Sneak peek: Long Island restaurants opening soon

Several established Long Island restaurants are in the process of opening additional locations. Other new eateries are moving into spaces vacated by longtime eateries as owners retired and leases weren't renewed. Here's a sneak peek at some of the most anticipated restaurants slated to open this year. 

Aunt Jakes, Huntington

A town well served by pasta, Huntington is about to get another helping. Aunt Jakes, an Italian restaurant that offers homemade pasta — and pasta-making classes — will expand from Manhattan into the old Leilu space on New Street. Hauppauge native Nick Boccio opened Aunt Jake’s on the Upper East Side in 2020 and soon came up with a concept that "in addition to value," provided "something experiential: a 2½-3-hour pasta experience comprising a hands-on class followed by a meal that includes fresh pasta — but not the pasta patrons make themselves. Instead, they take home the fruits of their labor, plus a ball of dough so they can practice in their own kitchens. Boccio, who moved back to Suffolk County in 2022, suspects that in Huntington there may be more of a demand for a traditional restaurant with pasta classes offered on weekends. He’s prepared to let his future customers determine the exact mix. February

Say Cheese Pizza Cafe, Melville

Rosario Asta has been working on his pizza-cafe concept for a couple of years and plans to open it in February within the old Ruland Road Deli. The eatery will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner during the week, lunch and dinner on weekends, he said. The menu includes both New York- and Roman-style pizza plus sandwiches served on schiacciata (Italian flatbread) as well as Italian American dishes, according to chef and manager Angelo Amato. February

Mexicandy, Riverhead

The East End Mexican ice cream shop will open its second Riverhead location at 749 Old Country Rd. in 2026. Co-owner Chris Aguilar said the new spot's menu will also offer more than a dozen flavors of authentic Mexican fruit pops in flavors such as watermelon, mango, lime, mango con chile (mango with spice), sandia con chile (watermelon with spice), Oreo and horchata. The 1,700-square-foot space will have booth seating for about 16 customers, he said. February

Luca Steak, Huntington

"Luca" is a name familiar to local Italophiles — it’s the Stony Brook restaurant that’s one of Long Island’s very best. Now, partner David Tunney said, "we want to do for steak what we’ve done for Italian." He and his team (Rory Van Nostrand, Anthony Argiriou and executive chef Luke DeSanctis) have taken over the old Red space, one of a very few in Huntington village that has a dedicated parking lot. Luca Steak, Tunney said, "will not be a Peter Luger’s clone with the same cuts, the same sides. And it’s not going to be a huge steak-and-sushi hot spot either." The plan is to source meat "from farms and purveyors all over the world — the U.S., Australia, Italy and more" — and lavish attention on each plate. Spring

Lyon by Duck Island, Huntington

Duck Island Bread Company’s baker-owner, Robert Biancavilla, has taken over the old Bicycle Playground on Main Street and will turn it into a French cafe serving his baked goods plus sandwiches anchored by his terrific baguettes. Look for jambon-beurre (ham and butter) the OG turkey and house-roasted rib-eye. Plus, savory classics such as French onion soup and ratatouille. Spring

Patrizia’s, Westbury

The fifth Long Island location of Patrizia’s, the rollicking Italian restaurant with spots in Hicksville, Massapequa, Hauppauge and Commack, is taking over the sprawling former AG Steakhouse on Corporate Drive. Partner Tony Luisi said this newest and biggest Patrizia’s would blend the signature party atmosphere with more upscale, a la carte items. April 

The James, Garden City

After opening two eye-poppingly swanky, bi-level eateries in Suffolk, Andrew Affa and Steven Squirito are taking on Nassau. The owners of Arlo in Northport and The James in Babylon bought Primehouse in Garden City, operated it through the end of 2025 and are poised to transform it into The James II. The single-story restaurant "may not have the grand design" of the Babylon original, Affa said, "but what it lacks in square footage, it will go above and beyond in vibe." Not only will Garden City serve The James’ signature prime rib, "because it’s on one level, we may be able to serve it from a rolling trolley cart." May

The Pizzeria, Yaphank

The 5-year-old chain has signed the lease for a new location in Yaphank that partner Paul Saccocio hopes to open early in the year. The 4,300-square-foot space will occupy a new freestanding building across from Southpaw Brewing Company. When finished, it will be comparable to The Pizzeria's largest Pizzeria (5,000 square feet), in Babylon. The Pizzeria got its start in 2020 as a 500-square-foot operation at Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove, but soon grew to include locations in Bay Shore, Lindenhurst and beyond. The 3,000-square-foot Smithtown location opened in April within Branch Plaza. Opening to be determined.

Whiskey Down Diner, Babylon

Farmingdale’s cult favorite comfort food spot that opened in 2019 is expanding to Babylon Village. Co-owner Alyson Kanaras said the modern, all-day diner is taking over the East Main Street space that now houses Gemelli’s Italian restaurant. In Whiskey tradition, the Babylon offshoot will serve a long list of all-day breakfast fare, including pillow-soft, loaded pancakes; sandwiches at lunchtime, like their famous lobster roll; and dinner plates both small and large, from tacos and burgers to meatloaf and fried chicken. Fall

Fore & Pour, West Babylon

The 7,000-square-foot indoor golf simulator lounge and bar is opening at the Great South Bay shopping center in West Babylon. It will have more than 20 TV screens, eight golf simulators, a 41-foot bar with stools for 19 and a dining area with seating for 36, according to co-owner Will Bergersen. October

Poll Brothers Italian Steakhouse, Roslyn

When Roslyn’s venerable Jolly Fisherman closed in 2023, local glutterati wondered if the spot would be taken over by Gillis and George Poll, the brothers who operate Roslyn hot spots Hendrick’s Tavern and Bryant & Cooper. Instead, the building overlooking the village pond was leased to the owners of Pietro’s, a 93-year-old Italian restaurant in Manhattan. Pietro’s Long Island only lasted eight months and, as soon as the restaurant closed, the speculation began anew: Now would the Poll brothers take over the space? This time, the answer was yes. Next question: Since it was the Poll family that owned Williston Park’s late, lamented fish house, Riverbay (1980 to 2013), would they resurrect it in a spot long associated with seafood? No dice. The concept for the as-yet-unnamed restaurant is Italian steak. Fall

Newsday's Melissa Azofeifa, Andi Berlin, Erica Marcus and Marie Elena Martinez contributed to this story.