This beautiful spot on the water used to be Parkside Cafe, but is now a Mediterranean restaurant. They have updated the decor and the menu is different, but the food is still very good. I have had the Cornish hen under a brick and chicken souvlaki. Both excellent. My wife really enjoyed the Dourade. The staff, including Parkside holdovers bartender Sharon, waitresses Nancy and Leann are great- friendly and knowledgeable. Give this place a shot. You won't be disappointed. read more

Walked into a price fix menu ( 3 courses) for Valentines Day. I did not see that posted on website. And when I called ahead for a table .. there was no mention. of the limited pricey menu. The service was great. The restaurant was cozy. The food was pretty good but absolutely did not warrant 65 pp . Plus, the coffee was extra. Thought for that price it could have been included. A bit disappointing for the money we spent.. read more

What a wonderful way to spend a summer evening. The new deck complete with hanging flowers and twinkle lights coupled with the serene view of the water provided a relaxing atmosphere even with the sold out crowd. The food was excellent-our friends loved their chicken wings and we all agreed the grilled octopus was the best we've ever had. The steamers were the appetizer special cooked in a brown sauce which was a tasty twist on an old favorite. My sea scallops were delicious and our waitress Jenna was charming and kept our glasses and stomachs full. Thank you Jen and Stephen for providing this little gem in Seaford. We don't have that many restaurants of this caliber on the south shore in Nassau County-unless you count Anchor Down in Merrick! read more

The food was excellent. Sitting outside on a beautiful night didn't hurt either. My only complaint was the inattentive service. I think they just didn't have enough help. After we got our food, our server didn't come back to see how everything was. She only came back to offer the dessert menu. I'll definitely try it again, though. read more

Came here for our anniversary dinner with the kids and had a great time. The wait staff and kitchen was extremely accommodating with our child's dietary restrictions. Food was excellent and the atmosphere was perfect. Apparently they have just finished revamping the dock and it looked beautiful. We were looking for a nice relaxing place to dine on the water and are so happy we came here. I encourage you to give it a try. We had the oysters, whole grilled red snapper, and chicken souvlaki. I also tried the wine limoncello spritzer which was great. Dessert we had the watermelon and funnel cake - both excellent. Thanks again Cardoon for a great meal and experience read more

Thank you for a great dining experience and an awesome meal. The rainbow carrot appetizer was a favorite for our group.

This is one of the best restaurants on Long Island and I have been to many. It's tucked away in Seaford. The outdoor seating is on a canal and very charming. The food is fantastic and the service is super friendly. Very healthy fare - you feel good when you leave. Make sure you sure you order the hummus and pita appetizer. read more

What a disappointment. Have recently visited excellent Mediterranean restaurants in Port Washington, Riverhead as well as many in Astoria so a comparison was easy to make. Started with 3 dip appetizers and found them to be rather tasteless and uninspiring. They were served with burnt pita, charcoal black on one side not toasted on the other. Server should never take this to a table. We returned it. Heirloom tomato salad lacking in tomatoes with plenty of watermelon. Call it watermelon salad with a hint of tomato. Waterfront location is nice, we left and stopped for a bite elsewhere. read more

Had a great night celebrating my husband's birthday at Cardoon. It was our first time there but we were made to feel like regulars from the second we walked in. The hostess, bartender and our server were warm and friendly. And the food - excellent! The crispy kataifi shrimp and octopus were both cooked perfectly and so tasty! I loved my olive crusted tuna as well. We shared the olive oil cake with pistachio ice cream for dessert (yum!) and they surprised hubby with a candle and birthday song. Truly wonderful experience all around and we will definitely be back! read more

When my friends told me we were going for Mediterranean food I really wasn't too thrilled, as I'm not really a fan . Then we pulled into what I would call a diamond in the rough. Started off with pomegranate mojito . Then ordered the artichokes and calamari for appetizer. For the main course i ordered the pasta dish without shrimp, as I'm allergic. i ended the meal with the funnel cake. The food, service, and atmosphere are not to be missed. If it weren't so sticky out we would've sat outside by the water. The restaurant is only open a month , but I believe it's going to be there a very long time. Based on the crowd, it looks like this place is no more secret. Do you self a favor and make a reservation. read more

Great atmosphere on a waterfront canal. The salads are amazing, staff was wonderful and polite. Would welcome any friends or family to try.

where should i start, made reservations for 7:45 outside they have them for sunday afternoon. we sat inside, ordered bevedere vodka, bottle was emtpy. ordered merlot wine, had none. ordered octopus appetizer, gross. not octopus. ordered lamb portherouse $32 I got 2 lamb loins, prices are high, nothing special all all. will not go back. this was my first time. on saturday night read more

