<p>A burger a day keeps the doctor away. It&#39;s not exactly sound medical advice, but it did help me eat the dozens of burgers required to produce this list of Long Island&#39;s standouts. Let&#39;s just say I take my work seriously. After getting so much feedback following the 2025 list, my&nbsp;first order of business this year was hitting all of the places Newsday&nbsp;readers said I&#39;d missed. I did that and more to create a new-and-improved guide for burger-lovers to work through.</p>


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<div class="description"> 
 <p>Bistro burgers are making a comeback and that's fine here. Of all the burger styles, a thick, juicy patty always reigns supreme. For the 1890 Burger ($27), the beef is dry-aged for 45 days and topped with a sharp Cheddar, harissa aioli and a ring of raw onion. The tangy bitter notes play against the savory beef. The bun is tall and pronounced. This is a burger with a capital B. The story goes that it was a secret menu item at the fine dining Mirabelle Tavern in Stony Brook, with popularity driving it to the menus at several Lessing's-owned restaurants like Sandbar in Cold Spring Harbor and Finnegan's pub in Huntington. I caught up with during happy hour at the stylish Bayberry gastropub in Islip, along with a glass of malbec for $6. Yes, please.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> McDonald's style fries included, straight out of the fryer and perfect.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <div class="description">
  <em>Bayberry:</em> 
  <address> <p>501 E. Main St., Islip</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-210-0011">631-210-0011</a><a href="https://www.bayberryislip.com">bayberryislip.com</a> 
  <p><em>Mirabelle Tavern:</em></p> 
  <address> <p>150 Main St., Stony Brook</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-751-0555">631-751-0555</a><a href="https://www.mirabelleatthreevillageinn.com">mirabelleatthreevillageinn.com</a> 
  <p><em>Sandbar:</em></p> 
  <address> <p>55 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-498-6188">631-498-6188</a><a href="https://www.sandbarcoldspringharbor.com">sandbarcoldspringharbor.com</a> 
  <p><em>Finnegan's:</em></p> 
  <address> <p>5 Wall St., Huntington</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-423-9696">631-423-9696</a><a href="https://www.finnegansny.com">finnegansny.com</a>
 </div> 
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FDBURGER_Lessings

1890 Burger at Lessing's restaurants

AIAudio - 1890 Burger at Lessing's restaurants


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<div class="description"> 
 <p>One Newsday reader sent me a strongly-worded email about smashburgers, comparing them to hockey pucks. After eating a lot of smashburgers in a row, I admit that it's difficult to tell a good smashburger from a great one. But if I may come to the smashburger defense, I enjoy when the edges get crispy and I also like the interplay of sauces and cheese. Is the one at Birdie Bar good or great? I'm not sure, but I really enjoyed being in this gorgeous bar and I think that should count for something. Also, it had two patties, my preference, and came with curly fries, which an Arby's girl can get behind. I loved it.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> Did I mention curly fries come with it?</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>688 Fort Salonga Rd., Northport</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-686-3713">631-686-3713</a> <a href="https://birdiebarnpt.com/">birdiebarnpt.com</a>
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FDBURGERS_BirdieBar

Smashburger at Birdie Bar

AIAudio - Smashburger at Birdie Bar


<div class="description"> 
 <p>Over the summer, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/no-good-burger-rockville-centre-hb9mxlaz">the Erickson brothers opened a new No Good Burger Joint</a> in Rockville Centre that focuses more on smashburgers. You won't go wrong with either the thicker steakburgers or the smashburgers. You can get the impressive mushroom Swiss smashburger at both locations. (There's also a food truck with a shorter menu that parks at the Southgate Shopping Center in Massapequa.) The plump 'shrooms are contained under the Martin's potato roll and the cheese melts over the crispy burger edges in the most wonderful way ($23 for a double).</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> Fries come in a basket on the side, and are fatter like steak fries.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>930 Atlantic Ave., Baldwin</p> </address> <a href="tel:516-442-5434">516-442-5434</a> 
 <address> <p>88 N. Village Ave., Rockville Centre</p> </address> <a href="tel:516-208-7661">516-208-7661</a> <a href="https://www.ngbjrvcny.com">ngbjrvcny.com</a>
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FDBURGER_NoGood

