Long Island Luncheons

Most publications divide Long Island into distinct regions, and that's what we'll do here, as we start west and move easterly in this short-n-sweet survey of the Long Island lunchery scene.

Nassau County
A cartographer's pencil certainly isn't enough to keep all the good food, in this case pizza, inside the boundaries of the Five Boroughs. In Nassau County two of the best bets for a piece-a-pie are in Rockville Center and Garden City.

Old-fashioned, NYC-style pie is the specialty at Nick's on Sunrise Highway, a family-owned joint that looks like it hasn't seen an interior decorator since before the Beatles made their debut. It's a worthwhile detour on your way to or from Long Beach.
 
After exhausting your energy and plastic on all those new purchases from Roosevelt Field, a great place to recover any lost calories is Grimaldi's, a pizza joint where the thin-crust pies are made in coal-burning brick ovens.

For more refined lunching, CoolFish in the North Shore Atrium is an impeccable choice, especially if you're not afraid to open your wallet wide.

Suffolk County
Turning our attention east, Suffolk County's South Shore is known for quiet waterside communities like Bellport, which sits across Great South Bay from Fire Island.

The tiny Village of Bellport is home to less than 3000 people, and you can bet all of them know that Saturday lunch at The Bellport is a special affair because that's the only day of the week chef Taylor Alonso serves afternoon portions of corn-crusted oysters and buttermilk fried chicken.

In the North Shore town of Port Jefferson, folks like the aptly named Pasta Pasta for its cool Tuscan vibe, lobster pizza (a must for first-timers), and linguini with shrimp, calamari, mussels, and spicy fra diavlo sauce.

North Fork
Unfortunately, our favorite North Forker, Greenport's Frisky Oyster, is open for dinner only. But that doesn't mean that you can't take a break from vineyard-bopping and wine-tasting to enjoy good afternoon eats.

For sophisticated tastes, there's the attractive North Fork Table & Inn in quaint Southold. Heads up, though, if you plan to indulge in their unbelievably delicious pancetta-wrapped rabbit loin. They serve lunch on Saturday and Sunday only. Afterwards, take in the nearby Southold sights, which include Horton Point Lighthouse.

Less exclusive but not at all inferior, Seafood Barge is just up the road. Here, in a casual setting that overlooks busy Peconic Bay, is the promise of the "North Fork's best seafood." See for yourself by going for the lobster roll (served with homemade chips) or a platter of fried local shrimp, scallops and flounder. 

South Fork
Long Island's South Fork has long been a popular getaway spot for Manhattan's prosperous, powerful and privileged. The quaint villages and hamlets of the Hamptons are adored for their relaxed pace and chic, resorty vibe. Fortunately, the restaurant scene in this part of Suffolk County caters to various price points.

On the more affordable end of the spectrum, John's Restaurant & Pizzeria has been operating in Hampton Bays since before disco, and their 8" mini pies are perfect for lunch. You can't go wrong with grilled eggplant and imported prosciutto as toppings.

Farther down the road, the famous Clam Bar at Napeague is a true must-try. It's a rough-n-tumble roadside shack with a bar that serves amazing raw clams and chowders.

Finally, if your intent is to splurge, B. Smith's Sag Harbor restaurant is the way to go with its attractive, harborside dining room and lunch dishes that include both Long Island (lobster rolls) and Southern (hickory-smoked ribs) delicacies.