Long Island is more than beautiful beaches. It’s one of the ultimate islands in New York for food lovers. From cozy oyster bars serving buttery lobster rolls to German beer gardens and Prohibition-era speakeasies in charming towns, Long Island’s dining scene is a feast of flavors. Picture yourself enjoying fresh local oysters at a Patchogue raw bar, devouring classic New York pizza near the beach, or indulging in decadent desserts at a French bakery. Known for its fresh seafood, Italian specialties, and creative twists on comfort food, this New York gem is packed with fun dining experiences. These 22 must-try spots showcase the unique vibe and unforgettable flavors of Long Island, making it a true foodie paradise. Get ready to explore where locals love to eat!
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22 Most Unique Restaurants in Long Island at a Glance
Long Island’s dining scene is full of surprises. In one night, you could go from sipping a drink in a hidden speakeasy to grilling your own dinner at an interactive Japanese spot. To give you a quick idea of what’s out there, I put together this table highlighting some of the island’s most interesting places to eat.
| Restaurant | Best For | What Makes It Unique | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Plattduetsche Park | German beer garden nights | Long Island’s largest Biergarten, plus The Hive dining room and fall Oktoberfest weekends | Franklin Square |
| 2. Charlotte’s Speakeasy | Secret date nights | An original Prohibition-era basement bar behind a bookcase, with a new password every week | Farmingdale |
| 3. The Cuban | Dinner and dancing | 1957 Chevys out front, live Tropicana shows and DJs until 3am on weekends | Garden City |
| 4. The Witches Brew | Cozy Halloween vibes | Year-round spooky décor in a century-old house, with an all-vegetarian menu | West Hempstead |
| 5. JBBQ & Shabu Shabu | Interactive group dinners | Cook-your-own Japanese BBQ and hot pot, all you can eat for 90 minutes | Bay Shore |
| 6. Standard Rec | Games and cocktails | Skee-ball, ping pong and retro arcade games next to a scratch kitchen | Patchogue |
| 7. Gingerbites Haitian Bistro | Bold Caribbean flavors | A chef-owned Haitian bistro known for griot, weekend fritay and cooking classes | Huntington Station |
| 8. Birdies | Year-round golf | Six golf simulators with 150+ virtual courses, plus a cocktail bar and beer garden | Patchogue |
| 9. Catch Oyster Bar | Fresh local oysters | A father-and-son raw bar serving Fire Island Blue oysters | Patchogue |
| 10. Big Daddy’s | New Orleans nights | A Cajun roadhouse since 1993 with live music and a $2 oyster happy hour | Massapequa |
This quick snapshot shows just a few of the island’s most creative kitchens. In the full guide below, I walk through all 22 spots and share the details that make each one worth a visit on your next Long Island food adventure.
1. Plattduetsche Park
- 📍 Location: 1132 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: German / Beer Garden Fare
- 🔥 Standout Features: Long Island’s largest Biergarten, The Hive dining room, German beers on tap, live music Friday and Saturday, seasonal German festivals
- 🎯 Perfect For: Oktoberfest fans, group dinners, German food lovers, weekend beer garden nights
Plattduetsche Park in Franklin Square has Long Island’s largest German beer garden, and it’s the closest I’ve come to Munich without leaving New York. A German heritage society has hosted food and festivals on this eight-acre property since 1901. The Biergarten and Beer Hall seat more than 700 guests, with live bands every Friday and Saturday night.
The main dining room reopened after a renovation as The Hive. I love the carved Stammtisch booths made in Europe, plus stained-glass panels honoring local German clubs and parts of the original 84-year-old bar. Book a table here for the Jäger schnitzel ($29) or the roasted pork shank called Schweinehaxe ($41).
For a casual, budget-friendly night, I head to the Beer Hall for a bratwurst ($11) and the 10-inch Bavarian pretzel ($13) imported from Munich. Order a Spaten Oktoberfest or a Franziskaner wheat beer with it. The Beer Hall and Biergarten open Friday through Sunday, while The Hive serves dinner Wednesday through Sunday.
Every fall, Oktoberfest weekends bring German brass bands and Schuhplattler dancers for an $8 cover, and the Christkindl Markt follows around the holidays. If you’re planning a 2027 trip, watch the events calendar for Volksfest and Ompahfest, two annual festivals held on the grounds. I recommend reserving Biergarten seats online for festival nights and checking the calendar before you drive over, because private events occasionally close the Beer Hall until 6 p.m.
