Long Island restaurants offering fun outdoor dining experiences

Cooler weather doesn’t have to mean the end of outdoor dining — and this season on Long Island, it won't.

Fans of al fresco dining can stretch the season this year by having a meal in a unique and fun setting — be that a vineside bungalow, winterized cabana or a greenhouse or igloo.

Here are some memorable ways you can dine out this season in an open-air atmosphere.

GRAB A BITE AND A DRINK IN A YURT

Brew Cheese (40 Woodbine Ave., Northport): Just a short walk around the corner from Brew Cheese in an alley way near Sand City Brewing Co., the eatery has four yurts. Customers check in at the restaurant where they are expected to leave a license or credit card, and then are walked by staff to the yurts. A wooden picnic table with faux fur-lined seats sits on an area rug inside the circular tent, which also features greenery, lighting and a portable radiator. Customers order by calling the restaurant. Once the order is ready, a server brings it over. Reservations — 1 hour and 15 minutes each — are encouraged; no fees; seats up to six. More info: 631-239-1927, brew-cheese.com

COZY FALL-ESQUE DINING

2 Spring (2 Spring St., Oyster Bay): Inside this polished New American restaurant, it’s evident owner Lindsay Schenker pays very close attention to detail — no shortcomings when it comes to the outdoor patio, either. In an L-shaped space occupied by a dozen or so tables, Schenker’s added what she calls a "textured," "rich" and "beautiful" patio, decked out with scaffolding covered by burlap, plus dried flowers, herbs, decorative woods, twigs, ferns and string lights throughout (its original patio is under construction, being transformed into an enclosed glass atrium). The outdoor area, which also features forced heat from above as well as heaters, accommodates 40. The space is decorated with sheepskin throws, throw pillows and heated blankets. Reservations for Friday and Saturday are suggested. More info: 516-624-2411, 2springstreet.com

WINTERIZED CABANAS

Prime 1024 (1024 Northern Blvd., Roslyn): This Italian steakhouse might not bring you the ocean or warmer days, but its heated cabanas will do for now. Five spacious cabanas facing Northern Boulevard and another five wrapping around the side of the building facing its parking lot make up the restaurant’s new outdoor area. The front facing cabanas are more private, separated from others by large partitions. On top of heaters, each cabana has sliding doors with fairly tall curtains draped across, helping to keep the warmth inside. The side-facing cabanas are less private and separated only by smaller partitions. Each also has its own set of curtains, resembling a cabana. Adding to the vibe: music played by the restaurant. Reservations required for both indoor and outdoor dining. More info: 516-621-1024, prime1024.com

GLAMPING AT THE VINEYARDS

Macari Vineyards (150 Bergen Ave., Mattituck): Glamping at a North Fork vineyard? Welcome to 2020, folks. Macari Vineyards recently launched vine-side bungalows at its Mattituck tasting room location, dubbed the Bergen Road Bungalows. For $150 a person, up to six people can reserve the heated space (for the entire afternoon) which is filled with vintage and contemporary furnishings, local artwork, vinyl music and classic games, all of which is shoppable. The vineyard currently has two bungalows set up, but plans to add more in the coming weeks. Reservations, which include a tasting of four Macari wines and lunch by Chef Lauren Lombardi, can be made via TOCK. The bungalows are sanitized nightly. More info: 631-298-0100, macariwines.com

EAT IN A BUBBLE

Konoba (46 Gerard St., Huntington): Last February, Daniel Pedisich brought a taste of Croatia to downtown Huntington — now he’s serving tent-meets-igloo contraptions set up in front of the restaurant and its neighbors for dinner service on the daily. Each bubble holds six people and has a small heater. Inside, customers can control their bubble's music via Bluetooth (speakers available upon request) and its lighting by a switch. Reservations needed. Konoba also offers more traditional al fresco dining, as well as heated tables. More info: 631-824-7712, konobahuntington.com

ENJOY A MEAL IN A MINI GREENHOUSE...

ITA Kitchen (45 W. Main St., Bay Shore): This Italian restaurant turned its side and back patios into outdoor dining wonderlands, where guests can dine within private greenhouses (and igloos) that can seat six to eight people. Both will feature mini chandeliers, heaters and music that guests can largely control and are available weekdays starting at 5 p.m. and weekends starting at 2:45 p.m. While there's no extra cost to eat in them during the week (unless it lands on a holiday), reservations for two-hour slots cost $125-$150 Fridays-Sundays (includes first round of drinks; some exclusions apply). For reservations: 516-779-4293. More info: 631-267-5916, itakitchenbayshore.com

...OR AN OVERSIZED ONE

Restoration Kitchen & Cocktails (9 E. Hoffman Ave., Lindenhurst): Seen from one angle, the new addition to this nonprofit eatery specializing in New American fare is a sobering reminder of the existential threat facing the Island’s restaurants, its size and scale capturing the magnitude of the crisis in a way few other structures could. From another, it’s an edifice of surprising eloquence, a touching monument to tenacity and grit. And all would agree that it’s an impressive achievement, 72-by-34 feet of impressiveness, this greenhouse that’s risen from a parking lot, dwarfing the restaurant that gave rise to it. The idea for the 14-table outdoor dining pavilion was first suggested by co-owner Nicole Miller’s father, who works at Planting Fields Arboretum. The new dining area, which contains an aggressive ventilation system to pump air in and out of the facility, is sure to keep diners warm this winter. More info: 631-592-1905, restorationli.com

