Eric’s Italian Bistro, located at 70 E. North Country Road in Mineola, announced on Tuesday that it is offering free pasta dinners to families facing hardships as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The restaurant said in an email announcement that it would provide meals free of charge regardless of family size. The goal is to aid community members who are sick, have lost a job or are struggling as a result of the virus.
“I went downstairs and saw this tremendous amount of food, and we have the means to [provide free meals], so I thought why not help out,” said chef George Echeverria, owner of Eric’s Italian Bistro.
Eric’s Bistro asks that those requesting pasta dinners contact the restaurant one to two hours before they plan to pick up the food. The restaurant can provide hot or cold dishes, Echeverria said, depending on whether the individual or family plans to eat the meal immediately or reheat it later.
The pasta dishes that are offered will vary. Echeverria acknowledged that some families will need free dinners on consecutive days, and therefore Eric’s will provide a few different options.
“If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right,” he said.
Although Eric’s does not have the means to offer delivery to everyone requesting free meals, Echeverria said that the restaurant will strive to deliver pasta to those who cannot get to Eric’s. Currently, for instance, it is delivering meals daily to an elderly woman who cannot leave her home to pick up food.
As of Monday at 8 p.m., restaurants in New York are only permitted to offer takeout and delivery. The restrictions will remain in place as long as officials deem necessary to protect public health.
Eric’s will continue to be open seven days a week for takeout and delivery.
Echeverria acknowledged that restaurants will suffer due to the coronavirus outbreak. However, he said he hopes his peers in the industry follow suit and aid their communities in this time of need.
“I am a father of five … [and] I come from nothing,” said Echeverria. “I have to worry about my family of course, but my community is my family too.”
For more information about free pasta meals, contact Eric’s Italian Bistro at 516-280–5675.
