PHYSICISTS' FAVORITES A list of restaurants based on reports compiled by the BNL High Energy Theory Group, with help from other friends. * denotes that it is near the Lab. BAITING HOLLOW: The Cooperage - Nice, mainly Italian food with a modern touch -- and great Early Bird specials. Worth the 15-20 minute drive from the Lab for a nice dinner with friends. Take County Road 46 north to Route 25A East, continue heading east to where Sound Ave. branches off, follow Sound Ave. for several miles; Cooperage is on your left. 727-8994. BAYPORT: Le Soir - 825 Montauk Hwy. Two courses -- 2nd or 3rd best French restaurant in Suffolk. Entrees $17-23. 472-9090. *BELLPORT: The Bellport - 159 South Country Road. Three courses. Recession Buster, Mondays - $13. 286-7550. BLUE POINT: Cilantro - 154 Montauk Hwy., 363-0500. Interesting menu, moderate prices. BRIDGEHAMPTON: H.S.F. - On Montauk Hwy, Route 27, on the south side; really easy to miss, the sign is pitch black. Very good Chinese. Nice interior. Entrees about $10. 537-0550. *BROOKHAVEN HAMLET: Varney's Seafood - Great food at reasonable prices. Very informal. Go to the intersection in Shirley, turn right onto Montauk Hwy., continue, bear right at the fork, look for a crab sign. 286-9569. *CORAM: Mike's Place - Route 25. Sports Bar and Restaurant - "good pub grub." 732-9667 EAST MARION: Hellenic Restaurant - on South Ave, Route 48, on the north side. Very good Greek, informal atmosphere, great with kids. Have outside patio to eat in summer. Try their fresh lemonade, spanakopita, baklava, etc. Cheap. 477-0138. *EAST MORICHES: Larry's Crab House - 215 Atlantic Ave, at the very end of Atlantic Avenue right by the water. This is our favorite place during the summer. They sometimes have ridiculously cheap specials, so be sure to check. Beautiful view. 878-0700, *EASTPORT: Triangle Pub - Eastport Manor Road, Eastport. 325-1849 EAST QUOGUE: Michael's - I like their Cajun pizza (I know it sounds weird, but try it). We normally only go for the pizza, as the pastas are about $15. But in the summer, during the week they have been having a buffet for $12, which is a great deal. 728-0500. GREENPORT: Aldo's - a deli with a few tables for eating. His food is great. 1-3-105 Front Street. 477-1699. LAKE GROVE: Red Robin - in the Smithhaven Mall. If you absolutely have to go to the mall and are hungry this isn't bad. Kids love it ... Entrees $5-10. MATTITUCK: Ammarati's - On love Lane off Sound Ave., Route 48. Mainly a deli, but great brunch on Sunday for only $7. You eat outside, though, so check the weather. MONTAUK: Gosman's - At the dock. West Lake Drive. Lobster, etc. PATCHOGUE: Hei Sei - 286 West Main Street. Good Japanese. Entrees $8-15. 447-1425. PORT JEFFERSON: Costa de Espana - 9 Traders Cove on East Main. A bit hard to find, you have to get to it from the parking lot. Good Spanish. 331-5363. PORT JEFFERSON: Elk Street Grille - 201 Main St. The NY Times described this as a "warm, welcoming gathering place." They're right, and the food is very good too! 331-0960. PORT JEFFERSON: Hana - a very nice Japanese Restaurant near the train station. 21 Oakland Ave. 473-4262 PORT JEFFERSON: Pasta Pasta - 234 East Main. Best Italian around. Very pleasant, we often take speakers here. Entrees $10-15. 331-5335. PORT JEFFERSON: Portico - 34 East Broadway opposite Danfords. American cuisine. Rooftop tables, pleasant, unusual pizzas, fish. Entrees $10. Good for kids. 474-2233. PORT JEFFERSON: Salsa, Salsa - Main Street. Basically a take-out place but there are a few stools. Very good Mexican. PORT JEFFERSON STATION: Szechuan Garden - Route 112. Good Chinese. 