Going with the flow in Riverhead
Have you ever listened to Petula Clark’s “Downtown”? The oldie, released in 1964, is a celebration of life in New York City. But the song is also apt for Riverhead, whose downtown is evolving and growing thanks to a multimillion-dollar grant from the federal government. But there’s more to Riverhead than just the main drag—so spend the day exploring the up-and-coming-back East End town with this handy guide.
EAT
The Birchwood of Polish Town (512 Pulaski St., 631-727-4449, thebirchwoodofpolishtown.com) is open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The restaurant has menu items like the Polish Reuben with smoked kielbasa.
Mexicandy (221 E. Main St., 631-591-0226, paleteriamexicandy.com) is one of Riverhead’s most unique stops, with cool Mexican desserts and snacks. The tosti locos, for example, comprise taco fixings — meat and all — in a portable bag of Doritos or Tostitos.
Star Confectionary (4 E. Main St., 631-727-9873) is an old-fashioned breakfast and lunch spot with a soda counter in operation since 1920.
Tweed’s Restaurant & Buffalo Bar (17 E. Main St., 631-237-8120, tweedsrestaurantriverhead.com) is a steakhouse with a twist. This long-running restaurant — Tweed’s opened in 1896 — is known for its bison menu, from steak to burgers.
DRINK
Übergeek Brewing Company (400 Hallett Ave., Riverhead, 631-381-0848, ubergeekbrewing.com) is a beer lover and nerd’s paradise. Übergeek is known for eclectic and constantly changing beers on tap. Übergeek also hosts the popular Geek Talk lecture series on everything from biology to true crime.
Riverhead Brew House (221 E. Main St., 631-212-1265, riverheadbrewhouse.com) recently opened with a menu of draft beer and seasonal craft cocktails, along with gastropub-style offerings.
PLAY
Long Island Aquarium (431 E. Main St., 631-208-9200, longislandaquarium.com) has sharks and penguins and otters, oh my! Exploring the property can be a full-day adventure, with demonstrations and experiences like selfies with sea lions and penguins.
Game On Retro Arcade (200 Tanger Mall Dr., 631-381-0001, gameonmp.com/arcade) is a gamer’s dream. This arcade is filled to the brim with vintage machines, including some rare games straight from Japan.
The Suffolk (118 E. Main St., 631-727-4343, thesuffolk.com) is a theater and music venue with two full bars and a small-bites menu to enjoy while you rock out to various acts, from quality cover bands to celebrated musicians.
East End Arts (133 E. Main St., 631-727-0900, eastendarts.org) is a nonprofit arts group in Riverhead with multiple galleries, year-round multimedia programming, as well as comprehensive educational music and art programs for kids and adults.
Suffolk County Historical Society (300 W. Main St., 631-727-2881, suffolkcountyhistoricalsociety.org) was founded in 1886 and has since grown to include exhibitions, galleries, artifacts and information related to Suffolk County’s history.
