Guide: Long Island's top breakfast spots
A tuna and American cheese omelet at Thomas's Ham and Eggery Diner in Carle Place, a landmark eatery open since 1946. Credit: Newsday/K. Wiles Stabile
A typical weekday may start with a bowl of cereal, a smoothie, maybe just a slice of toast. But there are times when you need to treat yourself to a righteous BEC, an everything bagel with a schmear, a short stack dripping with pure maple syrup or tacos filled with scrambled eggs and crumbly chorizo—whatever gets you to lunchtime or beyond. Here are more than 20 places where you can find a fabulous morning meal.
NASSAU
AZTECA DELI
151 Post Ave., Westbury, 516-876-0458; 485 Maple Ave., Westbury, 516-997-9701, azteca-deli-website.vercel.app/en
Azteca Deli is not really a deli at all, but a colorful full-service restaurant bumping with Latin music and fiery table salsas. The menu has a little bit of everything, but at breakfast you’ll find some solid huevos rancheros served with rice, beans, cheese, avocado and tortillas.
BLACKSMITH’S BREADS
870 W. Beech St., Long Beach, 516-490-5530, blacksmithsbreads.com
This tiny café has brioche, English muffins and an array of sweet pastries. Their ham, egg and cheese on a housemade English muffin is outstanding. Grab a bag of the excellent maple granola for later.
BUTTERCOOKY BAKERY & CAFE
140 Plandome Rd., Manhasset, 516-627-1600; 495 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-424-4034,
High-rise pancakes with berries, jam, vanilla cream and brown-butter maple, at Buttercooky Bakery & Cafe in Manhasset. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
Well, if fat little buttermilk pancakes topped with berries, homemade berry jam and brown-butter maple syrup sound same-old, same-old to you, go for the Nutella banana crepes.
FLOUR SHOPPE CAFE
41 S. Park Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-442-1299, flourshoppecafe.com
The croque madame at Flour Shoppe Cafe. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
This Rockville Centre mainstay (eggs, pancakes and more) has taken up residence at Lenox & Park for breakfast, brunch and lunch. At 4 p.m., Lenox & Park begins dinner service. In other words, you could spend the entire day here.
FORA CAFE
3 Manorhaven Blvd., Port Washington, 516-321-9024, foracafeny.com
Cilbir is a Turkish egg dish with Greek yogurt and Aleppo pepper at Fora Cafe in Port Washington. Credit: Newsday/Andi Berlin
At this bright, minimalist café, underneath the all-day breakfast section, there’s a smaller “around the world” category that features shakshuka and Turkish cilbir: two poached eggs submerged in tangy Greek yogurt and a scattering of green herbs. Every bite is creamy with a touch of spice, and it’s a nice contrast to the strong Turkish coffee, prepared in a traditional cezve and served in delicate porcelain cups. There is also a full Turkish breakfast for two, with slices of tomatoes, feta cheese, olives, simit (a circular sesame bread), jams and sunny-side-up eggs.
LOUIE’S
339 Plandome Rd., Manhasset, 516-627-0022, louiesmanhassetrestaurant.com
The 62-year-old village gathering place Louie's in Manhasset. Credit: Newsday/Erica Marcus
This 62-year-old village gathering place got a modern makeover in 2024 and, with the help of the third generation of the Pagonis family, is moving into the future. Whether you’re in the mood for a BEC, breakfast bowl, cinnamon-bun French toast, an omelet or The Hungry Man (two eggs, skirt steak, home fries and a short stack), you can dive in as early as 5 a.m.
SOUTHDOWN COFFEE
149 Glen St., Glen Cove, southdowncoffee.com
A cappuccino and croissant ready to be served at Southdown Coffee. Credit: Bruce Gilbert
This spot has some of the most finely tuned coffee on the Island. Add a Famous Egg Sandwich (two eggs on a roll, with bacon, Cheddar, arugula, pickled onions, and tomato butter) and you are ready for anything. (Other locations: Huntington, Northport, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Point Lookout, Port Jefferson)
THOMAS’S HAM AND EGGERY DINER
325 Old Country Rd., Carle Place, 516-333-3060, hamandeggery.com
Landmark diner Thomas's Ham and Eggery in Carle Place opened in 1946. Credit: Newsday/Heather Phelps-Lipton
This landmark eatery has a full menu of morning, afternoon and evening fare, but it’s the breakfasts that have inspired pilgrimages since 1946. Expect terrific (and terrifically large) omelets, eggs and ham steak (or bacon or sausage) served in a skillet with home fries and toast, and excellent blueberry pecan pancakes.
WHISKEY DOWN DINER
252 Main St., Farmingdale, 516-927-8264, whiskeydowndiner.com
The breakfast poutine at Whiskey Down Diner in Farmingdale. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
From a Greens, Eggs, & Ham Scram or the Family Reunion (country-fried chicken, two eggs any style and housemade sausage gravy served over a buttermilk biscuit) to breakfast ramen, honey ricotta toast, pancakes every which way and eggs over homemade corned beef hash, morning fare rolls all day long here.
SUFFOLK
ANTHONY’S PANCAKE HOUSE
710 Montauk Hwy., Montauk, 631-668-2823
A timeless East End debate revolves around which place has the better pancakes—Anthony’s or John’s, the virtually identical greasy spoon located directly across Montauk Highway. The fruit-topped offerings that dot tables here are a big draw. Be prepared for a line.
