Northforker Best Of 2025: EAT!
by northforker
One of the great things about living on and visiting the East End is the notion that small businesses aren’t merely alive and well here—they’re an important part of your North Fork community. They add flavor (literally!), color, creativity, beauty, thoughtful gift-giving, spaces to get in shape, places to park your boat (or buy one) and pretty much anything else you can dream up. It’s not just something we celebrate here at Northforker, it’s something we live — our parent company, Times Review Media, is a small, family-owned business, too. Many of you have popped by our offices in Mattituck for a paper or a magazine, or maybe to take an ad, provide a news tip or even chat up our staff. We get it; small businesses matter in places like this.
And everyone’s got favorites — us included. Each year we spend months debating, discussing and visiting the possible choices of who will make it into our annual Best Of the North Fork issue. We don’t take this lightly! And sometimes, we’re even still mulling it all over right up to the last minute. But that just means we’ve got some really great choices on our hands. Each year, we make five top picks that stood out to us — and this year, to make it as fair-and-square as possible, we put all the businesses in alphabetical order. There are no top dogs here; just five fantastic options in each category. On the following pages, you’ll find our annual top picks across the North Fork, from the best places for photo-worthy waterfront dining and drinks with friends to the best hiking trails, hardware stores, gift shops, fitness spots, wineries and so much more. Let the Bests begin!
EAT
Best Asian Cuisine
From straight-up authentic Japanese cuisine to delicious, creative sushi interpretations, these are the picks for the East End’s favorite Asian tastemakers.
Haiku Sushi
40 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-777, haikuriverhead.com
Maroni
54195 Main Road, Southold, maronicuisine.com
Opties and Dinghies
87 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 917-822-1230, optiesanddinghies.com
Stirling Sake
477 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-6782, stirlingsake.com
Tony’s Asian Fusion
9650 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-2158, tonysfusionnorthmattituck.com
Best Bagel
Toasted or not? Savory or sweet? Seeded or plain? Shmeared or buttered? Rise and shine (or afternoon dine!) on New York’s favorite bread hero.
Bean and Bagel
4426 Middle Country Road, Calverton, 631-237-8979, beanandbagelcafe.com
Black Sheep Bagels
1451 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-779-2914
31000 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-735-9998
East End Bagel Cafe
46455 Middle Road, Southold, 631-765-1462, mknxonline.com
Eccentric Bagel
25 West Neck Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-5363, eccentricbagel.com
Goldberg’s
Mattituck, Greenport, Riverhead, theoriginalgoldbergsbagels.com
Best Breakfast or Brunch
It’s the most important meal of the day! Go get you some at one of our beloved brekkie spots.
Bruce & Son
208 Main St., Greenport, bruceandsongreenport.com
Crazy Beans
2 Front St., Greenport, 631-333-2436, crazybeansrestaurant.com
Love Lane Kitchen
240 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-8989, lovelanekitchen.com
Main Road Biscuit
1601 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-779-3463, mainroadbiscuitco.com
Ram’s Head Inn
108 S. Ram Island Drive, Shelter Island, 631-749-0811
Best Burger
These sizzling patty-slinging spots put the urge in burger!
Barrow Food House
452 Main Road, Riverhead, 631-779-3379, barrowfoodhouse.com
Cliff’s Elbow Room
1549 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-722-3292, cliffselbowroom.com
Isola
15 Grand Ave., Shelter Island, 631-749-9036, isolany.com
Sophie’s
730 Main Bayview Road, Southold, 631-765-5700, sophiesrest.com
Tweed’s Restaurant and Buffalo Bar
17 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-237-8120, tweedsrestaurantriverhead.com
Best Chef
One of the great things about the East End is the bounty of food from farms and the local waters. It’s inspiring local chefs for decades, and there’s no sign of the flame going out. Here are a few who’ve impressed us all year long.
Armond Joseph
Léon 1909, 29 West Neck Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-9123, leon1909.com
Finn O’Hara
Nookies and Eddie’s, 1400 Silvermere Road, Greenport, 631-997-1957, silversandsmotel.com
Jennie Werts
Jennie’s at Drossos/Ellen’s on Front, jenniesatdrossos.com
Samy Sabil
North Fork Shack, 41150 County Road 48, Southold, 631-876-5566, thenorthforkshack.com
Taylor Knapp
Paw Paw, exploretock.com/pawpaw
Best CSA
Hate high tariffs? Sign up for your local Community Supported Agriculture! CSAs provide us with farm-fresh goodies all season long. These bountiful purveyors march to their own beet (ha! farm puns!) and are ready to provide you with homegrown treasure.
