Exciting Culinary Adventures in New York State

The upstate New York resort town of Lake George and the sprawling suburbs of Long Island have more in common than you might think. Both are summer escapes for hard-working Americans. Both have large bodies of water that draw countless visitors to the shores of their beaches every year. And best yet, both have some of the finest food options you’ll find in the Empire State. Keep reading to find out why so many culinary-conscious travelers head to these two vacation hot spots year after year.

Long Island

The longest and largest island in the contiguous United States, Long Island packs the culinary punch of New York City but in a more relaxed setting. The island is densely populated – more than 7 million people live there – so it’s no surprise that its restaurants do everything they can to stand out. Beachside dining, fresh seafood and world-famous chefs make Long Island uniquely fit for culinary adventures.

Waterfront Dining

With more than 1,000 miles of shoreline, waterfront dining is aplenty on Long Island. You can’t go wrong with seafood plucked from the ocean earlier that day, but Prime’s flagship location in Huntington combines extraordinary upscale eats with breathtaking views of Huntington Harbor from a deck straight out of a beach resort.

Atlantica in Long Beach’s Allegria Hotel is another chicly designed gourmet eatery with a rotating seasonal menu and unrivaled views of the Atlantic Ocean. Watch as the waves break outside from the comfort of their glitzy dining room with a glass of wine from their glass-enclosed wine room.

For gorgeous views of Long Island’s Great South Bay, head to the Suffolk County standout FatFish on the Water in Bay Shore, with a Mediterranean-inspired menu, live music and wine bar. The Fifth Season in Port Jefferson has stunning harbor views, creative cocktails and a vibrant seasonal menu that celebrates new American cuisine.

Wine Country

Long Island is known for making some of the best red wine in the nation and every wine lover knows the best wines are only made better by tasty foods. The east end of Long Island is home to more than two dozen wineries, many of them offering everything from light snacks to full-fledged meals to match with their one-of-a-kind vintages.

The Little Oak at Jamesport Vineyards dishes out wood-fired pizzas that you can pair with a glass of Cabernet Franc on the patio. Diliberto Winery in Jamesport also elevates Italian rice balls, antipasto and thin-crust pizza with Italian-style winemaking that has netted them numerous gold medals.

You’ll find food trucks and charcuterie boards too at wineries across the island like Wolffer Estate Vineyard in Sagaponack and Shinn Estate Vineyards in Mattituck (try the Rose Hill Rosé!). And if you like sparkling wines, Sparkling Pointe in Southold has an out-of-this-world seasonal menu full of cheeses, jams and sweet treats.

Oyster Shucking

Skillfully cracking open an oyster is called shucking – and on Long Island, it’s an art form.

There are U-Shuck oyster bars like the Little Green Oyster Farm + Market in Greenport, where you can learn to properly shuck some of the freshest oysters you will ever taste. Or if you prefer sipping an oyster shucked by a professional, try Catch Oyster Bar in Patchogue, Canterbury’s Oyster Bar & Grill in Oyster Bay or Rockin’ Fish in Northport – all known for their incredible raw bars.

Famous Chefs

For those who crave a little star power with their meals, Long Island has dozens of restaurants where celebrity chefs call the shots. One of the island’s newest offerings is Tom Colicchio’s Small Batch, focused on community and locally-sourced ingredients.

Red Salt Room at the Garden City Hotel is run by chef David Burke, where in addition to an award-winning Sunday brunch and Saturday afternoon tea, the seasonal dinner menu features unique seafood offerings like grilled octopus and  lobster cobb salad, exceptional beef options and clothesline bacon that can’t be missed. Be sure to check out the restaurant’s gorgeous floor-to-ceiling backlit sea salt brick wall, a nod to Burke’s patented Himalayan sea salt dry aging technique.

Debuting in the summer of 2017, The Halyard at Sound View Greenport has an incredible view of the Long Island Sound and a menu composed by chef Stephan Bogardus. The menu celebrates produce from the North Fork of Long Island and the Atlantic Seaboard as well as the robust local wines of the region. Grilled swordfish, a glass of bold red wine and a sunset over the Long Island Sound – what could be better?

