First glance - Roslyn, NY

Situated in Long Island, this small village is on the north shore of Long Island in Nassau County, NY. A whopping 2,992 people call it home as of 2021. At first glance I wasn’t impressed, then I walked around a bit and took in some of the views, restaurants and shops this tiny village had to offer. There is definitely more than you first see.

Ellen Ward Clock Tower

Found at the intersection of Main Street and Old Northern Boulevard in downtown Roslyn sits the Ellen Ward Clock Tower. This is an easy landmark to find while driving, turn onto Old Northern Boulevard and you will be welcomed by a nice selection of restaurants and shops.

Unfortunately, my view of the tower was obstructed by the various electrical and cable lines strung between buildings, which really distracts from the detail and architecture of the tower.

My first excursion to this village was at night and during a pretty good down-pouring of rain. Meeting a group of friends and family at La Bottega, an Italian Restaurant, was a nice end to the long day of travel. www.labottegafoods.com

Unfortunately, between the travel fatigue and rain, I didn’t manage to grab any pictures. While this is a chain in Long Island, the quality remains very good. The menu is filled with homemade pasta, gnocchi, pizza, paninis, sea food, salads - you name it. They also had a decent wine list to offer which is always a bonus in my book!

Returning to Roslyn the next day for brunch, I was able to find outdoor seating at the Brass Swan. Walking into the restaurant I was immediately taken back to the 1970’s. Brass and glass covered the walls. Cloth table clothes draped over the tables. Upholstered seating surrounded each table. A formality that seemed a little out of place considering the restaurant was in an old house. The juxtaposition of inside and out made the place charming in an odd way.

A view north of Old Northern Boulevard

I opted for terrace seating since the weather was spectacular and I need more vitamin D. While the bay was close, there was not a view from the terrace of the restaurant. However, there were some decent views of Old Northern Boulevard as seen above.

Scrolling though the menu, the French toast made with brioche bread and mascarpone cheese caught my eye and I had to try it. The coffee was delicious and freshly made. Overall brunch was a success!

I spied a wine shop, Roslyn Wine and Liquor across the street from the Brass Swan and of course had to take a look around. With Porto - still fresh in mind- I headed straight for their port selection. I was not disappointed. I found and purchased a lovely 10 year old tawny.

I walked back to the Hilton in Roslyn and called it a successful day. Especially since I was there, firstly to celebrate my daughter’s graduation from college over the weekend.