredients with Israeli, Moroccan and traditional Italian-Greco influences.

“We have traditional dips: hummus, eggplant, taramasalata and spicy feta, which I love. Jason also has a great recipe for lamb ribs and octopus which is delicious, but my favorite is the grilled cornish hen ‘Under A Brick,'” said Stephen.

Cooking chicken under a brick is a Mediterranean technique that has been used for decades, yielding a crispy exterior layer and retaining juice and flavor within the meat. Cardoon also serves arctic char and delicious local striped bass, in addition to a raw bar.

Once the menu was set in stone, the only thing missing was a great name. “My wife found that a cardoon was a seasonally grown thistle similar to artichokes commonly eaten around the holidays in the Mediterranean and southern Italy,” said Stephen. “We loved the name and kept it for the canal side venue.”

Cardoon promises the same accessibility and approachability as Anchor Down. Boat slips are available and there is a casual outdoor patio. Even when outdoor dining is no longer in season, the menu will stay true to its namesake—cardoons will be used in multiple dishes this fall.

Cardoon is located at 2479 Adler Court in Seaford