Port Washington Travel Guide

Port Washington is a town that is rich in sailing history. The first Star boat was sailed in Manhasset Bay; America's Cup sailors and designers learned to love the water and hone their skills here; and we have three significant regattas each year - The Leukemia Cup, The Knickerbocker Cup and The Fall Series.

Over 100 years old, this recently refurbished restaurant has been a mainstay for quality steak and seafood in town. Built in 1905 on a floating barge anchored in Manhasset Bay, one could only get there by boat. In 1916 it moved adjacent to the town dock, which was followed by another move in the early thirties, that situated it on Main Street. After 97 years, the Zwerling family sold the restaurant to the Picone and the Guinnane families and yet another transformation resulted. In turn, while Louie's still boasts an incredible view of Manhasset Bay, and one can still get there by boat, (VHF 68), the restaurant has metamorphosed into a classic fish house. Making this change is the retail seafood market and lively bar area that is adorned with rich wood, tin ceilings, chandeliers of massive brass and alabaster, brick treatments, and original period photographs, all of which set the stage for an exciting cuisine.

Some trivia- some of the scenes in the film "Meet the Parents" was filmed in Port Washington and at Louie's. The scenes at the "Surf and Turf" restaurant were filmed at Louie's. The car racing scenes between Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro were also filmed in downtown Port Washington. Also, the scene where Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro go shopping is in Port Washington at Salem Drugs.

Favorite Dish: Seafood reigns here. You can even sail up to the dock. Favorites include the New England clam chowder, Jumbo crab cakes and the blackened tuna.

Lobster is highly recommended from one to five pounds. Skip the surf and turf however. I have read reviews that says the lobster tail is rubbery and the filet mignon tasteless.

To get to Port Washington, take the Long Island Expressway (495) to Exit 36 -Go north 4 miles on Searingtown Rd. (Searingtown Rd. will change into Port Washington Blvd. north of Northern Blvd.). The main roads in town are Port Blvd., Main Street and Shore Road.

You can also take the LI Railroad from Penn Station in NYC to Port Washington. It is the last stop and costs around $5 one-way.

Billy Joel referenced it (Cruise the Miracle Mile) in one of his songs. This Upscale mecca is one of the premier shopping places on Long Island. Stores include Tiffany's, Brook Brothers, Barney's, Burberry, Dior, David Yurman, Escada, Hermes, Maxmara, Prada, St, John and William Sonoma. The famous NYC pastry place, Payard, also opened a place here.

The now famous North Shore Animal League is located in Port Washington. Animal lovers flock from all over the island and from New York city come here to adopt lovable pets that need a home. We adopted three of our dogs from here - Cisco, Shannon and Dolores.

25 Davis Avenue Port Washington, NY 11050

It is open 365 days a year from 10am - 9pm

Favorite thing: The Village of Sands Point, New York, which covers almost 3,000 acres at the tip of the Port Washington peninsula, was incorporated in 1910. It is now home to more than 850 families, who enjoy its quiet rural atmosphere on the North Shore of Long Island less than 25 miles from Manhattan.

Fondest memory: Within the village is the Village Club, a nature preserve owned and maintained by Nassau County, a private golf club, and the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults.