Canal Cafe is Great! Seasonal, "Yes" and Late Spring through Early Fall are the Best for eating outside, overlooking. . .well, The Canal. Fresh air, saltwater, sunshine AND Good Food! Service is "prompt", fast . . .could do without the paper plates, napkins and plastic "cutlery" read more

Canal Cafe - whoever said, "the fried oysters are terrible"?? just look at those yummy li'l babies [circled]!! Fab Lobster Roll in foreground, BM at rear - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

This place has gone down hill. AVOID AT ALL COSTS. Though the location is marina-facing and lovely outside, you can do way better than this place as there are many similar options in the area. The food was overly greasy, the bread is stale, the lobster meat smelled funky and not fresh. We had lobster rolls, french fries, chips and guac, and shrimp tacos. The shrimp tacos were flimsy and soggy. Additionally, the service was ABYSMAL. The hostess was snide and the waitress treated my 80 year-old parents with disdain. When I asked to speak with the manager and express these concerns, he nodded solemnly but did not offer any sincere words or apologies. read more

Stopped by Canal Cafe for dinner with a group of friends and had a great experience. The food, service, and ambiance were all fantastic. I ordered the tuna poke bowl from the specials menu, and it was incredibly fresh and packed with flavor. Definitely a spot I'd come back to! read more

Canal Cafe - Tuna Poke Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

The place we planned to eat lunch at was closed. So we tried the Canal Cafe for the first time. They welcomed my wife and I and my Service Dog We sat on the lower outdoor tier next to the marina. It was a very nice day. I had a watermelon margerita, later a jalapeneo margarita, both excellent. We both had the fish tacos which were delicious and filing. Zack had one of their doggy burgers. Friendly wait staff good food and drinks, a good time read more

Canal Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Emily D. - Canal Cafe is awesome! In fact, I'm surprised that on such a busy day, they allowed you to sit at a table and eat your ToGo. Maybe it was because of the elderly woman with you. On the chalkboard in front of the host stand, it states, " high tops and picnic tables are for cocktails and waiting, ToGo's can be enjoyed off premises" - If asking you to pick up your garbage after eating your Togo meal is treating you with disdain, I would hate to see how you treat other people. Anyway...I enjoyed my outstanding meal. The little necks were fantastic, the lobster roll was over flowing and the spicy margarita rocked. Oh and the staff, on point and friendly. Only issue was some woman making a stink about not being able to eat her Togo and being mean to everyone to get her way. Other than that, great day at Canal! read more

See all

Friends brought us to this cute little restaurant on a marina. It was dark, so we couldnt appreciate the view. There is also extensive outdoor seating when it is warm. The restaurant is teeny, maybe 8 tables. Our party of 4 was accommodated by pushing two high top tables together, sparing us a long wait. Our waitress was perky. Had my first toasted lager, which was excellent. There's a regular menu of burgers, sandwiches, lobster rolls, etc.... There was also an extensive specials menu. My wife and I tried the Moroccan salmon. It was excellent- cooked perfectly on a bed of couscous with vegetables. The yogurt sauce was very tasty. Our friends had shrimp tacos and a salmon burger. They were fighting over the fries. The only minor negative is that the restaurant uses disposable plates and cutlery. What a great find! We are looking forward to dining there outdoors next spring. read more

Canal Cafe - Moroccan salmon - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Food is good but staff is not very friendly to customers. You're in the Hospitality and Service Business!

Be prepared to wait for a table Our party of 4 needed to wait 30 minutes for a table.. We had a pleasant walk around the marina during our wait. The cocktails are adequate. The Grilled Tuna Sandwich was very tasty. The French Fries were crispy and quite good. The service was attentive. read more

Canal Cafe - Grilled Tuna Sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

The location is lovely. The service is terrific. We have found the food here very good once a week for the past 2 months. I usually get the salmon burger, the quinoa burger, scallops, soup, and/or fish and chips. All of these dishes are very tasty. I would only say their desserts could be more inspired. This is a very enjoyable, pleasant, upbeat dining spot any time of year!! read more

My wife and I love this place. While the lobster roll isn't traditional (it's lobster salad on ciabatta) it is among the best on long island. The large is enough to fill you up without an appetizer or the fries it comes with. My wife enjoyed her steak sandwich. Beautiful views of the canal and boats even from inside tables. Friendly and attentive service. Only 2 credit cards can be used at a time for the bill. read more

Canal Cafe - Steak sandwich - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

See all

We pulled up around 1pm this past Friday. We were greeted nicely and were seated after a 5 minute wait. All tables were occupied. Sat outside with my wife and mom. For appetizers we had the calamari and the steamed little neck clams special. Delicious. Clam Broth was awesome and was served with fresh ciabatta bread for soaking up the broth. For lunch we had two orders of shrimp tacos and the ahi poke bowl special. All fresh all delicious all gone. Terrific lunch with great weather and atmosphere. read more

the food is great! the lobster roll is not a "traditional" one but much better - full of chunky lobster salad - steamed little neck clams are excellent as is every dish that comes out of the kitchen- the staff is welcoming and friendly- sitting outside and looking at the boats in the marina a pleasure - inside is fun and friendly read more

