Opties and Dinghies

I got the shrimp dumplings in the fried rice and they're both phenomenal. Well worth my trip over to the island. The atmosphere and outdoor seating was beautiful. I need to come back during the day in the summer

Sometimes, a truly great meal is about so much more than what lands on your plate. Sure, delicious food helps, but sometimes it’s the chef’s magic touch, a server’s witty banter, or the setting itself that turns “just dinner” into a full-blown adventure. Case in point: My wife and I recently embarked on a North Fork escapade, all thanks to some tantalizing posts on this very page. We boarded the Shelter Island ferry (already feeling adventurous and slightly nautical), all in pursuit of the legendary Paella Tuesday at Opties and Dinghies. If you’ve seen @Claudia Li’s photos lately, you know that paella looked so good it practically jumped off the screen yelling, “Eat me!” Now, when I mentioned to our longtime Shelter Island summer friends that we wanted to try O&D’s paella, they actually snorted and replied, “You mean the ice cream place?” For a hot second, I pictured serving chicken and mussels in a waffle cone and seriously doubted my choice. I did NOT want to be “that guy” who puts everyone through a culinary misadventure. Well, after inhaling not one, not two, but FOUR paellas, I’m delighted to report my foodie reputation remains unscathed, and I’m officially an Opties and Dinghies devotee. The whole night felt like a charming vacation. We glided from Greenport to Shelter Island on the ferry (which absolutely counts as foreplay for foodies). Scooped up at the dock by our friends, we soon arrived at O&D, where we discovered way more than gelato! The spot was sparkling clean, relaxed, and the kind of place where you could wear flip-flops or a tuxedo t-shirt and nobody would judge. Picnic tables outside, cozy tables in—everyone’s welcome. The staff? Beyond friendly. Before we knew it, we had adult beverages in hand—because nothing says “vacation mode” like a cocktail before dinner. Reservations secured and four paellas ordered, we were bracing for a 30-minute wait (Spain taught us patience!). Instead, our paellas practically teleported to our table. Picture it: sizzling pans loaded with calamari, mussels, and chicken—each more delicious than the last. At just $29 for a mountain of pure happiness, I’d call that a North Fork bargain in 2025. Word to the wise: if you see me awkwardly trying to photograph food or staff, just roll with it. I tried for a Claudia selfie, but my camera skills are, well, best left unmentioned. Next up: I’ll be back to taste the Dumplings—because you KNOW I can’t resist an international snack. In short? If you’re craving a culinary adventure, hop on the ferry, embrace your inner explorer, and let Opties and Dinghies wow you. Snap a selfie with Claudia if you’re lucky—you might just make the next @North Fork Eats highlight reel. Bon appétit and happy ferry-hopping!

The food we got here (noodles & dumplings) were AMAZING 10/10 - highly recommend. The gelato however was very disappointing. Between us we tried 4 flavors and all of them were stale/frostbite tasting and oddly flavored. They don’t make the gelato here, which is why I’m sure everything else we had was so good. I’d skip the gelato and get a pastry instead. I’d come back for the noodles & dumplings for sure!

Love what has become of Bob's fish Market. Wonderful selection of il laboratorio gelaos. We got the ginger and the dark chocolate bourbon pecan. It's pricey but so are most places on Shelter. We also grabbed a loaf of sourdough but they make on the premises as well as other pastries and bread. It didn't hold together as nicely as I would have liked it to when I cut it. It was a nice bread. They have an extensive menu of Asian dishes which we did not get to try but I've heard on the grapevine that they're quite good but $$$. The woman was very pleasant. The French gentleman was a bit rude. He seems to have an edge that not only we noticed but other friends on the island also noticed. Strange attitude to have on an island where locals and even part-time residents talk.

Found this little gem while biking through Orient and had the best salad I’ve had this year! I didn’t get a gelato or sorbet, but the black fig flavor of the day almost convinced me. Almond cake, scones, dumplings, scallion pancakes, crepes, lavender-infused lemonade! Swoon! I can’t wait to go back and try more.

Opties and Dinghies is an absolute delight in the North Fork. Their spicy beef dumplings are simply outstanding, and I find myself indulging in about eight of them each time I visit. Not only have I become addicted, but my wife has as well. The staff at Opties and Dinghies are incredibly warm and friendly, always addressing me by name. It's a true testament to their exceptional service. With such an inviting atmosphere and mouthwatering dishes, I can only hope to continue enjoying their culinary delights for many decades to come.

Really really good. Char siu bao was lightly sweet with a nice filling, the chicken dumplings were very tasty, and the gelato was excellent (tried the mint chip, salted caramel, and black sesame).

If you're in the mood for some dumplings, GO HERE! Spicey Beef was my favorite! Very nice and customer service is perfection.

