Recent Long Island restaurant openings
Dessert shop Made by Lili's in North Babylon specializes in cheesecake served on sticks. Credit: JJ Photography
Made by Lili's (1160 Deer Park Ave., North Babylon): This NYC bakery opened in Sunset Plaza shopping center, with a menu of common sweets and specialties like over-the-top layered desserts and cheesecake sticks.
The Ugly Duckling (21 S. Park Ave., Rockville Centre): This duck-centric eatery replaces The Breakfast Club, turning out brunch staples, burgers, duck-themed cocktails and more.
The "insane grilled cheese," with macaroni and cheese and a side of tomato soup, at The Ugly Duckling in Rockville Centre. Credit: Joann Vaglica
Chops Steakhouse (38 W. Main St., Patchogue): The helm of the menu doubles down on steak (strip steak, rib-eye, porterhouse and other cuts). There's also glazed, thick-cut bacon, crab cakes, oysters Rockefeller and wedge salads.
Smartwich (640A S. Broadway, Hicksville): Menu highlights at this European-inspired sandwich shop (inside Francesco’s bakery), include an octopus salad Smartwich with onions and peppers, an omelet sandwich with mozzarella and a spread of Nutella on warm pao saloio sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Kai Burgers & Dumplings (7 S. Middleneck Rd., Great Neck): Smashed burgers and dumplings star at this new eatery, which also serves prime steaks, chicken teriyaki, fried rice and chicken noodle soup.
Dumplings at Kai Burgers & Dumplings in Great Neck. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Dough & Co. (318 Main St., Huntington): A 23-year-old pizza prodigy opened this shop, which offers pies, wings, meatballs, salads, pasta, heros and calzones.
Uncle Steve's (1 Railroad Ave., Roslyn): The drinks-heavy menu encompasses a selection of craft cocktails, wine and craft beers. Small bites include mini tuna tacos, Margherita pies, wings and salads.
Birdies (17 N. Ocean Ave., Patchogue): This cocktail bar devoted to simulated golf features a 50-foot marble bar, a gravel beer garden, plus a second floor divvied up into bays for golf simulation games.
Ivory Kitchen (87 Main St., Port Washington): At this authentic Chinese restaurant, diners can expect eats like soup dumplings, scallion pancakes, fried rice, smoked duck breast and mapo tofu.
The house special hot chicken rice bowl at Ivory Kitchen in Port Washington. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
The Gardens of Portugal (4 Main St., Kings Park): The menu here is plainly and classically Portuguese -- caldo verde and rodizio, a parade of all-you-can-eat barbecue that rotates among 10 different meats (primarily beef), and seafood.
LuchaCubano (87 E. Main St., Riverhead): This Cuban restaurant takes over Sunny’s Riverhead Diner & Grill, offering classics, like vieja (braised beef) and lechon (roast pork); all-day breakfast; burgers with hand-cut fries and more.
Master Grill (5598 Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa): At this Brazilian steakhouse, servers continuously slice skewered charcoal-grilled meats tableside; customers can visit the market table for other entrees and sides.
Vida (4964 Merrick Rd., Massapequa Park): Find Long Island wines and craft beers alongside handmade empanadas, grilled corn with queso fresco, and tacos or burritos stuffed with chicken and avocado crema, teriyaki tuna, Buffalo cauliflower or braised short rib. There’s also half-pound brisket burgers and churros for dessert.
Shrimp BLT tacos are dressed with greens and spicy mayo at Vida in Massapequa Park. Credit: Hannah Palmer Egan
Pete's Famous Cheesesteaks (339 New York Ave., Huntington): "Cheesesteaks" are available in classic steak, chicken and vegetarian options; and bacon-wrapped hot dogs are topped with everything from macaroni and cheese to guacamole, Cheddar, sour cream and jalapeños. There are also a half a dozen tots on the menu.
The Marketplace at 317 (317 Main St., Farmingdale): The initial concept, which opened a year ago, was a grab-and-go cafe operated by another local business that had lost its lease; now it features wares sourced from local producers, most of whom have not had a brick-and-mortar retail location.
Fat Boy's Burrito Co. (4097 Jericho Tpke., East Northport): This is the third incarnation of the eatery known for its overstuffed, sometimes outlandish, burritos filled with the likes of grilled steak, chicken fingers, pineapple shrimp, roasted corn, fries, tots or spicy Cheetos.
