The ketogenic diet has moved from fringe nutritional experiment to mainstream lifestyle faster than almost any dietary trend in American history. A 2023 survey by the International Food Information Council found that roughly 5 percent of Americans reported following a keto or very-low-carb diet—millions of people navigating a food landscape that was not designed for them. Dining out on keto can feel like an obstacle course: hidden sugars in sauces, breadcrumbs in meatballs, cornstarch in stir-fries, and servers who stare blankly when you ask if the salmon glaze contains honey. But Long Island, with its extraordinary density of restaurants and its proximity to both farm-fresh ingredients and the culinary sophistication of New York City, is one of the better places in America to eat keto outside your own kitchen. What follows is a guide to the restaurants that don’t just tolerate keto diners but actively serve them well.

Understanding the Keto Landscape: What Restaurants Get Wrong

Before we tour the island, it’s worth understanding why keto dining out is harder than it sounds. The standard ketogenic diet calls for roughly 70—80 percent of calories from fat, 20—25 percent from protein, and just 5—10 percent from carbohydrates—typically 20 to 50 grams of net carbs per day. That eliminates obvious items like bread, pasta, rice, and potatoes, but it also eliminates less obvious ones: most barbecue sauces (loaded with sugar), teriyaki glazes, ketchup, honey mustard, breaded anything, and many salad dressings. Even restaurants that offer “healthy” options may coat their grilled chicken in a maple glaze or toss their vegetables in a soy-sugar reduction. The keto diner’s mantra when eating out is simple: protein plus fat, hold the starch, interrogate the sauce.

Steakhouses: Your Safest Bet on Long Island

Steakhouses are the natural habitat of the keto diner. A well-marbled ribeye with a side of creamed spinach or sautéed mushrooms is a nearly perfect keto meal: zero carbs from the protein, generous fat from the marbling and butter, and minimal carbs from the vegetables. On Long Island, Burton & Doyle in Great Neck serves USDA Prime steaks with classic sides. Blackstone Steakhouse in Melville offers an upscale experience with dry-aged options that are inherently keto-friendly. Tellers in Islip, set in a stunning former bank building, serves premium cuts with sides like broccoli rabe and roasted Brussels sprouts. The key at any steakhouse: order your steak unsauced (or with garlic butter only), substitute the baked potato for a green vegetable, and skip the bread basket entirely.

SMOK-HAUS: Barbecue Without the Sugar Trap

Barbecue is keto’s trickiest category. The meat itself is zero-carb, but most commercial BBQ sauces contain 10—15 grams of sugar per serving. SMOK-HAUS in Garden City—hailed as one of the best BBQ spots in Nassau County—offers smoked brisket, ribs, and pulled pork that can be ordered dry-rubbed rather than sauced. Ask for sauce on the side and choose sparingly, or request just the dry rub for zero-sugar flavor. Pair with coleslaw (ask about dressing) or pickles for a satisfying keto plate. The key: most of the flavor in quality barbecue comes from the smoke and the rub, not the sauce.

Seafood Restaurants: The Overlooked Keto Goldmine

Long Island’s coastal geography gives keto diners a massive advantage: access to some of the best seafood in the Northeast. Louie${ap}s Oyster Bar & Grille in Port Washington offers grilled fish, raw bar platters, and steamed shellfish that are naturally zero-carb and rich in omega-3 fatty acids—an ideal keto fat source. The Shed Restaurant in Huntington has been highlighted on Yelp as keto-friendly, with menu options that work perfectly for low-carb diners. Post Office Cafe in Babylon offers a mix of American cuisine with enough protein-and-vegetable options to satisfy strict keto requirements. For those on the East End, virtually any fish house can produce a keto-perfect meal: grilled fish, side of vegetables, lemon and butter.

Specialty Keto and Health-Focused Spots

A growing number of Long Island businesses cater specifically to the low-carb and keto community. Kreative Keto Meals is a Long Island—based meal prep service offering fully keto-compliant dishes for pickup and delivery—a lifesaver for busy families who want to stay in ketosis without cooking every night. Qükē Keto Cookies produces low-carb, low-sugar cookies that have earned a devoted following among Long Island keto dieters. Get Healthy America offers prepared health-focused foods with clearly labeled macros. GoldBurgers has been praised by Yelp reviewers for accommodating keto diners with lettuce-wrapped burgers and bunless options that don’t feel like an afterthought.

Brazilian Steakhouses: All-You-Can-Eat Keto Heaven

If there is a single restaurant format engineered for the ketogenic diet, it’s the Brazilian steakhouse, or churrascaria. Servers circulate with skewers of fire-roasted meats—picanha, lamb, pork ribs, filet mignon, sausage, chicken hearts—and diners control what and how much they eat. On Long Island, Texas de Brazil in Westbury offers a full rodizio experience with an extensive salad bar that includes low-carb options like hearts of palm, fresh mozzarella, and grilled vegetables. Fogo de Chão also has a presence in the metro area. The beauty of the churrascaria model for keto: the fat-to-protein ratio of slow-roasted, fire-grilled meats is naturally ideal, and there are no hidden sugars in the cooking process.

The Keto Diner’s Survival Guide: How to Order Anywhere

You don’t need a keto-specific restaurant to eat keto on Long Island. With the right strategy, virtually any sit-down restaurant can produce a satisfying low-carb meal. The rules: (1) Choose a protein prepared simply—grilled, roasted, pan-seared, or broiled, not breaded or glazed. (2) Replace starchy sides with green vegetables, a side salad, or extra butter. (3) Ask about sauces before they arrive—request oil and vinegar for salads, and butter or olive oil for finishing instead of house dressings. (4) Don’t be afraid to customize: most Long Island restaurants are happy to accommodate dietary requests. (5) When in doubt, a bunless burger with avocado, bacon, and cheese is available at virtually every American restaurant on the island and is a near-perfect keto macro split. For more on pairing keto living with your ideal Long Island lifestyle, browse homes here.

Video: How to Eat Keto at Any Restaurant (YouTube)Sources: Yelp Long Island (2025), International Food Information Council (2023), Perfect Keto (2023), SMOK-HAUS, Mashed (2021), Natural Force Nutrition (2019).