Oregon Road Organics
12595 Oregon Road, Cutchogue, 631-735-9195, oregonroadorganics.com
Salt Air Farm, Buckets of Blooms
1535 New Suffolk Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-4180, saltairfarm.com
Sang Lee Farms
25180 County Road 48, Peconic, 631-734-7001, sangleefarms.com
Sylvester Manor
80 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-0626, sylvestermanor.org
Zilnicki Farms
3747 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-255-2598, zilnickifarms.com
Best Date Spot
You know how some couples have a song? Instead, have a restaurant! Hold hands over the table at one of these romantic respites…
Demarchelier Bistro
471 Main St., Greenport, 631-593-1650, demarchelierrestaurant.com
Léon 1909
25 West Neck Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-9123, leon1909.com
Minnow at the Galley Ho
650 1st St., New Suffolk, 631-734-8474, minnowrestaurant.com
Noah’s
136 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-6720, chefnoahs.com
The Frisky Oyster
27 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-4265, thefriskyoyster.com
Best Deli
A town without a deli is a town without a soul. Or, at least, one that’s missing the all-important BEC and roast beef on rye. These tried-and-true cold-cut slicing saviors have the goods.
Ammirati’s of Love Lane
135 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-7812, ammiratisoflovelane.com
Grateful Deli
55700 Route 25, Southold, 631-765-6408, gratefuldeliny.com
Sterlington Deli
3 Sterlington Commons, Greenport, 631-477-8547, sterlingtondeli.com
Wayside Market
55575 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3575, southoldwaysidemarket.com
Wendy’s Deli
55 Middle Road, Mattituck, 631-298-1500
Best Dock & Dine
Who wants to sit in traffic when the sun is shining? These restos on the water let you motor on over for seaside snacks and drinks.
Claudio’s Waterfront
111 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-0627, claudios.com
On the Docks Waterfront Bar & Grill
177 Meeting House Creek Road, Aquebogue, 631-886-1160, onthedocksgrill.com
Salt Waterfront Bar & Grill
63 Menantic Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-5535, saltshelterisland.com
Waypoint Restaurant
400 Old Main Road, Southold, 631-765-6373, waypointrestaurant.com
Windamere
2255 Wickham Ave., Mattituck, 631-315-5252, windamerenofo.com
Best Doughnuts
Cupcake, shmupcakes. Doughnuts are forever — and here’s where we get ours.
Breeze Hill Farm
31215 County Road 48, Peconic, 631-876-5159, breezehillfarmpreserve.com
Harbe’s Family Farm
715 Sound Ave., Mattituck, 631-482-7641, harbesfamilyfarm.com
Kyle’s
27 N. Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-0579
North Fork Doughnut Co.
100 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-7941, nofodoco.com
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
287800 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-6441, wickhamsfruitfarm.com
Best Family Restaurant
Three cheers for meatloaf! Grab the kids, nestle into a booth and dig into hearty, happy, affordable classic fare at our fave family spots.
Andy’s
34 Front St., Greenport, 631-333-2525, andysnofo.com
The Islander
63 North Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-1998, theislandersi.com
Founders Tavern
55500 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3100, founderstavern.com
Michaelangelo’s of Southold
53345 Main Road, Southold
631-765-0300
Myles on Main
428 E. Main St., Riverhead
631-775-1550,
mylesonmain.com
Best Farm stand
From rhubarb to root veggies, bring home the bounty at these North Fork farm stands.
Bayview Market & Farms
891 Main Road, Riverhead, 631-722-3077, bayviewfarmmarket.com
Country View Farm Stand
57995 Main Road, Southold, 631-903-1335
KK’s The Farm
59945 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-2075, kksthefarm.com
Latham Farms
21920 Main Road, Orient, 631-323-3701, lathamfarms.org
Schmitt’s Farm Stand
3355 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-983-6565, schmittsfarmstandonsound.com
Best Gourmet Market
Imported pistachio crema from Sicily, locally made jams, hand-harvested honey with a touch of heat — these markets have everything you didn’t realize you needed (but you really do!).