Buzz'd Express Coffee (1799 Bellmore Ave., North Bellmore): At this drive-thru-only coffeehouse, customers can order from a lineup of hot and cold coffees accompanied by small bites.
Hush Truck: Chef Marc Bynum returns from his restaurant hiatus with this food truck, based in Farmingdale, that offers burger, wings, ribs and ramen.
Chicken wings at chef Marc Bynum's Hush food truck. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
JBBQ & Shabu Shabu (41 Rte 111, Smithtown): Here, diners can choose from a long list of thinly-sliced raw meats and vegetables, and then either grill them on a griddle in the center of the table or cook them by dunking morsels in their choice of broths.
Roti Paradise (419 Clinton St., Hempstead): This West Indian takeout restaurant makes everything from scratch daily, including the masala seasoning blend and roti, the griddled flatbread.
Picchu (1245 Middle Country Rd., Selden): The kitchen at this new Peruvian restaurant centers around a rotisserie oven where dry-rubbed birds spend two hours spinning to a deep burnish. There's also Peruvian-style ceviche served in a few different versions that vary combos of basa, shrimp and calamari marinated in citrus and arranged with crunchy Peruvian corn, sweet potato and fried plantain.
O Mandarin (600 W. Old Country Rd., Hicksville): The recipes are authentic at this Chinese restaurant and the presentations are designed to impress. Here, you'll find Chong Qing chili chicken, succulent jasmine-tea-smoked duck, six whole fish and more.
Wok braised shrimp at O Mandarin in Hicksville. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Mademoiselle Patisserie (186 Middle Rd., Blue Point): This spot, which opened inside the new Bayport-Blue Point Library, offers coffee and espresso drinks, as well as cheese danishes, muffins and cupcakes.
Haviland Kitchen & Bar (43 Main St., East Rockaway): At this new restaurant, customers can expect Wagyu beef in puffed pastry with a side of gingery ketchup; spinach goosed with jalapeño-maple bacon; and lamb spare ribs with whipped goat cheese and a cup of cucumber salad.
Lola's Southern Cuisine (2717a Route 112, Medford): A pair of high school sweethearts opened this spot, which offers fried chicken, pulled pork, mac-and-cheese and other Southern-style dishes.
Ole's Fajitas (3357 Merrick Rd., Wantagh): The star at this fast-casual joint is fajita tacos and bowls, but there's also enchiladas, quesadillas, soups and a more-than-one-pound crunch wrap.
A fajita bowl with rice, beans, vegetables and your choice of protein at Ole's Fajitas in Wantagh. Credit: Eating Long Island Inc.
Mahal Classic Indian (290 Glen Cove Rd., Roslyn Heights): At this new Indian restaurant, you can expect dishes like shrimp moilee, lamb chops, palak chaat and more.
Insieme Wines (3333 Lawson Blvd., Oceanside): At this boutique winery, you can sample tempranillo, riesling and malbec; and bold red blends alongside superlative meat and cheese boards.
Tava (61 Glen St., Glen Cove): The by-the-book main menu at this new Indian spot features a fine mixed tandoori platter, sturdy renditions of butter chicken and tikka masala, saag paneer and lamb korma.
Frida's Mexican Grill (3545 Merrick Rd., Seaford): There are more than 25 entrees on the menu, plus soups, salads and appetizers. Taking off are the street tacos; el sol burrito; fried calamari; and empanadas.
Zest (298 W. Main St., Bay Shore): At this vibrant small-bites restaurant, you'll find cauliflower crust chips; grilled zucchini rollatini; loaded grilled cheese pretzels and pizza.
The crispy panko chicken club, with bacon, pepper Jack and avocado, at Zest in Bay Shore. Credit: Tom Warren Photography
T.O.A. (834 Walt Whitman Rd., Melville): T.O.A., which takes in Asian cuisines such as Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese, has opened its fourth installment with a menu that remains untouched — and extensive.
Black Momma Tea & Cafe (16 Colonial Springs Rd., Wyandanch): Here, customers will find loose-leaf and bagged teas in countless flavors, grab-and-go drinks like non-dairy boba tea and non-alcoholic hot toddies, plus packaged goods.
