Restaurants near Long Island wineries: Great spots to have lunch
There are more than 50 wineries on Long Island. That’s a lot of tasting. You’ll also find plenty of good eating along the way, on the North Fork, where most of the vineyards are, and on the South Fork, where there are wineries in Water Mill, Sagaponack and Bridgehampton. Here are some recommendations for lunch when you’re spending a day sampling chardonnay to riesling, merlot to cabernet sauvignon.
NOTE: Main Road on the North Fork is Route 25.
Grana
Credit: Randee Daddona
Grana (1556 Main Rd., Jamesport): Handily the best wood-fired pizza on the North Fork will be found at Grana. Yes, they make a fine Margherita, but sample the Rosa bianca made with Long Island potatoes, red onion, rosemary and Parmesan cheese. Grana also excels with cicchetti, or Venetian-inspired snacks, such as whipped salt cod and grilled octopus. Fine pastas, too. More info: 631-779-2844, granajamesport.com
Main Road Biscuit Co.
Credit: Daniel Brennan
Main Road Biscuit Co. (1601 Main Rd., Jamesport): A new addition to the North Fork repertoire, Main Road Biscuit Co. will attract you with chicken and waffles, chicken cutlet with biscuit and grits, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, a BLT that includes avocado, the seafood po’boy sandwich, burgers, a kale-fueled Caesar salad and pie. More info: 631-779-3463, mainroadbiscuitco.com
Love Lane Kitchen
Credit: Randee Daddona
Love Lane Kitchen (240 Love Lane, Mattituck): A reliable venue for midday eating, Love Lane Kitchen offers such highlights as the house’s lobster roll, Baja-style fish tacos, a Cuban sandwich served with fried plantains, Cobb salad, red quinoa salad, pastrami on rye, and a prosciutto panino and another with goat cheese. They cover enough territory. More info: 631-298-8989, lovelanekitchen.com
Maple Tree BBQ Smokehouse
Credit: Daniel Brennan
Maple Tree BBQ Smokehouse (820 W. Main St., Riverhead): When Dennis O'Leary took over Maple Tree in 2016, the 14-year-old store was three years into its transition from deli to barbecue restaurant. It is now complete and smokin' away. Order at the counter, and your food will be delivered to you whether you're in the dining room, out back or at one of the picnic tables across Route 25, with a fine view of the Peconic River. If Maple Tree adheres to any one barbecue style, it's Texas. O'Leary and his pitmaster, Phil Liguori, excel at brisket, Texas' signature 'cue, as well as its cousins pastrami (brisket that's brined before smoking) and burnt ends (the carbonized tips of the brisket, doused with sauce). More info: 631-727-2819, mapletreebbq.com
Taqueria Mexico
Credit: Newsday/Gordon M. Grant
Taqueria Mexico ( 709 E. Main St., Riverhead): Taqueria Mexico is an informal place for exactly what you’d expect. The hits take in braised pork carnitas (pictured), spicy sausage tacos, tamales, tostadas, burritos, chicken mole and more. More info: 631-208-2902.
Buoy One
Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Buoy One (1175 W. Main St., Riverhead): Casual fish market and cafe Buoy One offers outdoor dining during warm weather. And you’ll be near the gateway to both Forks. Recommended: the raw bar, fried oysters, fried whole clams, bay scallops, New England clam chowder, Manhattan clam chowder and the clambake, which includes lobster, snow crab and corn. Or try the steamer clams (pictured). More info: 631-208-9737, buoyone.com
Cutchogue Diner
Credit: Heather Walsh
Cutchogue Diner (27850 Main Rd., Cutchogue): Cutchogue Diner is worth visiting just for the look of the joint, where nostalgia reigns. You'll also find burgers, tuna melts, grilled cheese, fried chicken in a basket, burgers, fried flounder, root beer floats and pie a la mode. You know the rest. More info: 631-734-7016, cutchoguediner.com
Modern Snack Bar
Credit: Newsday/Audrey C. Tiernan
Modern Snack Bar (628 Main Rd., Aquebogue): Homey restaurant Modern Snack Bar has been in business since Truman was president: It’s as steady as they get. Try the bay scallops in season, deep-fried soft-shell crabs, lobster salad, roast turkey, roast local duckling, chicken potpie, loin of pork and all those pies. More info: 631-722-3655, modernsnackbar.com
Cliff’s Elbow Room
Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Cliff’s Elbow Room (1549 Main Rd., Jamesport): The Cliff’s empire is devoted to marinated steaks, such as the porterhouse (pictured). But you’ll also go for the shrimp cocktail, burgers, fried seafood, broiled scallops, creamed herring, baked clams, clam chowder, chopped chicken liver, sandwiches and salads at Cliff's Elbow Room. More info: 631-722-3292, elbowroomli.com
Crazy Beans
Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Crazy Beans ( 2 Front St., Greenport): The new branch of Crazy Beans takes over the corner site in Greenport that had been occupied by the Coronet luncheonette since the 1940s. Although it will have some changes, such as the trademark Crazy Beans black-and-white checkerboard floor, the plan is to keep as much as possible of the Coronet’s style. The spot, owned by Callie Martino and husband Tim, is expected to be ready in August. More info: 631-333-2436, crazybeansrestaurant.com
