Babylon Level 5 Bistro

[Abbie Pilz]

ThisSouth Shore village has always been a destination for its walkable downtown, which includes a Long Island Rail Road hub. Over the past two decades, the village's dining scene has evolved to include wine bars and highbrow coffee.

Weathered wood, steel-frame windows and Edison light bulbs conjure a gastropub vibe, as does a menu dominated by small plates that change seasonally. The space starts filling up at happy hour and stays open late into the night, drawing a crowd for bar munchies (loaded duck fries, eggplant hummus and Korean BBQ wings, for instance). Weekend brunch brings fried chicken and sausage gravy, a sweet potato pizzetta and mimosas by the glass or carafe. More info: 631-587-2000, thebrixtonbabylon.com

Lattes-with-a-twist are the morning equivalent of inventive cocktails, and this coffeehouse was designed to lift spirits with ample caffeine. Working a sexy espresso machine, baristas here can make a pour-over (coffee made by pouring hot water over beans) and serve freshly made cold brews. There are also smoothies, tea blends, all-day breakfast sandwiches and sweets. More info: 631-885-3722, jackjackscoffeehouse.com

This Japanese chainlet has developed a reputation for producing some of the most satisfying sushi on Long Island. The Deer Park Avenue branch is no different, with a sleek, simple dining room and an approachable sushi bar. There are imaginative sushi rolls as well as crispy tacos Japoneses: house-fried corn tortillas filled with yellowtail and romaine hearts mixed with smoked chipotle mayo. More info: 631-321-8387, kotobukirestaurants.com

Expertly made pub food and a killer craft beer list come together in this bustling, re-imagined sports bar that lies shoulder-to-shoulder with the train station. Beer-wise, you'll encounter plenty of releases from local breweries such as Greenpoint Harbor, Blue Point Brewing and Garvies Point Brewery, while bites such as birria tacos, barbecue short-rib grilled cheese and pierogies smothered in Cheddar-ale sauce and bacon may lull you into a food coma. More info: 631-983-8900, localbabylon.com

The sleek Japanese fusion concept opened in late 2023 in the historic Bank of Babylon building, in the two-level space that last held Monsoon. Mito's biggest strength seems to be its sushi, which is of a higher quality than that found at many other fusion restaurants. The menu dances between Japanese and Chinese standards, with a section of wok dishes (kung pao chicken, General Tso's, etc.) as well as a respectable dumpling program. There's a dim sum tasting platter ($18) that includes Iberico pork and shrimp shumai, with a deeper savory pork flavor that could stand against the best dim sum houses on Long Island. More info: 631-668-8232, themito.com

The intimate wine bar lives up to its name: There's a lot of wine to choose from here. The list leans heavily on wines from California and Italy that arrive in big glasses with large pours, and nearly all the bottles are available for sale at the sister wine store, Solo Vino, a few doors down. The menu runs from wood-fired pizzas to small plates, specialty pastas and artful meat-and-cheese boards. Grab a seat at one of the large windows, order a glass of a bold red, and watch the street scene unfold outside. More info: 516-639-3784

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