Hicksville’s Restaurant Scene is Heating Up: 5 New Venues Creating Fresh Bartending Opportunities in 2024
Hicksville, New York, is experiencing an exciting culinary renaissance that’s creating unprecedented opportunities for aspiring bartenders. This Long Island community has witnessed the opening of several high-profile restaurants in 2024, each bringing unique dining experiences and, more importantly, new employment opportunities for skilled beverage professionals.
The Restaurant Boom: A Closer Look at Hicksville’s Newest Venues
Ficarra Ristorante opened its doors this spring, welcoming guests into an upscale Italian-American dining experience that emphasizes authentic Sicilian cuisine. This sophisticated establishment has quickly become a local favorite, creating demand for experienced bartenders who can craft both classic Italian cocktails and modern mixology creations.
Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood & Bar’s first Long Island location brings New Orleans-inspired flavor to Hicksville, representing one of the most significant restaurant openings of the year. Hook & Reel is now hiring for experienced Bartenders to join their Hicksville team, offering immediate employment opportunities for qualified candidates.
O Mandarin Restaurant in Hicksville is a sister restaurant from Award winning restaurant O Mandarin in Westchester county, bringing Michelin-guided Chinese cuisine to the area. O Mandarin has been selected by Michelin Guide in 2021, making it the first ever Michelin guided Chinese restaurant in a suburb of New York City.
The dining scene has also expanded with establishments like The Foundry, Pavirin Thai Bistro, Kinya Ramen, and Smok-Haus Hicksville, each contributing to the area’s growing reputation as a dining destination.
Why Hicksville’s Restaurant Growth Matters for Bartenders
This restaurant expansion represents more than just new dining options—it’s creating a robust job market for hospitality professionals. Hicksville currently features 225 restaurants, and with new establishments continuing to open, the demand for skilled bartenders has never been higher.
The variety of venues opening means opportunities exist across different service styles and price points. From upscale Italian dining at Ficarra to the casual, fun atmosphere of Hook & Reel’s Cajun seafood experience, bartenders can find positions that match their skills and career goals.
Getting Started: The Importance of Professional Training
For those looking to capitalize on these opportunities, professional bartending education is essential. 1-800-BARTEND is New York’s largest bartending school and training corporation, with locations serving the Long Island area. Their mission is to train the hospitality industry in safe and responsible beverage alcohol service.
The school’s comprehensive approach includes programs that provide servers of the hospitality industry with the knowledge to help protect themselves from illegal alcohol service and to promote guests’ enjoyment, while reconfirming industry standard preparation of cocktails. This training is particularly valuable given that New York State requires certification programs like the ATAP Program through the New York State Liquor Authority.
Career Support and Job Placement
1-800-BARTEND offers 100% free job placement programs, which is crucial for new graduates looking to break into Hicksville’s competitive restaurant market. They help staff graduates at appropriate locations based on knowledge and experience, making the transition from training to employment seamless.
For those specifically interested in bartending jobs hicksville, the school’s career support services provide direct connections to local establishments actively seeking qualified bartenders.
Training That Matches Industry Demands
Thousands of bartending students from all backgrounds and all ages have learned the art of the pour inside classrooms that are set up as cocktail lounges right down to the shot glasses and fully equipped working bars. This realistic training environment prepares students for the actual demands they’ll face in Hicksville’s diverse restaurant scene.
The school offers bartending classes, bartender courses, training workshops, and specialty classes including beer seminars, wine seminars, flair courses and alcohol awareness classes—all skills that are highly valued by the area’s new restaurants.
The Future of Hicksville’s Hospitality Scene
With seven restaurants currently listed on OpenTable in Hicksville as of November 2024 and more establishments planning to open, the growth trajectory shows no signs of slowing. This expansion represents a golden opportunity for trained bartenders to establish themselves in a thriving market.
The success of venues like Hook & Reel, which is the fastest growing Cajun seafood restaurant concept taking over the US, demonstrates the potential for career growth within expanding restaurant groups. Bartenders who start with these growing concepts often find opportunities for advancement as companies open additional locations.
For aspiring bartenders, Hicksville’s restaurant boom represents the perfect storm of opportunity, variety, and growth potential. With proper training from established institutions like 1-800-BARTEND and the increasing number of establishments seeking skilled professionals, 2024 has proven to be an exceptional year to enter the bartending profession in this vibrant Long Island community.