I was navigating the byways surrounding the beach areas in Suffolk County, New York recently.

I was searching for Corey Beach so that I could take Finnley on a walk.

A demure little shack popped up.

It reminded me of my youth growing up in New England when my family would pile into the station wagon and do a road trip on a warm summer Sunday.

Flo’s Luncheonette is one of those places. Located in Blue Point, New York is a historic, seasonal roadside shack serving classic comfort food.

These summer roadside restaurants do not merely serve food, they serve memories with a side of fries and impossibly thick milkshakes.

One hundred years old and still gloriously unconcerned with trends or optimization.

Open seasonally from May through September Flo’s feels less like a restaurant and more like a living postcard from Long Island summers past.

No reservations. Naturally.

Outside seating only, which means half the experience is sunshine, and sea air.

The picnic-table atmosphere is gloriously unfussy, exactly what you want from a beach-adjacent luncheonette that understands its role. They are there for lobster rolls, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, wraps  and emotional support via rich and delish dairy products.

The lobster roll deserves its local legend status, buttery, generous, lightly dressed ($37).

The Chicken Club with Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato on a crispy roll was perfect ($13.95).

The fries arrived hot enough to remove a layer of skin from the roof of your mouth ($5.95).

And then there are the milkshakes so thick the straw stands up by itself ($10.50). Cold. Slightly absurd. Served with the understanding that adulthood is exhausting and sometimes what you really need is ice cream whipped into oblivion.

I must admit to being surprised at the $7 price tag for a large Diet Coke. I begged off and asked for a cup of water.

What a lovely surprise…the adorably personable high school server, Sarah, ran over to the table after we collected our food at the window and brought us a Diet Coke, saying she did not want us to be deprived. How amazing is that?! If you go to Flo’s request Sarah and leave a big tip so she can attain her dream of attending college in New York City. She is a fabulous example of the best of Gen Z.

What makes Flo’s special is that it hasn’t tried to become elevated. No server explaining the emotional journey of the potato. Simple food done right.

Flo’s, opened by Florence Kimball in 1926, has effectively changed hands seven times.

Places like Flo’s are increasingly rare. Small landmarks that survive because generations keep returning, ordering the same thing, and introducing their kids to the exact experience they had decades earlier which, frankly, feels comforting in a world where everything else now requires an app, a password, and emotional resilience.

FYI, if you are in the area head to Flo’s on May 17th from noon to 4pm to celebrate Flo’s 100th birthday. Many of the popular menu items are priced at one dollar.

Flo’s Luncheonette 302 Middle Road Blue Point, New York. Open daily 11am-8pm. Open May-September. Catering available, Flo’s On The Go.