Northern Coast Kitchen & Cocktails — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

My fiancee and I have been going to Northern Coast since shortly after it opened, and it never disappoints. This place is the definition of a "hidden gem", being in the lobby at the Hilton Garden Inn on the Stony Brook campus (you don't need to be a student to go, but students get a discount IIRC). Although it's right adjacent to the lobby with little separation, it's much more than your standard hotel eatery with lots of great New American dishes and a warm, comfortable, unique atmosphere.

I've tried several dinner items, and all have been great so far, with reasonable prices, sizeable portions, good variety of styles, all fresh-tasting and "made to order". But, if there's one thing I always go back to, it's the roasted chicken. The skin is so crispy and it has a buttery au-jus that's just divine. It comes with some sauteed string beans that are sweet and flavorful as well. I'd also like to mention the pork chops, brussels sprouts, and the peach melba dessert as well.

The service never disappoints, and at least when we went, the vibe of the place is calm and quiet (even with being next to the hotel's front desk). I dig the melodic chill/deep house from the hotel lobby, and I also love the style of the place, it's got a clean, colorful look that feels very "90s tropical". Screens are around that rotate through pictures of the food items. We usually eat there pretty late (it's refreshing finding a place that will stay open till 10PM), so I could imagine this place gets a lot busier and noisier at other times (like around college orientation/graduation, or brunch).

I love this place and think it's a great addition to the area. Definitely give it a chance if...

The place was so empty and they act like they’re so busy to even just bring you a menu. The server spent like 30 minutes just on the computer with her back turned without seating us. She spends so much time talking to customers instead of seeing about the customers that need to be attended to. We were handed out food first, without our drinks, we basically ate alll / most the food and were still waiting on the drinks we ordered at the beginning when she took our order. My mom was basically choking cause she needs soda to digest food or water doesn’t send the food down. We didn’t complain but she was telling us that she’s not a server she’s a bartender but she’s serving us. I would think that drinks take the least amount of time or that it would be finished first before you can even get your food. She kept complaining about the people that didn’t tip her like very loud. She gave 15% discounts to three people who weren’t even suppose to receive them. And I would know because I sat close by and the other server that came said that you’re not supposed to do that. She was like I guess I’m a bad waitress with a very nonchalant attitude like it didn’t bother her. If I could give it 0 stars I would. And I was really looking forward to this place. They disappointed me. Even my alcohol beverage had 75% ice and tasted watered down. I’ve never had a drink disappoint me either. It was so painful to drink because it tasted that bad. At the end, I told her to have a great day and thank you for her service, she just looked at me and turned back around. So it goes to show she doesn’t even...

Staying at hotel. They have a number to text to order food so we attempted to use it. Both hotel staff and restaurant where both rude and seemed annoyed that we used attempted to use texting option. I was instructed to call restaurant directly and not to text by hotel. Person who text back could of done her job and relayed the message to the kitchen staff but instead used the energy to text me back and show bad customer service. I then called the kitchen and they where annoyed I called. They where rude and had attitude that I wanted them to bring to room even though in the room it says they will. He didnt give a time or estimate..he told me “they would bring it when that...