Cook’s: Scratch Kitchen & Bakery

I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS PLACE CLOSED!!! Their food was delicious! and their desserts were to die for!

The jerk I had referred to is still a jerk. Don’t waste your time with that place. You couldn’t pay me to go back there. (0 stars of course).

Loved this place for the entire time it was around. Dave and Josh (owners) both straight up guys. Now for the bad news… Cook’s closed for good a couple of weeks ago. I hope they pop up again nearby and soon…

Heard this place is closing which is our loss. Great food here and nothing else like it on LI. Hope that it’s not closing but I will get back up there as soon as I can. Try the eggs are so fresh and well made. Hoping the rumor isn’t true. We really enjoyed this breakfast spot.

The best pancakes. All bakery items made from scratch. Just like mom used to make. Well worth the drive… can’t wait to return to eat my way through the rest of the menu.

I have eaten here several times and have usually gone for breakfast. It can be inconsistent but enjoyable. Today I ordered a very simple omelette with toast and home fries. It was the worst meal I have ever had and the fact that I paid $ 16 upset me so much. I will say that I have ordered the same exact item in the past and it has been so good. Today the roasted tomatoes were two cherry tomatoes sliced in half. Barely warm. The onions were not even one sliced chopped up. The best had to be the toast which was two store bought slices cut in half. I then received three triangles. Like one must have fallen on the floor and they couldn’t bother to give me more than the one and a half pieces of toast. The home fries were cooked through but not crisped up. I did ask for well done but were greasy and slathered in raw herbs. I will not be coming back here.

Breakfast at Cook’s is still first rate!!! Friendly and quick service, great breakfast specials, and wonderful lunch options as well. My family have been Cook’s regulars for over 2 years now, and we look forward to it every single time. It’s family run which gives the place a friendlier vibe.
We love their pancakes!!! My daughter always gets The Standard with the grits, where I of course steal some. I love their creative egg wraps and/​or sandwiches. My wife usually gets The Waffle, today she got Banana Pancakes. And where I usually get an Egg wrap, I ordered Chocolate Chip Waffle!!!
It’s all good!!! If you haven’t gone… GO!

This is a hidden gem on Ft Salonga Rd. I had heard about this place and never had a chance to come try it out until today, and I am so happy I did. I had their EC sancdwich, which is aged cheddar and eggs on a home-​made biscuit. It was soooo delicious. They have everything from healthy options to the more sultry ones, and it all tastes like heaven. Today was my first day there but it certainly is not my last.

The restaurant business is a tough business. So when the owners of Cooks asked us to come back and give them another try, we couldn’t refuse. I am sure glad we did.
The ambiance doesn’t change, and the tables are still a tight fit. I am certain the ambiance improves in the winter when the fireplace is roaring. But as it relates to the food it was terrific this time.
My wife tried the Traditionalist Reuben, but she changed it up by using their fantastic homemade sourdough bread. She thought it was the best Reuben she has ever had. She thought the house-​made corned beef was incredible.
My son had the «Brunchwich», a ridiculous monstrosity of fried chicken, melted cheddar, bacon and chipotle aioli pressed in between two halves of a warm waffle. It’s a crazy collection of flavors. The chicken is really tender and the aioli adds a nice element of spice. The cured bacon had good flavor and added a touch of saltiness to the sandwich while the cup of syrup for dunking added the sweetness. All in all it was well received and was large enough that it posed a challenge for a growing 15-​year old to finish. He also ordered the tater tots which were crunchy on the outside and smooth on the inside. To top it off, he tried the Caramel Machiatto coffee and both he and my wife fell in love with it.
I went with the traditional pancakes. They reminded me of campfire pancakes. By that I mean they were crispy on the edges and thick & fluffy in the middle, with tons of vanilla in the mix (yay!). The syrup is a mixture of maple syrup and melted butter which saves time, but ask for a second container of syrup because the pancakes will soak it in like a sponge. One order could keep you going all day.
So all in all, we are very glad we went back as our feelings about Cooks have improved dramatically. And we give the owners credit for having the confidence to ask us back. Their confidence is rewarded with a vastly improved review and the most important statement: We will be back!

