STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — After a summer siesta, lunch is back at The Staaten—and with it, a sense of old-school Staten Island hospitality that makes the venue stand on its own.
The weekday lunch format, available Wednesday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., is arguably one of the best values on the Island. For about $23, guests enjoy a full meal that starts with a basket of soft rolls and includes a choice of soup or salad, a hearty entrée, dessert, and coffee or tea.
Each day features five or six rotating specials, with a dedicated dish anchoring the menu: roast loin of pork with sauerkraut and roasted potatoes on Wednesdays, salmon on Thursdays, and a fish entrée—like filet oreganata—on Fridays.
There’s also a daily cocktail special—something seemingly simple, like a Cape Cod or a Gin & Tonic. These drinks aren’t flashy, but they’re familiar. They evoke memories of neighborhood gatherings, family parties, and the kind of camaraderie that’s long been part of The Staaten’s DNA. And you might find regular bartender Kevin Flood serving them.
And at the center of it all is Jack Li Greci, the 87-year-old restaurateur who still greets guests and oversees operations daily. Jack is the host, the heartbeat, and, regulars would say, the reason The Staaten feels like home to so many Staten Islanders.
“Every day we’re filled, and we give special attention to our customers,” Jack said, summing up the philosophy that’s guided him for more than five decades.
Jack purchased The Staaten in 1971, after running Raniero’s restaurant and bar across the street since 1963. The building itself dates back to 1956, constructed after a fire destroyed the original house on the property. Under Jack’s leadership, The Staaten grew from a modest restaurant into a full-scale catering hall with four party rooms and a capacity for 600 guests. He ran the business with his brother Nick, a former NYPD officer, until Nick’s passing in 2010. Today, Jack’s son Gary and grandson John help carry the torch.
The venue has seen its share of renovations over the years—a bar and lounge expansion in 1976, a second-floor addition in 1988, and more recent upgrades like Italian marble floors and crystal chandeliers. But the soul of The Staaten hasn’t changed. It is still the place where Staten Islanders celebrate weddings, baptisms, communions, Sweet 16s, retirements, and reunions.
And once again, lunch.
The return of lunch service isn’t just about food—it’s about tradition. It’s about seeing familiar faces, catching up with neighbors, and enjoying a meal that’s made with care. The signature fried zucchini platter is prepared fresh daily by a longtime staffer known simply as Mike “Zucchini.” The salmon is broken down from a whole side in-house. Potatoes plus string beans, or whatever the vegetable of the day might be, are prepped fresh every morning.
Jack Li Greci’s connection to Staten Island is lifelong. He’s been in the restaurant business since the early 1950s and has supported countless local charities and youth organizations over the years. His legacy isn’t just in the food—it’s in the relationships, the loyalty of his staff, and the generations of Staten Islanders who’ve celebrated life’s milestones at The Staaten.
“I don’t lose anybody in the kitchen ever, and they’re all dedicated to me,” Jack said.
When asked why he’s stayed on Staten Island all these years, Jack’s answer is simple: “It’s the people who make Staten Island so special. That’s why I’ve stayed here since childhood.”