L'Etoile — Restaurant in Town of Oyster Bay

What a great experience all around. I didn’t get anyone’s names, which is unusual, but the entire staff including the Hostesses and the Manager were truly great. I called to make a Mothers Day reservation and the woman was very nice, I also had the chance to thank her at the restaurant. We arrived on Sunday for our reservation, we were a little early but were seated right away. Our waitress was very pleasant as well as prompt, and genuinely interested in our experience and overall satisfaction. The food was excellent. We ordered the tuna tartare as the appetizer to share. It was delicious, the kids and I loved it. My wife (Mom) ordered the escargot which was prepared beautifully and came with little toasts on the side. We were brought a bread plate which was a nice touch. For the meals my kids ordered the steak frites, filet mignon and the strip. Absolutely delicious, could’ve used another minute on the heat, but excellent none the less. Mom ordered the Wagyu steak tartare as her entree, and when they say it is made table side, they mean it. Our waitress brought over the cart, showed us the wares, prepared it to her liking. Mom was very happy 😊. And I saw the moules (mussels) and had to have them, but couldn’t decide with which sauce. They had four options. I asked the waitress for her recommendation, and she said the mustard cream sauce. I was skeptical, but intrigued, as I had never considered it before. Wow! Very very delicious and I was so happy to have had that recommended. I recommend it to anyone dining here. We did not do dessert as we had a reservation at another place for Mother’s Day dessert, but they had very nice options. Mom did have an espresso martini which she loved. The atmosphere was very very nice. Tables spaced nicely, decor was pleasant, appropriate music played at a comfortable sound level, and plenty of windows that let in the right amount of sunlight. The service was impeccable. Everyone was working together as a team to ensure all diners had a wonderful experience. I could tell they cared very much about their business. Needless to say, the ratings are true to their number and I’m adding such to the list. I absolutely recommend and know that anyone that dines here will have the same great experience that we did. Thank...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Standout Gem on the North Shore

Gerardo, the bartender, was easily the highlight of the evening. He’s that rare mix of skill, charm, and genuine hospitality that makes dining out feel special again. He wasn’t hovering — he knew exactly when to check in and when to let us chat, pacing the experience intuitively so it felt effortless and natural. Every drink he made, from a tequila cocktail with a large ice cube and orange peel to my glass of Pinot Noir, felt intentional, thoughtful, and perfectly timed. It’s rare to meet someone whose intuition makes the whole evening flow so beautifully.

But it wasn’t just Gerardo. The food was equally unforgettable. We started with a dozen oysters that were so fresh and flavorful we immediately ordered another round. The mussels in tomato Provençal sauce were incredible, paired with fries that were crisp, golden, and perfectly seasoned. The frisée salad was light and refreshing, balancing the richness of everything else. And the Wagyu beef tartare with crostini was silky, flavorful, and probably my favorite — yet it was perfectly complemented by every other dish, including the warm French baguette from their own bakery. Every bite felt intentional, expertly prepared, and utterly satisfying.

Normally I’d prefer a table, but the bar was such an incredible spot to sit side by side, chat, and watch the magic unfold that I’ll hope for these seats again next time.

Later we learned the couple sitting next to us were the owners. They were warm, approachable, and clearly proud of what they’ve built. You can feel that care everywhere — in the thoughtful layout, the attentive but not intrusive service, and the energy of the staff.

I’ve lived in LA and NYC and just moved back to Long Island. This is the first restaurant here that genuinely impressed me. A true standout gem on the North Shore, a place where everything, from the drinks and food to the service and vibe, is absolutely perfect. I’ll be back again and again (and can’t wait to try their sister restaurants).

PS....

I’ve been to L’Etoile twice before and each meal was outstanding and since both visits were on the weekend, I thought a Wednesday night visit would be just as great since the restaurant would not be as crowded. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The good part of our meal was the service and atmosphere which were great. However, the bad part, which is the most important part, was the food and the reason for the 2 stars rating. We started off with the house salad which was fresh and very good. However, next was the lobster bisque soup which was a major disappointment. The lobster in the soup was tough and not tasty, almost like it was frozen lobster that was re-heated. At $36 per bowl, we were expecting fresh lobster with our soup. Our main course was the burger and, that too, was a disappointment. We ordered our burgers medium and medium rare and they were served well done and medium. Additionally, the burger itself was ok but nothing I would recommend. I wonder if there is a different cooking team on the weekdays vs weekends because that’s how different the quality of our meal was compared to our two prior visits. I did not have a chance to inquire with the manager because I did not see one around like there was on my weekend visits. If you want to try this restaurant, I would recommend weekends only when the food was...