Fall North Fork Restaurant Guide
The North Fork is known for lush farms and vineyards, and fall is known for being harvest time. Ergo, harvest time on the North Fork means lots of farm–to–table specials and delish additions to restaurant menus. The towns and villages are bursting with award-wining chefs and hometown favorites. Meals are more than just food to be consumed they’re events to be savored. Any of these restaurants on this list will help you do just that.
While at Ammirati’s of Love Lane, (ammiratisoflovelane.com, 631-298-7812) the Mattituck deli, try The Chew, with two eggs, kielbasa and cheese. Other specialties include cinnamon raisin French toast; seared sesame ahi tuna wrap; and the chicken paradise with breaded chicken cutlet, melted American cheese, bacon, lettuce and tomato with Thousand Island dressing on a roll.
The Birchwood of Polish Town (thebirchwoodofpolishtown.com, 631-904-0580, American & Polish) in Riverhead offers 15 beers on tap, pub style. Their full lunch and dinner menu features American favorites as well as Polish delicacies.
On the Greenport waterfront, Claudio’s Restaurant (claudios.com, 631-477-0627, American) is the oldest, same-family-run restaurant in the United States. Also check out Claudio’s Clam Bar and its Crabby Jerry’s eatery—each offers a different dining ambience. Try the clam chowder!
Cliff’s Elbow Room (elbowroomli.com, 631-722-3292, Steak & Seafood) in Jamesport and Laurel (631-298-3262) serves the best aged and marinated steak, freshest seafood and local wines, in a casual, warm atmosphere.
The Cooperage Inn in Baiting Hollow (cooperageinn.com, 631-727-8994, American & Seafood) provides scenic wine country dining and menus with something for everyone. Sunday Brunch includes one complimentary mimosa or Bloody Mary per guest, while Girls Night Out every Wednesday offers $5 cosmos and $15 bottles of wine. Pub grub like burgers and wings are available in the tap room during happy hour every weekday. There is also a prix fixe menu available daily during the afternoon, in addition to traditional lunch and dinner menus.
Riverhead’s Dark Horse Restaurant (darkhorseriverhead.com, 631-208-0072, American) serves up a deliciously eclectic menu with local fare and flair, plus delicious gluten-free breads and desserts.
The Frisky Oyster (thefriskyoyster.com, 631-477-4265, American) in Greenport offers an array of menu options, from seafood to duck to steak, including the famous Oysters Friskafella.
The owners of the Moriches favorite Greek Bites Grill & Café (greekbitesgrill.com, 631-315-5353) opened a Mattituck location at the 10095 Main Road shopping center in January. The 16-seat restaurant focuses on counter service and take-out for lunch, including gyros, spanakopita, spinach pies, tzatziki, kebobs and fried goat cheese.
The long-awaited Hampton Coffee Company (hamptoncoffeecompany.com, 631-779-2862, Café) opened last July on Main Road in Aquebogue. Hampton Coffee Company also has cafes in Southampton, Water Mill and Westhampton Beach and sells its locally roasted coffee far and wide.
Harbor Hall at the Ram’s Head Inn (theramsheadinn.com, 631-749-0811, New American & Seafood) offers a “seasonally-focused, farm to table menu [that] is New American and seafood heavy.” Enjoy fine dining inside or out and catch breathtaking sunset views. Relax in our cool cocktail lounge, Harbor Hall, or watch the sunset on our Great Lawn to the swingin’ sounds of live jazz from Jane Hastay. Every Sunday through Columbus Day, 6 p.m., no cover.
The Jamesport Country Kitchen, Christopher Michael Catering and Twin Forks Catering (jamesportmanorinn.com, 631-722-0500) have all moved to Jamesport Manor Inn, 370 Manor Lane, Jamesport, where the Kar family continues to serve farm-to-table food and local wine and beer.
The ever-popular Jedediah Hawkins Inn (jedediahhawkinsinn.com, 631-722-2900, American) in Jamesport incorporates local foods, many of which are grown on the grounds, into innovative gourmet dishes. The Speakeasy Menu is available from 5 p.m. to close.
At a waterfront location in the heart of downtown Riverhead, Joe’s Garage & Grill (joesgarageandgrill.com, 631-591-3330, American) offers live music, mixed drinks and craft beers. Chef Brian Burner incorporates southern flavors and concepts into his homemade East End comfort food. Authentic memorabilia, hand-painted murals and a heated patio add to the inviting and fun atmosphere.
Lombardi’s Love Lane Market, (lombardislovelanemarket.com, 631-298-9500, Italian) 170 Love Lane, Mattituck, is part of the Long Island-based Lombardi’s group of Italian restaurants, markets and sauce makers. The market offers a variety of sandwiches and panini, plus wood-fired pizza with seasonal ingredients. Catering is also available.
Modern Snack Bar in Aquebogue (modernsnackbar.com, 631-722-3655, American & Seafood) has been a North Fork landmark for great home cooking since 1950. In addition to tasty burgers and sandwiches, their menu includes East End favorites such as roasted duck, fresh flounder, and their famous lobster salad. Enjoy the meal with a glass of local wine or an ice cold draft beer. Don’t forget to take home a fresh baked pie!
Love barbeque? You can’t go wrong with Maple Tree BBQ (mapletreebbq.com, 631-727-2819, BBQ) in Riverhead. Known for their succulent ribs and pulled pork dishes cooked low and slow, they also offer an array of traditional sides including corn bread and collard greens.
If you have a hankering for small plates, check out NOAH’S (chefnoahs.com, 631-477-6720, American) in Greenport for an array of seafood dishes and adventurous American entrées.
At the North Fork Table & Inn (nofoti.com, 631-765-0177, American) in Southold, Chef Stephan Bogadus crafts a menu featuring locally grown biodynamic and organic produce, the freshest seafood from the Peconic Bay and Long Island Sound and award-winning North Fork artisanal cheese. The restaurant’s American cuisine has been described by many as “unforgettable.”
At Red Maple at The Chequit (thechequit.com/redmaple, 631-749-0183), enjoy dishes such as smoked bluefish rillettes or spinach panzanella in the “minimalist rustic atmosphere,” all while taking in the breathtaking water views.
Nestled on the Peconic River in Riverhead, dine inside or out at Roadhouse Pizza (roadhousepizza.com, 631-315-2899, Italian) while enjoying brick oven pizza, fresh salads, pasta and hot and cold heroes made to order. Gluten-free pizza and pasta and beer and wine available.
Sweet Tomato’s (sweettomatos.net, 631-749-4114, Italian) offers traditional Italian cuisine featuring a curated wine list of Italian and American wines, crafted cocktails, and an extensive beer selection. At 15 Grand Avenue in Shelter Island Heights, Sweet Tomato’s is within walking distance from the North Ferry.
Tweed’s Restaurant & Buffalo Bar (tweedsrestaurant.com, 631-237-8120, American), in historic Riverhead’s J.J. Sullivan Hotel, serves the finest local food specialties and wines. Tweed’s is also home to a variety of delicious and healthy bison dishes. Don’t miss Teddy Roosevelt’s bison head hanging over the fireplace!
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