Robke's Country Inn

Ok people, we all know times are tough and everyone is looking for a deal, right?  Well, we found a place that will satisfy your hunger and your wallet. Robke's Country Inn, located in Fort Salonga, has $10.00 lunches (and, we might add, these are lunches that seem like dinners)! 

We went recently for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and were quite excited about our discovery. The portions are HUGE and TASTY. Most of the food is Italian and has been ever since the place was sold by a German to an Italian from the Bronx in 1978.

We'd suggest the Egglplant Rollatini or one of the pasta dishes, but everything looked delish. 

Happy eating!

Robke's Country Inn

427 Fort Salonga Road

Northport, NY 11768 

www.robkescountryinn.com

Beautiful Wreck

If you like to eat in diners with character, Tim's Shipwreck Diner is definitely worth a visit (probably more for the atmosphere than the food, but that doesn't stop us from going back again and again). Known as the Northport Diner in the 1920s (after being relocated to Long Island from Massachusetts), the place (now over 100 years old) was renamed Otto's Shipwreck Diner sometime in the 1970s. Several years ago, it became known as Tim's Shipwreck Diner (when Otto retired and passed on the business to his son).  

Running the joint out of an old fashioned dining car, Tim maintains a tight ship. Though there is a huge menu of options for your dining pleasure, we like the pancakes, egg sandwiches or blintzes for breakfast and the egg salad sandwich, fish-n-chips or turkey sandwiches for lunch. The best treat at Tim's is the homemade cornbread and jam (it's surprisingly yummy),which is brought to your table with breakfast (when available). 

If you'll be going to Tim's on a weekend, get there early.  The breakfast crowds are already lining up out the door by 10:00 am. Once seated, be sure to order with caution. Tim doesn't like picky eaters and most likely won't customize your order. Like we said, Tim runs a tight ship and you don't want to find yourself overboard!

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

46 Main Street

Northport, NY 11768

631-754-1797

Wining and Dining

THIS LOCATION HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED

We've written about Northport before, but today we want to tell you about a new wine shop and tasting room there called Northport Tasting Room and Wine Cellar (NTR). Aside from having a very interesting and good selection of wines from Austria, Africa, Greece, Israel and elsewhere around the world, the staff is attentive and knowledgeable and the overall concept of this shop/tasting room is quite original.

Focused on selling and serving wines from unusual locations, the folks at NTR have literally made the store the heart of the space. Surrounded by glass windows, the shop becomes the center of the building. As guests sit at the bar or at tables to taste wine or enjoy it by the glass, they can look into the shop to view the bottles for sale. 

Since you might not have sampled many wines from the regions featured at NTR, attending a weekday tasting could be fun and educational. Otherwise, come on a Friday or Saturday and order a couple of glasses to have with a meal - we're sure you'll find a wine to take home. 

Eating and drinking at NTR is a luxury we debated keeping all to ourselves (we're telling you, these guys are very smart). At NTR, not only can you enjoy delicious wines, but you can also order dinner from almost any restaurant in Northport Village, including Maroni! That's right - go to NTR on a Friday or Saturday night, order a great bottle of wine and enjoy your favorite entree from Maroni, or another restaurant in Northport, and have it delivered directly to your table. 

Now, that's what we call wining and dining! We just hope that it takes a few years before the locals figure it all out.

WINE CELLAR LOCATION:

70 Main Street

Northport, NY 11768

631-261-0642

northportwines.com

  

Clam Up

Open April through October, in the town of Centerport, this Cape Cod style clam shack is the perfect place to stop for a break from your scenic drive along 25A or after a long day of kayaking in Northport or Centerport Harbor. Owned and operated by locals, the atmosphere is fun and casual, making  you feel almost as if you're on vacation. Whether you're in the mood for mussels or chili, a burger or salad, you'll find it at The Shack. But, if you like fried food (and let's face it- who doesn't), you definitely want to order the fried clams and French fries!

RESTAURANT LOCATION:

1 Stony Hollow Road

Centerport, NY 11721

631-754-8989

theshack.org

 

Copenhagen Bakery

Feeling like a little Danish? We've got just the thing. Located in Northport, Long Island, Copenhagen Bakery is the real deal. How do we know? We put it to the test and the Danes approved. Everything we've tried, from the breads to the cakes, tastes good, but if you want a Danish delight, there are a couple of options.  

Great for breakfast or an early afternoon snack, Thebirkes is a poppy seed-covered, flaky, buttery pastry with marzipan inside. If poppy seeds aren't your thing, try the pretzel-shaped Kringle. Despite the name, these delicious pastry don't taste like pretzels. The term, Kringle, refers more to the pretzel-like shape. Just be sure to watch out, the Kringles at Copenhagen are so light and flaky that you may want to eat ten of them.

If you really want to satisfy your sweet tooth, taste the beautifully decorated and delectable Danish Petit Fours. Like the Kringles, it's hard to eat just one. If you agree, you can share the love at your next party by placing advance orders. Dainty, elegant and delicious, the Copenhagen Petit Fours make especially great desserts for bridal or baby showers!

BAKERY LOCATION:

75 Woodbine Avenue

Northport, NY 11768

631-754-3256

Strong Meatball

If asked, Michael Maroni, chef and owner of Maroni Cuisine in Northport, Long Island (or should we say "Strong Island"), would honestly be able to say "My meatball is stronger than your meatball." That's right folks! After beating Bobby Flay in a meatball showdown last year, it's official.  This meatball helps put the "Strong" in "Strong Island." 

Oh, but you say you're not a meatball fan? No problem because basically EVERYTHING is good at Maroni Cuisine. Fear not vegetarians, there's food for you too. 

We want to make this post perfectly clear. Eat at Maroni!

Be sure to get the tasting menu.  In fact, if you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you must get the tasting menu. It can run from $80 to $100 per head, but it's well worth it. You will taste all of Chef Maroni's best dishes including the kobe beef sliders, the ribs, the pasta, the eggplant parmesan, the seafood and the homemade sweets. If you want to spend slightly less (around $50.00 per head), but eat most of the same dishes, try going to Maroni for lunch instead. No matter when you go, make sure you arrive hungry because you will probably want to eat until the buttons on your pants pop open. 

But wait, don't go running out the door yet.  You'll need to make reservations at least 4 weeks in advance. The food is big, but the place is tiny. You can reserve your table by calling 631-757-4500 between the hours of 12pm and 4pm. Maroni is open Tuesday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. 

Just thinking about the utter deliciousness makes us salivate!

RESTAURANT INFORMATION:

18 Woodbine Avenue

Northport, N.Y.  11768

631-757-4500

maronicuisine.com