98 Best Restaurants in Long Island, New York

In a market crowded with sushi joints, this one is an original, and remains a standout with its unique selection of specialty rolls and unpretentious service. The ambience is loungy, trendy, and very grown-up, but if you happen to arrive with a little one in tow, he or she will be treated like a celebrity. Every Japanese restaurant offers salad with ginger dressing, and Aji's is exceptional. If you like sweet and savory together, try the Paradise Roll with spicy lobster and fried banana. The surf and turf includes a 4oz filet mignon and lobster tail in truffle mushroom sauce, and the price is quite reasonable. Save room for fried ice cream.

This is really the place to be in WHB. Sit and sip an iced coffee and watch the world go by from the porch or sidewalk tables or grab a gelato and join the others on the stoop. With cases filled with fresh-baked goods, the worst thing about this place is that it's just so hard to decide. Try the devilishly delicious deep-fried jelly- or cream-filled "cronuts"—all the rage these days, but this bakery has been doing it for years. A full menu of bagels, pancakes, omelets, salads, sandwiches, pizza, and entree dishes will keep you coming back for more. Don't let the long lines and chaotic scene inside scare you away—there are many friendly young people behind the counter who keep things moving and do it with a smile.

Not only are the wood-fired pizza and handmade pasta dishes here delicious, they are also made with organic stone-ground flour using local, seasonal produce, handmade mozzarella, and artisanal meats. Try the fig, caramelized onion, and Gorgonzola pizza or the mushroom pasta with locally sourced porcinis. For a splurge, go for the $65 2-lb wood-fired T-bone, medium rare.

One of Paul McCartney's favorites, this place is not much bigger than a shack, and is tucked away in the back of Amagansett Square off Main Street. It has just a few picnic tables on the lawn and a couple of hightop tables inside, but the flavors put out here are huge. Dosas range from the traditional masala potato variety to one with grilled chicken with goat cheese and spinach. A selection of homemade chutneys are available: cilantro, mango, tomato, curry, pumpkin, and peanut. Salads, sandwiches, and Indian specialties are offered. Try a cardomom coffee, soy chai latte, or orange-ginger iced tea.

Often the best dining experience can be had when you let the chef chose your dishes, and Izumi's chef-owner, Evan, is passionate about his culinary art and sharing it with customers. Each morning he goes to the fish market and hand-selects the best cuts for his sushi creations, including the sweet and savory Salmon-Tuna Salsa and the fresh, bright Tuna Guacamole. The torched Panda Roll—a crunchy roll with a delicious smoky flavor, as if it had been roasted over a campfire—displays a real touch of genius.

All these "off-menu" selections are offered periodically on the specials board, but just ask and Evan will be happy to make them for you.

Although predominently Japanese, the menu also offers modern takes on Chinese, Thai, Malaysian, and Singaporian classics. Try the pad thai.

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.

This place has been selling tacos on Long Island for more than two decades, so when Hurricane Sandy destroyed the restaurant in October 2012 a hole was left in the Long Beach/Island Park community. Now this family-friendly restaurant, known for consistently outgoing service, good Tex-Mex food, margaritas, and pitchers of delicious sangria, is back and as good as ever. Brown paper covers the tables, and if your artwork is good enough, it may end up on the wall. Garlic lovers should try the shrimp maragrita entree or the cattleman's steak drenched in homemade garlic BBQ sauce. Fajitas and fish tacos are perennial favorites.

Fish doesn't come any fresher than at this waterfront resturant, where it was most likely caught that very morning off the Pridwin's boat by owner Richard Petry and his son Gregg. In 2014 Peruvian-born chef de cuisine Varon Barrio joined chef Marcel Iatoni to create a fresh new menu, adding specialties such as casusa, a layered potato, avocado, and shrimp dish, and the citrusy ceviche. It's not often that you see octopus as a main course—here it's served over mushroom-Manchego quinoa. "Kids Movies," most nights from 7–9, allow parents to enjoy a romantic dinner while their children enjoy supervised fun. Wednesday's cookout night, a family party and Shelter Island institution, includes live music, and Sunday brunch is served with a samba and soul soundtrack. Reservations are suggested for both.

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.