BRUCE & SON
208 Main St., Greenport, bruceandsongreenport.com
Hotcake with maple syrup, grass-fed butter, berries and mixed seeds at Bruce & Son in Greenport. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
All-day breakfast offerings at this charmer include an egg-ceptional egg sandwich, a blueberry hotcake, overnight oats and a vegetarian carrot lox tartine (sourdough with labneh, smoked carrot, shaved onion, caper, dill and lemon).
EASTPORT LUNCHEONETTE
497 Montauk Hwy., Eastport, 631-325-8887
Banana walnut pancakes at Eastport Luncheonette. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
This country diner is perfection, right down to the banana pancakes, with their crunchy edges and soft banana chunks that flow into the tender batter. They’re not showy—there isn’t even butter—but, boy, are they good.
ESTIA’S LITTLE KITCHEN
1615 Bridgehampton–Sag Harbor Tpke., Sag Harbor, 631-725-1045, estias.com
The chilaquiles verde at Estia's Little Kitchen in Sag Harbor. Credit: Newsday/Alejandra Villa Loarca
Omelets, shredded beef hash and fluffy, fruit-saturated pancakes join breakfast burritos, cochinita pibil tacos, chilaquiles, huevos rancheros and platters (such as the mighty George’s Ranch) here.
GLEN’S DINETTE
23 E. Main St., Babylon, 631-669-4700, glensdinette.com
The farmer's breakfast at Glen's Dinette in Babylon features housemade sausage stuffing patties topped with poached eggs and hollandaise sauce, served with root vegetables. Credit: Raychel Brightman
This breakfast-and-lunch-only establishment has served hearty meals of bacon, eggs and cheese for more than 70 years. Babylonians and their admirers can’t seem to get enough of the huevos rancheros, corned beef hash or Blue Monkey (blueberry and banana) pancakes.
HATCH
286 Main St., Huntington, 631-424-0780, hatchbrunch.com
Pineapple upside down pancakes are topped with housemade vanilla rum creme anglaise, carmelized pineapple and cinnamon butter at Hatch in Huntington. Credit: Daniel Brennan
This buzzy, bright spot in Huntington Village trades in pancakes, omelets, breakfast burritos, bowls, all-day mimosas and spiked espressos. There is a Hangover Burger (two smash burger patties, Cheddar, tot patty, sunny-side-up egg, bourbon-jalapeño bacon jam and chipotle aïoli, on an everything-seasoned brioche bun) and pineapple upside-down pancakes topped with housemade vanilla rum crème anglaise, too.
LITTLE GULL CAFE
54 N. Phillips Ave., Speonk, 631-801-2176, littlegullcafe.com
Sourdough pancakes with bacon at Little Gull Cafe in Speonk. Credit: Linda Rosier
At this charming café in a decommissioned train station, you will find a stellar egg sandwich and deep-golden, crisp-edged pancakes naturally leavened by sourdough. You might want to add a side of housemade sausage or thick-cut Tennessee bacon from Allan Benton, the go-to ham-and-bacon curer for chefs across the country.
MAUREEN’S KITCHEN
108 Terry Rd., Smithtown, 631-360-9227
Lemon poppy pancakes served with fresh strawberries and blueberries at Maureen's Kitchen in Smithtown. Credit: Allison Davis O'Keefe
Although you should expect a wait, the pistachio pancakes are served in abundance and eggs reign supreme. Cubans and Reubens offset the breakfast choices. Cash only.
NAPPI’S NOOK
204 Smithtown Blvd., Nesconset, 631-406-7610, nappisnook.com
The breakfast burrito at Nappi's Nook in Nesconset. Credit: Yvonne Albinowski
Breakfast lovers will find anything goes in terms of eggs, whether served on tots, poached, in an omelet or plant-based scramble. For late risers: salads, veggie-minded flatbreads and more.
ROTO ALL DAY CAFE
101 Fourth Ave., Bay Shore, rotoallday.com
At this eclectic little bit of Brooklyn smack in the middle of Bay Shore, breakfast, which is served all day, includes rustic sourdough toast topped with avocado, za’atar and Aleppo pepper or lox, cream cheese and capers; egg roll-ups with chorizo or potato; and housemade banana bread toasted with French butter and sea salt.
SWEET MAMA’S
9 Alsace Pl., Northport, 631-261-6262; 121 Main St., Stony Brook, 631-675-9263, sweetmamasli.com
Robert Capra, his daughter, Ellie Capra and grandma, Judy Ommundsen, all of Northport, eat breakfast at Sweet Mama's in Northport. Credit: Rick Kopstein
At this warm, kitschy throwback to a simpler time, indulge in chicken-fried steak and eggs, a hot-honey chicken and waffle, grits three ways, a spicy avocado “Benny,” pancakes loaded with a torrent of blueberries and whipped cream.
TOAST COFFEE & KITCHEN
3 Hawkins Ave., Ronkonkoma, 631-913-0039, toastcoffeehouse.com
The popular all-day brunch chainlet Toast recently opened this generously sized restaurant at Station Yards with favorites such as Nutella and banana crepes, flavorful variations on avocado toast, shrimp and grits, biscuits with sausage gravy, a tofu skillet, four quesadilla variations (Ranchero, Hawaiian Coast, Voodoo and vegan) and more. (Other locations: Bay Shore, Long Beach, Patchogue, Port Jefferson Station)
TOAST & CO.
62 Stewart Ave., Huntington, 631-812-0056
Pancake lovers will find something to savor at this always lively spot. Among the varieties to choose from: plain buttermilk, bananas Foster, with berries (both inside and on top) or lighter, thinner Swedish-style pancakes with Nutella, bananas and whipped cream.
Compiled by Newsday's Andi Berlin, Erica Marcus and Marie Elena Martinez.
