The Best Waterfront Dining on Long Island

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Where Great Food Meets the Water’s Edge

Long Island is known for its stunning coastlines, charming harbors, and relaxing bays—and some of the best ways to enjoy them are with a fork in hand. Whether you’re looking for a romantic dinner by the fire pit, fresh seafood by the marina, or tacos on the beach at sunset, Long Island’s waterfront dining scene offers something for every taste and occasion. Here’s a roundup of some of the Best Waterfront Restaurants on Long Island where the views are just as satisfying as the meals.

View – Oakdale

Google Rating: 4.3

A seafood lover’s paradise, View delivers a fish-focused menu in a light-filled space with unbeatable bay views. Guests enjoy happy hour specials and live music on the deck, making it a popular spot for a lively night out by the water.

Prime: An American Kitchen & Bar – Huntington

Google Rating: 4.4

Located right on the harbor, Prime offers an upscale take on surf and turf, featuring expertly prepared steaks, fresh seafood, and sushi. Add handcrafted cocktails and stylish ambiance, and it’s no wonder this polished eatery is a favorite for special occasions.

Fabio’s – Merrick

Google Rating: 4.4

For those who crave hearty, home-style Italian food with a view, Fabio’s is a go-to. This relaxed spot has been serving family-style meals and seafood favorites for years, all with scenic sights of the bay that make every bite feel like a celebration.

The Lakehouse – Bay Shore

Google Rating: 4.5

A true gem on the South Shore, The Lakehouse blends refined New American cuisine with cozy elegance. Dine by the water or sip a cocktail by the outdoor fire pit, all while enjoying the restaurant’s impeccable service and panoramic views.

Captain Bill’s – Bay Shore

Google Rating: 4.4

Known for its classic seafood dishes, charming setting, and Sunday brunch, Captain Bill’s offers a timeless waterfront experience. The building’s nautical charm and marina-side location make it ideal for both casual meals and celebratory dinners.

Dirty Taco – Port Washington

Google Rating: 4.4

This isn’t your average taco joint. Dirty Taco brings bold, street-style flavors to a laid-back waterfront setting, offering inventive taco creations with a lively vibe. Perfect for a fun, casual night with friends or a sunny lunch with a view.

Sunset Club – Tappen Beach, Sea Cliff

Google Rating: 4.3

With its beachside setting, fire pits, and name-worthy sunsets, Sunset Club is a relaxed retreat for diners seeking toes-in-the-sand dining. Grab a drink, soak up the view, and unwind with simple, satisfying bites by the sea.

Fat Fish – Bay Shore

Google Rating: 4.3

A vibrant spot with a tapas-style menu, live music, and a bayfront patio, Fat Fish offers a social dining experience perfect far groups or date night. Pair your meal with a selection from their wine list while taking in the waterfront breeze.

The Oar – Patchogue

Google Rating: 4.4

Situated along the Patchogue River, The Oar serves up steak and seafood favorites in a nautical-themed setting. With dockside seating and live music, it’s a fun and flavorful way to enjoy the South Shore’s lively dining scene.

Gatsby Landing – Roslyn

Google Rating: 4.3

Fashionable and refined, Gatsby Landing specializes in locally sourced New American cuisine. Its waterside patio and elegant interior create an elevated yet approachable environment for brunch, dinner, or cocktails by the harbor.

Plan Your Next Night Out at One of These Waterfront Dining Spots

Each of these waterfront gems offers more than just great food—they provide a place to connect with friends, unwind by the water, and celebrate what makes Long Island such a special place to live and visit. Whether you’re a seafood fanatic, a brunch lover, or just looking for a relaxing evening out, these restaurants are ready to welcome you with open arms and open-air dining.

So grab a seat, raise a glass, and show your support for the local businesses that make Long Island shine—one waterfront meal at a time.

Looking for BEACH BARS on Long Island? Click HERE!

Melissa Farrell

Melissa Farrell has a mission to support local business by "Going Local." As a local business owner herself, she understands the struggles entrepreneurs face when owning a business and is always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight onto them. Melissa started Going Local Tours & Experiences back in 2020 during the pandemic in hopes to bring people back into local restaurants and shops. She created food tours in Huntington, NY that would stop at 3-4 local businesses and gave the guests the chance to meet the owner and hear the story behind the business. She soon realized how powerful storytelling is when connecting people to local businesses and created options with local store owners as well to bring them onto the tour to share their story. Melissa wanted to expand out of Huntington to be able to support even more local businesses and started creating luxury picnics where she would bring local to you! She would find local businesses in the area of the picnic set up and deliver it to you offering ways to support over 3 local businesses at each picnic. This wasn't enough. She wanted to find a better way to help spread awareness of local businesses and share their stories. Enter Evangeline Knell...a woman with over 30 years of broadcasting experience who somehow convinced Melissa to host a 3 day live stream from the Huntington Fall Festival. She had never been on camera before, but working alongside Evie to create the 3 shows, gave Melissa the confidence to take on the challenge. The 3 shows produced focused on the local vendors, the food trucks and the events that occurred at the festival and had a much larger reach than Melissa could ever of done on her own. They soon realized a business partnership was needed and combined their two businesses, Identity Digital which is a production company and Going Local Tours and Experiences to form Going Local Media. Evie and Melissa even formed their own distribution outlet by creating Going Local TV, a streaming platform like Netflix or YouTube, that is all about local businesses, events and organizations on Long Island. There are over 200 videos including their podcast series "Let's Get Local" "Long Island Business Minds" and "Local Business Spotlight" that help spread awareness of our local businesses and Long Island Professionals. They are always thinking up new ways to support local, including this site, Going Local Long Island is a directory of articles on how to Go Local on Long Island. We appreciate you taking the time to read this and for supporting local! Thank you!

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