Restaurants in Hauppauge

Husband-and-wife team Ali and Nazifa acquaint American palates with Afghan flavors through accessible fusion fare—with many vegan options—that has caught the printed eye of the New York Times. Cushion-covered benches grant comfort, and glasses of wine complement entrees. The eatery’s framed art hangs on exposed-brick walls instead of over an art museum’s embarrassingly outdated Chuck Norris poster.

American Roadside CEO Rich LaVecchia is the happiest when he's biting into a Roadside burger––mainly because his children, at ages 8 and 13, helped perfect the recipe. Each tender patty is constructed of Sterling Silver premium grain-fed beef, aged for a minimum of 21 days to maximize tenderness. But the eco-conscious burgers are only the beginning of Roadside's green pledge. To complement exposed brick and nostalgic advertising signs, Roadside outfits each restaurant with sustainable bamboo floors, recycled countertops and chairs, and picnic tables whittled from the driftwood of naturally floating picnic tables. The walls are also decorated with reclaimed barn siding and the names of diners who have successfully completed the eatery's famous quadruple Roadstar cheeseburger challenge.

Below hanging lights like scoops of vanilla ice cream, diners slurp up creamy milk shakes, such as Oreo and cremesicle, and two-hand signature burgers with slaw or chili, and a portion of those profits are donated to charities, such as the American Red Cross. After finishing off a hot Philly cheese steak, patrons can add a boost to their evening with a glass of wine or beer, or add a boost to everyone's evening by drinking the biodiesel fuel crafted from Roadside's recycled fry oil.

A tightly written but well-balanced menu of classic steak, seafood, and pasta dishes emphasize simple recipes and virtuosic preparation. Blue Lagoon's chefs craft familiar dishes—including grilled Atlantic salmon and filet mignon with garlic mashed potatoes—that let guests relish the experience of upscale dining. A wine list longer than the dinner menu further heightens the meal as servers recommend bottles and glasses of sparkling whites, pinot noirs, merlots, and other sips to pair with entrees. The chefs also cater events—weddings, birthday parties, and pet-rock-adoption anniversaries—and the staff frequently hosts buffets, music, and special events at the restaurant.

Sushi Ichi Japanese Restaurant's seasoned chefs recruit fresh fish and sticky morsels of rice to build a menu stacked with more than 50 types of maki rolls. The culinary team fills seaweed-wrapped cylinders with predetermined combinations of snow crab, tuna, and salmon, as well as custom-builds sushi rolls to incorporate diners' favorite ingredients. Thai and Chinese dishes also abound and include classics such as spicy kung pao chicken, shrimp pad thai, and green and red curries flanked by rich coconut rice.

With sweeping views of Bethpage State Park Golf Course, the idyllic setting of the 2009 U.S. Golf Open Championship, Taste 99 at Carlyle on the Green matches its majestic surrounds with an ornate interior and a versatile menu of upscale American eats. Chef Phil Abshire updates classic steakhouse fare with exotic flavors and creative fish dishes, taking care to balance his tasty innovations with reverence to simple, expertly seared steaks. His culinary feats are enjoyed in a grandiose dining space marked by cream-colored walls, ceiling beams, and a portrait of the inventor of golf, Tiger Woods. When the sun decides to smile upon earth creatures, diners can plop into outdoor patio seating and sip a glass of wine from the restaurant’s extensive list.

From their command center behind the open sushi bar, Umi Sushi’s skilled chefs champion fresh, authentic Japanese fare by sculpting vibrantly hued rolls and umami-packed entrees. These culinary gurus scuttle about the kitchen decorating sleek white plates with traditional morsels infused with inventive flavors such as honey wasabi sauce and pink soy seaweed. Artistically composed platefuls of fresh fish and bowls of steaming noodles arrive before guests perched on modern wooden benches in the dining room. When warmer weather rolls in, Umi Sushi’s outdoor brick patio beckons eaters to sun on its stone benches as their chopsticks click through the kitchen’s masterpieces.