Mushroom Swiss smashburger at No Good Burger Joint

AIAudio - Mushroom Swiss smashburger at No Good Burger Joint


<div class="description"> 
 <p>I heard from a few readers after the legendary Peter Luger burger was left off the list last year. (In my defense, I had an excellent burger nearby at the now-closed Kai burgers and Dumplings in Great Neck.) So here's the verdict: This half-pound dry aged steak burger with raw onion has inspired many imitators including the fabulous Sag Harbor Tavern, also on this list. And while Sag Harbor Tavern has dialed it in more, nobody matches Peter Luger's old New York vibe. And nowhere else is serving schlag for dessert. So it's worth visiting at lunchtime (burgers are only available until 4 p.m.), and get it with that thick-cut bacon on the side ($38.80), plus a dirty martini.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> Steak fries are thick and potato-y, but unfortunately weren't straight from the fryer on my visit.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>255 Northern Blvd., Great Neck</p> </address> <a href="tel:516-487-8800">516-487-8800</a><a href="https://peterluger.com">peterluger.com</a>
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FDBURGER_PeterLuger

Bacon cheeseburger at Peter Luger Steak House

AIAudio - Bacon cheeseburger at Peter Luger Steak House


<div class="description"> 
 <p>Readers recommended this burger more than any other, and after a visit to this old school Irish pub, I can see why. If you're going to eat one burger on Long Island, may it be Reese's 1900. And may you tear up in happiness like I did after consuming this perfect patty, pink and running with juices on the inside ($19.61). It's all about the balance here. The bun is soft and pliant, no hint of dryness. The bacon is present but just adds some salty savoriness without interrupting the flow. There's a blanket of blue cheese, so soft it's almost like a sauce, with brown marks from the broiler. It was my third meal in a row but I finished it all. No beer needed.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> Reese's thick pub fries are very good.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>70 N. Ocean Ave., Patchogue</p> </address> <a href="tel:631-289-1900">631-289-1900</a><a href="https://www.reeses1900.com/">reeses1900.com</a>
</footer>

FDBURGERS_Reeses1900

1900 Burger at Reese's 1900

AIAudio - 1900 Burger at Reese's 1900


FDBURGERS2026_REESES 1900.jpg

<div class="description"> 
 <p>This tiny old-school joint has an ambitious menu with burgers from all 50 states. That said, a food historian might have some quibbles: No avocado on the California burger, and the New Mexico is topped with homemade chili, but not the green kind. So, which one do you order? The server’s favorite was the Arkansas ($14.75), with American cheese, saut&eacute;ed onions and bacon, and authentic or not, it’s flavorful. The half-pound patty is griddled and steamed to a perfect medium-rare on the flattop, with rings of slightly cooked onions on top. Goes best with a Diet Coke.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation: </strong>Each platter comes with fat, awesome steak fries. Cash only.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>326A Sunrise Hwy., Rockville Centre</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-766-2227">516-766-2227</a>
 <a href="http://americanburgersrvc.com">americanburgersrvc.com</a>
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FDBURGER_American

Nassau

Arkansas Burger at American Burgers

<div class="description"> 
 <p>Some of the most interesting burgers are coming out of <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/pakistani-burgers-long-island-f6zg035x">late-night halal joints</a>. Take the Pakistani smash burger, a spellbinding mix of punchy sauces and melted cheese. Dreamed up by chef Suqlain Abbas, this Bahadur ($9.99) consists of two three-ounce beef patties smashed thin and loaded with pepper Jack cheese and a cayenne sauce, then finished with whisper-thin slices of jalape&ntilde;o. The patties are laced with a spice blend and minced with chopped onions, recalling the famous Pakistani chapli kebab, which is also flat but often eaten with naan. The Bahadur (“brave person” in Urdu) was so loosely packed and oily it required a fork.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation: </strong>The seasoned fries ($5) are excellent.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>263B Meacham Ave., Elmont</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-270-2803">516-270-2803</a>
 <a href="http://amirsrestaurant.com">amirsrestaurant.com</a>
</footer>

FDBURGER_Amirs

Bahadur Smash Burger at Amir's

<div class="description"> 
 <p>This is the era of the smash burger, but often that just means a very thin patty without much smash at all. Not so at BRGRS, a succinctly named <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/brgrs-huntington-a049jc8m">spot in Huntington</a> owned by the Singh family. It only has a few tables but still manages to put out the tastiest burger in this restaurant-obsessed town. (Vauxhall gets an honorable mention.) The key to greatness is the assertive smash, which creates those crispy edges we all crave. The burgers here are also small and simple, and the menu isn’t much larger than that at the California-based cult chain In-N-Out Burger. The main event is the classic smashed ($8) with sweet caramelized onions, American cheese and a thick pickle slice. For a better meat-to-bread ratio, get the double ($11).</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation: </strong>Long and thin, like McDonald’s in the best way. Worth a full order ($5).</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>392 New York Ave., Huntington</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-470-2013">631-470-2013</a>Instagram:
 <a href="https://www.instagram.com/brgrshuntington/">@brgrshuntington</a>
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FDBURGER_BRGRS