Dined at Cardoon last evening everything was perfect except the weather - but they accommodated us inside. Food, service and ambience exceeded everyone's expectations. Started with some baby artichokes two had the Cornish hen shawarma and two has NY strip steak all delicious - finished with tiramisu and blueberry sorbet - can wait to go back - shout out to our excellent waitress Nancy. read more

Had dinner here for the first time last Thursday. The atmosphere was very nice as was the staff. Once seated, a bread basket was put on the table. Four very small pieces of foccacia-like bread (meaning small squares) with no butter offered. For dinner, I chose the strip steak which was done perfectly. My only complaint about my meal was the restaurant didn't offer steak sauce (!). A gentleman working behind the bar offered to make a steak sauce for me which he described as something like a "Peter Luger's sauce" which was fine with me, but when it came to the table it was nothing more than a seafood cocktail sauce. Yuck! My dinner companion had the orichiette pasta with chicken, also excellent (albeit a bit of a small portion for the price). After dinner we had a dessert recommended by the waitress. A chocolate cookie in a small cast iron "frying pan" with ice cream and whipped cream. Yum. But again, the cookie was very thin, almost barely lining the bottom of the pan. My biggest complaint - and this is a biggie - was that we were charged $9.00 for 2 cups of tea!!! Basically hot water with a Lipton tea bag on the side. I've never even paid 4.50 for a cup of herbal tea (which tends to be more expensive) in the best restaurants! I did ask the waitress about the charge (thinking it was an oversight) but it wasn't ... she offered to take one of the teas off the bill. Yowser. Overall, I liked the restaurant but not sure I would go back. I found it to be a bit pricey in relation to the portion size. I guess you could say "it wasn't my cup of tea." read more

Came here this afternoon to celebrate a nice birthday lunch with my mom and sister. Arrived around 2:40 p.m and opted to sit by the water. It was nearly 15 minutes before anyone even came over to our table. Once the waiter arrived we ordered our drinks and wanted to promptly order our meals as we had already been waiting 15 minutes. This is when we were informed that we were given outdated menus. The waiter brought back new menus and then we were able to order. We ordered at 3:00 and did not receive our food until 3:45. During the 45 minutes not even one person came over to check up on us or apologize for the long wait. Not sure what the hold up was and if it was just an off afternoon, but if the food and view wasn't good I would have given this place 1 star. Don't plan on coming back even though my pomegranate mojito and chicken souvlaki were good. Service is a big portion of the dining out experience. read more

Wow what a happy accident finding this place. Most waterside places are over priced with underwhelming food .Cardoon is the opposite..bright Mediterranean flavors abound in all there dish from the lamb ribs to the sea bass..my wife especially loved the artichoke hearts app and the shrimp app and the deserts are killer the funnel cake baklava is enough for four to share but don't you touch my tiramisu parfait lol mine all mine yum.. I would definitely say make a reservation they have about 40 seats inside and about 50 outside all in all we can't wait to go back with family and friends read more

Perfect way to spend a relaxing evening on a warm night on the water and have an amazing dining experience . Perfect food, service and atmosphere. Kudos to chef Jason. Can't wait to return. Stephen the owner, is very humble and takes pride in his restaurant establishments. Will most definitely try Anchor Down. read more

Stopped at Cardoon for a late lunch/early dinner on Sunday. Cardoon is a small restaurant off the beaten path but super cute with outdoor waterfront seating. We started with the chopped salad and Moroccan chicken wings. Salad was really nice with the pomegranate. I don't normally eat wings at all but my husband's wings looked really good so I gave it a go. The sauce on those wings was unbelievable. Sort of sweet with a little spice at the end. We then moved on to our main course. NY strip steak for me, grilled shrimp skewers for my husband. Both delicious but the standout of our meals was the grilled salmon that my daughter ordered. The salmon was cooked perfectly but the quinoa it was paired with is what really blew us away. We were literally passing her plate around eating her meal! Good thing she liked everything else we had ordered. I even offered to trade my steak for her salmon dish and I'm a steak person. Outstanding meal. Really nice waterfront atmosphere. read more

Ate here last night. Exceptional food and service, extra commendable considering they just opened. Apps, grilled octopus: amazing , tender & perfection. Salmon cake: Mediterranean spices & quality was exceptional, chopped salad: yum with pomegranate seeds. Entrees: Cornish hen- excellent, lobster on the menu excellent, & special lobster pasta dish also excellent. Only disappointment was funnel cake baklava. Was looking forward to eating outside, unfortunately rain made that impossible, next time read more

Not my cup of tea so to speak. I liked the old place (park side) the owner is nice the staff is hit or miss. The drinks are made perfectly. Not a big fan of the food. The one dish that I did like is the shrimp appetizer with Fava beans. There was One waitress we had the last time we were there, young with Long dark hair. When I told her about something I didn't like she was smart enough to ask what it was that I didn' like about it. I'll give it 3 stars for the whole experience. If I could rate the cocktail mixing I'd give that 5 stars. read more