928-4949. RIVERHEAD: Digger O'Dells's - 58 West Main Street. An Irish pub with a menu that features some Irish specialties. Take County Road 46 north of the Lab to Route 25 East, and follow it all the way into Riverhead. Digger's is on the left downtown, across from a large bank. 369-3200. RIVERHEAD: Ocean Fancy - Seafood, cheap and good. Go north on County Road 46, then take Route 25 east to Riverhead, until you spot a gray concrete building on the right that says "Seafood." No reservations, few tables, no liquor license (get Cokes from the machine) and don't go if you'll get squeamish at the sight of the whole fresh fish in the cases at their fish market. Get dessert at the ice cream stand across the road. Closed Mondays. 727-7050. *ROCKY POINT: Diamond Wok - or Route 25A, the south side of the street, just east of Rocky Point Road. Good, inexpensive Chinese. An old standby for speakers. 821-6000. *ROCKY POINT: Sea Basin - on Route 25A. Fishy. 744-1643. SAG HARBOR: Provisions - in town, near the pier. Aging hippy cuisine, but good. The portions are a bit small, so in all about $15/person. The only affordable place in Sag Harbor. 725-2666. SAG HARBOR: There's a great Mexican place right by the wharf. Forget the name. Killer Margarita, lite Tex-Mex. SAINT JAMES: Mirabelle - 404 North Country Road. French. Very expensive. Many believe that this is the best restaurant on Long Island. 584-5999. SAINT JAMES: Szechuan Garden II - Route 25A. Best Chinese in the area. 584-7171. *SELDEN: Cafe Stephano's - on Route 25 by Route 83, at the southeast corner. Nice Italian. Pasta about $10. 696-9618. SETAUKET: Fusion Grille - Route 25A. Outdoor dining, pleasant, Nouvelle cuisine. Expensive, but worth it. Entrees $20-25. 751-2200. SETAUKET: Paula Jean's - 130 Old Town Road. Excellent Cajun an blues (music, not fish). 751-5483 *SHIRLEY: Windmill Diner - The biggest diner menu you've ever seen -- and it's close. Go south on County Road 46; the Windmill will be on you right near the railroad tracks. SMITHTOWN: Solo - 53 W. Main, 265-8080. Excellent food. Best buy isearly bird special. SOUTHAMPTON: La Parmigiana - Hampton Road. Great Italian, and cheap. Try their daily specials on the board, or Fusili Sicilian (drowned in black olives and capers), fatten on their tirami su for desert. Very informal -- the only affordable place to eat in Southampton. 283-8030. SOUTHAMPTON: Lobster Inn - 162 Inlet Road. Great atmosphere and view of Peconic Bay. No reservations. $15-20. 283-1525. SOUTHOLD: The Seafood Barge - 150 Old Main Road. Fish place on the water. 765-3010. STONY BROOK: Eastern Pavilion - corner of Nichols Road and 25A. Good Chinese. Very good sushi bar, pleasant, GREAT air conditioning. Entrees around $10. 751-1888. STONY BROOK: Green Cactus Grill - 1099 Route 25A (near train station). A dive, sit at counters. Great Mexican -- Cheap. STONY BROOK: Pentimento - Route 25A, Outdoor dining, pleasant atmosphere, Italian/American Nouvelle, Entrees $15-20. 689-7755 WADING RIVER: La Plage - across from the beach on Creek Road; go to the center of Wading River, then take the road going north till it veers left. Very good pasta and fish. Entrees about $20. Relaxed atmosphere in a small beach house. Call for reservations if more than six. But you can drink yourself into a stupor and then go across the street to pass out on the beach. My favorite for visitors. 744-9200. WADING RIVER: Phils - A sports bar with a reasonable American menu for lunch or dinner. North on County Road 46 to Route 25A East, turn left at the Hess gas station in Wading River. Phil's is on you immediate right -- park in back. 929-4163. WADING RIVER: Two by Four -North Wading River Road. Very good American. 929-4117. WESTHAMPTON: Baby Moon - Excellent, relatively inexpensive Italian. Entrees $10-20. 288-6360 WESTHAMPTON BEACH: Starr Boggs - 379 Dune Road. Expensive but very, very, very good eclectic American with dynamite dune-side dining. *YAPHANK: Carmans River Inne - 450 Main Street. Very good American. 345-3303