Which restaurants would you recommend?
Depends on how far from home you want to go. But this is a good chance to eat at a spot that might ordinarily be beyond the budget. Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton and The North Fork Table & Inn in Southold are East End examples. In Stony Brook, Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern. In Nassau, I'd suggest Heirloom Tavern in Glen Head and Lola in Great Neck, two terrific restaurants.
They've been in business 30 years. And I have never had a so-so meal there. It's truly hands-on management, in the kitchen and the dining room. Now they have a farm-to-table menu that changes daily, so it's always a treat. But the two-course duck is a staple.
You have a new book, "Food Lovers' Guide to Long Island," out Tuesday. How many places does it cover?
There almost 500 restaurants discussed and evaluated. I also cover markets, shops, bakeries, wineries and breweries, and include a dozen recipes that reflect Long Island cooking.
Basically, bring an appetite.
Which parts of LI have the greatest concentration of top restaurants?
Although it's only a drizzle of balsamic vinegar from Nassau, downtown Huntington is the epicenter for dining out in Suffolk, Restaurants just sprout there. East Hampton also is a hub. In Nassau, Rockville Centre has restaurants almost on every block downtown.
There's a lot of competition. I like Cafe Buenos Aires because it's lively, dependable and different. Mac's is one of Long Island's under-the-radar steakhouses, but it's easily in the top 10. Bistro Cassis for French food; Besito, Oaxaca and Los Compadres for Mexican. And to extend the border to include all of Huntington town, I'd add the new Be-Ju, a sensational sushi bar tucked into Jewel restaurant in Melville.
Surprisingly, Long Island doesn't have a huge number of first-class seafood restaurants. And finding a bargain requires some searching. The Plaza Cafe in Southampton is the best of all and for the quality very fairly priced. Same for Noah's in Greenport and Fishbar in Montauk. And in case you're in Nassau, the ultracasual Artie's South Shore in Island Park is the catch of the day.
Nassau is full of good choices. My current favorite is Ginza in Massapequa. The place looks like a temple, and it is - to sushi. Order the chef's selection of the day. They do have the fancier, all-ingredients-in rolls, but the pristine sashimi and sushi are great. Same for Arata Sushi in Syosset.
Like everyone else, it's the one closest to home. Some dependable ones are Centro Cucina in Greenvale and Red Tomato in East Norwich. Grana in Jamesport is excellent. And when they reopen in Westhampton Beach, try Pizzetteria Brunetti, the closest to true Neapolitan. I also am a big fan of Salvatore's in Port Washington. It was the first coal-fired pizzeria on Long Island, and it's still great for pizza Margherita. They have a branch in Bay Shore, too. I could go for a slice now.
There are some days when it's more work than play. But I'm doing for a living what most do for their pleasure, so I can't say I get tired of it. But when it's a round trip to Montauk on a weekday night, the day has 25 hours. Long Island is very long - 102 miles or so from Great Neck to Montauk. But you'll find something good all along the way.
The North Fork has had a tremendous growth in top-quality spots in the last decade. Noah's in Greenport is one to remember. So's Scrimshaw, also in Greenport. The North Fork Table & Inn in Southold is exceptional. And if you want to include Shelter Island, 18 Bay is a must for its take on modern Italian food, with some New American accents. The Jamesport Manor Inn is worth visiting for the food and the handsome building itself. For something homey, try the Modern Snack Bar in Aquebogue. They've been here since the Truman Administration.
In your three decades of dining on LI, which Italian places are the best?
It's available now online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Walmart. And you should expect to see it in bookstores, shops and markets soon.
Thanks for your time, Peter. Happy eating to all.
Depends on how far from home you want to go. But this is a good chance to eat at a spot that might ordinarily be beyond the budget. Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton and The North Fork Table & Inn in Southold are East End examples. In Stony Brook, Mirabelle Restaurant and Tavern. In Nassau, I'd suggest Heirloom Tavern in Glen Head and Lola in Great Neck, two terrific restaurants.