2. The Shed Restaurant
- 📍 Location: 685 Merrick Ave, Westbury
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $45 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: American Comfort Food / All-Day Brunch
- 🔥 Standout Features: Brunch served all day, bi-level outdoor patio, dog-friendly patio, vegan and gluten-free options
- 🎯 Perfect For: Brunch lovers, families, groups up to 10, dog owners, pre-show meals
The Shed in Westbury is my top pick for brunch in Nassau County, because it serves the full brunch menu all day, every day. It’s inside The Selby apartments at 685 Merrick Ave, and it’s the largest of the chain’s four Long Island locations. The beach-chic dining room is bright and roomy, with a big bar and plenty of space for groups.
My go-to order is the Chicken & Waffle, which comes with fried chicken on a Belgian waffle and spicy habanero honey on the side. Start with a fresh biscuit and jam for the table, or go lighter with the Shed Bowl of roasted chicken, wild rice and sweet potatoes. Vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diners have lots of choices, including gluten-free buns.
The Shed doesn’t take reservations, and weekend waits are common. I recommend arriving close to the 9 a.m. weekend opening and adding your name to the text waitlist at the door. Weekday hours start at 11 a.m., and tables seat parties of up to 10.
The bi-level, 1,800-square-foot patio is open from early spring through late fall, and it reopens for the 2027 season after the winter months. Well-behaved dogs are welcome outside, and parking in the main lot is free. I like pairing a meal here with shopping at Roosevelt Field or a show at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, both a short drive away.
3. Charlotte’s Speakeasy
- 📍 Location: 294 Main Street, Farmingdale
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Cocktail Bar / Speakeasy
- 🔥 Standout Features: Original Prohibition-era basement bar, hidden bookcase entrance, weekly password, live music Friday and Saturday
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, cocktail lovers, history buffs, live blues fans, LIRR day trippers
Charlotte’s Speakeasy in Farmingdale is my favorite speakeasy on Long Island, because it’s in a basement that served as a secret bar during Prohibition. You walk into Charlotte’s frozen yogurt shop at 294 Main Street and slip behind a white bookcase to reach the stairs. Brothers Nick and John DeVito restored the space in 2017 and named it after their grandmother.
You’ll need a password to get in, and it changes every week. The bar posts a themed clue on its website, and the answer appears when you click the secret book on the homepage. Each weekend has its own theme, from Texas blues legends to old Hollywood stars.
Charlotte’s is open Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. to midnight, and a live band plays on the cellar floor every weekend. Walk-ins are welcome, but I recommend calling 516-586-8530 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to reserve one of the 7 p.m. tables. Guests must be 21 or older.
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- Visit the Charlotte’s Speakeasy website
- Read reviews of Charlotte’s Speakeasy
- Read Next: 12 Most Magical Spots in Long Island
4. The Cuban
- 📍 Location: 987 Stewart Avenue, Garden City
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Cuban / Latin
- 🔥 Standout Features: Live Tropicana shows Friday and Saturday, DJs and dancing until 3am, late-night kitchen, signature mojitos
- 🎯 Perfect For: Date nights, birthday groups, dancing, mojito fans, late-night dinners
The Cuban in Garden City brings Old Havana to Long Island, starting with the pair of 1957 Chevrolets parked out front. Owner Willy Martinez’s staff wear guayabera shirts and straw fedoras, and a portrait of salsa legend Celia Cruz hangs on the wall. It’s my top pick on the island when I want dinner and dancing in one night.
Start with the croquetón, a crispy potato croquette stuffed with Serrano ham and goat cheese. For your main, order the ropa vieja, shredded beef made with Willy’s own recipe. The Cuban claims to make Long Island’s best mojitos, and I’d try the passion fruit or mango versions next to the classic.
Friday and Saturday nights bring live Tropicana shows, and DJs keep the dance floor going from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. The kitchen serves until 2 a.m., which is handy after a late show or game. Karaoke nights from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. give everyone a turn on the mic.
I recommend booking a table online for weekend nights, because the dining room fills up fast once the music starts. The Cuban also has a brunch menu and party packages for birthdays and group celebrations. Ask about the cash discount before you pay, since it can trim the bill for larger groups.
5. The Witches Brew
- 📍 Location: 311 Hempstead Turnpike, West Hempstead
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Coffee House / Vegetarian and Vegan Café / Desserts
- 🔥 Standout Features: Year-round Halloween décor, century-old house, all-vegetarian menu, huge coffee and tea list, cash only
- 🎯 Perfect For: Halloween fans, coffee and tea lovers, vegans and vegetarians, cozy date nights
The Witches Brew in West Hempstead has been Long Island’s favorite Halloween-themed coffee house since it opened in 1996. Two sisters run it out of a century-old house filled with dim lighting and mismatched vintage furniture. The spooky décor stays up all year, though October is my favorite time to visit.