Agora the Little Greek Market
610 Pike St., Mattituck, 631-315-5070, littlegreekmarket.com
Lombardi’s Love Lane Market
170 Love Lane, Mattituck, 631-298-9500, shadetreesnursery.com
NoFo Pot Pies
11160 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-548-7437, nofopotpies.com
Shade Trees Nursery
1875 Main Rd, Jamesport, 631-722-4041
The Market
44 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-8803, themarketgreenport.com
Best Ice Cream & Frozen Treats
Cone? Cup? Scooped? Soft-serve? When the sun is beating and the heat is on, head to our favorite sweet-treat spots for the best cool down around.
Aldo’s Coffee Company
103-105 Front St., Greenport, 631-707-8059, aldoscoffee.com
Dos Ositos Paletas
dosositospaletas.com
Magic Fountain
9825 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-4908, magicfountainlongisland.com
Snowflake Ice Cream Shoppe
1148 West Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-4394, snowflakeicecream.com
Star Confectionery
4 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-727-9873
Best Lobster Roll
It’s not summer until you’ve had a dip cone, a Hellenic lemonade and a lobster roll from one of these classic hot or cold (or both!) sea-centric spots.
Billy’s by the Bay
2530 Manhanset Ave, Greenport, 631-477-8300, billysbythebayrestaurant.com
Ellen’s on Front
38 Front St., Greenport, 631-333-2743, ellensonfront.com
Little Fish
50 N. Sea Drive, Southold, 631-765-8756, littlefishnofo.com
Port Waterfront Bar & Grill
104 Third St., Greenport, 631-333-2501, portbarandgrill.com
Southold Fish Market
64755 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3200, southoldfishmarket.com
Best Luncheonette
Make us a vanilla egg cream or a tuna melt with bottomless cup of coffee on the side, and we’re happy campers – and you will be too at these local faves.
Country Corner Cafe
55765 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-6766, countrycornersouthold.com
Cutchogue Diner
27850 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-7016, cutchoguediner.com
Lolly’s Hut
1290 Old Country Road, Riverhead, 631-727-7020
Nookies
1400 Silvermere Road, Greenport, 631-997-1957, silversandsmotel.com
Star Confectionery
Best Mainstay
You know these places — the ones that if they closed, the villagers would take up torches in passionate outrage. Yeah, we feel that, especially when it comes to these eateries.
Cliff’s Elbow Room
1549 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-722-3292, cliffselbowroom.com
Cutchogue Diner
27850 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-7016, cutchoguediner.com
Modern Snack Bar
628 Main Road, Aquebogue, 631-722-3655, modernsnackbar.com
The Hellenic
5145 Main Road, East Marion, 631-477-0138, thehellenic.com
Tweed’s Restaurant and Buffalo Bar
17 East Main St., Riverhead, 631-237-8120, tweedsrestaurantriverhead.com
Best Pies
Easy as pie? Well, if it were, you’d be baking them yourself instead of leaving it to these awesome pros. Slice it up!
Briermere Farms
4414 Sound Ave., Riverhead, 631-722-3931, briermerefarms.com
Country View Farm Stand
57995 Main Road, Southold, 631-903-1335
Hallock’s Cider Mill
1960 Main Road, Laurel, 631-298-1140
Orient Country Store
950 Village Lane, Orient, 631-323-2580, orientcountrystore.com
Wickham’s Fruit Farm
28700 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-6441, wickhamsfruitfarm.com
Best Pizza
As New Yorkers, we have opinions on pizza, to say the least. Be it a good old fashioned slice on a paper plate (with a little pepperoncini sprinkled on top, please!) or a wood-fired Neapolitan-style stunner, these folks have got the pies to die for.
1943 Pizza Bar
308 D Main St., Greenport, 631-477-6984, rollingindoughpizza.com/1943-pizza
Fiocha Pizza
55 Middle Road, Mattituck, 631-298-7371
Grana Trattoria Antica & Enoteca
1556 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-779-2844, granajamesport.com
Jamesport Vineyards/Little Oak Wood Fired Kitchen
1216 Main Road, Jamesport, 631-722-5256, jamesportwines.com
Shelter Island Slice
3 N. Ferry Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-9292, shelterislandslice.com
Best Seafood Spot
Be it grilled, fried, broiled, crudo or freshly shucked, these fruit of the sea spots don’t disappoint.
