Updated: Restaurants coming soon to Long Island

Keeping up with Long Island's restaurant openings requires a score card — so here's a sneak peek of eateries that are in the works. Check back as we update this list of soon-to-open restaurants. 

 Yankee Doodle Dandy’s, Islip

Dang BBQ’s Anthony Mastrontonio has teamed up with Josh Gatewood, owner of three NYC Yankee Doodle Dandy’s trucks, to open the first bricks-and-mortar location. The menu focuses on fried chicken tenders, burgers and other all-American eats. Mastrontonio said he was hoping for a December opening.

Honey's Bistro, Glen Head

Matthew Suckle, formerly of New York Chicken and Rice in Glen Cove, and Patrick O'Halloran, co-owner of Park Place in New Hyde Park, have come together on this new bistro which will offer soups, salads, sandwiches and rice bowls. Named after Suckle's Dachshund, Honey Suckle, the new spot will be located at 6 Railroad Avenue and is slated to open in mid-late December. 

Pelicana Chicken, Plainview 

A coming soon sign is up fin Plainview for the first Long Island location of this Korean fried chicken chain, which was started in Daejeon, South Korea in 1982. The company has locations in Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and is coming soon to the Woodbury Road space that previously held La Piazzetta Cafe. 

The Rabbit Hole Kitchen & Cocktails

After nine years on Bayberry Ave. in Merrick, chef-owner Stephen Rosenbluth is changing it up: He closed his casual seafood restaurant, Anchor Down, and will turn the space into an American gastropub with “smaller plates and smaller prices.” He is aiming for a November reopening.

Noema, Garden City

A sign has gone up for the second location of the upscale Greek restaurant in Huntington. A collaboration between restaurateur Lisa DiPinto and "Chopped" champion Nicholas Poulmentis, the restaurant is going into the old Gross Jewelers building on Franklin and Stewart avenues. Its website previously said it was expected to open this fall, but has now been updated to 2024.

The Shed, Westbury

If you're a breakfast all-day kind of diner, and live in (or near) The Selby apartment building in Westbury, you're in luck: The Shed, which has restaurants in Plainview, Huntington and West Sayville, opens later this year on the ground floor to serve oversize omelets, bowls, burgers and more.

Insomnia Cookies, Uniondale 

This early giant cookie chain, which launched in Syracuse in 2006, is finally making its way onto Long Island. Hofstra University students will be the prime beneficiaries of the shop, which is set to open on Uniondale's Fulton Street in the coming months.

Pietro’s, Roslyn

Shortly after the owners of Roslyn’s Jolly Fisherman announced that the 66-year-old would close in June, Pietro’s of Manhattan revealed that the venerable Italian American steakhouse (est. 1932) would be taking over the location. Partner Bill Bruckman Jr. said he is shooting for a mid-November opening.

Caracara Mexican Grill, East Northport

The 12-year-old Farmingdale Mexican restaurant signed the lease in 2018 but owner Tony Kathreptis said the pandemic was only one of several roadblocks that surfaced to delay the opening. The new restaurant, at 356 Larkfield Rd. next to Lidl, will combine two empty storefronts, a pizzeria and a card store. Kathreptis hopes to be open by March, 2024.

Gioia, Oyster Bay

Chef Jesse Schenker is expanding his local footprint, adding the Italian-inspired Gioia at 94 South St. to his 2 Spring and Four fine dining spots, plus the more casual Gimme Burger. Instagram has been flooded with images of lush pastas with copious amounts of freshly grated cheese as Schenker continues to work out his menu.

Duck Donuts, East Meadow

Slated for opening in early winter, the latest outpost of North Carolina's Duck Donuts, which originated in the breezy, seasonal Outer Banks town of Duck, will open in East Meadow. Joining locations in Garden City Park, Hauppauge and Selden, this will be the brand's fourth Long Island storefront.

Tiny’s Cantina, Huntington Station

Though signage has been advertising this new Mexican spot for nearly a year, it's close to opening off Route 110's Walt Whitman Shops. Tiny's hails from Brooklyn and is a popular spot for grub before shows at Barclays Center, as well as margaritas and tacos on housemade tortillas.

Morgan's BBQ, Huntington Station

Like Tiny's Cantina, Morgan's BBQ has also teased its imminent arrival for months in the Walt Whitman Shops, with an opening finally on the horizon. Bringing Texas barbecue to the Island by way of Brooklyn and Pennsylvania, where Morgan's is already slinging ribs and slaw, the owners are slated to open its doors later this season.

Press 195, Plainview

Rockville Centre’s 13-year-old Press 195 will be getting a Plainview sibling in 2024, according to co-owner Brian Karp. The sandwich specialist is “in the early stages” of construction at what used to be Prime Burger Bar in Morton Village Plaza.

Plado Tasting Bar, Glen Cove

Chef-owner German Rizzo, who opened his Mediterranean small-plates concept in Manhattan’s East Village in 2019, is expanding to Glen Cove. His Plado Tasting Bar will take over the free-standing building at 274 Glen St., formerly Riviera Grill.

Cactus Cafe, Huntington Station

Since its debut in Glen Cove in 1999, the whimsical Cactus Café has opened locations in Port Washington, Medford and Huntington. An affordable Latin food wonderland, the next outpost will be on Jericho Turnpike a half-mile west of Route 110, opposite LA Fitness.

People's Pub, Bayport

Fans of the now-closed Grey Horse Tavern can rejoice this fall, when one of its original owners plans to bring a new concept to the historic building. Linda Ringhouse announced on Facebook that she's returning to her former pub after a four-year hiatus. She'll operate the new space, called People's Pub, with business partner Pete Cotter.

Dortoni Bakery, Huntington Station

The Messina family, who owns Dortonis in Levittown, Commack, East Norwich and Port Jefferson have purchased the old Pier 1 building on Jericho Turnpike and will open a fifth bakery there. Corey Messina said he hopes to be open by November.

Mesita, Port Washington

The Port Washington's location of Waterzooi that closed abruptly in early August will be replaced by Mesita, an upscale Mexican restaurant with locations in Rockville Centre and Garden City (and another one on the way in Amityville). The Mesita group applied for a New York State liquor license on Aug. 2; it is pending review.

Rincon Criollo, New Hyde Park

This venerable Cuban restaurant (founded by the Acosta family in 1950 in Cuba and relocated to Corona, Queens in 1976) opened its first Long Island satellite, in Huntington Station, in 2015. Now they've closed the original Queens location and are moving the operation to New Hyde Park, the site of a number of short-lived restaurants including Testaccio, Vintage, Bramasole and Sorriso.

Ruta Oaxaca, Woodbury

Taking over the Maidstone 1845 space, the same group responsible for Patchogue's popular Mexican restaurant, Ruta Oaxaca, is bringing their native Oaxacan cuisine — including their mother’s complex, chili-based mole recipes — to Woodbury. The owners anticipate an early fall opening.

Holy Cow, Selden 

This NYC-based halal burger spot is rapidly expanding with their newest location set to open in Selden, says owner Adil Palwala. They serve a Harlem and Bronx bodega classic, the chopped cheese, as well as a pretty mean basket of sweet potato tots.