Ultimately urban, yet pleasingly pastoral – that’s Long Island: the 118-mile long salient of land that extends from New York Harbor to Montauk Point. The beauty of the place is its convenient remoteness – not to mention its cuisine.
While there are upscale places aplenty out on the island, you don’t have to break the bank to get a good meal. Consider this menu of options next time you’re there:
Claudio’s Restaurant & Clam Bar
This Greenport landmark has been around since 1870. The prices are good, and the food even better. A half-dozen Cherrystone Clams sell for only $8, and Panko Crusted Crab Cakes for $24. In the mood for lobster? Your credit card won’t cringe at $18 for a pair of Lobster Cobb Sliders. They’re stuffed with chunky lobster meat, avocados, grape tomatoes and bacon crumbles, then served up on potato rolls. Follow your common sense to Claudio’s, located at 111 Main St. in Greenport.
This spot is a microbrewery and eatery, the kind of place locals can hang out and kick back. First, the beer. On tap year-round is Double White Ale, tinged by touches of coriander and orange peel for a bit of bite. While the brew is first class the food doesn’t fly coach here. The $14 Calamari Salad is almost a meal unto itself, and the $20 Chicken Picatta is terrific: sautéed chicken with capers, baby spinach and artichoke hearts over a breathless bed of linguini. Southampton Publick House is at 40 Bowden Square in Southampton.
Vittorio’s Restaurant and Wine Bar
Situated in Amityville, this is one of the best Italian/seafood enclaves on the island. While it doesn’t list prices, the tab won’t trigger reflux. Although a 2006 and 2007 Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner, it’s the food that draws people here. Consider starting off with a nice Chardonnay and grilled pear salad. Make the main course Bucatini, a concoction composed of shrimp, scallops, and little neck clams a la marinara. Vittorio’s is located at 184 Broadway in Amityville.
Wave Restaurant at Danfords Hotel and Marina
The food is first rate, but this is one of those places you come to for the ambience too. Soak in the sights of Long Island Sound from this Port Jefferson perch. Lots of folks like to dine al fresco, but the indoor tables provide a fine vista as well. The cuisine is New American, and the tapas are particularly tasty. Sea bass and tuna set the culinary tone and if you’re in search of the trendy there’s hamachi and black cod char siu. Danford’s is at 25 East Broadway in Port Jefferson.
Long Island produces some decidedly decent wines. Cheapflights’ in-house wine aficionado, Michael Brazile recommends two vineyards in particular:
Open seven days a week, it not only ferments well-known varietals like Syrah and Merlot, but is known for innovation too. Try the Ramato. The winery is located at 1927 Scuttlehole Rd. in Bridgehampton.
This too is a seven-day-a-week site. The most recent releases are both from 2010 – a dry and semi-dry Reisling. Set your GPS to 1074 Main Rd. (that’s Route 25) in Aquebogue, on the north fork of Long Island.
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Story by Jerry Chandler
(Image: jlwelsh)