Cooks was the first place my husband and I ate at after moving here from the city. The pancakes are heavenly and their breakfast specials are a dream. We tried the sandwiches once but weren’t as pleased as we were with the breakfast options. We’ll definitely have to try the sandwiches again, it’s been a while. The food is fresh and farm to table, people say it’s pricey but I never put a price on fresh home made food with amazing flavors!

Update to my previous visit. Had a wonderful breakfast today of freshly scrambled eggs/​mushrooms/​fresh local tomato/​baby arugula on a whole wheat wrap with the best coffee on Long Island served by a polite, professional young man.
Bravo to Cooks Scratch Kitchen!

Excellent breakfast spot. Every time I’m in town I visit. The chicken and waffles and superfood salad are delicious. You need to try all of the pastries! The donut muffins and scones are perfect treats :) can’t wait to go back!!!

Stopped here for brunch after reading all the great reviews. We sat outside and had the breakfast sandwich with eggs and bacon on a homemade biscuit. It was very good. We also tried the Cuban sandwich which had lots of flavor and fresh ingredients. The prices are very fair and the service good. There was really only one thing that stopped me from giving them 4 – 5 stars.
When I first arrived I saw «fresh squeezed juice» on the menu board and inquired. I asked the gentleman behind the counter if the orange juice was indeed «fresh squeezed» because I didn’t see any juicers. He said «yes». I asked if they squeeze it in the back and again he said «yes it’s fresh squeezed». Well, it WAS NOT. I was served a glass of Tropicana. A thick sour glass of pasteurized juice not the fresh squeezed I was promised and paid for. When I pointed this out to the workers I was promptly given a refund and an apology. I appreciate that and will return again because the food was very good but I question the «organic eggs» and other claims being made when their claim of «fresh squeezed juice» was false. If I return and they have juice they squeeze right before you or they remove that claim from the menu– there’s a chance at an better review.

Just got back from a spur of the moment late morning breakfast at Cooks. We saw some review and photos and thought it was worth the drive to see if it was as good as it looked online. First the food, both of us had the EC egg sandwich, I had it with bacon and my wife with ham. Both were delicious, but I’m not sure if it was good enough to go back as it’s about a 30 minute drive for us. If we were local, I could see coming here regularly.
This place is a little bit small inside. About 8 tables for 2 that can be put together for larger parties. That said, we only waited a couple of minutes for a table. When you walk in you order then grab a table and they bring the food out to you, so no real waiter service if you are looking for that.
If you are local its worth trying. Not sure it’s worth a long drive though.

Heaven, I’m in Heaven…
Trust me, I was one of those people who once thought «eggs are eggs»
I had their organic eggs and it tasted like Chicken Little jacked up on steroids. Organic eggs just taste better. Period.
Their sausage is also top notch. Tasty potatoes too.
The best of the best.
I have them neck and neck with the Corner Café of Nesconset.

I need a break from Dave’s less-​than-​sunny attitude– he always seems kind of annoyed. I don’t care how good the food is– being met with that everyday kills my mojo! I’ll keep it to every once in a while and I think that would be okay. Or maybe I’ll find a place with great food AND great customer service in the interim! Know of any? ;)

First and only time I would come here…
People are nice but weird set up… You sit, then go back to front desk to order… I was waiting for a server to come befor someone told me…
My French toast had a orange taste… The menu did say it was a custard… My wife is a cook and said that could be correct… Not what I was expecting tho since I’m no cook… And my side of bacon was tough like beef jerky…
Her Reuben was good that came with kettle cooked chips… That could use a dip or salt…