Suffolk

Classic Smashed Double at BRGRS

<div class="description"> 
 <p>With its bohemian-chic atmosphere and elegant list of small plates, <a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/lost-found-sea-long-beach-review-jmgrzl34">Lost &amp; Found</a> doesn’t seem like the most natural spot for a burger on a bun, even if the beef is freshly ground. But although the handwritten paper menu changes every couple of months, you’ll rarely find it without the burger ($21), because loyal customers would revolt. And the experience of sitting at the chef’s counter sipping a glass of Austrian red wine and feeling the blasts of heat coming off the grill as you watch your patty sizzle is fabulous. Better cheese doesn’t always make for a better burger, by the way, but here melted Gruy&egrave;re adds a richness that pushes this deeply flavored patty into overdrive. And boy, is it rare.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> The potato-y frites that come with the plate are golden brown and “oh, so French.”</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>951 W. Beech St., Long Beach</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-442-2606">516-442-2606</a>Instagram:
 <a href="http://www.instagram.com/lostandfoundlbny/">@lostandfoundlbn</a>
</footer>

FDBURGER_LostFound

Bistro Burger at Lost & Found

<div class="description"> 
 <p>There can be no great burger list without the patty melt, a compact burger that some may even say is more of a sandwich. The beloved diner staple has recently become a hipster affair, but the best is still at Mitchell’s Diner, which traces its roots to 1938 in Valley Stream. The beef is minced by hand every day and charbroiled until it gets a crisp black outer layer. It’s then stacked with saut&eacute;ed mushrooms, onions and American cheese that gushes around the sides. The bread, crisp from the grill, holds everything together. One of nearly 20 “beefburgers” on offer, this patty melt ($18.99) is a meaty, cheesy masterpiece.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation: </strong>Diner fries come with the plate and are hot from the fryer.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>2710 Long Beach Rd., Oceanside</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:516-255-9544">516-255-9544</a>
 <a href="http://mitchellsdiner.com">mitchellsdiner.com</a>
</footer>

FDBURGER_Mitchells

Patty Melt at Mitchell's Diner

<div class="description"> 
 <p><a href="https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/restaurants/sag-harbor-tavern-th2vg0gx">Sag Harbor Tavern</a> is closed until spring, but the burger here—a breathtaking tribute to the carnal power of red meat—is worth putting on your seasonal bucket list. Based on the legendary burger at Peter Luger, it features a whopping patty of dry-aged beef graced with nothing more than American cheese and a thick bed of raw onion ($30). Chef Billy Durney brought it over from his other noteworthy establishment, the Red Hook Tavern in Brooklyn, where it’s the star of the show. The scene at the American Legion building in Sag Harbor has its own charms, mainly the water view and the people-watching.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation: </strong>The round cottage fries get points for creativity.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>26 Bay St., Sag Harbor</p> </address> 
 <a href="http://sagharbortavern.com">sagharbortavern.com</a>
</footer>

FDBURGER_SagHarbor

Dry-Aged Sag Harbor Tavern Burger at Sag Harbor Tavern

<div class="description"> 
 <p>Sit at the vintage mirror-lined bar, underneath the bison head. That way you’ll get the full Tweed’s experience, which is equal parts cowboy and Tammany Hall. The ornate barroom has been in the John J. Sullivan Hotel in Riverhead since 1896. It’s now owned by Ed Tuccio, who sources meat from his very own bison farm just a few miles away. The bison burger ($24) features an entire pound of meat, juicy and tender. When the server suggested ordering it with American cheese, it felt scandalous but turned out to be a good choice, as the cheese melted well onto that massive patty.</p> 
 <p><strong>French fry situation:</strong> The steak fries on this plate were so thick, they were practically quartered potatoes.</p> 
</div> 
<footer> 
 <address> <p>17 E. Main St., Riverhead</p> </address> 
 <a href="tel:631-208-3151">631-208-3151</a>
 <a href="http://tweedsrestaurantriverhead.com">tweedsrestaurantriverhead.com</a>
</footer>

FDBURGER_Tweeds

Bison Burger at Tweed's

Best burgers on Long Island 2026

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12 best burgers on LI

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<p>While reporting on Newsday&#39;s best burgers list, Newsday food writer Andi Berlin visited Reese&#39;s 1900 in Patchogue.&nbsp;</p>


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This Patchogue pub made Newsday's best burgers list

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"If you get the vibe, it just makes everything better'

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