Housed in the old John J. Sullivan hotel on Main Street, this homey restaurant harks back to the Victorian era and exudes masses of charm—stained glass, chandeliers in old oil-burning style, an 1893 mahogany and marble bar made for the Chicago Exposition, a rich mantled fireplace, and the head of the last buffalo shot by Teddy Roosevelt. Buffalo (bison) meat is on the menu, lower in fat and higher in protein than beef and it tastes pretty much the same, only "beefier." If you don't want to splurge on the $44 cowboy steak, go for the $20 buffalo burger. An organic beef burger is also available. You may have guessed that meat is king here, but vegetarians are not entirely forgotten—try the roast portobello mushroom with homemade ricotta. Tweeds also boasts the biggest selection of bourbons.

There are two restaurants in one here, so you can enjoy the warmth and refined elegance of the dining room or the sanctuary of the more casual (and less expensive) traditional tavern downstairs. With Chef Michael Rozzi at the helm, 1770 House is known for using local ingredients whenever possible, with dishes including local beet salad with blue cheese and shallot dressing and seared Peconic Bay scallops with red coconut milk–curry sauce. The Tavern Meatloaf with potato puree, spinach, and garlic sauce, is famous thanks to being featured on the "Barefoot Contessa" TV show.

Locavores will love this place for its credentials in sourcing ingredients only from local suppliers, but they'll also enjoy an upbeat yet relaxed dining experience. A four-course chef's menu—including four different antipasti, handmade pasta, a choice of entree, and dessert—is built around local, seasonal products and changes every Wednesday. "Hyper-local" seafood antipasti may include black sea bass crudo with salt-and-pepper cucumbers and green coriander or fried Long Island squid with chilies and mint. Meat, including grass-fed New York strip, comes from nearby farms. Even the flowers on the tables are local. The wines come from near as well as far, and artfully crafted cocktails are made with organic syrups. Outdoor dining is available on the porch.

This little bit funky, little bit chic but totally Montauk café serves up fare that fuses local ingredients with international flair. With dishes like mussels with Thai curry, biriyani, fish "Montacos," and house-smoked Hawaiian babyback ribs, this place provides a little culinary adventure right on Main Street Montauk. Tasty home-baked desserts include key lime pie. There is live music most nights.

Celebrity mom Dina Lohan (mother of Lindsay) was spotted celebrating Memorial Day here; so was actor and funny guy Jonah Hill, and on any given day you can see supermodels, sports stars, and an assortment of other A-listers hanging out here. With internationally acclaimed chef Walter Hinds at the helm, the menu offers well-prepared classic dishes like Caesar salad, penne primavera, and grilled salmon. The evening specials bring more of an international flair, perhaps moules frites in red curry and Tuscan pot roast. There's a weekend brunch as well as a menu for kids. The bar gets busy after 11 on Friday and Saturday nights thanks to a DJ and a crowd that likes to dance. Reservations are recommended.

Enjoy creative, contemporary cuisine and sample local wines in a waterside setting at this restaurant owned by acclaimed chef Tom Schaudel and restaurateur Adam Lovett, with chef-partner Jeff Yguil at the helm in the kitchen. Deep-toned wood and a stone fireplace create a warm indoor environment, and there's seating out on the deck too. Fresh seafood is the draw here, including macadamia-crusted flounder with lime beurre blanc, four sizes of lobster, grilled calamari, Thai curry mussels, and fish tacos, but they also do a mean flatiron steak. Prices are surprisingly reasonable, and there is live music three days a week in season.

Tables at this northern Indian restaurant are set with candles and draped with tablecloths. The buffet (lunch and dinner) is one draw; popular dishes include tandoori chicken and charcoal-grilled prawns.

This place is always packed, and for good reason. It is simple food done right, the kind of comfort food you can make at home—burgers, fresh seafood, pasta, steak—but better. The bar scores high marks with local beer on tap and freshly made cocktails. Stay on for late-night fun like live music and D.J.s, darts, and special party events, but, whatever you do, don't swing the lights.

This popular spot, with white subway tiles contrasting dark-wood floors and furnishings, is known for its brasserie-style food that elevates the simple to the sublime. Offerings include mac and cheese with prosciutto and truffles, grass-fed steak frites with anchovy butter. The menu also includes chicken, lamb, and veal dishes, casual fare like sandwiches and burgers, and a raw bar. Vegetarians unite on Meatless Monday. French names dominate the wine list. Surprisingly fair entree prices and friendly service add to Almond's appeal.

Its facade is unassuming and interior unpretentious, but you can't go wrong with any of the pizzas or house specialties at this family-owned pizzeria-ristorante that has been around since 1971. The restaurant serves classic pasta dishes, including a variety of ravioli and gnocchi in addition to chicken, veal, steak, Italian specialties like picatta and francese, and local, fresh seafood. It is open year-round, and you can eat here until 3 am or later on summer Friday and Saturday nights. Try the grandma pie, and allow extra time—it's made with love. Reservations can be made on the website.