The drink menu is huge, with spooky-named lattes and loose-leaf teas served in cast-iron teapots. I’d order the Black Cat, a chocolate peanut butter espresso, or the Sleepy Hollow Pumpkin Chai in the fall. Pair it with a slice of brownie cheesecake or a warm cinnamon bun à la mode.
The food menu is fully vegetarian with plenty of vegan dishes, and it changes with the seasons. Regulars rave about the 6-cheese mac and cheese, and the vegan fried chicken sandwich wins over meat eaters. I also like the artichoke dip with nachos for sharing.
Witches Brew is cash only, but there’s an ATM inside, and gratuity is often added to the bill. Weekend waits in October can stretch past an hour, and I recommend joining the virtual waitlist through the link on its Instagram before you arrive. It’s closed Monday and Tuesday and open late the rest of the week, which makes it a fun stop after dinner.
6. Cabo RVC
- 📍 Location: 3A North Park Avenue, Rockville Centre
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mexican / Cantina
- 🔥 Standout Features: Frozen Caborita margaritas in three sizes, themed nights all week, DJ and dancing Friday and Saturday, outdoor patio with palm trees
- 🎯 Perfect For: Birthday groups, margarita lovers, Taco Tuesday deals, late-night dancing
Cabo RVC in Rockville Centre is a Mexican cantina by day and a party spot after dark. The chef uses traditional Mexican techniques and changes the menu with the seasons. I love the outdoor patio with palm trees, which brings a beach-bar feel to downtown Rockville Centre.
Order the frozen Caborita, made with 100% agave tequila in flavors from mango to cotton candy. Sizes are labeled good, bad and ugly, starting at $11 for 11 ounces and topping out at $18 for 26 ounces. I’d pair one with the fish tacos or a sizzling chicken fajita platter.
Every night of the week has a theme at Cabo. Monday is Margarita Monday, and Tuesday brings $4 and $5 tacos all day plus karaoke from 8 p.m. Wednesday is salsa night, Thursday is Ladies Night with happy hour margaritas and sangria, and a live DJ takes over Friday and Saturday until 3 a.m.
I recommend booking a table on OpenTable for weekend nights, because the room fills up once the DJ starts. Sunday brunch is served from noon to 3:30 p.m. if you’d rather visit during the day. For New Year’s Eve 2026, Cabo is open until 1 a.m., and it’s a fun pick for a group countdown.
7. JBBQ & Shabu Shabu
- 📍 Location: 11 East Main Street, Bay Shore
- 💲 Price range: $35 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Japanese BBQ Yakiniku / Shabu Shabu Hot Pot
- 🔥 Standout Features: Cook-your-own tabletop grills and hot pots, 90-minute all-you-can-eat, meats sliced to order, free sauce bar
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group dinners, birthdays, first-time hot pot diners, meat lovers
JBBQ & Shabu Shabu in downtown Bay Shore is an all-you-can-eat restaurant where you cook your own dinner at the table. You can choose Japanese yakiniku on a gas-fired tabletop grill, shabu shabu in a bubbling broth, or a combo of both. The whole table has to pick the same package, and I’d go with the combo because it costs only a few dollars more.
Meats are sliced paper-thin to order, and the menu goes well beyond beef and chicken with beef tongue, sliced lamb and New Zealand green mussels. For hot pot, broth choices include the original chicken and pork bone, miso, tomato and spicy. Every item on the menu lists its cooking time, and servers will help you cook your first round.
Your meal lasts 90 minutes, and each person can order up to five items at a time. Unlimited kitchen appetizers, fresh fruit and an ice cream cup for dessert are all included. Leftovers can’t go home with you, and I recommend ordering in small rounds to avoid waste.
Walk-ins are welcome, but I’d call ahead for any visit after 5 p.m., when tables fill quickly. A weekday lunch special is available Monday through Friday from noon to 3 p.m. Groups can book a private room for up to 10 guests or a party room for up to 24, and JBBQ also has locations in Smithtown and Commack.
