Diane’s Bakery Café: Reason enough to visit Roslyn

Food recommendations come from everywhere. My cousin’s neurologist told her that he loved the turkey salad at Diane’s Bakery Café in Roslyn. I was planning on swinging by Diane’s anyway — for an upcoming pie story — and so I stopped in for lunch. Good move.

Diane’s Bakery Café has occupied a lovingly restored old building under the Roslyn Viaduct since 1982. The front half is devoted to some of Long Island’s very best baked goods. Diane Margaritis’s butter-laden cookies, cakes and pies are homey, simple, delicious. They are also gorgeous, bespeaking Margaritis’ training as a graphic artist. A few steps down from the bakery is the cafe, where you can enjoy breakfast, lunch or an afternoon snack. There’s no table service: an array of salads, sandwiches, vegetables and simply cooked meats are displayed on a massive marble counter; you point to what you want.

As my cousin’s neurologist advised, I had the turkey salad, and the guy obviously knows more than just the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system. Big chunks of turkey, veiled with mayo and studded with whole walnuts, golden raisins and chunks of celery. I also had some roasted cauliflower (a little on the pale side) and a lovely salad of fresh corn, avocado and tomato.

Diane’s Bakery Café is at 23 Bryant Ave., Roslyn, 516-621-2522.