Eight local restaurants made the cut of Newsday’s list of the 100 best Long Island eateries of 2014.
Perennial North Fork favorites Noah’s and North Fork Table and Inn were named as well as Shelter Island’s 18 Bay and Cinco de Mayo in Calverton and Taqueria Mexico in downtown Riverhead.
Three of the eight — Joe’s Garage and Grill, Maple Tree BBQ and North Fork Bacon and Smokehouse — are local barbecue joints.
The list was compiled by Newsday food writers Peter M. Gianotti, Erica Marcus and Joan Reminick.
In the introduction to this year’s class, the writers called 2014 a “year of small plates, big brews, high risks, low prices and enough openings and closings to make so many meals out seem like yesterday’s news.”
The list, which features vibrant photographs of dishes at all the named restaurants, does not rank the eateries.
Maple Tree deli owner Kevin Judge said he was honored to have his Riverhead establishment named among Long Island’s best.
He attributed his success to “reasonable prices and creative style with regards to barbecue.”
“People like this genre of food,” he said. “It’s not just barbecue. It’s excellent cooking technique. You have to treat the smoke like any other ingredient. There’s a balance.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this post did not include Taqueria Mexico in downtown Riverhead
