Restaurants in Valley Stream

Milk and Roses invites visitors to take a bite out of the Old World, mingling the dairy-infused flavors of fine Italian-cheese styles with the floral flourishes and earthy aromas of Mediterranean wine. As guests deconstruct the complex flavors of a savory sheep's-milk crotonese or a sharp, creamy caciocavallo, a jazz musician coaxes sweet music from the café's piano, infusing meals with the syncopated ambiance normally reserved for a blind date with a Scott Joplin impersonator. Shelves stocked with books and board games promote more low-key mingling over glasses of pinot grigio.

At Janelle's Caribbean American Cuisine, chefs fuse exotic ingredients with familiar flavors to craft an edible celebration of culture. Located just a short walk from the Barclays Center, the restaurant introduces surrounding Brooklyn communities to a diverse menu that includes dishes such as oxtail and stew chicken with pineapple. Exposed-brick walls and dark wooden tables light up beneath colorful lighting fixtures, which sway gently from the ceiling to echo island vibes and recreate the owner's recent vacation to the inside of a kaleidoscope. On weekends, the Caribbean-American fusion restaurant satisfies all-day breakfast enthusiasts, as the courteous wait staff dishes out omelets and grilled pancakes until 4 p.m. each Saturday and Sunday.

Oysters, martinis, and burgers take center stage at Eats on Lex, where the oysters roll in fresh daily, the martinis range from classic to chocolate raspberry, and the burgers are formed from dry-aged beef. Beyond its ornate cornice, guest dig into a menu of upscale American pub food in a modern, yet cozy, dining room—characterized by clean lines, rich woods, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Bloody-mary oyster shooters, huevos rancheros, and french toast with vanilla cream and strawberries fill bellies at brunch time, and lunch and dinner dishes include spicy lamb-meatball sandwiches and new york strip sandwiches. Bartenders mix an array of specialty martinis and cocktails behind the gleaming stone bar, including a cucumber martini and peach margarita, both of which pair well with your frenemy's new dress. More than an oyster bar and eatery, Eats on Lex also draws customers with occasional live jazz and happy hour specials.

"If I had a dollar for every time someone said 'What's a riceball?' I wouldn't even need to make 'em," said JohnPaul Perrone on an episode of the Cooking Channel's Eat Street. Since then, JohnPaul has moved from a food truck to a brick-and-mortar restaurant where he continues to create riceballs (known as arancini in Italian) using his grandmother's recipe. At Papa Perrone's Riceball Shoppe, each crisp and golden deep-fried ball protects a tender core of meat and cheese, veggies and cheese, or Nutella-flavored magma. The shop's menu also features other Perrone family recipes as well as Italian specialties, such as artichoke pie, baked or fried calzones, and meatballs.

Tucked away in the DoubleTree by Hilton, Chelton’s Grill replaces the street’s hustle and bustle with a quiet ambiance and a regional cross section of American cuisine. Knives carve into savory steaks, and forks gingerly navigate diet-conscious salads while patrons share lively conversations or gaze at the sky through an overhead sunroof. Lantern-style lights cast a soft glow on the restaurant’s pale wood tables, encouraging diners to search for the portraits of John D. Rockefeller subtly carved into the grain.