You’re likely to miss Barnum Island if you blink when crossing the bridge that connects the hamlet to Long Beach. Nestled on less than one square-mile of land and dwarfed in comparison to its neighbor, Island Park, Barnum Island is largely known for its wharf along Waterview Road. That’s where a handful of restaurants sit side by side, most of them closed for the winter.
“There is nothing else really going on here except for this [restaurant] area,” says John Reilly, 26, who works on the wharf. In the summer, however, “it gets pretty busy, and it’s a good idea to make reservations.”
“People come here for entertainment. You dine, you come on your boat, you relax,” says Jenna Vitale, 27, who also works at the wharf.
Up the road from the waterfront is D.A.’s Drive Thru Market at 4451 Austin Blvd. D.A.’s puts the “convenience” back into the notion of a convenience mart. There’s no need to leave your car when stopping by to pick up milk at the store. Just pull up to the door, open your window and owner Danny Andre, 26, will take your order without you ever having to leave the driver’s seat.
Getting served
» After the spring thaw, grab a pint at one of several restaurant/bars on Barnum Wharf and listen to live music. Those with outdoor decks include Paddy McGee’s Fish House and Bar, which reopens March 10; (6 Waterview Rd.; 516-431-8700). Locals say Coyote Grill, which also has a lively outside bar scene, opens later in the spring (104 Waterview Rd., 516-889-8009).
» Planning to get hitched? Try the Bridgeview Yacht Club, (80 Waterfront Blvd., 516-432-2400).
