76 Best Restaurants in Long Island, New York

With its vaulted ceiling, exposed-wood beams, stained-glass window, and oak floors, this spacious restaurant, a branch of the famous Brooklyn steak house, resembles an English Tudor beer hall. In addition to first-rate steaks, you can order a grilled lobster with drawn butter.

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.

This cozy German restaurant at the edge of Northport village is known for its sauerbraten and seafood. Candles and fresh flowers adorn the dining room, and there's often live music on the weekends.

Half a dozen kinds of fresh fish are served daily at this elegant restaurant with white tablecloths. The veal chops à la Bevanda, stuffed with cheese and prosciutto and sautéed in shallots and white wine, are a good choice for landlubbers. Reservations are essential on Friday and Saturday.

Converted out of a vacant boatyard, this fun and vibrant spot on picturesque Chase Creek was the brainchild of two Shelter Island "summer kids," Keith Bavaro and Alison Bevilacqua. The nautical-themed restaurant utilizes the most local, freshest seafood available for its raw bar, delicious fish tacos, and some Hawaiian-influenced dishes. Out back, locals and tourists mix it up at the Shipwreck Bar (Thursday–Monday), a converted 1928 scalloping ship on land. In summer it's an outdoor party with fresh cocktails—try the Whale Killer, made with local Sag Harbor Rum—lawn games, and live music. Boaters can dock at the Island Boatyard and walk up to the restaurant and bar; day passes are also available for non-boaters for use of the pool, lounge area, and shower facilities.

An attractive, black-clad staff serves sushi and other Japanese dishes to the hip crowd that frequents this place. Sashimi and rolls of all varieties are available; teriyaki dishes, vegetable, noodle, and fresh-fish dishes round out the menu, which includes an extensive sake list. Try the steamed pork buns.

Ceiling fans whir above white linen–cloaked tables and terra-cotta floors at this Italian restaurant, which specializes in brick-oven pizza and homemade pastas, like shrimp-and-porcini tortellini and farfalle with salmon.

Don't expect high-end dining; the place is pretty much your local neighborhood dive, but the food is well liked and well prepared. The specials change daily, but are good, straightforward dishes such as cedar-planked salmon, beer-battered fish-and-chips, and chicken saltimbocca. There are always cool people here, so the bar scene makes the wait for a table on weekends bearable.

Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, this retro luncheonette serves the usual casual fare: burgers, sandwiches, omelets, salads, and homemade ice cream.

This good ole' family BBQ offers an alternative to the East Hampton scene. Barbecued ribs and chicken are the big draw, but the quesedillas, wraps, and salads are also quite popular. Enjoy a beer or scoop of Hershey's ice cream at the outdoor picnic table seating or dine indoors year-round at this family-friendly spot. It's outside the village with its own lot, so parking is easy here. Catering is available for events and house parties, and you can call ahead for take-out.

The food here is OK, but the beer is great, and it's a fun place to come with family and friends. Acclaimed microbrews and flavored ales go well with its burgers, wings, clam fritters, beer-battered shrimp, crab cakes, steak sandwiches, and pastas. Enjoy a Double White, Montauk Light, or seasonal beer like the Summer Blonde, and take in a televised sporting event on a Sunday afternoon. Brunch happens here on weekends as well. Grab a beer and expect a wait, even if you have reservations.

Bringing a fun, Key West vibe to Fire Island, this restaurant and bar hosts live music and weekly events like tacos and trivia, Italian night, lobster bash, and an occasional clam shucking contest, wine festival, or drag show. The menu consists of some simple favorites like burgers, lobster rolls and wings, pasta, and fresh salads, and there's also a sushi menu and raw bar for more adventurous eaters.

Fans of this restaurant say that it really is a little piece of Italy, from its casual rustic-style interior to its Venetian-inspired dishes and specials like the pasta with octopus ink sauce, tagliatelle with seafood and preserved lemons, and Tuscan-style New York Strip with olive oil, lemon, oregano, and broccoli rabe. If you're inspired by the local wine culture, you'll be pleased with the extensive wine selection, stored in its temperature-controlled, glass enclosed wine room.

With an array of meat-free dishes like seared organic seitan with vegetables and Thai peanut sauce and sesame-crusted tofu with coconut basmati rice, this place is loved by vegetarians and vegans. Tula also offers healthy and delicious organic chicken, turkey burgers, and seafood dishes. The interior is funky—a little bit Moroccan and a little bit gothic—with bright red walls, pillowed banquettes, and wrought-iron candelabras. Try one of their artifully prepared cocktails, and save room for the "rockin'" vegan cupcake. The entertainment roster ranges from solo singer-guitarists to jazz bands.

A wall of windows provides stunning views of the Great South Bay at this restaurant known for its seasonal, seafood-focused menu and raw bar. Modern small-plate dishes such as Peking duck tacos join traditional favorites like filet mignon and Mantattan clam chowder, and the menus are designed to appeal to a variety of personal tastes and budgets. Sushi (available weekends) has made a splash, and The View has become a favorite Sunday brunch spot. In warm weather patio dining is available, and the happy hour and party crowds swell on weekends, with live bands to entertain them on Saturday. The restaurant is 3½ miles west of Sayville. To be sure of eating here on a weekend, reservations are advisable.

Reasonably-priced mouthwatering Italian food make this down-to-earth eatery a popular choice. Sure, you can get a pepperoni pie here, but you can also try the Magnum with roast pork, bacon, and pineapple or the Mr. Tang with Asian-style duck, cilantro, mozzarella, and goat cheese. Forget ordinary salads; here they have fire-roasted portobello mushroom salad and crispy artichokes with green goddess dressing. In addition to Italian favorites, entrees include tandoori grilled chicken with curried couscous. Sunday brunch is popular here, and they host lots of fun, special events all year long. Enjoy your pie at outdoor tables in summer. The service here is friendly and especially welcoming, but is not consistently attentive when it get busy.