After seeing the reviews and passing it numerous times on 25A I decided it was finally necessary to make the stop and try it out. Check out the hype if ya know what I mean?
Cook’s is a relatively small restaurant and can get a little crowded but rest assured. it is not as crowded as Maureen’s gets. It’s small. it’s cute and it’s worth it. Boy oh boy is it worth it! Just thinking about it now as I type up this review I could go for another Waffle with fresh bananas and a side of ham. I’m quirky with breakfast. Certain things are not allowed to differentiate from the classics. Other things at certain places are allowed as such. Enter. Cooks. You are amazing! I see this place having the potential for allowing different toppings and combos (and I’ve seen the pictures so they do DO it).
Man that waffle was good. It was so good it didn’t need butter. Just a little syrup and poof. You’ve got yourself an awesome waffle!
Originally I was going to have an Arnold Palmer but alas they were out and the guy said to try the Apple Cider so I did. That was also delicious.
My mom got the EC with extra crispy bacon and she said it was delicious!
Also… Cook’s has their own little bakery too. Man oh man. We got a brownie & a cranberry walnut orange cookie (I’m pretty sure that’s what it was). Holy smokes!!! Oooo party central up in here! They have a whole array of baked goodies like scones, Blondies, donuts, muffins etcetera.
I cannot wait to come back and try more things! Hell… I’ll come back for a cup of coffee and a cookie that’s how good the cookie was. Then I’ll take a leisurely drive on 25A and think I’m not on Long Island.
So I highly recommend Cook’s if you’re looking for a cute & quaint place to eat some delicious breakfast!

First time dining in Fort Salongaaaa. I passed this place up for a year on my way to Northport and finally got a chance to check it out.
I went for the safe order, egg and cheese on a croissant with orange juice and «tots» aka small hashbrowns. I paid upfront at the register and a waitress brought up my food a few minutes later. Who comes to this place on a Thursday morning? The rich, the elderly, and the 1% of Fort Salonga, Northport, and Kings Park. Classifying this as hipster especially for 25A is safe to say. Its fairly priced, nicely decorated, and the food is good. I’ll have to come back and see what it is that makes others give it a 5.

Full disclosure — I know the owners. Dave and Josh Cook have been friends of mine for years. Those special kind of friends whom you do nothing but make fun of mercilessly. So, you can take this review with a grain of salt if you like. That said, you should also know it would give me a lot of pleasure to insult my friends if they didn’t do a good job. However, I can find nothing to insult and nothing to make fun of with regard to how they run this restaurant. It is fantastic. That said, I will still insult them throughout this review, because it pleases me to do so.
First, the basics — it is out of the way, and if I had to give it one complaint, that would be it. It is a hike up to Northport. But, it is well worth the trip, as should be evident from me, considering I made the trip from Tampa. The restaurant itself is pretty small — counter service with a half dozen or so tables. Pastries and other baked goods in front, and a kitchen in the back to make their unbelievably good sandwiches.
The two brothers have dueling reuben sandwiches on their menu. Dave’s is the classic, or «The Traditionalist.» Josh’s is more interesting in that its house cured pork, stout mustard, fennel krout on grilled sourdough. Josh loses in the name department — «The Hipster,» while exactly the name you would expect Josh to come up with if you know him, is a ridiculous name for a sandwich. Putting that aside, this was one of the best sandwiches I have eaten. The pork was amazing; just melt in your mouth good. The mustard was some of the best mustard I have ever had and I want to put it on every sandwich I ever eat for the rest of my life. Clearly, when it comes to food recipes (assuming Josh came up with this himself), he has proven to be more talented then his brother, which really, if you know Dave, that shouldn’t have been that hard to begin with.
The inside of Cook’s is quaint and welcoming. It has a lot of character and while it wasn’t the middle of the lunch rush when I was there, it didn’t seem like a place where you felt you had to eat your food and get out fast. They did an excellent job with the design and layout.
Josh and Dave both have years of experience in the restaurant industry — front of the house, management, etc. Based on that, it shouldn’t be surprising that they have done such a great job with Cook’s, but if you had asked me 10 years ago when I was living in NY and hanging out with them almost daily, if I thought they could open and run a successful restaurant, I probably would have died from laughing, and they would have been happy about that (the me dying part). But I would have been wrong.
It’s taken me a while to make my way to Long Island to try out this place — too long. I see their food posted on facebook every day, and it makes my mouth water. It’s been difficult to fit in a trip out to the Island when I have found myself in NY, but trust me, if you find yourself even remotely close to the area, go out of your way and stop here. You will not regret it. Whatever you do though, do not tell them Todd sent you in. They will likely throw you out.