Had dinner last night at Cardoons in Seaford. Party of four. We ate outside and despite a few rain sprinkles, that didn't affect us because we had a table with an umbrella, it was a unbelievable experience. Wow. Absolutely delicious. We had a hard time deciding what to order because everything sounded great. We went with a bunch of appetizers and each one was better than the next. The grilled octopus was so tender and flavorful, the best we've ever had. It was served with fingerling potatoes and chorizo. The fried calamari was a very large, super crispy, delicious portion that was mixed with fried chickpeas, fried pepperoncini and fried lemon slices. The fried baby artichokes were incredible and the three dip pita appetizer was great (make sure to get the spicy feta dip-omg). We also ordered the chicken souvlaki and lamb burger to share. Both were amazing. Finished with a funnel cake baklava that was out of this world. Unbelievable food, awesome service, beautiful ambience and a pleasant breeze. Do not miss this place. Outstanding experience. read more

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A friend and I had dinner at Cardoon last Saturday (early), it was one of many occasions I've been here. The food was good but the service was once again subpar. When we arrived, the staff already seemed completely stressed out even though it was before the evening "rush" setting a weird vibe from the get-go. It just so happened we had the same server as a few of the previous times we ate here. She didn't have any of the skills that servers generally have. We got no greeting/welcome/introduction, no smile, no "these are dishes I really like...," and I guess there were no specials either, if so, we didn't hear about them. I realize Saturdays are busy and it's a small place, but we did have a reservation and we were on time. There was absolutely no attempt at engaging with us. I'm fairly sure that the wine I ordered wasn't the right one because another staff person served it and said two of the same, even though we each ordered differently, mine being more expensive which we were billed for. Eager to get our order in (because it's a busy night, I get it - but we were not taking forever either), she approached our table a few times (still no smile), then we asked if we could put our appetizer in while we selected the main course items. Nope. They have to put full orders in. OK. No biggie. So we order, our app arrives (good), we finish it and our drinks and no one comes by to clear the plates or ask if we want another round -- even after our main course is served and we're eating it. The app dishes sit on the table throughout our dinner (not a real biggie, but for the price we're paying for dinner, would've been nice not to have to maneuver stuff). When another staff person comes to take our main course dishes away, I nicely asked if she could also remove the other dishes. She replied kind of snottily, "I was going to do that," animated with the full on eye roll. This didn't help us feel good about this dining experience. Our main courses (salmon and halibut) were good-not exceptional. Another couple approached our table when we were eating our main course and said their food was horrible! I was shocked. We disagreed. There was also a table nearby that appeared to have some issue with service (same server). I'm so disappointed because there are other servers at this place who are good, especially one young man we've had more than once, who wasn't there that night, and a couple of the bartenders, too. When we left, the valet parking guy was totally overwhelmed with so many cars pulling in, but he handled it all with expert finesse and such a positive attitude. He was fabulous and earned a sizeable tip even though we had to wait quite a while for our car. He really needed someone else helping him but he also definitely understood how to manage his job and also deal with a Saturday rush. The wait staff should take lessons from him. read more

HUGE thumbs down for Cardoon in Seaford. I understand the restaurant is only open 11 days and and they have to work out their kinks but having HORRIFIC customer service isn't something that's excusable. They had slow service, missing items from the menu all which was expected and I understand. My husband and I both ordered Striped bass. It was encrusted in salt (not mentioned on menu) and inedible. The vegetables and everything it came with was so salty we couldn't even eat it. But we couldn't even get anyone's attention and when the waitress finally came over she asked what happened we said we couldn't even eat the meal. She said she would be right back. She came back and offered us 10% of from the two main dishes she also said if we would of said something sooner she would of taken it ALL off. Really??What is the difference now or earlier? If someone would have came to check on us we would have told them. The owner/ manager didn't even come talk to us after we let them know how displeased we were. 1st and last meal at Cardoon. We really miss Parkside. read more

