Huntington Village is one of the larger villages on Long Island. With over 70 restaurants and bars, there is certainly no shortage of great places to dine. The best restaurants in Huntington serve a variety of cuisines, including Italian, Persian, French, and Mexican. This makes it one of the more popular places to go out along the north shore.
Here are some of the best Hutington restaurants.
Table of Contents
Restaurants
Joanina
Restaurant Joanina is a local favorite and well-regarded Italian restaurant in Huntington. It’s known for its rustic Tuscan decor and a cozy atmosphere. The menu includes wood oven pizzas, freshly made pastas, and a selection of meat and seafood dishes. While I like sitting at the front bar, the back dining room is a place that transports you to the heart of Italy.
They have a wine shop next door, so there is also an extensive wine list. So, you can find a great Italian wine to create the perfect pairing with your meal.
In The Shed
The Shed is a popular restaurant with American comfort food served in rustic beachy atmosphere. But one of the biggest draws here is the brunch served every day. Whether you choose the biscuit Benedict, the avocado toast with sunny side up eggs, or other options you are unlikely to be disappointed. Plus, there is a list of some pretty good burgers, sandwiches and salads. But if you ask me, the best item is the chicken and waffles with habanero honey.
While Huntington is their original location, they have opened other spots on Long Island and now even the Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut.
Besito
Besito Mexican Restaurant is another favorite spot among locals. It is from the same team behind the other extremely popular restaurants In The Shed and The Farm Italy and is more an upscale Mexican experience rather than a taqueria.
Restauranteur John Tunney opened Besito in 2006 after many years of travel to Mexico and studying the cuisine. And now he brings specialties like fresh tableside guacamole, enchilada suizas, and a variety of tacos and ceviche. And you are sure to find something you like on the large margarita menu. But the best time to come might be for the popular Sunday Brunch, with chilaquiles, huevos rancheros, and tres leches French toast.
In addition to the Huntington restaurant, there are also locations in Roslyn and West Islip.
Bistro Cassis
Bistro Cassis is a charming French bistro-style restaurant located in the heart of Huntington Village. It’s celebrated for bringing a touch of Gallic charm and superb French cuisine to the area. The ambiance is reminiscent of the smoky bistros popular in French film noir, featuring ornate tin ceilings, carved cherry pilasters, soaring marble pillars, and oversized antique mirrors that transport diners to the Parisian Left Bank.
It’s one of my go-to lunch spots, in particular for the Croque Madame and an espresso martini. The moules frites are offered in several varieties, and also make a great light lunch option. There are also other traditional dishes like Salade Niçoise, Boeuf Bourguignon, and a selection of house-made desserts.
Ravagh Persian Grill
While this is an outpost of the original in New York City, Ravagh Persian Grill offers an excellent taste of traditional Persian cuisine here in Huntington. The menu features various kebabs like the Lamb Shish Kebab and Chicken Shish Kebab, both known for their marination and char-grilled flavor.
But I highly recommend trying one of the classic Persian stews such as Khoresh Gheymeh and Khoresh Fesenjan, which are both simmered with unique spices and ingredients like dried lemons and pomegranate paste. For vegetarians, there are options like the Vegetarian Kebob and numerous salad choices.
Prime
Prime was the cool place to go in Huntington for a while. And while the initial luster may have worn off a bit, there’s come very good things about this restaurant. It has a “prime” location overlooking Huntington Harbor, so the outdoor seating is perhaps the best in town.
The sophisticated interior that features a custom glass wall only adds to the ambiance that makes it popular for private events and special occasions. Sunday brunch is an event in itself and enhanced with live jazz.
The menu featuring a raw bar, fish, and steaks is pricey. But if you are ok with limited selections, the price fixe “Power Lunch” is a great way to experience the ambiance of one of Huntington’s best restaurants without breaking the bank. And yes, it is technically in Halesite, just north of the village, but it’s pretty close and I’m including it.
Other Restaurants
Old Fields BBQ: There’s only a handful of spots with good BBQ on Long Island, and Old Fields makes a case to be one of them. Order at the far back counter and then grab a table. With minimum order sizes of 1/2 lb, the brisket, baby back ribs, and pulled pork are all worth ordering.
Sapsuckers: They have the largest and best beer menu in town plus great pub food.
Leilo: You will quickly feel at home in this small, family-owned restaurant. The husband-and-wife duo of James and Meghan LaCourte grew up in Huntington and both worked at Joanina when they met. Now they spend a lot of time at the restaurant, and you might even meet their kids Leila and Lucie, whom the restaurant was named after. Try the burrata and the pork chop Milanese.
The Farm Italy: It’s one of the busiest and most hyped restaurants in Huntington, and it can get quite loud on weekend nights. But if you can handle that, it’s one of the better Italian restaurants in the area.
Neraki Greek Mediterranean Grill: There’s a few Greek restaurants in town, but the seafood here makes this my favorite.
Little Vincent’s Pizza: I’m including this more as recognition of this Huntington institution rather than a belief that it’s actually great pizza. It’s better at 2am though, in particular the cold cheese slice (a regular slice with shredded cold mozzarella on top).
Delis
Five High Marketplace
It didn’t take long for one of the newest places in Huntington to make a mark. Five High Marketplace has a lot going on – it’s part convenience store and part deli. They make everything from breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and even smoothies. But while all these make it a great one-stop shop, they aren’t why it makes my list.
It’s the pastrami.
Owner Ben Zelouf grew up in Great Neck and was working at a Texas hedge Fund when he stopped into the previous business at this location. He got an idea to open it as a deli and make a kick-ass pastrami sandwich. And just a few months later he had bought the space and was renovating to bring his idea to fruition.
Now his Outrageous Pastrami, a 14oz sandwich on rye with mustard, is one of the best sandwiches on Long Island. Now you don’t have to trek into the city to Katz’s to get a top-notch pastrami sandwich. And while I’m not ready to knock Katz’s off its pedestal, Five High provides a very, very good alternative. It’s that good.
Caruso's Fine Italian Foods
Caruso’s Italian Fine Foods is an Italian deli and market located just north of Huntington Village in Halesite. The sandwiches and daily specials make it a popular spot to grab a lunch on the go. There is also a large selection of prepared items such as lasagna, stuffed peppers, and other pastas that are great to take home for a family meal.
There is also butcher section for all your meats and Italian sausages and a full grocery section. This is a one stop shop for everything Italian, whether you want a quick lunch, items to cook at home, or to cater an event.
Bakery
Duck Island Bread Co
Duck Island Bread Company is an artisan bakery deeply rooted in European traditions. It is renowned for its variety of handcrafted breads, pastries, and other baked goods. The breads are naturally leavened, made by hand in small batches and then fermented over hours.
While items can vary daily, you can expect to find a selection of breads that include Baguette, Sourdough, and Challah. Other specialty breads are made on specific days of the week, and you can check the website for the schedule.
In addition to the breads, they offer sweets like cookies, scones, and brownies. But for me, stopping for a coffee and croissant is the perfect breakfast on the go – except for the rare occasion when I decide to go all out with the cinnamon bun.
Cocktails
The Last Word
The Last Word is arguably the best cocktail bar in Huntington. The cocktail menu includes some modern twists on classics, emphasizing a craft approach that often features infusions and innovative techniques. This can be seen in cocktails like the It’s Magic Baby that is finished with lemon citrus smoke and the Tequila Con Cafe, which is similar to an espresso martini but made with tequila and topped with a foamy chocolate air.
The food is served as sharable plates with various Latin-American influences. The Last Word hosts live music and jazz nights.