A Lure Chowder House & Oysteria
62300 Main Road, Southold, 631-876-5300, alurenorthfork.com
Anker
47 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-1300, ankerny.com
Braun Seafood Company
30840 Main Road, Cutchogue, 631-734-6700, braunseafood.com
Commander Cody’s Seafood
41 Smith St., Shelter Island, 631-749-1851
Southold Fish Market
64755 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3200, southoldfishmarket.com
Best Special-Occasion Spot
Sure, we all need that just-perfect restaurant fit for celebrating a milestone, for impressing the in-laws, the boss lady or that new client, but listen up: Special occasions are all about celebrating you, any ol’ day. You feel us? Good. Go to these wonderful places and toast to a life well lived.
Duryea’s Orient Point
40200 Main Road, Orient, duryeas.com
The Halyard
58775 Route 48, Greenport, 631-477-0666, thehalyardgreenport.com
Jedediah Hawkins Inn
400 South Jamesport Ave., Jamesport, 631-722-2900, jedediahhawkinsinn.com
La Plage
131 Creek Road, Wading River, 631-744-9200, laplagewadingriver.com
North Fork Table & Inn
57225 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-0177, northforktableandinn.com
Best Sweets & Treats
We know all about the war on sugar, but when it comes to these irresistible sweet slingers, we’re all in, calories be damned!
Ali Katz Kitchen
55 County Road 48, Mattituck, 631-298-7694, alikatzkitchen.com
Atelier Disset Chocolate
28080 Main Road, Cutchogue 631-734-8387, dissetchocolateonline.com
North Fork Chocolate Company
8700 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-779-2963, northforkchocolate.com
The Candy Man
22350 Main Road, Orient, 631-323-2675
The Treatery
1564 Main Road, Jamesport 631-779-2883, thetreateryli.com
Best Takeout
No time to cook? Need lunch on the go? Just… hangry on the road from here to there? These spots have you covered, paper bag included.
GoodFood.
535 Pike St., Mattituck, 631-298-7599, gfperiod.com
Jennie’s at Drossos
69125 Main Road, Greenport, 631-477-1339, jenniesatdrossos.com
Latin Fuzion
53345 Main Road, Southold, 631-407-5600, latinfuzionrestaurant.com
Southold Fish Market
64755 Main Road, Southold, 631-765-3200, southoldfishmarket.com
The North Fork Shack
41150 County Road 48, Southold, 631-876-5566,
thenorthforkshack.com
Best Wings
Buffalo, Thai chili, lemon-pepper, Korean barbecue — there are as many ways to make wings as there are excellent places to dig into
a plate. This year, here’s where we’ve been using up the extra Wet-Naps…
Biggie’s Lunch
43715 County Road 48, Southold, 631-765-8448, thecateredfork.com/biggies
Digger’s Ales N’ Eats
58 West Main St., Riverhead, 631-369-3200, diggerspub.com
Legends Restaurant
835 1st St., New Suffolk, 631-734-5123, legends-restaurant.com
The Clam Bar at Alize Brewing
10560 Main Road, Mattituck, 631-298-7793, alizebrewing.com
Whiskey Wind Tavern
30 Front St., Greenport, 631-477-6179, whiskeywindtavern.com
Best Waterfront Dining
What’s the point of living by the water if you don’t take the time to gaze at it every now and again? Grab a deck chair with the best tableside view in town at these seaside restaurants.
Farm Country Kitchen
513 West Main St., Riverhead, 631-369-6311, farmcountrykitchenli.com
Porto Bello
1410 Manhanset Ave., Greenport, 631-477-1515, portobellonorthfork.com
Salt Waterfront Bar & Grill
63 Menantic Road, Shelter Island, 631-749-5535, saltshelterisland.com
Turkuaz Grill
40 McDermott Ave., Riverhead, 631-591-1757, turkuazgrillriverhead.com
Waypoint Restaurant
400 Old Main Road, Southold, 631-765-6373, waypointrestaurant.com
