If the results of our readers’ choice poll for Best of the North Fork is any indication, our readers like to start their days off in Mattituck with breakfast at Love Lane Kitchen or a sweet treat at nearby North Fork Doughnut Co.
When they’re feeling healthy, they might head a bit farther east for a juice at The Giving Room in Southold or to pick up produce at Sang Lee Farms in Peconic.
The Best of the North Fork results are in and we’re happy to report our readers have great taste.
For the month of July we asked readers to vote in 58 categories, choosing from our staff choices for Best of the North Fork winners in food, wine, outdoors and more. All told, several thousand votes were cast in the inaugural Reader’s Choice contest.
Voting in some of the categories was close. Take for example Best Date Spot, in which American Beech in Greenport narrowly outpaced its equally impressive neighbor The Frisky Oyster.
Best Deli was another close matchup, with Ammirati’s in Mattituck finishing a handful of votes ahead of the nearby Wendy’s Deli. It’s likely no surprise both places, which maintain a particularly friendly rivalry, fared well in the contest. Just like it’s no shocker Southold Fish Market handily claimed a pair of readers’ choice awards for Best Seafood Spot and Best Lobster Roll.
The Main Road market and restaurant wasn’t the only double “Best Of” winner. Hellenic Snack Bar and Restaurant in East Marion was the top vote getter for both Best Family Restaurant and Best Mainstay; Lucharitos in Greenport and its younger sibling Little Lucharitos in Aquebogue won for Best Mexican and Latin Food and Best Takeout Spot, respectively; Lombardi’s Love Lane Market in Mattituck claimed top honors for Best Market and Best Caterer; and North Fork Table and Inn bested the competition for Best Special Occasion Restaurant and Best Food Truck.
Of course the awards didn’t just recognize the best in food and one local restaurant showed they serve up both good eats and drinks. That would be New Suffolk’s Legends, which our readers selected for Best Wings and Best Sports Bar.
The drink categories produced a wide variety of Readers’ Choice selections. Brix & Rye in Greenport was voted Best Cocktail Spot a short walk away from Claudio’s Waterfront, the Best Place to Grab a Drink.
Our readers also selected Macari Vineyards in Mattituck as Best Winery and Croteaux Vineyards in Southold for Best Tasting Room. Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. claimed bragging rights for Best Brewery and North Fork Roasting Company was Best Coffee House.
Below is the complete list of readers’ choice poll winners for our “eat and drink” categories. Check back Wednesday for the “live and breathe” selections.
EAT
Best Breakfast and Brunch Spot: Love Lane Kitchen, Mattituck
Best Deli: Ammirati’s of Love Lane, Mattituck
Best Date Spot: American Beech, Greenport
Best Takeout Spot: Little Lucharitos, Aquebogue
Best Mainstay: Hellenic Snack Bar and Restaurant, East Marion
Best for Healthy Eating: The Giving Room, Southold
Best Market: Lombardi’s Love Lane Market, Mattituck
Best Special Occasion Restaurant: North Fork Table and Inn, Southold
Best Seafood Spot: Southold Fish Market, Southold
Best Waterfront Dining: The Halyard, Greenport
Best Family Restaurant: Hellenic Snack Bar and Restaurant, East Marion
Best Chef: Noah Schwartz, Noah’s, Greenport
Best Food Truck: North Fork Food Truck, Southold
Best Farm Stand: Sang Lee Farms, Peconic
Best Caterer: Lombardi’s Love Lane Market, Mattituck
Best Mexican and Latin Food: Lucharitos, Greenport
Best Asian Food: Tony’s Fusion North, Mattituck
Best Italian Food: Il Giardino by John Gambino, Aquebogue
Best Pies: Briermere Farms, Riverhead
Best Ice Cream Spot: Magic Fountain, Mattituck
Best Sweets & Treats: North Fork Doughnut Co., Mattituck
Best Bagels: Goldberg’s Famous Bagels, locations in Jamesport, Mattituck and Greenport
Best Gourmet Pizza: 1943 Pizza Bar, Greenport
Best Burger: Barrow Food House, Aquebogue
Best Wings: Legends, New Suffolk
Best Lobster Roll: Southold Fish Market, Southold
DRINK
Best Winery: Macari Vineyards, Mattituck
Best Tasting Room: Croteaux Vineyards, Southold
Best Brewery: Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., Greenport and Peconic
Best Spirits: LIV Long Island Spirits, Baiting Hollow
Best Cocktail Spot: Brix & Rye, Greenport
Best Sports Bar: Legends, New Suffolk
Best Place to Grab a Drink: Claudio’s Waterfront, Greenport
Best Tea or Coffee House: North Fork Roasting Company, Southold
Best Winemaker: Kareem Massoud, Paumanok and Palmer Vineyards, both in Aquebogue
