The North Fork of Long Island has been heating up for a few years now, with word getting out that there's a land full of beautiful, desolate beaches that remain mostly empty, even at high season. And unlike other beach communities, a lot of people on the North Fork actually live on the North Fork. Nothing gets rolled up and put into dry dock after Labor Day.
In addition to perfect beaches and a local community, the North Fork is home to 40+ wineries and a whole bunch of excellent restaurants. Go eat at them.
The Spots
Provisions
This little spot has everything you need: Italian pantry staples, cheese, cured meats, and killer eats. Pick up the Hot Hot Hot panini (coppa, aged Vermont cheddar, jalapeno pesto) and a bottle of wine in the wine shop next door.
Brix & Rye
When you're looking for a speakeasy-ish cocktail spot, get yourself a bar stool at Brix & Rye. Bonus: you can get some great wood-fired pizza from the pizza place upstairs.
Sign up for our newsletter.
Be the first to get expert restaurant recommendations for every situation right in your inbox.
North Fork Roasting Co.
Get your fancy coffee on here – the ladies behind North Fork Roasting Co. know what they're doing. The locally roasted beans make for an excellent cup of coffee in a cool, comfortable space you'll want to hang in.
PawPaw Pop Up
If the idea of eating a multi-course meal served only on Mondays in a pop up located in a small town cheese shop called Bruce & Son sounds good to you, PawPaw's your spot. You'll be sitting around a communal table for 16 and eating things like carrot salami, beef tallow biscuits, and duck tongues. Make your reservations in advance – with a menu like theirs at $65 a head, they go fast.
Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market
Shockingly, the Nofo has been lacking a quality outdoor venue on the water to oyster it up. No longer. Inside an old bait and tackle, you can open several varieties of local oysters DIY style. Also, this place is down a street called Bootleg Alley.
An elegant, modern venue to stuff your face with carbs. Come for small plates and stellar handmade pastas, and don't miss the house-made bread or the massive Italian wine list.
Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant
Keep Greenport on your right and drive on; the best Greek food outside of Astoria exists in East Marion at Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant, where you can load up on souvlaki, saganaki, spanakopita, and other S dishes you can barely pronounce. Stick to Long Island wine flights to wash it all down. Flip flops and cover ups welcome.
Magic Fountain Ice Cream
Mattituck’s Magic Fountain and its 32 flavors of ice cream is summertime encapsulated. Don’t miss the strawberry shortcake, black cherry bourbon, salted caramel, or s’mores flavors. As a matter of fact, you should probably get them all at once.
Cliff's Elbow Room
It’s dark, it’s tiny, it’s got a deranged nautical theme, and your dinner comes with an iceberg garden salad and a white bread dinner roll. One part dive bar and one part fish house, the star is the marinated steak served with slightly surly atmosphere-appropriate attitude. Get some baked clams to further authenticate your experience aboard the SS Long Island. If you can’t get in, try their sister restaurant Cliff’s Elbow Room Too in Laurel four miles down the road.
Love Lane Kitchen
Love Lane Kitchen is the best spot around for brunch. A breakfast bowl filled with runny eggs, salsa, jack cheese, potatoes, and avocado, plus a bloody mary, will help with your afternoon nap on the beach. You know what else kicks ass for breakfast? Onion rings. All of this exists in a cherry, teal, and white dining room with endless self-serve coffee. Breakfast of Champions goes until 2 p.m.
