Best diner on Long Island??

[anitab]

I grew up in Long Island and going to "the diner" was a regular part of my week. There is no shortage of diners on LI - you only have to drive down Hempstead Tpke to know this. I haven't lived on the island for a few years but still make it here frequently to visit fam still in the area.

So, here's my question Hounds: what's the best diner in Nassau and best in Suffolk? Where is your go-to place on a Friday night for a quick dinner or piece of cake or on a Sat morning for breakfast?

[royboyrrr]

Even though it's not a diner, Maureens Kitchen in St. James is the best for breakfast in Suffolk County, maybe on the whole Island. Their also excellent for lunch. Their omelets are fantastic and the service is tops. Long waits most of the time on the weekend.

[mcf]

Long waits during the week, too. And nothing like a diner.

[wishuwerhere]

Thomas' Ham & Eggery
It is amazing

[GlendaleGal]

Yes it is amazing...Amazingly bad service & incredibly rude manager/owner. (Check out my review)
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/537913

[albagrl23]

I'm not too crazy about diner food but I would have to say South Bay Diner is one of the better diners that I have eaten at. I LOVE there twice baked potato, not many serve those. Great cappuccinos too, lol. And the service is pretty good along with a nice atmosphere. There desserts could be better.

[scunge]

My mother in laws coming to visit ............thoughts of going to Hampton Bays Diner.........for breakfast ..............................????????

[donnyp]

Try Louie's in Manhasset, on Plandome Road just past the train tracks on the left. Louie has a wonderful greek family who's been running this place for years and they know how to do it right - the sons Tommy, Peter, and Billy are the cooks and the counter guy. It is technically a coffee shop but it is Greek diner all the way - great for omelets or eggs, bacon, potatos any way you like 'em.

[EricMM]

There's also the Cutchogue Diner on Main Rd, in Cutchogue...its a historic "railroad car" diner.....

[Karl S]

Thomas' Ham & Eggery in Carle Place is a benchmark for breakfast.

[davmar77]

i mentioned that one too.we'll be going there for father's day.just love those pumpkin pecan waffles!

[valerie]

My in-laws live in Great Neck and when visiting them, we often make it a point to go to the Majestic on Old Country Road near Fortunoffs. Great french toast, pancakes, salads, sandwiches.

[intrepid]

fortunoff?? great neck?? 25 minutes apart???

[valerie]

Yeah, probably 20 minutes. And we usually tie it in with some shopping -- Costco or Target, etc. It was more of a thing when we lived in the city. Now that we live in Westchester, Costco and Target aren't such a novelty since we have them closeby. and therefore, don't go the the Majestic too often.

[intrepid]

when in great neck, do you go to scobee?? or silver moon in new hyde park??

[valerie]

I know where the Scobee is but I have never gone there. Don't know the Silver Moon.

[intrepid]

both are a lot closer to great neck, and have been there for decades

[valerie]

But are they good?

[gnocchi]

Any hounds know of other diners with good fish dinners, such as Golden Reef in RVC mentioned above? Suffolk locations would be a plus.

[Fred19]

I like the Celbrity diner in Syosset and the Millenium diner in Smithtown.
~Fred19

[robinsilver]

Isn't Celebrity the place that is now Patsy's Pizzaria? It's right off S Oyster Bay Rd on Jericho, north side of street.

[synergy]

No, Celebrity is about a block west of it. But you are correct that the what is currently Patsy's used to be a diner, owned by the Celebrity diner owners.

[Fred19]

I think that was the Hollywood Diner. Redundant and over-priced.
~Fred19

[synergy]

Fred, while I saw that you like and recommend Celebrity, I actually have never had a good experience at Celebrity diner. Shells in my eggs, always surly service, food mediocre at best - no matter when I go - so I don't go there. I like Parade diner in Woodbury much better for one in the Syosset/Woodbury area.

I like best Majestic diner on Old Country Rd. near Fortunoffs.

[mcf]

I'll second both of these, especially the Milennium.

[Eileen]

We went to the Celeberity Diner in Syosset and thought the prices were outrageous- $23.00 for chicken parma- and that was just for the entree- not a complete dinner- Good Italian restaurants charge less than that. Obivously we ordered sandwiches- and they were nothing to write home about.

[dude]

Nassau-wise, the Golden Reef in Rockville Center is excellent, though expensive. I generally avoid breakfast there in favor of the Baldwin Coach Diner (Baldwin, obviously) due to expense (and Baldwin Coach is pretty good to, especially for breakfast,) but for lunch and especially dinner it is great. I actually order fish there, because it's pretty fresh and they sell quite a bit.

[davmar77]

we live in baldwin and won't go to coach.by the way,it's closed for rennovations currently.the pantry diner in oceanside has come a long way and now offers a larger menu including more healthy but tasty choices.we used to love the original seaford palace but it gone through too many hands now.of course there's always the amazing thomas's ham and eggery in westbury.

[laylag]

In Suffolk: Peter Pan Diner on Bayshore Road near Sunrise Highway. South Bay Diner on Sunrise Highway in Lindenhurst. I agree about Golden Dolphin in Huntington - food is decent but mostly known for the absolutely tremendous portions. One dinner easily feeds two. I went to Premier in Commack when it first opened, twice, and service was awful, food was mediocre. I've heard (we don't live on LI anymore and my parents who still did have moved) that it's come into itself and is now very, very good.

[RickTheClamBellyFan]

But don't bother with the regular hamburger (beef) at Taby's. They steam grill it, and it tastes very weird--almost like potted beef. No thanks. It's big, all right, but it's not good.

[jpf1980]

Bellyclam, Finally!! you are the first person i have heard to agree with me about Taby's Burger. Its the most overrated burger on Long Island. I'd take a Big Mac anyday over that burger. I don't know why so many people LOVE it.

By the way, I think Taby's has excellent Breakfast food.

[RickTheClamBellyFan]

If, with your breakfast, you like sausage, the Landmark Diner at Port Washington Blvd and Northern Blvd. has the best. It's similar to the sausage they use at Taby's, but it's not as greasy. It's obvious that they both deep fry them in the Fry-o-lator basket, but for some reason Taby's doesn't bother to shake off the excess oil. Neither will pass as health food LOL. For other food, don't bother with the Landmark, by the way. I'm just speaking about the breakfast sausage.

[L_W]

I am also interested in replies to this. I also moved off LI about 3 years ago but at that time Hi-Light Diner on 347/Old Town was my fave in Suffolk

[winebarb]

in suffolk-premier diner on commack rd in commack. always standing room only. food is great, portions huge.

[budcar]

I agree with Premier Diner. Others I like are Taby's, in Oyster Bay, for their fresh ground chicken burger on Wed's only, served with Greek salad and their delicious fries which are the close to fresh . Golden Dolphin, on Main St, in Huntington also draws the crowds primarily for their huge portions. .

[CityFoodNY]

Premier is good, I actually had lunch there today and usually do once a week. The quality of the food is better than most diner's, the portions are big for their salads, however their sandwiches and diner staples such as omelettes, etc., have a higher price tag compared to most diners. But the quality is always good, so you do get what you pay for.

[RickTheClamBellyFan]

Where is Premier?

[mcf]

Commack Rd, just northof 495.