New Owners, New Reaction at Kemistry Restaurant

With its gold-leafed letters rising up out of the marquee on Old Country Road, the had gained a reputation as distracting environment and a source of , among them large amounts of noise emanating from the location.

The lease on the combo restaurant and lounge was recently sold and is now under the management of native-Portuguese owners Manny Cunha and Orlando Sa, who are transforming it into a tamer, upscale Mediterranean-fusion establishment.

Both men both emigrated to the United States from Portugal when they were young, Sa from central Portugal when he was 10 years old while Cunha made the trip with his family from Northern Portugal when he was 20.

The pair did not meet until the mid-1990s when Cunha was the chef owner of Little Portugal, now known as the Heart of Portugal. Sa said he was a regular customer and took an immediate likening to the food.

“I’m from here and grew up in Mineola,” Cunha said. “I know the area really well and have developed a following of customers who like my cooking.”

Cunha was also the owner/chef of Rio Grande, now Piccola Bussola, and well-known behind the grill at Lisbon Grill in Naples, Florida and at another spot in Boca. After spending time away Cunha said he is happy to be back and hopes to add flavor to the community.

When asked why they chose to keep the name “Kemistry,” the duo cited that there was symbolism behind the meaning, saying that it was a perfect moniker since they were “putting together the old name and mixing it with a new atmosphere, cuisine and the people.”

The restaurant reopened on April 21 following renovations that included replacement of the wooden floors and repainting the walls, and an extensive overhaul of the menu is also being undertaken.

“We changed the entire menu and it will now have a more diverse selection of Mediterranean fusion,” Cunha said. “Customers can expect different specials every day along with foods from different parts of the world.”

Salads, soups and Panini’s will be served at lunch along with other light alternatives to choose from and there will be a happy hour from 4 to 7 p.m. with daily drink specials.

The plan is planning to go “big” on all different kinds of salad for dinner. “Who doesn’t like salad?” Cunha said. “With summer coming up it will be light, tasty and fill you up.”

Other dishes on the menu include Shrimp Santa Fe – sautéed shrimp over spinach with melted mozzarella cheese – and Pappardelle Kemistry – sweet sausage and vegetables tossed in a creamy walnut sauce.

Homemade desserts will be different each week and include crème brulee, tiramisu, apple turnovers and chocolate mousse.

Cunha and Sa are currently subletting the restaurant and hoping to obtain a transfer of the current lease within the next few months in order to become the official owners. Until then they are “working under their license and lease agreement.”