BESTOFLONGISLAND.COM WINNERS GUIDE BETHPAGE BEST OF LONG ISLAND 2021 101
BEST MEXICAN
RESTAURANT
BESITO MEXICAN - MULTIPLE
LOCATIONS
Multiple Locations
besitomexican.com
Whether you are in the mood for traditional
Mexican fare or more offbeat options, Besito
Mexican is the perfect choice. You can start
your meal with one of nine margarita options
and chips with homemade guacamole made
tableside. Appetizer choices include tortilla
soup, chicken and vegetable quesadillas,
shrimp empanadas, and sweet potato,
crispy fish and crispy shrimp tacos. Popular
entrees include Swiss enchiladas (Enchilada
Suizas) made with shredded chicken, salsa
tomatillo con crema, queso chihuahua, onions
and cilantro. If you can’t choose between
the grilled skirt steak and grilled chicken
Iron Skillet Tacos, you can get both in the
Mixtos Iron Skillet Tacos, along with chorizo
– all served in warm corn tortillas. Make
reservations or order online to try a taste of
the greatest Mexican food around!
BEST OYSTER BAR
SALT & BARREL
61 W Main St, Bay Shore
(631) 647-8818 www.saltandbarrel.com
Long Islanders can’t seem to get enough of
Salt & Barrel’s oyster bar. The family-owned
establishment has continued its tradition of
providing the best oysters from the Great
South Bay by incorporating a modern oyster
bar with a hip vibe that pays homage to the
history of the Bay Shore community by fusing
the traditions of the past with the novelty of
the future. Since 1937, Salt & Barrel has been
capturing the hearts of diners by providing
fresh, locally and nationally sourced oysters
along with other seafood menu items like
Little Neck and baked clams. As soon as you
take a bite of its oysters, you’ll immediately fall
in love and plan your next meal on the spot!
BEST RESTAURANT
ANCHOR DOWN SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL
1960 Bayberry Ave, Merrick
(516) 544-4334 www.anchordownny.com
Long Island has some of the best food
available. If you’re looking for a great place
to enjoy a nice meal, you have to pay a visit
to Anchor Down Seafood Bar & Grill. Since
2014 Anchor Down has been serving up grub
that has Long Islanders raving. Naturally,
the seafood selection is not only delicious but
also made from the best ingredients available.
Don’t have your sea legs? No problem —
Anchor Down as non-seafood options that are
just as delicious as its sea fare. From the time
you leave Anchor Down, you’ll be planning
your next visit for you and your friends. Don’t
forget to order something from the bar to wash
down your incredible meal!
BEST RESTAURANT
WITH A WATER VIEW
GRANDPA TONY’S
101 Althouse Ave, East Rockaway
(516) 799-8669 www.grandpatonysli.com
Any time spent in Grandpa Tony’s will evoke
memories of your family dinners without
having to lift a finger. And dine upstairs for
a fetching view of the Sound. There’s the
easygoing friendliness of the waitstaff whose
desire to make you feel at home lingers
throughout the meal. The professional service
paired with exceptional pizza and traditional
food passed down from Italian immigrants
to retain their Old-World flavor is such an
enjoyable experience you will go back again.
The restaurant is popular with the locals and
many special occasions are celebrated here.
It is known for generous portions of dishes
made fresh and to perfection every time. You’ll
have so much to choose from like this popular
choice: Chicken Panzanella, a dish of grilled
or breaded chicken with arugula, chopped
tomatoes, red onions, and mozzarella cubes,
served with roasted potatoes.
BEST ROMANTIC
DINNER
CAFE JOELLE
25 Main St, Sayville
(631) 589-4600 www.cafejoelle.com
Café Joelle has been a mainstay in Sayville for
over 30 years. They recently switched hands
but the menu remains the same. If you are
looking to have a romantic lunch, brunch or
dinner with your significant other then this
is the place to be. The menu offers a nice
selection of pasta, burgers and sandwiches.
Café Joelle has also started offering a
“Quarantine Drinks to Go” menu so that
you don’t have to miss out on any more date
nights. The quaint dining room and intimate
setting is the perfect way to celebrate a night
out with your significant other while also
chowing down on a five-star meal. It can’t get
any more romantic than that!
BEST SEAFOOD
RESTAURANT
ANCHOR DOWN SEAFOOD BAR & GRILL
1960 Bayberry Ave, Merrick
(516) 544-4334 www.anchordownny.com
Anchor Down Seafood Bar and Grill has been
serving some of the best local seafood on the
island in a comfortable and casual atmosphere
since 2014. Customers rave over its classic fish
and chips, lobster bisque, shrimp and po’boy
sandwiches and delight in Anchor Down’s
more dynamic dishes such as the lobster pot
pie—consisting of root vegetables, sherry
bechamel and puff pastry. Anchor Down’s
seafood menu is sure to satisfy the pickiest of
fish eaters and even win over carnivores who
are normally set on ordering a burger or steak!