Fresh-baked buns and house-ground beef define the gourmet cheeseburger nirvana that keeps the locals coming back to this little spot just outside the village—and a rotating $2 beer selection doesn't hurt. The burgers are a little on the small side, but that means there will certainly be room for Joe & Liza's delicious ice cream, made with milk that comes from happy cows in New York State. If beef isn't your thing, try the veggie or turkey burger, falafel, or house-made fish burger. A live jazz jam takes place here on Thursday nights.

On the second floor of a yacht club, this summertime favorite offers exceptional food with a terrific view. The emphasis is on local fish, chicken, or pasta, prepared with savory sauces that show an international flair, including curry, Thai-peanut, and mustard-cream. Innovative appetizers include pork belly buns with kimchi. Separate menus are devoted to martinis, mojitos, and margaritas. Save room for a homemade ice cream sandwich. The wait for an outside table can be quite long, so grab a few (pricey) drinks at the bar and relax. The staff, like the restaurant, is seasonal, so the service can be inconsistent.

This is where local business executives go when they want to impress out-of-town visitors. With a posh interior of quarried stone, wood, and fireplaces, and detail-oriented and attentive service, every guest is treated to a V.I.P. experience. Beautifully marbled, aged prime steaks and fresh sushi dominate the menu, which also includes organic chicken breast and the Hawaiian "fresh catch" flown in daily. Al fresco dining is available in its outdoor lounge, and a sommelier can help you select the best wine to complement your meal.

The French doors and large ceiling fans give this restaurant a distinctly Casablanca feel. Originally a popular gathering place for local artists and writers, today it is known as much for people-watching near its open doors as for its food. Try the great steaks for which it is famous or the fresh local seafood dishes and daily specials. The bar scene is lively. Reservations are essential on Friday and Saturday.

Don't let the name fool you, the candy selection here is sparse. This is a classic luncheonette and soda fountain where locals rub elbows with celebrities—and no one makes a big deal of it. The waitstaff is efficient and the food is simple. They offer burgers with fries, fried chicken, grilled cheese, and omelets, and some Greek specialties, but really there is one reason to come here, the delicious ice cream—homemade, of course.

The owners of this traditional steak house buy prime meat and age it themselves. Weekdays are much less crowded than weekends here.

Warmth exudes from both the interior design and the staff at this branch of a small local chain known for homestyle Italian food in big portions (half portions are available as well) and copious bread baskets. Everything is served family-style, making it an ideal meeting spot for large groups of friends and families. Expect entrees like spaghetti with chicken meatballs and warm grilled scallop salad or grilled rustica pizza.

At this intimate storefront bistro, a favorite among locals, the ceiling fans, wood floors, and a series of small, pendant lights add homey touches. Chef-owner Steve Sands, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, oversees the kitchen, while co-owner Jules Buitron ensures that every guest gets the V.I.P. treatment. The ecelctic European menu lists dinner salads and burgers as well as more substantial dishes such as maple-dijon encrusted rack of lamb and a variety of pasta dishes. Schnitzels and brats round out a selection of German dishes. Weekend brunches are also a hit.

This bistro-grill serves everything from horseradish–honey mustard salmon and Japanese ahi tuna to Parmesan-and-herb-crusted chicken and wild game. To wash down your meal you have a choice of 99 beers from around the world. A children's menu is available.

There may be better, trendier, friendlier restaurants in town, but in Greenport Claudio's is a fixture, and a something of a destination in itself. Three restaurants share this 2½-acre waterfront property. The Clam Bar, right on the dock, serves salads, hot dogs, fried clams, mussels, and soft-shell crab, and is known for live music and a lively bar crowd. Claudio's, for more upscale indoor dining, is known for seafood, porterhouse steaks, and lobsters; the bar dates from the late 1800s. Crabby Jerry's offers self-service with picnic tables on the Main Street Dock.

Some of the freshest natural, sustainable seafood in the area is to be found at this cute little red-and-white New England–style seafood market and restaurant with outdoors-only seating. It has arguably the best lobster roll around, along with market grilled fish, smoked fish, a raw bar, and some decent burgers. Have a hankering for frog’s legs? You can get them here. Live acoustic music sets the tone for a laid-back, relaxed meal. Expect a wait, however. The staff is helpful and friendly, but it sometimes takes a bit of time to prepare your food. Beer and wine are available while you wait.