By Julie Gilgoff
Fire Island is full of great restaurants, many of which you could enjoy while overlooking the
beach, listening to the waves and watching the sunset. The ferry ride to Fire Island brings you from the terminal in Bay Shore, Long Island to various destinations including Kismet, Ocean Bay Park and Ocean Beach. There's a separate schedule for each, so do your research beforehand. Enjoy the beauty as well as the cuisine of Fire Island.
Ocean Bay Park Restaurants
Flynns is a popular family restaurant with dancing on the weekends. The crusted shrimp with plum dipping sauce is delicious for an appetizer, and the Linguine Fruitta Di Mare is a great entree. With prices and portions that are fairly sizable, you might consider sharing. If you like reggae, make sure to be at Flynn's on Sunday evenings.
Flynns
1 Cayuga St.
Ocean Bay Park, NY 11770
(631) 583-5000
flynnsfireisland.com
Some people say that Hurricane's Bar and Grill at the Fire Island Hotel and resort offers the best cuisine on the island. Its seafood dishes such as sesame seared tuna and Prince Edward Island Mussels come highly recommended.
Fire Island Hotel and Resort
25 Cayuga Walk
Ocean Bay Park, NY 11782
(631) 583-8000
Ocean Beach Restaurants
Houser's Bar and Grill is housed inside a hotel and is only open for lunch and early dinner. This establishment is therefore popular with families, and closes at 8:30 p.m. The menu consists of basic dishes such as burgers, franks, fried clams and quesadillas for reasonable prices.
Houser's Bar and Grill
East Bay Walk
Ocean Beach, New York 11770
(631) 583-7805
The Island Mermaid is a slightly more upbeat spot which offers a Saturday evening happy hour, as well as jazz, reggae and karaoke after dinner. Tuesdays are sushi nights at Island Mermaid. Try the Fire Island Roll with shrimp tempura, eel and avocado, wasabiko.
Island Mermaid
778 Bay Walk
Ocean Beach, NY 11770
(631) 583-8088
islandmermaid.com
Kismet Restaurants
Although the ferry does make a stop at Kismet, you also can drive to access this picturesque part of Fire Island. Simply park your car at Robert Moses State Park and walk along the beach to reach various restaurants. Along the way, you will pass the Fire Island Lighthouse, which is a spectacular site to behold.
The Kismet Inn and Marina is a popular restaurant and hotel where both locals and tourists like to sit on the deck and enjoy the sunset. The bar food is the best here; burgers and calamari come highly recommended. The best bet in Kismet is to get a beer and snack at the Kismet Inn and head to the Out for your main entrees. The Out features delicious chicken and steak dishes, herb crusted salmon, and grilled mahi mahi for reasonable prices. The warm brownie with whipped cream and hot fudge makes a decadent dessert. The Out also offers dancing with great DJs on the weekends.
Kismet Inn and Marina
Oak Walk
Kismet, New York 117710
(631) 583-5592
The Out
Bay Wk
Kismet, NY 11706
(631) 583-7400
About the Author:
Juile Gilgoff began writing freelance for publications including "New York Newsday" in the year 2005. She was a foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires for "The Jerusalem Post." Writing samples, including reviews of her first book, can be found on her website. Gilgoff graduated from Barnard College, Phi Beta Kappa, with a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Arts in education.