By far one of the worst experiences. First time trying this restaurant and it will be the last! We had a 7:30 reservation and we ordered our food within the first 15 mins. Our food did not come out until almost 9 p.m. 1hr & 15 mins for food?? When it arrived 3 out of the 4 meals were cold. One person who has a SEVERE allergy asked for no pesto on his steak. When the food arrived there was pesto. We had asked nicely to remake the potatoes that were covered in pesto due to a severe allergy and not just a preference. They brought the potatoes back and it looked as if they scraped the pesto off as to not waste the potatoes! Are they kidding?? I guess saving a few pennies is worth more to them then a customer going into Anaphylactic shock. We made sure the manager was aware of what was going on. She was unapologetic and seemed as if she could not be bothered. Likes to hide in the kitchen instead of being on the floor to make sure the customers are getting the proper service. She came over and said she removed our drinks off the bill because they were more then the meal that came out wrong which was not the case. She gave the check back comping a 12$ cocktail and a ginger ale. The meal was 40$. When it was brought to the servers attention we got an excuse that she looked at the wrong check, so in turn they removed the meal and added back the 15$ in beverages. Absolutely the worst service ever! They should of comped the drinks for the insane wait, the bad meal for almost killing someone, and gave a gift card to come back and give them a second chance. Their high chairs are so unstable I wouldn't put a doll in them let alone a baby. Oh and their bread basket they put on the tables seems as if they are serving the entire restaurant from one loaf of bread! They are overpriced and the food is terrible. Server reads off their specials when we sat down along with the prices (Really Tacky) tells us the surf and turf is 32$, bill comes and 38$ is on the check. This restaurant is trying to give you an " On the water " experience but they need a reality check. Patio heaters are old and worn, customers asked for them to be lit and in turn just got smoke billowing out of the top of a propane unit. The unsightly mound of dirt next to the tables is less then desirable along with the nats swarming around. Worst place ever! read more

I had dinner at Cardoon in Seaford tonight. I have been to this restaurant before and found, the food and service good, but I wasn't wild about the menu selections. Well tonight when we walked in the waitress told us that it was the first night of an all new menu. I was pleasantly surprised to see many appealing entrees. There was Salmon, Bronzini, Grilled Shrimp, Sea Scallops, Lamb chops with the Filet, just to name a few. I had the Winter Kale salad with ferro, dates, and craisins . It was delicious, loved it. For entrées my husband and I had the grilled Salmon with spinach and chopped tomatoes with beans. The Salmon was delicious and perfectly cooked. I enjoyed the spinach and the beans as well. My friends both had the Halibut, which was a special for the day, It was served with cauliflower puree on top and Cauliflower as a side. They both loved the Halibut entrée. Couldn't stop telling me how delicious it was. For dessert, 3 of us had the pistachio gelato which was very creamy and yummy, the 4th person had the lemon- basil sorbet, also good. 3 of us enjoyed delicious cappuccino and 1 person had regular coffee. We all enjoyed our dinner. The place is nicely decorated and service was excellent, staff friendly. It wasn't super crowded, so it is a nice place for a quiet dinner. I am glad I gave this restaurant a second shot. Cardoon is definitely a recommend. read more

Came to Cardoon REALLY wanting to LOVE it - we were BIG fans of Parkside but love Mediterranean food so we hoped this would be the perfect mix of both! Got a reservation on a Wednesday since weekends are mobbed.... Here are some thoughts, they added tables to a space that really couldn't use them and as a result we were at a very small table for 2 in an awkward middle spot - so awkward that the waitress tripped on my chair multiple times as she walked by....server was very sweet but service was VERY slow and she apologized many times but when you have to apologize that many times, it needs to be fixed. I will say, the food was very good! Watermelon/Feta salad had great flavors and the fried artichokes were delicious. Boyfriend had a shrimp app and I had the chicken kabob and it was yummy, flavorful and plentiful. We also each had 1 cocktail....overall, I think it was a bit pricey for what we got but with a coupon and points for LI Loyalty, I feel better about the cost. We will be back , I just hope the owners considers moving or removing a few tables so people are not on each other's laps. I know I will be very specific on table I want when I make my future reservations. read more

Last night (Sat.) I took my daughter to the new restaurant Cardoon Mediterranean in Seaford, open for less than a month. It was a beautiful night to eat al fresco, by the boats in the canal. I recall eating in this idyllic venue several times a decade or so ago, back when it was the original location of Catfish Max (and after that, Parkside). Cardoon is the new sister restaurant of Anchor Down in Merrick - both are owned by Jennifer and Stephen Rosenbluth. We like AD very much, and now CM is on our favorites list. It's Mediterranean seafood plus more, all very well done. My daughter and I shared a dozen ethereal oysters on the half shell (some of the best I've ever had), as well as the excellent Trio of Dips (we selected hummus, eggplant, and spicy feta, with pita slices). Lobster 2 Ways plus the Cornish Hen Under Brick rounded out our delicious selections, washed down by a bottle of Malbec (which at this early stage was the low point of the evening - their cellar isn't yet fully in swing, and the only Malbec available was a low-end offering). Prices are not gentle, but are appropriate for the high level of quality. Service was cordial but a bit slow, understandable based on how busy they were - the place was jammed. But we had a relaxing dinner outside, and are happy that there's now another tasty L.I. seafood-oriented establishment to visit. read more