Island Lake Diner: Delicious Greek-Inspired Comfort Food & Classic Diner Fare in Ronkonkoma, NY

After finding out about this diner on social media I finally made the trip out and it was definitely worth every mile! I think this may be my new favorite diner of all time the huge menu was great and the food was absolutely outstanding! Had an amazing matza ball soup along with one of the best beef goulash I’ve ever had. The breakfast eggs were cooked perfectly homefries were perfect as well as the bacon and they had chicken gyro! Usually diners have solvoki but the gyro was amazing and their taziki was on point! I will definitely be making the drive out here again to try more menu items especially the chicken cutlet tacos!

Island Lake Diner was an awesome find. We started with two milkshakes — the Oreo was rich and chocolatey, and the vanilla with a sprinkled cookie was perfectly sweet. The Buffalo Mac & Cheese was creamy and tangy, and the Penne alla Vodka in a crispy bread bowl topped with chicken cutlets was a standout. The Chicken Tacos were super creative — crispy chicken cutlets as taco shells filled with mac & cheese and bacon. The Steak & Egg Skillet was hearty and flavorful with cheesy potatoes and mushrooms. We finished with a crispy waffle topped with cheesecake, berries, whipped cream, and syrup — easily one of the best desserts I’ve had. Definitely a must-visit if you’re near Ronkonkoma!

What can I say about this incredible find? EVERYTHING! This is no ordinary diner by any means - don't walk... RUN here! Right off the bat, the staff is friendly, smiling, and attentive. The menu is massive, so you indecisive people should get a head start before you go! Some appetizer hints - go with the Jack Daniel's sliders... beyond delish burgers with a tasty bite. Quality short rib meat blend, and yummy frazzled onions, Everything on the combo platter is home made- nothing frozen. Wings, fried, mozzarella sticks, Mac & cheese bites and chicken fingers. Almost all the sauces are made in-house too. You can literally taste the difference in the chicken fingers - not frozen and made fresh! The marinara is tasty and the honey mustard is BOSS.. Wings are crispy, moist and flavorful, the shining star here is their social media menu which is full of incredible finds that'll get your tastebuds popping! The chicken tacos with an array of different pastas stuffed into the cutlet style shells are insanely filling and flavorful - very recommended! The taco bowls and bread bowls (all homemade) are stuffed with goodness and well worth the money! Save room (it's hard) for dessert and try their crazy milkshakes, giant ice cream cookie, or pies! All in all, this is a HUGE winner and should be celebrated! Enjoy!

I’ve been going to Island Lake Diner for years, and for a long time it was a reliable, go-to spot in Ronkonkoma — the kind of classic Long Island diner where you could count on large portions, a broad menu, and quick service. Over the years, I’ve tried everything from daily specials to burgers, wraps, and salads, so I’ve gotten a pretty comprehensive feel for what they offer. In my most recent visits, including a dinner a few weeks ago, the overall food quality feels like it has slipped. Nothing dramatic, but enough inconsistency to make me take notice. Some dishes still come out solid, while others feel like they’re made with lower-quality ingredients or simply aren’t prepared with the same attention they used to have. It’s hard to pinpoint whether it’s the kitchen rotating staff, ingredient sourcing, or something else, but the variance is noticeable. One thing that has stayed consistent is the portion size — they are still generous, often to the point where one meal can easily be two. However, the pricing has definitely crept up. Ordering a basic salad through DoorDash pushing close to $30 feels excessive, especially considering this is a traditional diner, not a specialty restaurant. Between the rising prices and the inconsistent meals, I’ve found myself visiting less frequently than I used to. The overall experience is still very much what you’d expect from a Long Island diner: a Greek-themed menu, familiar comfort-food staples, and that classic diner vibe. It’s not bad by any means — it just no longer stands out, and it no longer feels like a dependable “sure thing” the way it once did. Island Lake Diner is still perfectly serviceable for a casual meal, especially if you're local and want a large portion at a standard diner atmosphere. But compared to where it was a few years ago, both the food quality and value have slipped enough that it’s no longer a top choice for me.

Wow! I came to this diner after seeing a video on Instagram, and I left absolutely speechless — and stuffed! The food was incredible, and the menu is huge, with something for everyone. The service was top-tier, too. I’ll definitely be coming back soon!

Very nice and clean diner. I had the prime rib, which was cooked to perfection. The challah bread was so hot and delicious I couldn’t stop myself from filling up on it. For about $28 the prime rib (which was HUGE) came with a potato, salad or soup, AND desert. You aren’t going to find that quality and amount of food for that price anywhere else. The waitress Christine was so sweet. They also have a HUGE menu, so you will find anything you are in the mood for here. The rice pudding, bread pudding, and carrot cake are simply divine.

We very much enjoyed this spot for lunch -- tasty food, quick/friendly service, and clean family atmosphere. Try the boneless wings!

I had placed 2 orders with Uber eats and the delivery driver for Uber did not pick up both orders and forgot one. I called Island Lake Diner and they actually stepped up and brought the food themselves to my house. I would like to say thank you to them for doing what they did. 5 stars!! Food was awesome as well. I had the patty melt and it was amazing!