The Cook Room
Middle Island, New York
Drive down Route 25 on a chilly Sunday morning and you’ll pass a crowd of cars spilling out of a lot and parking on both sides of the road—they’re all there for The Cook Room. Past the old-school exterior, you’ll find hot coffee, warm waitresses, and fluffy, just-the-right-amount-of-sweet red velvet pancakes drenched in cream cheese frosting and maple syrup.
The cozy family-run diner has a loyal following, and once you’re welcomed in by Annie, the owner, and her team, you’ll understand completely. The weathered sign out front reads “Long Island’s Hidden Gem.” We have to agree.
The Cook Room did not gain its following on red velvet pancakes alone. The menu is full of tantalizing stick-to-your-ribs options, and the best part is that every bit of it is homemade—from the hand-pressed french fries to the orange sweet tea to the addicting gravy to the cheddar biscuits that made their egg slider one of the best egg sandwiches we’ve ever had (and as you can probably imagine, we’ve eaten a LOT of egg sandwiches).
Eating here is like going to brunch at your sassy great aunt’s house, and we’re pretty sure that’s exactly what they were going for.