8. The French Workshop
- 📍 Location: 191 7th Street, Garden City
- 💲 Price range: $8 – $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: French Bakery / Café
- 🔥 Standout Features: Open-concept pastry workshop, pistachio and Dubai Chocolate croissants, vegan and gluten-free pastries, late hours for a bakery
- 🎯 Perfect For: Breakfast, coffee dates, dessert after dinner, pastry lovers
The French Workshop on 7th Street is my favorite bakery in Garden City for a flaky, buttery French croissant. Two families founded the brand in 2015, inspired by the boulangeries of Paris. The open-concept workshop lets you watch the pastry chefs shape croissants and fill éclairs while you wait for your coffee.
Pistachio fans should start with the Pistachio Cream croissant or the Pistachio Raspberry croissant. If you’ve been following the Dubai chocolate craze, there’s a Dubai Chocolate croissant too. I also like adding a box of macarons, a cherry éclair or a Nutella beignet to take home for later.
Vegan and gluten-free guests have options, including a vegan blueberry croissant and a vegan, gluten-free apple pie muffin. The café also serves sandwiches and yogurt and fruit bowls, which makes it an easy lunch stop between errands in downtown Garden City. For coffee, I’d order the cherry mocha latte or the signature crunchy latte.
The Garden City shop opens at 7 a.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. on weekends, and it stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Weekend mornings get busy, and I’d arrive before 10 a.m. for the widest pastry selection and download The French Workshop app to collect loyalty rewards. You’ll also find locations in Bayside, Plainview, Wantagh, Astoria and Ronkonkoma.
9. Standard Rec
- 📍 Location: 49 East Main Street, Patchogue
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Arcade Bar / Scratch Kitchen / Craft Cocktails
- 🔥 Standout Features: Retro arcade games, skee-ball and ping pong, weekly specials, open until 2am on weekends
- 🎯 Perfect For: Group nights out, casual date nights, brunch crowds, retro game fans
Standard Rec on Patchogue’s Main Street combines a scratch kitchen and craft cocktails with a room full of retro games. You can play skee-ball, arcade basketball, ping pong, shuffleboard and classic arcade machines between drinks. Owners Frank Bragaglia and Brad Wilson opened it in 2021 in the former Public House 49 space.
The birria tacos ($17) are the most-liked dish on the menu, and I’d add the bao buns ($15) for the table. The Standard Smash Burger ($17) and the birria ramen ($23) are both solid choices if you’re hungry. For drinks, the espresso martini gets rave reviews.
The weekly specials give you a reason to come back. Tuesday is Taco Tuesday with free games, Wednesday brings $3 bao buns, and Thursday is Girls Night Out. Happy hour is Tuesday through Saturday, and the Late Nite Happy Meals on Fridays and Saturdays come with tater tots, a cookie and a toy.
Standard Rec opens Tuesday through Sunday, and it stays open until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Brunch is on the menu too, and reviewers love the cinnamon bun pancakes. I recommend reserving a table through Yelp for weekend nights and checking the calendar for trivia, music bingo, live music and drag brunch.
10. Gingerbites Haitian Bistro
- 📍 Location: 730 East Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $50 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Haitian / Caribbean
- 🔥 Standout Features: Chef-owned family restaurant, griot with pikliz, weekend-only fritay and soup joumou, Haitian cooking classes
- 🎯 Perfect For: Adventurous eaters, Caribbean food fans, group platters, cooking class lovers
Gingerbites Haitian Bistro in Huntington Station is my top pick for authentic Haitian food on Long Island. Chef Marie Michele cooks family recipes with locally grown vegetables, using organic ones when they’re available. The cozy dining room has a warm Caribbean feel, with music playing while you eat.
Start with the griot ($24), which is tender cubes of pork seasoned with creole spices, fried and served with spicy pikliz slaw. Every entrée comes with rice and beans and fried plantains, and I’d pay $5 extra to swap in djon djon black rice made with Haitian black mushrooms. Fridays and Saturdays bring the fritay platter ($25), a fried spread of pork, sweet potato, breadfruit, plantains and akra fritters.
On Sundays, order the soup joumou ($20), a pumpkin soup Haitians traditionally eat on January 1 to celebrate independence. Pair dinner with a glass of kremas, a creamy Haitian spiced liqueur, or a ginger citronade. I recommend calling ahead for large groups, and keep in mind that a 20% gratuity is added for seated parties.
Chef Marie Michele also teaches two-hour Haitian cooking classes for $165, with wine and a gift to take home. Her three-class hands-on series costs $500 and includes ingredients and dinner. Gingerbites is closed Monday, saves Tuesday for private events, and opens Wednesday through Sunday, including a reservation-only Sunday brunch.
11. The Better Man Distilling Co.
- 📍 Location: 161 River Avenue, Patchogue
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Distillery Tasting Room / Craft Cocktails
- 🔥 Standout Features: Long Island’s first urban craft distillery, $25 tour and tasting, gin and whiskey flights, outdoor patio
- 🎯 Perfect For: Craft spirit fans, date nights, small groups, whiskey and gin lovers
The Better Man Distilling Co. in Patchogue bills itself as Long Island’s first urban craft distillery. It makes its spirits inside the old Blue Point brewery building on River Avenue, and the tasting room has a colorful mid-century modern look. You can settle into the lounge or grab a table on the outdoor patio.
I recommend booking the Tour & Tasting with Cocktail ($25), a one-hour walk through the production space and barrel house. Afterward, order the Lavender Bees Knees, made with Elysian Fields Lavender Gin that’s distilled with Long Island lavender. Classic cocktails cost $13, and nonalcoholic mocktails are $8.
If you can’t decide, the gin and tonic flight ($15) lets you mix three 1-ounce gins with tonic yourself. Whiskey fans should try the whiskey flight ($22) with Grand Optimist bourbon and Empire Rye. Keep an eye out for Rushmore Reserve, a new collectible American whiskey released in numbered batches.
The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday and closed Monday through Wednesday. Weekend live music and an outdoor movie series fill the calendar, and Tiki Mug Club members get a new members-only tiki cocktail each month. You can take bottles home from the on-site shop, and nationwide shipping is now available too.
12. MO’NELISA Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria
- 📍 Location: 28 Lido Boulevard, Point Lookout
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $45 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Italian / Pizzeria
- 🔥 Standout Features: Grandma and hot honey pizzas, baked clams, family-style Mo-2-Go meals, steps from the beach
- 🎯 Perfect For: Beach days, families, pizza lovers, casual Italian dinners
MO’NELISA in Point Lookout is my favorite stop for pizza and Italian food on Long Island’s South Shore beaches. It’s owned by CBS Sports analyst and former Hofstra basketball coach Mo Cassara and his wife, former News 12 anchor Elisa DiStefano. The couple also owns The Point Bar + Grill just down Lido Boulevard.
For pizza, I’d order an 18-inch Grandma Alla Vodka ($27.99) or a Sicilian Hot Honey pie, or grab slices starting under $4. Start with a half dozen baked clams ($13.95), a classic beach-town appetizer. From the pasta side of the menu, I like the Drunken Lobster Ravioli ($30.95) and the cavatelli ($22.95).
Point Lookout sits at the eastern end of the barrier island near Jones Inlet, and the ocean beaches are a short walk away. I like grabbing pizza here after a day at the beach in summer. Dinner gets busy and loud during peak season, and I’d come for lunch or in the off-season for a calmer meal.
MO’NELISA opens at 11 a.m., and you can call 516-432-0000 for takeout. For a family night at home, the Mo-2-Go meals ($57.95) feed a group with dishes like chicken parm or sausage and meatballs. Kids can build their own pie with a pizza kit ($14.95), which makes a fun rainy-day project.
13. Birdies Indoor Golf and Cocktail Bar
- 📍 Location: 17 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Cocktail Bar / Sports Bar / American and Caribbean Bites
- 🔥 Standout Features: Six golf simulators, 150+ virtual courses, outdoor beer garden, daily golf deals
- 🎯 Perfect For: Off-season golfers, group outings, birthdays, sports fans
Birdies in Patchogue is my favorite spot on Long Island to play golf in the middle of winter. The two-story, 11,000-square-foot space has six golf simulators with more than 150 virtual courses, plus a cocktail bar and an outdoor beer garden. You don’t need to golf to have fun here, and the bar has one of the largest TV screens on the island for game days.
Each simulator booking covers four players, and you can add up to two more for $5 each. Club rentals cost $5, and PGA pros offer lessons if you want to fix your swing before spring. Monday is league night, which is a good way to keep your game sharp through the 2026/27 winter.
The daily deals make it easy to golf for less. On Wednesdays, golf is half price all day, and on Thursdays it’s $10 per person per hour from 3 to 7 p.m. My favorite is the Sunday Bunker Brunch, where $25 per person per hour covers golf plus unlimited beer, seltzer and well cocktails.
For food, I’d order the Caribbean wings ($17) in coconut sriracha sauce or the Island Burger ($21) with grilled pineapple. Fridays bring live music at 8 p.m., and Saturday nights turn into a DJ dance party until 2 a.m. Happy hour is on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m., and you can book a bay online before you go.
