12 Best Restaurants in Long Island, New York

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.

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.

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.

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.

The smell of coffee roasting is enough to entice you inside, but there's more: homemade nachos and salsa; breakfast to go or eat in the bright dining area, and a good range of lunch choices. Beer-battered fish and chips are a favorite, and the Mexican entrees like chicken enchiladas à la Mexicana and huevos rancheros with chorizo, avocado, and queso blanco will get your heart going. There are many low-fat, vegetarian, and gluten-free options too, including salads, sandwiches, wraps, and entrees. Bring home a pound of the fresh-roasted, estate-grown coffee.

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.

From the outside it doesn't look like much—a few tables on an outdoor porch across from the ferry terminal with a nice bay view—but inside, it's all beachy chic, with turquoise and sand-colored glass tile accents and Fire Island–themed artwork. The food is contemporary and eclectic. Duck lettuce wraps with cranberry aioli have a barbecue zing with an Asian flair, and the sushi gets high marks. The chef really gets creative with the daily specials, like Thai curry mussels and conch fritters—and that's just the appetizers. A hand-crafted cocktail is a perfect accompaniment, like Skinny Acai Lemonade with fresh-queezed lemon or blueberry mojito with perfectly muddled mint. Breakfast includes signature french toast with caramelized walnuts and fruit and a frittata with eggwhites, goat cheese, and tomato.

So much more than breakfast, this bagel store offers a mind-boggling array of out-of-the-ordinary salads including Thai chicken salad, Buffalo chicken, taco chicken, balsamic or honey-mustard tuna, egg salad with caramelized onion and mushroom, as well as cream cheese flavors like sundried tomato–jalapeño, chocolate chip, and apple-walnut-raisin. Be prepared to wait on a long line, especially on weekends.

This spot is popular for Mexican takeout. With only a handful of stools and counters lining the perimeter and a busy galley kitchen, Salsa Salsa is tiny, so it's best to time your arrival to beat the lunch and dinner crushes. All the expected fare is done well, but it's truly the salsa that is memorable.

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

There's a definite West Coast vibe to this café. Head to the counter to order chicken salad, a wrap, carrot-ginger soup, or one of the satisfying home-cooked vegetarian selections, then settle into a big comfortable chair or couch in the rear (adults only here). Occasionally there's live music on weekend afternoons. The place is open only until 5 pm.