Waterfront and Outdoor Dining for Memorial Day Weekend

Take in the beauty of it being almost summer by celebrating Memorial Day Weekend at these great restaurants in town that are on the waterfront or have outdoor seating.  Cross your fingers that the potential thunderstorms hold off for the weekend, as outdoor seating is only offered if permitted by the weather.

offers both gorgeous views of the Smithtown Bay from tables both indoors and out, depending on the weather and where you prefer to dine.  This is the place for seafood lovers, where one can order a crab cake dinner, broiled mahi-mahi, or even chicken and scallops marsala.  Reservations are suggested, so call before you drop by. The Inn is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and noon to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

For a less expensive, simpler meal by the water, try , located on Riviera Drive right on the edge of the Nissequogue River.  Order from their great menu of Italian cuisine or just enjoy a pie with the family on the picnic benches outside.  Gasparro’s is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. all weekend, as well as Memorial Day.

If you prefer to celebrate Memorial Day with good old fashioned barbecue, stop by to eat outside and enjoy much more than just burgers and wings.  Try Cowboy Mike’s Famous Chicken Wings with the restaurant’s original Dixie's Smokehouse Texas BBQ sauce, or order a rack of ribs.  Dixie’s also has po’boy sandwiches, such as catfish, barbecued brisket, barbecued pulled pork, fried shrimp, and much more all made with their original Creole mayo.  Dixie’s is open Saturday from noon to 10:30 p.m., Sunday from noon to 9 p.m., and Monday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Take a ride to St. James if you would like to enjoy the sun and delicious food outside one of the top-rated restaurants on Long Island by Zagat – .  Here, you can order from the prix fixe menu on Sunday and Monday, where a four course meal (including dessert) is $35 per person, which can also be paired with beer or wine for $48 per person. This includes celery root soup, monkfish with barley risotto, cassoulet, and your choice of dessert.  A simpler one-course meal is about $26, and appetizers are about $12 each.  Kitchen A Bistro does not accept credit cards.  The restaurant is open from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, and reservations are required for dinner on Saturday and Sunday.