From classic pubs to gastropubs and smoking good BBQ, Long Island, NY is slowly but surely blending its food culture with the neighboring boroughs of Brooklyn, Queens and NYC. Sometimes you can get that variety of style in just one town. While I'm also known as a "Wing Hunter," this adventure twists and turns with chicken wings, burgers, cocktails and more!
Here are 7 restaurants that will make your eyes drool.
1. LI Pour House - Port Jefferson
LI Pour House is the place to go for amazing BBQ, a self-serve craft beer bar and great atmosphere. Cook Joseph Festinger who trained with BBQ specialist Myron Mixon, brings the great down south BBQ taste to Long Island with a twist on modern American dishes. The wings are road trip worthy, winning first place in the traditional category at the NY Best Wings Festival. The Chipotle Buffalo, Coconut Glaze, Smoked Pour House BBQ, and Hawaiian Habanero are insanely good. Bring on the BBQ nachos and all the works while I drool over their stacked menu.
Award Winning Wings
Chipotle Buffalo, Coconut Glaze, Smoked Pour House BBQ and Hawaiian Habanero
BBQ Nachos w/ Tender Beef Brisket
Pour House Smoked BBQ Wings
2. Cabo - Rockville Centre
This hot spot brings together the traditional and eclectic styles of Mexico, sourcing fresh ingredients, all natural meats, poultry and sustainable seafood. The atmosphere is lively and fun while also providing a great nightlife experience. The Rainbow Italian Ice Margarita is a great twist on a margarita, authentically served with a wooden spoon. The sizzling fajitas is a classic dish I love. Cabo's version has hearty and juicy slices of marinated steak, making it stand out from others I have had. Their Honey Agave Wings are baked and then chargrilled, making them very tender.
Fajitas
Honey Agave Wings
Rainbow Italian Ice Margarita
2. EAT Gastropub - Oceanside
EAT Gastropub uses organic grass-fed beef, fresh produce from their own greenhouse, and other homemade or locally sourced foods and condiments. EAT offers 24 Craft Beers on tap (and changes them up weekly), as well as original artisanal cocktails created by world-renowned mixologist, Willy Shine. The "Cure - All", is a bacon double cheeseburger between 2 grilled cheese sandwiches topped with crispy potato sticks and sriracha bacon-ranch dressing. It is just as amazing as it looks, juicy, cheesy and bacon-y! Their "Buffacue" Wings are a fusion take on Buffalo wings blended with BBQ goodness. They are totally bangin' and very tender. The Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls are so yummy I could eat about a million of them!
Cure-All Burger
"Buffacue" Wings
Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls
Mexican Rumble, All in my Negril (Delicious Cocktails!!)
3. Parlay Gastropub - Rockville Centre
Parlay Gastropub offers a creative, high-quality food menu, an extensive specialty cocktail list and 40 craft beers. With delectable dinner and brunch menus, flat screen TVs to watch the game and a vivacious party atmosphere. The Cowboy Burger is incredible with manchego cheese, BBQ sauce, fried egg, bacon and onion rings on a brioche bun. The Sweet Chili wings rock, with a perfectly crisp texture, sweet citrus flavor and a very slight kick of heat.
Cowboy Burger
Sweet Chili Wings
4. Kasey's Kitchen & Cocktails - Rockville Centre
Having just won Best Wings in Rockville Centre at Wings & OktoBeerFest, Chef Ronnie serves up delicious food including his new Water Buffalo Wings. A take on a classic with a sweet front end and spicy chipotle back end. The Kung Pao wings ring through with flavors of ginger and crunchy peanut garnish. The Disco Burger is mad good, topped with mozzarella, golden french fries and brown gravy. Served with crispy waffle fries on the side, it's flippin awesome like Diner and Gastropub fusion. I really enjoyed the Rooftop 32 cocktail with Red Berry Vodka, muddled blueberries, strawberries and a splash of sprite. It's a zippy drink with great flavor.
Disco Burger
Side of Waffle Fries
Water Buffalo Wings
Kung Pao Wings
Rooftop 32
6. Cannon's Blackthorn - Rockville Centre
The classic pub lives on with household dishes like Fish & Chips, Shepherd's Pie and Stuffed Burgers. Pouring cold beers and serving apps a plenty, Blackthorn's is known as a favorite spot in Rockville Centre. Plan your wing and beer crawl with your entourage and load up at the spacious bar and restaurant. The Nagahama and Jalapeno Marmalade wings have a great crispy texture and go down easy while watching the game or knocking back brews with the crew.
Nagahama Wings
Jalapeno Marmalade Wings
7. Swingbelly's BBQ - Long Beach
Swingbelly's understands that "Love" is what BBQ is all about. Like their smokey and sweet Buckboard Bacon loved up in a chipotle honey glaze. Pulled pork sliders that are out of this world and their famous jumbo wings, known as "Swingz." These beauties are rubbed up with spices, pit smoked then flash fried for a crispy and juicy finish. They are truly "AmazeWing." Saying that it is a unique spot for brunch is an understatement. The Smokehouse Benedict with Buckboard Bacon, fried green tomatoes, poached egg, and BBQ hollandaise sauce is a foodie high fix with all the feels.
Pulled Pork Slider
Buckboard Bacon
"Swingz"
Smokehouse Benedict
Below check out Swingbelly's BBQ on, "Wing Hunters" Show, as they lead this pack of great spots to the NY Best Wings Festival of 2016!
Wing Hunters Ep 1. - Swingbelly's BBQ