Aura Mediterranean Restaurant Opens at Former Location of Pearl in Island Park
A modern Mediterranean restaurant called Aura has opened in Island Park at 4338 Austin Boulevard, the former location of Pearl. Owners Sam Gormezano and Nick Scarcella, who is the owner of Da Nicola Italian and Nicolino pizzeria in Hewlett, are friends who have been looking for a spot to launch their first restaurant together.
“This is my first business venture in the food world,” said Gormezano in an interview with LongIslandRestaurants.com.
Gormezano, who told us he is self-employed in the medical field, and Scarcella live in the area and had been to the restaurant in the past when it was still Pearl. Gormezano said the landlord had a deal in the works but that fell through. The property had been sitting vacant for months when the partners bought the business. They quickly turned it around, doing what Gormezano called a facelift to the place and crafting a Mediterranean menu, created by the duo.
The dining room has room for 65 people and the bar area can accommodate 25 more at the bar and hightops. There is a side room they plan to use for private parties and can fit 75 additional people. Come spring 2025 they plan to open an outdoor dining area.
Gormezano said they picked Mediterranean food – which he said means a lot of grilled fish on the menu – for a couple of reasons.
“We felt like it fit the neighborhood,” he said. “And Nick already owns an Italian restaurant so we wanted to do something different.”
As for the name, Aura, they wanted it to fit the atmosphere they were making for their restaurant.
“We are trying to create a special place,” he said. “We wanted to create an aura and a vibe. Good vibe, good food and good drinks.”
Currently Aura is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5-11 pm and Sunday from 4-9pm. Closed Monday. They plan to add lunch and brunch at a later date.
Where: 4338 Austin Boulevard, Island Park, auraeats.com.
Scroll down to get a sneak peek inside Aura.
Photos: Courtesy of Aura.
