**GAS STATION SOUL FOOD EXTRAVAGANZA**
**SOME OF LONG…read moreISLAND:S BEST WINGS**
IT'S BEEN A CRAZY RIDE
As Twimonisha Mason -the owner of Winnie:s Takeout - explained to me late one evening, she doesn't mind being called Winnie mistakenly by her customers, as the restaurant is named after her late beloved mother. In fact, Twimonisha began her journey cooking soul food with her mother at the age of eight, and even experimented as a young child with different recipes found in soul food cookbooks. And so, it can easily be understood how, many decades later, she has now become a master of her craft.
But her journey to the present has not been without great adversity. For example, after using her family's savings to establish a flourishing restaurant in Amityville Village, the building and interior was heavily damaged by vandals. Even worse, their insurance company refused to pay for the over $100,000.00 required to repair the damages. And after struggling to reopen, and then surviving the Covid 19 pandemic, the building's landlord refused to renew the lease in 2022.
A NEW BEGINNING
Fast forward to 2023, and a new temporary location was found for the restaurant to operate - in of all places - inside the food mart of a Conoco gas station. And believe me this far from a perfect solution, as the space is very small, and as such it's take-out only. Also, they're unable to sell beverages because it would create conflict with the food mart. But as I'll explain, Twimonisha and her family have become experts at using this small space to create some of the best soul food I have ever experienced.
OH MY GOD ! THE WINGS !
Ask anyone that knows me, and they'll tell you I absolutely love chicken wings of any type. And so - over the years - I've tracked down some of the best spots to satisfy my wing addiction. But after reading my Yelp friend Gail's recommendation, and then biting into one of Twimonisha's wings for the first time - I knew I had tasted something extraordinary. And admittingly, I've been looking to top that first bite here ever since - but I'm sure I'll be chasing that monkey for the foreseeable future.
And these wings are always meaty and super crispy, so if you pair them with some of Winnie's fantastic sides, you've got yourself a killer meal. In addition, if YOU are interested in some wing nirvana, I reccomend starting off with the Lemon pepper, Fried Jerk, or Fried Garlic Glaze options. Even more, there's a ten Wings for $10 special, and you can order it with two different flavors. Mama Mia!
SHRIMP !
Twimonisha does a fantastic job with shrimp dishes. The Fried Shrimp are crispy, salty, and a little sweet, and the Sauteed Shrimp version is delicious also. But I have to say, even though the Sautéed Jerk Shrimp here are not fried, they're still one of the best shrimp dishes I've ever eaten, and are definitely a must try.
SPEAKING OF JERK...
If you're a fan of Jamaican Jerk flavor, in addition to the shrimp, they offer really tasty Jerk Chicken, Jerk Ribs, and a flavorful Jerk Salmon. And since I mentioned salmon, it is also available Pan Seared, and Deep Fried.
FRIED MAGIC
I'm not sure if it's the batter used, the marination or even the cooking technique, but what I'm definitely sure of is that anything fried at Winnie's is crispy and delicious. So whether you order the Fried Wings, Chicken, or Pork Chops, you are in for a crispy magical treat.
THE SIDES !
The meat and seafood dishes at Winnie's are perfectly complimented with some of the tastiest sides around. The Mac-N-Cheese is tender, has a cheese pull, and is cooked crispy on top. The Collard Greens are tender and flavorful. The Potato Salad is creamy, slightly sweet, and a little spicy, but they always run out of it, Oy Vey! And last but not least is the Candied Yams, which are without a doubt, the best I've ever tasted anywhere. And I'm not kidding when I say I've seen people order just a side of the Candied Yams, and then walk away with a big smile - they're that good!
IT'S AN EXPERIENCE
So to visit Winnie's Takeout, you have to drive on Route 110 in Amityville, and search for the big red Conoco gas station sign (there's no sign advertising Winnie's here). Then find a spot to park in the crappy-looking gas station, and proceed to walk into the time-worn food mart.
And if all of this sounds a little sketchy to you, it is! But I love it! Because it's a perfect example of absolutely fantastic food being served from a place where you would never expect to find it.
And as a matter of fact, I brought a good friend here for lunch a few weeks ago. And then, during a later conversation, he admitted to returning multiple times with others so they could sample the wings, jerk shrimp, and yams. So please give Winnie's Takeout a try, and I'll bet you'll have the same wonderful experience.