Long Island Beaches

Casual dining near Long Island beaches

You're sticky and salty after a day at the beach. Part of you wants to go home and shower before dinner; the other part just wants to eat. Relax. You and the family won't have to change out of your swimsuits or shake sand from your flip-flops at any these casual outdoor spots. Best of all, they're either right at the beach or a short drive away.

NASSAU DINING

All American Hamburger
4286 Merrick Rd.
Massapequa
516-798-9574
allamericanhamburger.us

Burgers, franks, fries and thick shakes (all the after-beach food groups) are accounted for at this much-beloved stand with a few outdoor tables.

Point Lookout Clam Bar & Fish Market
99 Bayside Dr.
516-897-4024

This fish store-clam bar (next to Fisherman's Catch and under the same ownership) serves fresh seafood, much of it from its own boats. Eat your sandwich, wrap, entree or raw-bar item outdoors at an umbrella table or beneath an awning; there are also tables indoors.

Jordan's Lobster Farms
1 Pettit Place
Island Park
516-889-3314
jordanlobsterfarms.com

This lobster wholesaler has order-at-the-counter eating and outdoor tables. Have your lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters and/or chowder overlooking Reynold's Channel.

Pit Stop
1706 Sunrise Hwy.
Merrick
516-223-7799
pitstopeats.com

Much care goes into the sprightly salads, inventive wraps and juicy burgers at this renovated Carvel stand with indoor and outdoor seating.

Singleton's Seafood Shack
1 Ocean Pkwy. ( Tobay Beach)
Massapequa
516-826-1610
singletonsseafoodshack.com

Dine outside at the edge of Tobay Beach (open to the public after 4 p.m.) on a lobster roll, sandwich or full dinner. Conclude with a sunset.

SUFFOLK DINING

Beach Hut at Venetian Shores
850 Venetian Blvd.
Lindenhurst
631-956-0066

Right on the beach, this upbeat spot with tropical flair offers order-at-the-counter service and a menu that ranges from burgers and hot dogs to sandwiches, salads and pastas.

Clam Bar at Napeague
13595 Montauk Hwy.
Amagansett
631-267-6348

If there's always a crowd at this roadside stand with umbrella tables, blame the fab lobster rolls, great fried clams and other beachy edibles.

Hellenic Snack Bar & Restaurant
5145 Main Rd.
East Marion
631-477-0138
thehellenic.com

At this perennially popular Greek eatery, an outdoor table in a grassy field is an ideal spot to order something Greek -- a gyro or kebab platter -- or an all-American burger.

La Casa Cafe
445 Waterside Rd.
Northport
631-757-7720
lacasacaferestaurant.com

At this boardwalk restaurant-pizzeria with outdoor seating (and parking separate from the beach), get pizza from a counter window or order from a full Italian menu and enjoy table service. The scenery is peerless.

La Fondita
74 Montauk Hwy.
Amagansett
631-267-8800
lafondita.net

Savor such authentic Mexican dishes as chorizo tacos or posole stew at a pond-side picnic table at this scenic East End favorite.

TAKE-OUT PICNIC BASKETS

From plain to luxe, these places will fix you up with a cooler full of goodies for your day at the shore.

Vittorio's Restaurant and Wine Bar
184 Broadway
Amityville
631-264-3333

A picnic for four, with bottled water, side dishes and fruit salad, starts at $69.95 (or about $17 a person).

Bernard's Market & Cafe
716 Glen Cove Ave.
Glen Head
516-759-9100
bernardsmarket.com

Get sandwiches, wraps, salads or whatever, nestled into a cooler or picnic basket. From $12.

Batata Cafe
847 Fort Salonga Rd.
Northport
631-754-4439
batatacafe.com

Choose anything you want from a healthy, inventive menu; add $3 for packing in ice, a $2 cooler deposit and you're truly beach-ready.