The Modern Snack Bar - Aquebogue, New York

You know that fork in the road we wrote about earlier? Well, eventually those two roads come together continuing on into the North Fork of Long Island, and one of the great things about that drive (and there are many) is The Modern as we are fond of calling it. What you need to know is that the lobster-salad rolls are the best, there's a great kids menu (along with plenty of crayons), and that the ambiance of the place is worth walking in the door for. There is that sense of walking back into the era when places like this were commonplace, where waitresses wear white uniforms and stiff hats like old-time nurses. The place was perhaps quite modern when it first opened its doors 60 years ago. but what has happened since that time is a kind of stasis... What was truly modern at the time is now quaint and interesting: it's a visual pleasure, the waitresses are friendly, service is good and the selection of pies is beyond belief.

It's a local favorite haunt that we stumbled into by chance, and now feel inclined to go back to whenever we're out that way. A couple of times we've ended up out there when the Modern happened to be closed, so we went to other seemingly likely joints that for all appearances looked comparable. That has never turned out for the good (with one notable exception that we discovered recently) which will of course show up in a later posting. Sorry, you'll just have to wait.

There is one thing to watch out for - and that's ordering stuff that is clearly out of season (don't do it!) since they continue to serve it because people (not those in the know) ask for it and the Modern folks want to be helpful... But hey - that's not the reason to go to this place. Really - go for the lobster rolls, and maybe an old-fashioned-modern root beer float.

Evaluation: Very sincere

 

Route 25 * Aquebogue, New York 11931
(631) 722-3655
http://modernsnackbar.com/
Tuesday - Thursday.. 11:00 am - 9:00 pm Friday & Saturday.... 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Sunday..................... 12:00 noon - 9:00 pm Closed Mondays, Easter Sunday, & Thanksgiving Day

Barb's Veggies - Rt. 25, Long Island's North Fork

 When you get beyond Riverhead, driving along the North Fork of Long Island, you pass numerous vineyards and farm stands between little towns such as Aquebogue, Cutchogue and Mattituck. Great is the temptation to stop at any or all of these during the warm months and check out their sumptuous local produce. But beware - not all are sincere - nor even totally local. We became aware of this on a pumpkin picking excursion one year. Yes, we were searching for, "the most sincere pumpkin patch." Those that boasted Corn Mazes and Haunted Houses were to be avoided. They were essentially tourist traps for people with little kids that needed entertainment. Fortunately, all our little kid wanted to do was find an exceptional pumpkin. So after a few run-ins with these insincerities, we were attracted by a humble little stand on the side of the road with no gigantic Halloween decorations - just vegetables, and an impressive line up of pumpkins. Behind it stretched the empty furrows from whence they came. Delighted, we chose just the right pumpkins at just the right prices, along with some sweet corn and other succulent items, and the friendly owners helped us without a lot of unnecessary gab.

Now, child all grown up, we still make it a point to stop there in the summer for melons, berries, lettuce, squash, corn or whatever else entices. No home-made pies, no pots of chowder, just fresh, homegrown produce. Amen. 

Evaluation: Very Sincere

  
Located between Pindar Vineyards and the Southold Police Department after the town of Cutchogue, on the left, heading south (or the east side of the road).