[Housley Kantarian & Bronstein, P.C. Letterhead]


                                October 1, 1998



Board of Directors
Northfield Bancorp, Inc.
1844 E. Joppa Road
Baltimore, Maryland 21234

     Re:  Northfield Federal Savings
          401(k) Employees Savings & Investment Plan
          Registration Statement on Form S-8
          ----------------------------------

Gentlemen:

     We have acted as special counsel to Northfield Bancorp, Inc., a Maryland
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, relating to participation interests in the Northfield Federal Savings
401(k) Employees Savings & Investment Plan (the "Plan") and the sale to Plan
participants of 50,000 shares of common stock, $.01 per share (the "Common
Stock") of the Company, all as more fully described in the Registration
Statement.  You have requested the opinion of this firm with respect to certain
legal aspects of the proposed offering.

     We have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have
deemed necessary for purposes of this opinion and based thereon, we are of the
opinion that the Common Stock when issued pursuant to and in accordance with the
terms of the Plan will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

     We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to references to our firm included under
the caption "Legal Opinion" in the Prospectus which is part of the Registration
Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    Housley Kantarian & Bronstein, P.C.
 

                                    By: /s/ J. Mark Poerio, Esquire
                                        -------------------------------------
                                           J. Mark Poerio, Esquire