5 Best Restaurants in Long Island, New York

On the morning of Bastille Day (July 14), 2012, a fire gutted the charming Tudor-style building housing this French restaurant 1¾ miles east of Sayville. To the delight of its loyal fans, Le Soir has made a triumphant return. The fare is still French and oh so rich, including escargots bourguignon (snails in red-wine sauce), sauteed lobster in citrus butter sauce, and farm-raised roasted duck a l'orange. A romantic feel envelops the place, so it's favorite for special occasions like Valentine's Day and anniversaries.

At this bright and airy restaurant the talented chef-owner utilizes the freshest local produce and seafood—and his considerable talent—to provide a memorable dining experience. Oven-roasted halibut, rack of lamb with Mediterranean spice, and braised Montauk lobster with baby vegetables are among the dishes on the French-leaning menu. Homemade desserts such as ricotta mousse and lemon tart may quite possibly induce a swoon. The dining spaces are elegantly spare, with polished hardwood floors, lots of windows, and white-clothed tables. A $30 prix-fixe is available Monday–Thursday.

A harpist plays on Monday evenings at this elegant French restaurant a few miles east of Great Neck. Try the duck à l'orange or rack of lamb with a mustard-and-bread-crumb crust, paired with one of the more than 150 selections from the wine list. A prix-fixe dinner for $39 is offered on Sunday. Reservations are essential on Saturday.

A warm, welcoming, busy little bistro, Le Chef serves mainly French food. Standouts include baby rack of lamb and noisettes of veal; specials on their pink restaurant board change weekly. Attracting an upscale "early bird" crowd, prix-fixe menus are available Thursday through Sunday before 6:45 pm, and brunch is offered on Sunday. This nice place, albeit a bit dated, offers a nice alternative to the twentysomething Hamptons "scene."

This sweet little main street storefront with sidewalk tables under the awning always seems to be bustling. Take your appetite on a mini-vacation to Paris, where diners eat close to one another in true Parisian style. Try the roasted free-range chicken or a scrumptious plat du jour, which might include Sardines grillées Eschbèche or BouillabaisseMarseillaise. Desserts such as crepe au chocolat chaudare are too good to share, so be sure to get your own. For those who really want to splurge, play chef for a day and help prepare your favorite meal for a group of your friends. An adjacent gourmet market tantalilizes with prepared foods, hot and cold beverages, gelato, and baked goods, including the popular mini flourless chocolate cake.