14. Tula Kitchen
- 📍 Location: 41-43 East Main Street, Bay Shore
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $55 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Healthy Mediterranean / Vegan and Gluten-Free Friendly
- 🔥 Standout Features: Allergy-aware kitchen, organic ingredients, Tula Too juice bar, Fire Island ferry delivery
- 🎯 Perfect For: Vegans and vegetarians, gluten-free diners, date nights, Fire Island day-trippers
Tula Kitchen in downtown Bay Shore is my top pick on Long Island for healthy food that still feels like a night out. Founder Jacqueline Sharlup named it after the Sanskrit word for balance, and the restaurant has focused on organic, natural ingredients for more than 18 years. The intimate, French-inspired dining room centers on a handcrafted old-world bar.
The menu has a Mediterranean focus, and the allergy-aware kitchen clearly marks vegan and gluten-free dishes. I’d start with the vegan tofu crab cakes ($17) and then order the salmon bowl ($38) with purple rice, kale, edamame, avocado and miso-tahini dressing. Vegans should try the lentil loaf ($30) with spicy onion gravy and cauliflower mash, which is also gluten-free.
Tula Kitchen is close to the Bay Shore ferry terminal, and it delivers meals there for anyone heading to Fire Island. Call at least three hours ahead, and for a $25 service fee your order gets loaded onto your scheduled ferry to spots like Ocean Beach or Kismet. For summer 2027 trips, I’d order the mezza board ($38) for a beach picnic on the island.
Dinner is served Tuesday through Sunday, with lunch on Fridays, and I recommend calling 631-539-7183 to reserve a table. For breakfast or a fresh juice, the sister café Tula Too is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Both are closed on Mondays.
15. The Village Lanterne
- 📍 Location: 155 North Wellwood Avenue, Lindenhurst
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $45 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: German / Beer Garden
- 🔥 Standout Features: Family recipes, Black Forest Bakery desserts, $18 Tuesday sauerbraten dinner, renovated biergarten
- 🎯 Perfect For: German food lovers, family dinners, beer fans, holiday parties
The Village Lanterne in Lindenhurst is my favorite spot for old-world German comfort food on the South Shore. Owner Tom Lorch cooks from his mother’s recipes, and he also owns the Black Forest Bakery just down the block. Every dessert and pastry on the menu comes fresh from that bakery.
I’d start with the warm pretzel rolls, which regulars love to snack on while they decide what to order. For your main, try the veal à la Holstein, a thin breaded cutlet topped with a fried egg, anchovies and capers, served with spaetzle. Wash it down with one of the German beers on tap.
Tuesday is my pick for a visit, when the famous sauerbraten dinner with potato dumplings and red cabbage costs $18 and comes with accordion music. Monday nights bring an open mic from 8 to 11 p.m. The newly renovated biergarten is a fun option for groups when the weather is nice.
The Village Lanterne opens at noon Tuesday through Sunday and at 4 p.m. on Mondays. It stays open until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and there’s a children’s menu for families. The cozy dining room is also popular for office and holiday parties, and I’d book early for the 2026 holiday season.
16. Tocolo Cantina – Garden City
Tocolo Cantina is what would happen if a hipster Brooklyn taco joint and an upscale cantina had a baby. The vibe here blends rustic wood, leather banquettes, and a neon pink taco sign that’s begging for selfies. Their Birria Tacos are the clear winner (they come with a chili-laced dipping consommé that’s pure magic), but the street corn with chipotle aioli is a close runner-up. Creative tequila cocktails like the Tamarind Margarita make every meal feel like a fiesta.
The restaurant is right inside the Gallery at Westbury Plaza, so you can window-shop after you eat. It gets crowded fast, especially for dinner, but if you snag a happy hour seat at the bar, you’re in for a fun night. I couldn’t stop thinking about those tacos for days.
17. Hometown Bakeshop
- 📍 Location: 2 Little Neck Road, Centerport
- 💲 Price range: $8 – $25 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Bakery / Café / Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: Homemade sweet and savory pies, peanut-free bakery, gluten-free options, daily specials
- 🎯 Perfect For: Breakfast sandwiches, holiday pie orders, comfort food takeout, families
Hometown Bakeshop in Centerport shows that bakeries can serve far more than sweets. Owner Danna Abrams opened it in 2016, and her kitchen turns out scratch-made pies, egg sandwiches and famous fried chicken. It’s a peanut-free bakery with gluten-free options, which makes it an easy pick for families with food allergies.
