24 Best Restaurants in Long Island, New York

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.

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.

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.

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.

This family-favorite Main Street mainstay is best known for simple but good pub fare served up in a warm, homey atmosphere. Menu items include burgers, toasted sandwiches on crusty bread, steaks, and appetizers like the "bloomin' onion" with garlicky creamy dressing, plus complimentary popovers. Expect a wait on weekends, during which time you can grab a frosty draft from the bar while noshing on complimentary popcorn.

Originally opened as Glovers' in 1941, this North Fork staple serves up good, old-fashioned home cooking: omelets, burgers, sandwiches, meatloaf, and turkey dinners until 3 pm daily. Wines from neighboring vineyards are offered, and the fresh, local pies are alone worth a visit.

This is as real as Montauk gets: a weathered old sea captain having lunch at the bar, fishermen stopping in for an afternoon pint or quick bite, and locals sharing a laugh with friends any time of the day. Here, tucked away on a side street close to Gosman's Dock yet a world apart, the beer is cold and the food is good and as down to earth as the folks who hang out here. Weird and wacky tchotchkes and seafaring-related antiques festoon the rustic wood walls and ceiling.

Outsiders are welcomed but should be aware of the "list," including: no checks, no cell phones, no strollers or screaming kids, no whining, wimps, or chickenhawks. Stick with these rules, and you'll be just fine.

The eponymous burger—smothered with a variety of cheeses, sauteed onion, and secret sauce—has quickly made this relative newcomer to Sayville's Main Street a part of the landscape and a favorite among locals looking for good, unfussy fare in a lively environment. Outdoor dining is available, and live music is offered several nights a week year-round. Selections include a half-rack of babyback ribs and classic mac and cheese. Even if you're not vegetarian or a health nut, try the delicious veggie burger, packed with spinach and sweet potato.

Locals treasure this as their secret spot—a simple roadside restaurant housed in a little red house that serves good breakfasts and lunch, as well as fresh, creative American dinner fare. People rave about the blueberry pancakes and chorizo hash. Crab cakes and chicken quesadillas are popular with the lunch crowd, and vegetables and salads couldn't get any fresher—they come from their own garden out back. A three-course prix-fixe dinner is offered for $29. If you want to make a reservation, call between 2 and 3:30.

With dark-wood furniture, wood beam ceilings, and Yankees memorabilia on almost every wall, this one of the few true old-school neighborhood sports-themed bar and grills you'll find hereabouts. It's all very un-Hamptons. Established in 1980, it probably hasn't changed much since then, and the locals like it that way. There's no cocktail menu, no local wines, and if you ask what type of beer they have, they'll simply says "cold." But if you like steak, you'll love the 16-oz porterhouse marinated in Budweiser and ketchup; corn fritters are served with a zesty, creamy horseradish sauce; and if you just want a chili dog, you can get one here. The prices are also very un-Hamptons, and it's open year-round.

Make your way to the counter of this small, often crowded café, and then sit at a table and watch Southampton's scene from the large windows while you wait to be served. For breakfast, try scrambled eggs on a croissant with a side of fruit. Good lunch choices include chili, vegetable lasagna, and the interesting combo sandwiches. The coffee is delicious at any time of day.

Ask a local about the best places to eat in Ocean Beach, and more than likely this casual waterside eatery will be on the list, and the views are spectacular, whether you eat on the deck or inside. The food, predominently seafood, is American with contemporary touches. Baked monkfish is prepared with thick-cut bacon and fingerling potatoes; paella is packed with fresh fish, shrimp, clams, and mussels; and mussels with frites comes in so many flavors it's hard to decide. The menu also includes duck, pan-roasted chicken, and a 16-oz porterhouse steak. The earlier you come, the more mellow the crowd.

This year-round neighborhood joint serves delicious pancakes and creative omelets all day, along with hearty homemade soups and chowders, thick burgers, shakes, and spicy chicken-salad wraps. The fried ice cream is famous. Come at off-hours especially on weekends, because there's usually a line. Early risers can get breakfast from 6 am, and it's open every day except Christmas.

This casual spot serves good coffee, salads, rejuvenating fresh-squeezed juices and smoothies, daily breakfast and lunch specials, and exotic wraps such as the Thai Me Up, with gingered tofu or chicken with veggies in peanut sauce, or the Slum Burger Millionaire, an Indian-style tuna burger. Eat at the outdoor picnic tables or bring your meal to the beach or hotel. The place is popular for a quick bite, but there's usually a line at the counter and a bit of a wait.

Anyone who has driven Main Road in Aqueboque at night, driving back from the wineries or heading home from Greenport, has most definitely noticed the Las Vegas–like sign illuminating this otherwise sleepy strip. At this unpretentious family-owned café, beloved by locals and out-of-towners alike, you'll find comfort food at its best, including Long Island duck, roast loin of pork with sauerkraut, softshell crabs, and home-baked strawberry-rhubarb and lemon-meringue pies. They do take-out too.

Standing the test of time, this rustic, homey family-run restaurant has been serving local folks and visitors for almost four decades. Bright colors, rustic wood, and lots of windows create a down-home Southwestern atmosphere. Try the mesquite-smoked barbecued brisket, served with Texas pinto beans and corn on the cob, or the juicy and tasty jerk chicken. A children's menu and coloring page and crayons are offered for the little ones. Homemade desserts like the banana cream pie are best sellers. Daily specials include $25 prix-fixe, $5 margaritas, and Sunday brunch. There's a cute outdoor seating area, but the locals seem to prefer to gather inside and enjoy the warm and relaxed vibe, even on a beautiful evening.

This cool, casual, yet simply elegant spot on Main Street is made even cooler by having its own aquaponic garden. Hamptons veteran executive chef James Carpenter highlights fresh ingredients in his signature dishes like the sheep's ricotta gnudi with lamb meatballs and elevates a simple burger with a brioche bun and hand-cut fries; seafood proliferates on the creative, seasonal menu. The Back Page Patio Café offers casual dining and late-night bites.

Candle sconces flank the wonderful wraparound windows at this popular American restaurant. Fried calamari, grilled salmon with local corn, filet mignon, and Long Island duck are all good choices. Part of the space, which has bentwood chairs and white-clothed tables, is devoted to the bar. The social scene is lively here on summer nights.

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.

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.

True, the tuna sashimi appetizer is $23, but what else could you expect for romantic high-end dining in paradise—and with live music and a drag-queen bartender, this swanky place is anything but boring. It's one of the more upscale places on Fire Island, with a history dating back to its inception in the 1970s as the Island Queen. Dishes might include seared scallops with raisin gartique, Lobster pot pie, or the bistro burger. You can dine inside or out at this harborside eatery.