In this small Latin eatery, a mother-and-son duo share their culinary roots with the North Fork community
THE GIST: Lucia has been serving up authentic Latin food since 2017. Owned by Melvin Recinos and his mother, Estela Palacios, the restaurant is best known for its Salvadoran specialties, especially its pupusas. Recinos, who grew up in El Salvador with his mother and grandmother, moved to the United States at 18. After working in kitchens across the East End he teamed up with his mother to bring the flavors of their heritage to the North Fork. The eatery’s name, Lucia, is a tribute to Recinos’ grandmother, whose recipes continue to inspire the menu today.
THE VIBE: Modest yet welcoming, Lucia greets you with cheery yellow walls and a collection of knick-knacks Palacios has gathered over the years. A playful “I love pupusas” sign hangs above the service counter, while ceramic roosters and colorful Talavera pig statues are scattered around the space — reminders of the owners’ family farm in El Salvador. Mostly a takeout spot, there are enough wooden tables and chairs, painted in bright shades of blue, orange and green, to seat just over a dozen diners at a time.
THE FOOD: Lucia’s menu is a celebration of Latin cooking, with a focus on Central American and Tex-Mex influences. The dishes are simple, fresh and designed to cater to a variety of palates. A case is stocked with a large selection of sodas and imported drinks, from Jarritos to Mexican Coke, while dispensers behind the counter are filled with Salvadoran-style horchata and agua fresca. Lucia is popular on weekday afternoons, when regulars come in for affordable lunch specials served at a steam table next to the counter from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pupusas Considered the national dish of El Salvador — and arguably the signature dish at Lucia — each of these stuffed griddle cakes is made fresh and entirely by hand with love by Recinos’ mother and the restaurant’s small kitchen staff. The dough is made from Maseca corn flour, water and a pinch of salt, then loaded with mozzarella and a variety of other fillings, such as refried beans, pork, loroco, shrimp, steak, squash or mushrooms. Break it apart to reveal the ultimate cheese pull and don’t forget to dip it into a side of curtido, a slightly spicy authentic Salvadoran cabbage slaw served in tomato sauce.
Chicken Lucia Appetizer For indecisive diners — or those who want to try a bit of everything — Lucia offers a sampling of Tex-Mex favorites, including a mini burrito stuffed with Salvadoran casamiento (Salvadoran rice and beans), a chicken and cheese quesadilla, and a deep-fried empanada filled with shredded chicken and nacho cheese. Ground beef and vegetarian versions of these dishes are also available.
Fajitas Aiming to cater to a wider audience, Recinos added this classic Tex-Mex dish to the menu. Choose a protein — steak, chicken, shrimp or a combination of all three — to wrap up alongside some refried beans, rice and sour cream.
Cassava with Pork A popular street food in El Salvador, thick chunks of yuca and pork shoulder are deep-fried and served with a minty, tomato-based Creole dipping sauce.
Salvadorian Plate This dish takes Recinos back to the meals he grew up with at his grandparents’ farm. It features scrambled eggs with loroco — an earthy, aromatic flower native to Central America — with homemade Salvadoran chorizo, silky refried beans, golden-brown sweet plantains, queso fresco and a rich, tangy Salvadoran crema.
Lucia
13000 Main Road, Mattituck
631-315-5165
Web: luciamattituck.com
Instagram: @luciamattituck631
Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