Sometimes, a truly great meal is about so much more than what lands on your plate. Sure, delicious food helps, but sometimes it's the chef's magic touch, a server's witty banter, or the setting itself that turns "just dinner" into a full-blown adventure. Case in point: My wife and I recently embarked on a North Fork escapade, all thanks to some tantalizing posts on this very page. We boarded the Shelter Island ferry (already feeling adventurous and slightly nautical), all in pursuit of the legendary Paella Tuesday at Opties and Dinghies. If you've seen @Claudia Li's photos lately, you know that paella looked so good it practically jumped off the screen yelling, "Eat me!" Now, when I mentioned to our longtime Shelter Island summer friends that we wanted to try O&D's paella, they actually snorted and replied, "You mean the ice cream place?" For a hot second, I pictured serving chicken and mussels in a waffle cone and seriously doubted my choice. I did NOT want to be "that guy" who puts everyone through a culinary misadventure. Well, after inhaling not one, not two, but FOUR paellas, I'm delighted to report my foodie reputation remains unscathed, and I'm officially an Opties and Dinghies devotee. The whole night felt like a charming vacation. We glided from Greenport to Shelter Island on the ferry (which absolutely counts as foreplay for foodies). Scooped up at the dock by our friends, we soon arrived at O&D, where we discovered way more than gelato! The spot was sparkling clean, relaxed, and the kind of place where you could wear flip-flops or a tuxedo t-shirt and nobody would judge. Picnic tables outside, cozy tables in--everyone's welcome. The staff? Beyond friendly. Before we knew it, we had adult beverages in hand--because nothing says "vacation mode" like a cocktail before dinner. Reservations secured and four paellas ordered, we were bracing for a 30-minute wait (Spain taught us patience!). Instead, our paellas practically teleported to our table. Picture it: sizzling pans loaded with calamari, mussels, and chicken--each more delicious than the last. At just $29 for a mountain of pure happiness, I'd call that a North Fork bargain in 2025. Word to the wise: if you see me awkwardly trying to photograph food or staff, just roll with it. I tried for a Claudia selfie, but my camera skills are, well, best left unmentioned. Next up: I'll be back to taste the Dumplings--because you KNOW I can't resist an international snack. In short? If you're craving a culinary adventure, hop on the ferry, embrace your inner explorer, and let Opties and Dinghies wow you. Snap a selfie with Claudia if you're lucky--you might just make the next @North Fork Eats highlight reel. Bon appétit and happy ferry-hopping!

Order: - Chicken Lo Mein (4/5) - Shrimp Lo Mein (4/5) - Fried Pork Dumplings (3/5) Pros: - Large menu with different Chinese food and American food options - Gelato is also serviced in the same space - Decent portion size - Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating Cons: - Food took a while to be made - Expensive. Was not expecting to pay $20 for a plate of lo mein Overall: Not my favorite, but for the area it isn't bad. It is pretty pricey but at least the portion was decently sized

Pretty good spot for Chinese food, with a straightforward menu that has some good dishes. The cold noodles were okay, but the peanut sauce was a bit heavy and pasty in texture. Not as refreshing of a dish as I would have hoped, as a result. Scallion pancakes were good, the sauce that came with them was really tasty. The way they were fried made them a little less dense and a little more bready than I'm used to, but still good. The fried rice wasn't super fried, it turned out to be more of a rice dish in the end. But again, still fine. Service was excellent, really friendly people here who checked in even after the food came out. Not a bad option on Shelter Island!

When my daughter said they had "dumplings." I wasn't sure what it was. To me, from my SF Bay Area experience, it's "dim sum." (Maybe that's an east vs west coast thing?) Anyway, it was very yummy! We tried shrimp and pork shumai, soup pork dumplings, char sui bao, scallion pancakes (super delish), and chicken fried rice. Everything was tasty. No disappointments. They also have gelato but we didn't try it this time. Outside seating is picnic tables and a lovely lawn. (We hope they have summer/family movie nights with that lawn.)

Stopped here for coffees with two friends and once we were inside we decided to also order some savory breakfast crepes and a quiche. Everything was delicious and we sat outside under a nice and shady umbrella.

Shelter Island is many superlatives -- the intricate gingerbread of The Heights, the reserved grandeur of Ram Island properties, Dering Harbor's opulent privacy, the breathtaking sunrises and sunsets . . . and Shelter Island's fine dining scene (all versions of exquisite) drawing discerning foodies from 7 continents (and, possibly, extraterrestrial origins). Welcome Opties and Dinghies, with 5-year track record kicking culinary butt in hermetic Orient, Long Island, now attracting celebrities and hard-to-please passersby on that winding Island road between the ferries connecting Long Island's North Fork with Sag Harbor and The Hamptons. Offering sublime Asian creations by Chef Claudia (no dumplings better anywhere -- and I mean ANYWHERE, including China), sweet and savory crêpes by a real flesh-and-blood French chef, and a selection of gelatos to overcome even the most determined ascetic willpower. And, being on an island, you can be sure the seafood is fresh -- as in, caught 5 minutes ago. Plus fine wines and craft beers. A bright and spacious dining area, sunny outdoor patio tables, a Most Cheerful staff, and personable chefs/owners at the ready will ensure you will leave euphoric, and with a feeling of having experienced unique great value. Go. Don't miss it. Life is short. Worth the trip from anywhere. Go now! Why are you still standing in your driveway???

Amazing place of heaven- peaceful, simply beautiful, gelato is out of this world. Helpful staff . A must stop

Odd but great selection of food. We loved the spicy beef dumplings and bao. Incredible gelato - so many flavors!

Food was fantastic--I think maybe the best soup dumplings I've had. We also had the spicy beef dumplings and the pork char siu buns, and veggie lo mein for our 2 year old. Plus scallion pancakes! Really cute spot, super nice owners/staff. Ice cream was great - almost too many interesting flavors, it was hard to decide what to get.