7 Best Restaurants in Sag Harbor, Long Island

Fresh-baked buns and house-ground beef define the gourmet cheeseburger nirvana that keeps the locals coming back to this little spot just outside the village—and a rotating $2 beer selection doesn't hurt. The burgers are a little on the small side, but that means there will certainly be room for Joe & Liza's delicious ice cream, made with milk that comes from happy cows in New York State. If beef isn't your thing, try the veggie or turkey burger, falafel, or house-made fish burger. A live jazz jam takes place here on Thursday nights.

On the second floor of a yacht club, this summertime favorite offers exceptional food with a terrific view. The emphasis is on local fish, chicken, or pasta, prepared with savory sauces that show an international flair, including curry, Thai-peanut, and mustard-cream. Innovative appetizers include pork belly buns with kimchi. Separate menus are devoted to martinis, mojitos, and margaritas. Save room for a homemade ice cream sandwich. The wait for an outside table can be quite long, so grab a few (pricey) drinks at the bar and relax. The staff, like the restaurant, is seasonal, so the service can be inconsistent.

On the first warm day of the season, locals flock to the umbrella-shaded patio tables of this casual spot next to the American Legion Hall. Have a bowl of steamers and watch the boats head into the marina. Traditional seafood favorites such as seared scallops and fried oysters share the menu with paella and chicken pot pie. Inside are two simple dining rooms and a small bar.

Locals treasure this as their secret spot—a simple roadside restaurant housed in a little red house that serves good breakfasts and lunch, as well as fresh, creative American dinner fare. People rave about the blueberry pancakes and chorizo hash. Crab cakes and chicken quesadillas are popular with the lunch crowd, and vegetables and salads couldn't get any fresher—they come from their own garden out back. A three-course prix-fixe dinner is offered for $29. If you want to make a reservation, call between 2 and 3:30.

Chianti bottles hang from the ceiling over tables draped in red-and-white-check cloths in the three rooms of this cozy and slightly kitschy family-friendly restaurant. Consistently good cooking and service make it a year-round favorite. Don't miss the garlic knots and the ravioli, made in-house.

This cool, casual, yet simply elegant spot on Main Street is made even cooler by having its own aquaponic garden. Hamptons veteran executive chef James Carpenter highlights fresh ingredients in his signature dishes like the sheep's ricotta gnudi with lamb meatballs and elevates a simple burger with a brioche bun and hand-cut fries; seafood proliferates on the creative, seasonal menu. The Back Page Patio Café offers casual dining and late-night bites.

An attractive, black-clad staff serves sushi and other Japanese dishes to the hip crowd that frequents this place. Sashimi and rolls of all varieties are available; teriyaki dishes, vegetable, noodle, and fresh-fish dishes round out the menu, which includes an extensive sake list. Try the steamed pork buns.