Summertime on Long Island brings plenty of outdoor activities—it also brings the perfect opportunity for dining outdoors during the bright, sunny days and pleasant, cool nights.
Here is a quick sampling of some of the North Shore’s best outdoor dining options:
Bar Frites
400 Wheatley Plaza, Greenvale
516-484-7500 • www.pollrestaurants.com/restaurants/bar-frites
Bar Frites is a high-energy, welcoming restaurant with a delightful outdoor dining area, perfect for any time of day. The Wheatley Plaza mainstay boasts a French-bistro environment—the perfect setting for an enticingly diverse menu protected from the din of Northern Boulevard.
With brunch, lunch and dinner menus available, diners can expect expertly crafted gourmet meals any time of day. Dining outside adds to the French atmosphere, as do menu items like croque madame, frog legs, escargots and, of course, pomme frites.
Naturally, Bar Frites has a varied menu catering to a full spectrum of dining preferences. The chilled seafood menu is cool and elegant, while the steak frites offers satisfying succulence to hard-line carnivores.
Check out Betsy Abraham’s roundup of the best Long Island restaurants with a view: Dining Alfresco
Ocean
333 Bayville Ave., Bayville
516-628-3330 • www.cometotheocean.com
Experienced Long Islanders know that no town beats Bayville’s view of a sunset and Ocean is perfectly situated to capture the romance-inspiring seascape. With a grand view of the Long Island Sound, Ocean features two restaurant levels. The main floor and second level, also called Ocean, offer a casual, fine-dining menu. Here, diners will find American cuisine, with a focus on modern and beautifully designed seafood dishes that include various types of fish, as well as lobster and scallops. The third-level deck, called Sunset, is perfect for those looking for a more laid-back outdoor-dining experience. It features an open-air kitchen, where diners can enjoy casual seafood, including grilled salmon burgers and clams. On both levels, diners can enjoy sushi from local favorite Mr. Lee.
See our roundup of the best seafood restaurants in the area: Long Island’s Best Catch.
Kyma
1446 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn
516-621-3700 • www.kyma-roslyn.com
The art and science of cooking is elegantly on display at Kyma, a Mediterranean seafood restaurant focusing on traditional Greek specialties with fresh fish imported directly from its home region. Seafood, especially fresh seafood, is taken to lofty extremes when eaten outdoors. There is something about the open air that immediately raises the eater’s enjoyment of succulent seafaring foods.
At Kyma, the breathtaking ambiance transports visitors on a culinary journey through the Greek islands, with dishes like octopus, fresh grilled sardines, bronzini, and local catches like black sea bass and red snapper. Giant tiger shrimp also entice eaters, simply grilled with extra virgin olive oil, while sweet and succulent langoustines offer exotic perfection. Land lovers have plenty to choose from as well, with free-range chicken, lamb chops, veal and a 16-ounce grilled black angus sirloin steak.
Food writer Lyn Dobrin recommends the Kyma chips: You’ve Gotta Try This
MP Taverna
1363 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn
516-686-6486 • www.michaelpsilakis.com/mp-taverna
MP Taverna’s modern interpretation of a Greek tavern is elevated when diners can step outside and a enjoy a taste of the warm Mediterranean. The restaurant’s menu includes a popular section known as “meze” or small plates, which includes Grandma’s Greek meatballs, fried calamari and Cypriot lamb sausage.
Popular entrées include the grilled branzino, Greek paella and the mix grill with a daily selection of meats. Adding to the atmosphere is the “whole animal” option, which continues the Greek tradition of marking celebrations with the roasting of a whole animal—spring lamb, kid goat, suckling pig and more. The restaurant requires five days notice to prepare this feast, but coupled with an outdoor setting, it is well worth the effort.
If you like Greek food, also check out Greek Corner: A Taste Of A Real Taverna.
Besito
1516 Old Northern Blvd., Roslyn
516-484-3001 • www.besitomexican.com
Besito’s Roslyn location continues the restaurant’s dedication to local and fresh Mexican ingredients served with a cultural flair that is unique, vibrant and warm. And during the summer months, outdoor dining at this lively locale adds a new level of ambiance to the delicious dynamics.
For a taste of authenticity, order guacamole prepared tableside in a traditional molcajete, a Mexican version of a mortar and pestle. Take it to the next level for an appetizer with Panquesito de Jaiba, a crisp jumbo lump crab cake with a roasted habanero cream sauce and more. For entrées, Besito offers iron skillet creations, as well as main courses prepared with traditional Mexican ingredients like ancho adobo, mole sauce, salsa de guajillo, among others.
See our full review of Besito: A Little Kiss Of Mexico
Check out our followup—Suffolk County restaurants with outdoor dining: Feasting On The End