Bluebird Kitchen (2405 Merrick Rd., Bellmore): This eatery features a menu of elevated comfort food, like kosher franks wrapped in puff pastry; the Bluebird burger topped with Adirondack Cheddar and served with hand-cut fries; and ribs that are lacquered in an espresso barbecue sauce.
Elise's Niece's Café (441 Main St., Farmingdale): Here you’ll find bakery staples like chocolate chip cookies, biscotti, linzer tarts and coconut cake, plus slow-roasted candied pecans and pint-size ice cream infused with the shop's baked goods.
Elise's Niece's Cafe opened behind Back In Time vintage shop in Farmingdale. Credit: Elise’s Niece’s Cafe
Qdoba Mexican Eats (331 E. Main St., Bay Shore): The fare at this chain includes bowls and burritos, quesadillas, tacos and salads. Plant-based meat is available, too, as is a newly introduced macaroni and queso entree.
The Ivy Kitchen & Bar (65 Wall St., Huntington): Two brothers and their childhood pal opened this Instagrammable spot that fuses new American and Italian cuisine resulting in meatballs, pizzettas and burgers, pastas and oversized salads.
Iberico Tapas y Vino (412 Route 25A, St. James): The menu here lists about 20 tapas, among them the essential tortilla Española and chorizo a la parilla. You can also create your own board of Spanish cheeses and cured meats, which can be paired with an almost all-Spanish wine list.
DJ's Clam Shack (1007 Route 25A, Stony Brook): The newest DJ’s shares the beach-shack décor and seafood-centric menu of its brethren, from shrimp and mahi-mahi tacos and conch fritters to hot and cold lobster rolls and multiple spins on clams.
Overstuffed Maine lobster roll at DJ's Clam Shack. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Kick'n Chicken (342 Main St., Farmingdale): You'll find buckets and platters of fried chicken, fried-chicken hot dogs (called "Kick’n Bird Dogs") and hot fried-chicken sandwiches that can be sauced with four levels of heat, from zero to "blazin’ inferno."
Goldy's Gems (5 Third Ave., Bay Shore): This new spot takes over Bay Shore's oldest bar featuring absinthe fizzes, a ghost kitchen serving fried-chicken sandwiches and a glimmery disco ball.
SLSHology (630 Old Country Rd., Garden City): This over-the-top slushy spot opened at Roosevelt Field mall and offers mix-and-match flavors that can be topped with candy and fruit.
A slushy from SLSHology, new to Roosevelt Field. Credit: Joann Vaglica
Arepas Cafe (1371 Jerusalem Ave., in North Merrick): This Queens areperia has expanded to Long Island, offering more than two dozen types of arepas, stuffed with everything from shredded beef and plantains to ham and cheese.
El Sueno Mexican Grill (1711 New York Ave., Huntington Station): At this Mexican spot, you'll find tacos, molcajetes, meaty feasts served in superhot stone mortars and tablones, braised short ribs with onions and scallions, among other authentic dishes.
Bijou (400 Broadhollow Rd., Melville): The newest Anthony Scotto production is sweeping in looks as well as menu, which takes a vertiginous tour through Asia.
The lobster roll at Bijou in Melville. Credit: Brittainy Newman
The Six Juice Market (291 W. Main St., Sayville): The centerpiece here is the fresh juicing of varying combos of fruit, berries, vegetables and herbs.
Limani Grille (1 Vanderbilt Parkway., Commack): This striking 300-seat Mediterranean restaurant offers grilled octopus, lobster mac-and-cheese, braised lamb shank with orzo and more.
The Lobster Roll (32 Montauk Hwy., Southampton): This year-round location features a menu similar to the Amagansett original, although there are new features, like a bevy of gluten-free selections and other items that will appeal to a 12-month audience.
A lobster roll served at The Lobster Roll's Amagansett location. Credit: Gordon M. Grant
Tony's Tacos (281 Main St., Huntington): Find tacos stuffed with rotisserie chicken, sausage and broccoli rabe, meatballs, chicken Parmigiana and more at this Italian taqueria.
Blue Point Brewing Co. (MacArthur Airport): Here, you'll find Blue Point taps and canned beers; bottles of Bud and Miller Lite; several wines by the glass; and a cocktail list that runs to classics.