Pies are the main draw, from classic apple to hearty savory pies, and the shop once sold more than 3,000 of them in a single holiday season. The Thanksgiving pie shop is open online now, with pickup on November 24, 25 and 26, 2026. Look for the new Birthday Cake Pie, filled with sweet condensed milk and birthday cake and topped with cream cheese icing.
I’d plan a visit around the daily deals. Thursday brings two medium savory pies for $20, and on Fried Chicken Friday, $40 gets you a whole fried chicken or 3 pounds of cutlets plus two sides, ordered ahead by phone. On Sundays, arrive early for the crullers, which sell out fast.
The Saturday breakfast deal gets you two protein egg and cheese sandwiches, two small coffees and two donuts for $20 until noon. Hometown is open Tuesday through Sunday, closing at 3 p.m. on Sundays, and the grill stops serving at 2 p.m. every day. Online orders are ready for pickup after noon.
18. Dirty Taco + Tequila
- 📍 Location: 3261 Merrick Road, Wantagh
- 💲 Price range: $15 – $35 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Mexican-Asian Fusion / Tacos and Tequila
- 🔥 Standout Features: 30+ creative tacos, Korean short rib specialties, Taco Tuesday, cash discount
- 🎯 Perfect For: Taco lovers, groups, post-beach dinners, adventurous eaters
Dirty Taco + Tequila in Wantagh is the original location of a Long Island chain that now has seven restaurants. Tom Cataldo Jr. opened it in 2018 after falling for Korean-fusion taco trucks in Los Angeles, and the menu mixes Mexican street food with Asian flavors. Voters in the Bethpage Best of Long Island awards named it the island’s best taco in both 2024 and 2025.
My go-to is the “Famous” Korean short rib taco ($10), with slow-braised short rib, kimchi slaw and spicy mayo. I’d also add the Asian Sloppy Joe taco and the Kung Pao chicken taco, which comes with crispy wontons and crushed peanuts. For the table, order the Asian Style Nachos ($18.50), topped with Korean short rib, Thai peanut sauce and bean sprouts.
Taco Tuesday is the best deal of the week, and it’s offered in-store only. Ask about the cash discount, since the menu lists a lower price for cash payments. Vegans have plenty to choose from, including the Imposso-Taco made with Impossible meat and vegan cheese.
The Wantagh location is closed on Mondays, opens at 4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. The dining room is small and lively, and I’d arrive early on weekend nights. Jones Beach is a short drive away, which makes this an easy dinner stop after a beach day in summer 2027.
19. Pierogibites & More
- 📍 Location: 100 Bedford Avenue, Bellmore
- 💲 Price range: $10 – $30 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Polish / Eastern European
- 🔥 Standout Features: Pierogi handmade daily, flour imported from Poland, gluten-free pierogi, take-home pierogi to freeze
- 🎯 Perfect For: Comfort food lovers, budget-friendly meals, families, holiday catering
Pierogibites & More in Bellmore is my favorite place on Long Island for authentic Polish pierogi. Four friends who grew up in Poland opened it to share their grandmothers’ recipes, and every pierogi is made by hand daily with flour imported from Poland. Polish beers like Żywiec and Warka are on the menu to wash it all down.
Order pierogi by the four ($9.50), eight ($17.75) or dozen ($24.95), and mix the fillings within each order. They come boiled or deep fried, or pan fried for $1.50 extra, and every plate is served with caramelized onions, sour cream and chives. I’d go pan fried for the crispy edges.
For a bigger meal, the Polish Platter Dinner ($25.95) brings potato, meat and sauerkraut pierogi with a stuffed cabbage roll and grilled kielbasa. Soup lovers should try the Ukrainian borscht or the creamy dill pickle soup. Gluten-free diners can order six potato pierogi ($18.75), which are cooked in separate pots to reduce cross-contact.
I always bring pierogi home, and a dozen cold ones ($22) come with step-by-step instructions to boil, fry or freeze. For the 2026 holidays, a tray of 40 cold pierogi ($56) is an easy addition to a Christmas Eve table, and catering orders need about four hours’ notice. Pierogibites opens at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday through Sunday and at 4 p.m. on Mondays.
20. Catch Oyster Bar
- 📍 Location: 63 North Ocean Avenue, Patchogue
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $60 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Seafood / Raw Bar
- 🔥 Standout Features: Local Fire Island Blue oysters, father-and-son owners, open kitchen, raw bar
- 🎯 Perfect For: Oyster lovers, date nights, seafood fans, a Patchogue night out
Catch Oyster Bar in Patchogue is my top pick on the South Shore for fresh local oysters. Father-and-son team Jim and Mike Avino opened it in 2017, and Jim was a Great South Bay clammer before becoming a restaurateur. The intimate 30-seat room has a bar facing the open kitchen, where you can watch the shucking up close.