HAVE A LATE-SEASON LOBSTER PICNIC

Jordan Lobster Farms (1 Pettit Pl, Island Park): Lobster has long been the main attraction at this fish market and restaurant that’s been around for 45 years, but when we aren’t talking food, its outdoor patios steal the show. Overlooking Reynold’s Channel, the patios are split into two sections: one with table service (currently open), one with self-serve seating (currently closed for the season). Order classics such as lobster, soups, oysters and lobster rolls to enjoy with a backdrop that includes the original Ferris wheel from Nunley’s Amusement Park in Baldwin. Live music on some nights, too. More info: 516-889-3314, jordanlobsterfarms.com

WINE AND DINE ON THE ROOF

Roslyn Social (1363 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn): Nick Luisi and Sal Sorrentino have pivoted their original cocktails-first space to serve elevated pub food on a rooftop patio that seats up to 35, with at least two tables set inside large igloos. Munch on fried Asian calamari, drunken vodka pizza, Italian-style sushi rolls, lollipop lamb chops and fried chicken sandwiches. Don’t overlook the drinks, which include a spicy pineapple margarita, and fall-ready Bourbon Smash (with muddled berries, lemon juice ginger beer). Roslyn Social also has an uncovered outdoor lounge area on the ground level that seats up to 20 and is kept warm by standing patio heaters. More info: 516-801-4963, roslynsocial.com

GO ROMANTIC BY THE THEATER

Lola (113a Middle Neck Rd., Great Neck): What used to be a break room and storage area for staff at Lola's has been transformed into a romantic patio complete with hanging lights and candles tucked into a concrete wall. The area, converted for the first time into a patio, was made doable by the closing of Lola's neighbor, Great Neck Cinemas. It currently has only three tables, so reservations (made at least four days in advance) are recommended. More info: 516-466-5666, restaurantlola.com

STAY TOASTY, EAT STEAK

Blackstone Steakhouse (10 Pinelawn Rd., Melville): Blackstone’s polished dining room extends outdoors to a garden patio that features heated bluestone flooring, a perk the restaurant has had since 2012. Electric fire pits, small patio heaters and a retractable roof (with lights strung from it), plus plenty of greenery give off a warm and cozy feeling. New this season, though, is a tented area that's an extension of the garden patio. A third outdoor space — formerly the cigar lounge — has 10 tables and is unheated for now. Sister restaurant Rare 650 in Syosset, also has heated floors in its outdoor patio. More info: 631-271-7780, blackstonesteakhouse.com

GO FOR ATMOSPHERIC PIZZA

Cena 081 (103 Post Ave., Westbury): Its outdoor patio offers an eyeful of attractions, from a moderately sized waterfall to a wood-burning oven that churns out calzones, focaccia and pizza, including a Buffalo chicken bacon pizza, "Quattro Stagioni," with capicollo, anchovies, olives and mushrooms, and an artichoke, spinach, Gorgonzola pizza. About 20 tables make up the area, which features light music, some standing heaters and a fire pit. A lounge occupies the space just outside of the restaurant’s back door. More info: 516-385-3795.

KEEPING THE HEAT INSIDE, OUTDOORS

Amici (304 Route 25A, Mount Sinai): Scoring a table and a parking spot at this 25-year-old restaurant has never been easier. The restaurant’s 800 square-foot patio, which can seat up to 32 people, is now joined by a makeshift 4,000-square-foot outdoor dining area that’s set up with 30 tables. Amici recently added to its tented areas, fire pits and standing heaters, as well as overhead infrared heaters. More info: 631-473-2400, amicirestaurant.org

A TENTED WINTER WONDERLAND

Beginnings Bar & Restaurant (1986 Park St., Atlantic Beach): This literature-themed restaurant has taken part of its parking lot and turned it into a tented winter wonderland featuring Christmas trees, lights, ornaments, light-up Santa and snowmen, and … naturally, typewriters. The space is heated by blow heaters and accommodates four to six people at 12 tables. Reservations required. There’s an al fresco area set up in front of the stand-alone building — outside, no tent — with only heat lamps. More info: 516-239-7483, beginningsrestaurant.com

WINE TASTING IN AN IGLOO

RG | NY (6025 Sound Ave., Riverhead): A weather-appropriate day spent at a vineyard in December is a treat in itself. RG | NY has introduced vine-side igloos just outside its tasting room. The heated domes — there are five — are furnished with chairs for up to eight people, end tables and a coffee table, plus lighting. RG | NY offers table service to the igloos, where guests can order from the tasting room’s menu (flights, bottles, platters and more). Reservations (two and a half-hour slots) are required on the weekends; first come, first served during the week. Each reservation comes with a bottle of sparkling white wine. More info: 631-298-0075, rgnywine.com