Long Island restaurants decorated for Christmas, holiday season

North Pole temperatures have been hitting Long Island hard, but the following eateries have gone to huge lengths to transport guests to a winter wonderland and get diners in the holiday spirit.

NASSAU COUNTY RESTAURANTS

King Umberto

1343 Hempstead Tpke., Elmont

This Italian American eatery dazzles with over 200 snowflakes and seven chandeliers adorning the patio, immersing diners holiday. Anthony DeFiore, lead decorator for the event decoration company NY Backdrops, said the process took about four nights with 20 decorators working almost 30 hours total to transform the space. More info: 516-352-3232, kingumberto.com

Embassy Diner

4280 Hempstead Tpke., Bethpage

Embassy Diner is bursting with holiday cheer. Diners are immersed in wreaths, garlands, snowflakes, ornaments and lights hanging above each booth. Owner Gus Tsiorvas said it takes about three weeks for the decorations to be completed, at a cost of thousands of dollars. New additions this year include a six-foot nutcracker in the vestibule and an additional Christmas tree outside. More info: 516-796-1132, embassydiner.com 

Milleridge Inn

585 N. Broadway, Jericho

This historic restaurant uses an in-house staff to erect Christmas trees and decorations around the restaurant and surrounding property including "singing" reindeer by the entrance and live carolers. The adjacent walk-through retail village is its own destination with new decorated dining igloos and an interactive candy shop. This year's updates include outdoor photo areas, new characters such as Mischief and Mayhem and new holiday bounce rides. More info: 516-931-2201, milleridgeinn.com

Vincent's Steakhouse

1919 Wantagh Ave, Wantagh

This American eatery has been decorating for the holidays for the past four years and has been improving each year, owner Vincent Luna said. There are two Christmas trees in the restaurant, plus a large Santa welcoming guests as they walk in. The restaurant has six large poinsettias and more than 100 ornaments. Luna said he spent more than $2,000 on the decor, which a staff of about 10 people a week to transform, starting before Thanksgiving. More info: 516-226-3485, vincentssteakhouse.com

SUFFOLK COUNTY RESTAURANTS

Country House Restaurant 

1175 North Country Rd., Stony Brook

Owner Bob Willemstyn and his business partner, Scott Wendt, take about a month to complete the transformation of the eatery into a wintery wonderland. Guests are greeted by two large 6-foot nutcrackers. Willemstyn said the eatery is decorated with at least 50,000 lights. More Info: 631-751-3332, countryhouserestaurant.com

The Snapper Inn

500 Shore Dr., Oakdale

This 95-year-old Oakdale restaurant has three artificial Christmas trees — including its signature upside-down tree hanging from the ceiling in the Connetquot dining room. General manager Kelly Blanchard said it takes three days to finalize the restaurant's decorations, which also include fresh garlands, poinsettias and bows. More info: 631-589-0248, thesnapperinn.com

Oconee Diner

749 Montauk Hwy., Islip 

Chef William Thompson has made a 40-year tradition of decorating Islip’s Oconee Diner. The restaurant shines with green and red lighting, wreaths, garlands, ornaments and more hanging over each table. Owner Spiro Karagiannis said this year there is a corral outside with Santa. The affair takes about 90 hours of work to pull off, Karagiannis said. More info: 631-581-2663

Mannino's Italian Kitchen and Lounge

2158 Jericho Turnpike, Commack

This Italian- American restaurant has been decorated with hundreds of feet of pre-lit garlands with dripping ornaments and snowflakes. On the second floor, guests can enjoy heavy design in the ceiling. Owner Joe Mannino said this was the first year he hired NY Backdrops for decorations, and it took them about 10 hours to complete. More info: 631-462-0909, manninosrestaurant.com

Bird on the Roof

47 S. Elmwood Ave., Montauk

This eatery at the end of the Island transports guests to whole different worlds including Whoville, Candyland, the North Pole and Harry Potter. The dining room includes 870 feet of Christmas lights and 2,000 ornaments hanging from the ceiling, with present galore on the shelves and walls. Owner Leo Daunt said some ornaments are from his great grandparents when they used to set up Christmas Villages at the adjacent hotel. Daunt said a team of three to six employees help set up the ornaments and decorations sometimes working up to 14 hour days. More info: 631-668-5833, birdontheroof.com