Start with the house Fire Island Blues ($3 each or $36 a dozen) and a few Little Neck clams on the half shell. The warm buttered lobster roll ($42) is the splurge, and the Fried Oysters Rock ($22) are great for sharing. If you can’t decide, order the Hook Line & Sinker ($33), a fried platter of flounder, shrimp, oysters and clams.
On cooler nights, I’d order the South Shore Fish Stew ($42) with market fish, clams, mussels and bay scallops in a roasted garlic tomato broth. Reviewers rave about the soft shell crab BLT whenever it’s on the menu. You can also buy unshucked Fire Island Blues ($2.50 each) to take home.
Catch opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and closes at 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 8 p.m. on Sundays. The room is small, and I’d arrive early on weekend nights or call 631-627-6860 ahead. Birdies is just down the street, which makes it easy to pair dinner here with a round of indoor golf.
21. Burgerology
- 📍 Location: 247-249 Main Street, Farmingdale
- 💲 Price range: $20 – $40 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Gourmet Burgers / American Comfort Food
- 🔥 Standout Features: USDA Prime beef burgers, build-your-own burgers, over-the-top milkshakes, weekday happy hour
- 🎯 Perfect For: Burger lovers, families, game nights, casual group dinners
Burgerology is a Long Island family business that went viral for over-the-top milkshakes piled high with candy and sprinkles. The Galatoulas family opened the first location in Rockville Centre in 2017, and today you’ll also find it in Farmingdale, Huntington, Massapequa and Stony Brook. My favorite is the Farmingdale spot on Main Street, a short walk from Charlotte’s Speakeasy for an easy dinner-and-drinks night.
Every burger uses a signature blend of USDA Prime beef, a grade Burgerology says only 3% of American beef earns. I’d order the Genius Burger ($21.95) with braised short rib, Swiss and cabernet gravy, or the Mac Attack ($21.95), topped with mac and cheese on a pretzel bun. You can also build your own with options like a Beyond Burger, an ahi tuna steak or a gluten-free bun.
Save room for one of the signature shakes, and adults can order boozy versions. Weekday happy hour at the bar, from 4 to 7 p.m., brings $5 well cocktails, wine, draft beers, sliders and wings. During football season, Burgerology adds game-day specials for fans.
The Farmingdale location opens daily at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Burgerology also caters parties through ezCater, which comes in handy for game-day gatherings. The brand has announced a return to Patchogue at a new location, which makes it one to watch in 2027.
22. Big Daddy’s
- 📍 Location: 1 Park Lane, Massapequa
- 💲 Price range: $25 – $55 per person
- 🍽️ Cuisine Style: Cajun and Creole / Southern BBQ
- 🔥 Standout Features: New Orleans roadhouse since 1993, live music, $2 oyster happy hour, weekend Blues Brunch
- 🎯 Perfect For: NOLA food fans, Mardi Gras parties, lively group dinners, brunch crowds
Big Daddy’s in Massapequa has served New Orleans food on Long Island since 1993, and it calls itself the “Original Home of Southern Food & Moonshine.” The colorful roadhouse feels like Mardi Gras year-round, and the renovated bar is built from Louisiana swamp cypress and old brick. Live bands play often, and the room gets loud and lively on weekends.
My go-to is the Creole Jambalaya ($31), with andouille, smoked turkey, tasso ham, shrimp and crawfish in a spicy tomato sauce. The Seafood Étouffée ($31) comes over habanero goat cheese grits, and regulars swear by the gumbo with andouille and smoked pork. Wash it all down with a Hurricane, the classic New Orleans rum cocktail.
The daily oyster happy hour brings $2 oysters from 3 to 5 p.m., and Hurricanes drop to $10 at the bar Tuesday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday is Smoked Prime Rib Night, with live music and half-price bottles of wine. On weekends, the Blues Brunch offers $30 bottomless cocktails alongside Southern favorites until 3 p.m.
Big Daddy’s is closed on Mondays and opens at noon the rest of the week, or at 11:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. I recommend booking ahead, especially on live music nights. Fat Tuesday falls on February 9, 2027, and Big Daddy’s is one of Long Island’s liveliest places to celebrate it.
Global Viewpoint is a personal blog. All content is for informational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional financial, medical, or legal advice.