Another standout is the North Fork Table & Inn in Southold, where James Beard award-winning pastry chef and owner Claudia Fleming showcases the freshest seafood plucked from the Peconic Bay and locally-grown biodynamic produce.

You could eat out on Long Island all day, every day for a year and still find even more incredible restaurants. Put it to the test and book a trip to Long Island today.

Lake George

In the foothills of the Adirondacks, the Lake George Area is the birthplace of the American vacation – and every great vacation spot needs great places to eat. From waterfront dining on what Thomas Jefferson called “without comparison, the most beautiful water I ever saw,” to rustic pubs in the busy summertime Lake George village, this vacation hotspot is home to culinary standouts with incredible waterfront backdrops.

Waterfront Dining

With 32 miles of lake to play with, restaurants on Lake George take full advantage of their incredible scenery. This includes the Boathouse Restaurant, a family owned establishment built in a 19^th century boathouse that once belonged to American banker George Foster Peabody. Guests can dock their boat before sipping on craft cocktails and savoring every bite of a 10oz filet mignon cooked to perfection.

The newly renovated Lake George Beach Club is another favorite of locals. Open for lunch and dinner, your order often comes with live music and it always includes incredible views of Lake George and the surrounding Adirondack Mountains.

Of course, any mention of incredible must include the AAA Four Diamond Rated Sagamore Resort in the Lake George hamlet of Bolton Landing. The island resort has several outstanding dining options including the scenic Pavillion, La Bella Vita and The Club Grill, with premium steaks, craft cocktails and club-style ambiance.

Craft Beverages

If you’re looking for a great brew or fine wine to kick your food up a notch, Lake George has you covered. Go for a Bear Naked Ale and a burger on the deck of Adirondack Pub & Brewery, with its log cabin décor and pub fare with a twist (everyone needs their gorgonzola horseradish cream sauce in their life).

Then head north on Canada Street into the heart of the village where you’ll find Adirondack Winery, which offers close to 30 dry red, dry white and unique fruit-infused wines from which to choose. Munch on locally sourced farm-fresh cheeses and chocolates and wash it all down with a wine slushy – the perfect way to cool down on a hot summer day.

Event Eats

The Lake George Area is also home to several spectacular food-themed events throughout the year.

For more than 25 years, guests at September’s Taste of the North Country Festival in the nearby city of Glens Falls have been sampling the best foods the Adirondacks have to offer. From upscale eats to casual bites, this family friendly food festival has something for every generation of foodie.

The fall season is also when Lake George shuts down its main drag, Canada Street, for its annual Oktoberfest. It’s a free event with nonstop polka music, authentic German food like bratwurst and knackwurst, keg tossing, dancing chickens and more.

Surrounding Cities

Finally, the Lake George Area is also home to some up-and-coming cities like Glens Falls, where you can find several breweries like Mean Max Brew Works, Davidson Brothers Brewing Company and Coopers Cave Ale Company (try the wings, soups and certified angus burgers at Coopers Cave where, yes, you actually walk through a cave-like entranceway).

The newly relocated Mikado in Glens Falls has some of the best sushi in Upstate New York in a beautiful modern dining room with incredible handcrafted cocktails. There are traditional options but take advantage of their truly unique offerings with a spicy Fire Brothers Roll or one of their deep-fried tempura roll options.

About 20 miles north of Glens Falls in Bolton Landing, Frederick’s Restaurant & Lounge has an incredible raw bar and live music in the thick of the Adirondack wilderness.

Blue Water Manor in Bolton Landing is another spot where great appetizers and entrees are only made better by amazing lake and mountain views. They’re open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, but if you go for sunset, there is no better way to end the day than with a Tiramisu Martini and a Tavern brownie sundae.

The culinary adventures in New York State go well beyond the Big Apple. The only hard part is deciding which of these incredible food regions to visit first.