The North Fork is Long Island's laid back, down to earth neighbor to the Hamptons, and one of my favorite places to be. Wine, good food, good people, and unadulterated nature abound. The following is a list of my favorite places that might help you plan your visit (but shhhhhhhh!). We usually Airbnb/VRBO in the village of Greenport and branch out from there, but there are many more scenic options for those that prefer to be outside of town.

NOTE: While I do my best not to disparage any business, if I don't mention it, I can't vouch for it. However, I only recommend places that I've visited, and I certainly haven't been everywhere. Check back for updates.

The Wine

The Long Island wine region is relatively young by most standards, but in my opinion has started to come into its own in the 15 years that I've been visiting. White varietals shine here, but you can find some nice reds if you're ok with earthier notes. An unfiltered list of winemakers can be found here.

One Woman
onewomanwines.com
My personal fave. Well-crafted whites (Chardonnay, Gerwurtztaminer, Gruner Veltliner!, Rosé, Blends) and small bites, served up in a little rustic shack. Groups over six not welcome, which is much appreciated. They also offer "tastings under the stars", weather permitting. UPDATE: Wow ... they really spruced things up! The little rustic shack is still there, but now with a really nice deck and seating around it.

McCall
mccallwines.com
Solid reds (e.g., Ben's Blend) reminiscent of earthier Bordeaux. Tasting room with adjacent horse stables is a huge plus. They often have a food truck parked there on weekends as well.

Croteaux
croteaux.com
The only rosé-only vintner in the North Fork (and that I've ever known). Several varieties of very drinkable pink stuff, served quirky tasting setup. Also offering some small bites.

The Old Field
theoldfield.com
Decent wines, but I go for the scenery. Chickens, picnic tables, and green grass make for a very pleasant "drink the whole bottle" experience.

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company
greenportharborbrewing.com
Not wine, but great craft beer! Great little tasting room in an alley right off Main St. in Greenport. They have a MUCH bigger tasting room farther out on Rte 25, but the original one is more my speed. I like to hit this place up after I've hit the wineries ... great way to cap it off and give your taste buds a break. Make sure you buy a bag of plain North Fork potato chips while you're tasting.

Kontokosta
kontokostawinery.com
The only winery in Greenport and with Sound views. Wine is good, but view is exceptional. Large, attractive, modern tasting room.

The Winemaker Studio
winemaker-studio.com
Tasting room on a side street for winemakers that don't have estates, so you can sample from a wide range. The food market next door close, but a cool little antique place is two doors over.

Honorable Mention

Bedell Cellars / The Tap Room at Corey Creek
bedellcellars.com, bedellcellars.com/the-tap-room
Quality wines and really nice tasting venues (Corey Creek was recently remodeled), but often slammed with large groups.

Pelligrini
pellegrinivineyards.com
Good (white/rosé) wines, very nice vineyard view. Popular spot for events.

Paumanok
paumanok.com
Nice rieslings, other whites. Big, friendly tasting room with spacious deck looking out onto the vines.

Palmer
palmervineyards.com
Rustic tasting room with a very wide variety of wines/varietals, including some you won't see anywhere else on the Fork, like albariño.

Sparkling Pointe
sparklingpointe.com
The only spot for bubbly, if you must. As a result, often overrun with bachelorettes and limos.

The Food (and Coffee!)

Incredible local produce and fresh seafood have always been stars here, but the last 10 years have seen the arrival of chefs/restaurants that are taking full advantage. While there are quite a few long-standing "crab shacks" that have a certain charm of their own, I generally avoid them due to inconsistent quality and service. And if you'd rather avoid restaurants, you'd do just fine hitting up one of the multitude of roadside farm stands and filling up on fresh fruit, sweet corn, cider donuts, etc.

Aldo's
aldos.com
Aldo Maiorana roasts the best coffee I've ever had ... no joke. I order all my beans from him, and go here every morning for 1-2 cappuccinos and a scone (which are also so good they shouldn't be called scones) when I stay in the area. I'd follow this guy into battle. The options are limited, but everything is worth a try. If you go, go early to avoid the line. If there's a line, wait.

Orient Country Store
facebook.com/Orient-Country-Store
This place makes me tear up it's so goddamn quaint. Part grocery, part restaurant, all real deal country store – board games, soup, sandwiches, baked goods, and friendly people. We always pop in when we're nearby, and we never want to leave.

Briermere Farms
briermere.com
About as far from Greenport as you can get and still be on the Fork, but ... the greatest strawberry rhubarb pie on Earth. Honestly unreal.

Little Creek Oysters
littlecreekoysters.com
Not a dinner locale per se, but a great little spot right in the harbor for local oysters, clams, beer/wine and crudité. You pay less if you shuck you're own, and they provide the tools/instruction. Also, lots of cool merch, and are genuinely nice people.

Iron Skillet
ironskilletmattituck.com
If this place makes you feel like you're eating in someone's house, it's because you are. I can't speak highly enough of Bob & Mary Anne's cooking – a truly unique experience. You can read more about them here. Cash only and BYOB.

Catapano Dairy Farm
catapanodairyfarm.com
Pop in quickly and buy some goat cheese. Mamma mia it's so good!! Like, world class good. If weather is nice, you can hang with the goats, too.

Salamanders on Front
salamandersonfront.com
Historically, service in here can be a bit of an adventure, but it's always with a smile. Regardless, the food makes up for any shortcomings. The fried chicken is knockout good, dare I say destination-worthy. Also, a good little market for cheese, meat, and gourmet items.

Brix & Rye
brixandrye.com
Really fun spot that could exist just as easily in Brooklyn, minus the pretense. Surprisingly good pizza (somewhere between NY and Neopolitan style on size and thickness) and wonderful cocktails, with a shufflepuck table upstairs.

North Fork Table
northforktableandinn.com
This used to be the only fine true dining option in the North Fork. In the past couple years, they've taken a turn away from fine dining towards a more casual menu after the original chef/owner's untimely passing, but the quality of the food is still there. Beautiful dining space and inn, reminiscent of something you might see in Sonoma, Also a really good food truck outside for lunch time.

Noah's
chefnoahs.com
On the fancier side for Greenport, but not scene-y. Consistent service with a seafood-forward menu.

Village Cheese Shop
thevillagecheeseshop.com
If you want to grab some fromage, meat and a baguette to eat with a bottle at a vineyard, do it here. Also, it's right near couple spots for brunch/lunch are down the block in "downtown" Mattituck that I've heard good things about but have not visited.

Southold Fish Market
facebook.com/southoldfishmarket
Used to be only a fishmonger, but started frying things up a few years ago. No frills, but super fresh seafood in a very casual setting.

Braun Seafood
braunseafood.com
A Cuthogue staple since 1928, they are similar to Southold Fish Market in that they've recently started offering a lot more takeaway options.