By Tammy Quinn Mckillip
The Best Restaurants in City Island, New York
City Island is a tiny island off the coast of the Bronx, in
New York City. It's one-mile-long main drag is home to dozens of seafood and other restaurants that are famous for their quaint, unpretentious surroundings and delectable menus. If you have discovered this well-kept NYC secret and are heading off the mainland to have a taste of the diminutive island's offerings, here is a list of some of the very best eateries on City Island.
Lobster House
The Lobster House serves fresh seafood and offers spectacular bay views.
The Lobster House is City Island's iconic destination of choice for many New Yorkers and tourists traveling to the island. The giant lobster on the outside of the building means you will never have trouble finding this favorite eatery, which is located just off the City Island Bridge and right on the bay. You can even dock your boat at their free dock to dine on the pier. If you drive, you'll find easy parking in the large lot and a friendly staff of servers and hosts waiting for you inside. The menu features fresh Maine lobsters flown in daily and juicy cuts of meat for turf lovers. There is always a fresh catch of the day, in addition to Alaskan Snow Crab, Shrimp Parmesan, Fried Calamari, Maryland Crab Cakes and Fried Chicken, Buffalo Wings and chicken fingers for poultry lovers. Many dishes are served with pasta, and the lunch menu features sandwiches and lite fare in addition to the seafood selections. You can dine on the outdoor deck or inside by the plate-glass windows, where you will enjoy the beautiful, serene view of sailboats on the bay and the mainland's Orchard beach across the way. The indoor Hemingway bar and the bay-side Tiki Marina specialize in tropical drinks and mixed beverages that are sure to soothe and delight your taste buds. They also offer an extensive and impressive wine list.
Lobster House
681 Bridge Street,
City Island, NY 10464
(718) 885-1459
www.cilobsterhouse.com
Artie's of City Island
Arties Steak & Seafood offers an ecclectic menu in an elegant setting.
This unprepossessing restaurant may not look as impressive from the outside as some of the bay-side establishments on the island, but from the moment you walk in the door, you will have no doubt that you will be well taken care of here. The atmosphere is understated elegance, with soft green wallpaper, low lighting and crisp, clean, white table cloths. The friendly staff will seat you in one of the intimate rooms that are reminiscent of an earlier time. The ceilings are paneled in tin, and the furnishings are formal, but comfortable. The menu offers fresh catches from the sea and plenty of pasta entrees and sides to compliment your meal. There is also a full menu for meat lovers, with wood-grilled pork chops, char-grilled steaks, marinated grilled chicken breasts and burgers. The seafood selection is extensive, and specialties like oven-roasted Chilean Sea Bass and Caribbean Jerked Mahi-Mahi will have your taste buds sold on coming back for more.
Artie's of City Island
394 City Island Avenue
City Island, NY 10464
(718) 885-9885
www.artiesofcityisland.com/sea.html
The Black Whale
The Black Whale is famous for its delectable desserts.
The Black Whale reopened on the island in 1998 with an aim to continue the tradition of the famous restaurant of the same name that existed in the 1960s and '70s. Casual and romantic, this eatery has a brick-paved outdoor patio with fountains and offers a varied menu of fresh seafood, barbecue, pasta, wraps, and meat and chicken dishes. But they are best known for their signature desserts, including pastries, tiramisu, creme brulee, profiteroles and cheesecakes. They have a full bar and an extensive wine list, as well.
The Black Whale
279 City Island Avenue
City Island, New York 10464
(718) 885-3657
www.dineatblackwhale.com/
The Lobster Box
The Lobster Box has been serving City Island diners since 1946.
The Lobster Box has been a landmark surf and turf restaurant in City Island since 1946. With an extensive and varied menu of pastas, meats, chicken, salads and fresh seafood, it has something to offer every taste. The restaurant sits on the Long Island Sound and offers beautiful views from every table. The ambience is seaside shanty casual meets relaxed elegance, with low lighting and white-clothed tables. There is a full bar and an impressive wine selection to please any taste. For hungry night owls, the restaurant is even open until 2:00 a.m. on the weekends. The restaurant will also cater to private events and large parties, and you may reserve your table online.
The Lobster Box
34 City Island Ave
New York, NY 10464
(718) 885-1952
Resources
About the Author:
Tammy Quinn McKillip has written extensively in print and online publications about pets, parenting, theater, design, health and environmentalism since 1999. She is the editor of the Macaroni Kid National Family Safety newsletter and publisher and editor of "Macaroni Kid," a local family-friendly weekly events newsletter. She is pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in creative writing at City College of New York.
Photo Credits:
NYCity Mama