BEST SOUL FOOD
AND SOUTHERN
RESTAURANT
BISCUITS & BARBEQUE
106 E 2nd St, Mineola
(516) 493-9797 www.
biscuitsandbarbeque.com
Whether one craves traditional “soul food”
favorites like fried chicken (with or without
waffles), collard greens, mac & cheese, and
fried okra, or Cajun cuisine classics such as Po’
boy sandwiches, Louisiana gumbo or chicken
and andouille sausage, Biscuits & Barbeque is
sure to satisfy. If you are in the mood for any
of the foods that this popular soul food and
Southern restaurant devotes its name to –
namely, biscuits and barbequed meats – you
can’t go wrong either. It is also one of the few
local places where more adventurous eaters
can try a truly unique appetizer: alligator
sausage. The Biscuits & Barbeque Brunch on
weekends adds more choices to your options,
including brisket & eggs. Keep the restaurant
in mind for your catering needs too!
BEST STEAKHOUSE
BLACKSTONE STEAKHOUSE
10 Pinelawn Rd, Melville
631-271-7780 blackstonesteakhouse.com
Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion
or having a business lunch, if you are seeking
the perfect steak, Blackstone Steakhouse fits
the bill. The upscale restaurant has become a
mecca for meat lovers on Long Island who are
attracted to both its large selection of first-rate
steaks, as well as its attractive and inviting
décor that includes chandeliers and fireplaces.
Diners can select from several USDA Prime
45-day, dry-aged steaks and chops, including a
classic porterhouse for two or four and mouthwatering
bone-in rib steak. Also a great option
is the authentic Japanese Kobe beef. Make
reservations or place to-go or delivery orders
online today, and keep Blackstone in mind for
private events also!
BEST TEX-MEX
RESTAURANT
BUBBA’S BURRITO BAR
513 Main St, Islip
(631) 650-6333 www.bubbasburritobar.
com
There is no way that you are a true Tex-Mex
lover from Long Island if you haven’t heard
of Bubba’s Burrito Bar in West Islip. If you
are looking for large portions in a relaxed
environment, then this is the restaurant for
you. The Brotato is one of the most popular
burritos that Bubba’s offers. It includes steak,
crispy onion rings and bacon topped with
bayou sauce. The Guilt Trip burrito has crispy
chicken fingers, french fries and bacon — what
more could you ask for? This popular one-stop
shop also offers salads, quesadillas and tacos.
Bubba’s doesn’t stop there. Depending on
the season, this Tex-Mex joint also offers an
astounding 16 rotating beer taps as well as
sangrias and margaritas. Don’t forget to grab a
sugary churro, or two for dessert!
BEST UPSCALE
RESTAURANT
TELLER’S
605 Main St, Islip
(631) 277-7070 www.tellerschophouse.
com
Sometimes you need to treat yourself to a nice,
upscale meal. At Tellers in Islip, you are in for
a truly incredible experience. The restaurant
has a menu of delicious options that you will
be dreaming about after you dine on them,
plus an expansive wine list that will bring
your meal to the next level. The comfortable
and cozy atmosphere and friendly waitstaff at
Tellers brings the whole experience together,
and you will be planning out the next time
you can sit down for a delicious meal, or a
time when you can pick some food up to bring
home and enjoy. Be sure to make a reservation
before you come!
BEST VEGETARIAN
RESTAURANT
TULA KITCHEN
41-43 E Main St, Bay Shore
(631) 539-7183 www.tulakitchen.com
Tula Kitchen in Bay Shore offers the most
comprehensive and wonderfully executed
vegetarian cuisine around. Tula’s motto
“Live to eat, eat to live” is simple. Its chefs
have a consciousness about the food they
prepare using organic and natural ingredients
whenever possible. And it shows in the way
they present vegetarian staples from couscous
and hummus to elegant dishes like veggie
moussaka, sesame crusted tofu and lentil
loaf. You don’t need to be on a vegetarian or
vegan diet to enjoy Tula Kitchen’s dishes — it
has meat options too! Don’t miss out on the
chance to dine on the cuisine that has won
the hearts of Long Islanders — vegetarian and
meat-eater alike!
BEST WAIT SERVICE
MERCATO KITCHEN & COCKTAILS
4958 Merrick Rd, Massapequa Park
(516) 308-3582 www.mercatokitchen.
com
A good wait staff is key not only to the dining
experience, but also to running a successful
night at a restaurant. At Mercato Kitchen
& Cocktails, the wait staff is there to ensure
that you are dining on your meal in an ample
amount of time while making sure you are
happy and comfortable throughout your visit.
The wait staff is patient and caring and will
answer any questions you have about the
menu, and if you have any dietary needs they
will make sure you have something delicious
to eat. The Mercato team aims to make
everyone feel like family from the moment that
you walk in the door.
/besitomexican.com
/www.anchordownny.com
/www.grandpatonysli.com
/www.cafejoelle.com
/www.anchordownny.com
/www.biscuitsandbarbeque.com
/www.biscuitsandbarbeque.com
/www.bubbasburritobar
/www.tellerschophouse
/www.tulakitchen.com
/www.mercatokitchen
/BESTOFLONGISLAND.COM
/www.saltandbarrel.com
/www.saltandbarrel.com
/www.anchordownny.com
/www.anchordownny.com
/www.grandpatonysli.com
/www.cafejoelle.com
/biscuitsandbarbeque.com
/blackstonesteakhouse.com
/www.bubbasburritobar
/www.tellerschophouse
/www.tulakitchen.com
/www.mercatokitchen