Quaint restaurant on the canal at Shinnecock. Service is excellent, very friendly and authentic employees. The lobster roll is very good served on chabbatta bread , very fresh with crispy fries on the side. A bit pricey at market price but the quality is good. The wait for outside was 30 minutes so we are inside at the bar which was fine. The bartender was sweet and professional. Will definitely return . Worth a visit read more

Dinner for 2. No reservations taken. 1 hour wait for outside table, inside no wait. App bang bang shrimp deep fried w tangy sauce - ok 6 pieces. Main dishes shrimp tacos good and tuna ponzu very good. Dinks x2 each, no desert bill $150 w/o tip. It's the Hamptons in the summer! read more

See all

Cool Place! Great views! Fresh Seafood! Great Service! Worth the wait! It's a Bar too. read more

Cute location and great view of the water! Service was friendly. Food was yummy and reasonable priced. read more

Canal Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Great dinner at the bar. Bartender was lovely. She had had a very long busy day and was very friendly and upbeat. We will certainly be back. read more

Canal Cafe - Fish and Chips and tuna tostadas - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Love this place and the people who worked there. You meet amazing people there. We love the bar and the bar tenders, Aiesha, Jennifer, Andy, et al. read more

The fries were AMAZING and some of the best I have ever had. But most of the other dishes were pretty bleh. The better dishes were the beer battered shrimp and steamed clams. The lobster roll was a little odd being on ciabatta bread. The clam fritters were pretty terrible. We took a slice of key lime pie home and it was a little too sweet for us. We also liked the mock cocktail mojito - it was very refreshing. Re wait, we came as a party of two on a Saturday over memorial weekend around 5/5:30pm and got seated after a ten minute wait. Enjoyed that there was an outdoor dining option overlooking the bay. It was a little chilly but I bet it would be nice on a warmer day. Over all, average food but was a little disappointed with some of the dishes. read more

See all

Best lobster rolls on the Island! Very popular busy restaurant with excellent service. Do not follow Waze directions- it drops you off across the water. Instead follow directions to Hampton Watercraft Marina- it is located just behind the marina. Indoor and outdoor seating. read more

Canal Cafe - Lobster Roll - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Love going on a beautiful day and sitting outside! The lobster salad is seriously large and delicious!

This is a hard table to get -- but once you eat here you'll understand why. Canal Cafe's waterfront seating and fresh seafood forward menu inevitably draw crowds out here in the Hamptons. If you're coming during summer, show up about an hour earlier than you're planning to eat and be prepared to wait. Don't shy away at an opportunity to eat inside or even at the bar -- you can still see the water from almost anywhere you're seated inside. The cocktail menu here is different and inventive. The Bad Hombre might be the best drink I've ever had -- it's tequila based served with a piece of candied ginger on a stick. The menu here is casual, serving sandwiches, appetizers and specials which I always end up getting. On my last visit, my mom and I started off with the mussels in a Thai curry sauce, which was the perfect mix of spicy and sweet, along with New England Clam Chowder that I think might be the best in all of the Hamptons. For mains we both chose a special off the menu - she got a soft shell crab BLT and I had the lobster pasta special. Both were mindblowingly good. I guess I have to say it - this place is a little pricey but again, we're in the Hamptons. Hope you brought those deep pockets. Saw some reviews comment on bad attitudes here but that has not been my experience at all thankfully. Everyone's been friendly and welcoming, especially at the bar! read more

Nice space, atmosphere. Kinda mailing it in on the food tho. Used to be great in that area, but can use a reset.

I went to this restaurant a few days ago. I ordered the mahi sandwich. It was very tasty and I really enjoyed the bread that it was on. The fries that accompanied the sandwich were also delicious. I ordered a margarita which was just okay. I expected a bit more for a $14 margarita. It seemed that it may have been made with mix which is not my fave way to make a marg. Our waitress was super friendly and helpful. To note, they do have a kid's menu. There were kids in our party and they had grilled cheese. Another option for kids was fish and chips. I forget what the 3rd kids option was. Ambiance is also great. It's right on the water with great views. Overall, great spot but expensive. read more

Hostess (Olivia) extremely rude. Would not seat us because she wanted a bigger party. Let her know health reasons prevented me from dining indoors. But she could have cared less. read more

Such a cute place on the water. Great for salads, burgers and drinks. Daily specials are delicious!

Omg, the food here is amazing and one of the best places I been to in a while. The view alone is amazing but the food just adds something special to this place! Great food - can't beat the location . The best part was the wait staff fun & full of energy. The steak taco's where out of this world and cooked to perfection. I am a very picky eater and the steak was not fatty and just superb all around and very flavorful. Great place. Bartenders are awesome! Good happy hour. Food is delicious. Chips and guacamole are a must, Beautiful location with excellent waterside ambiance. Delicious seafood menu with a great selection of drinks. Great views and the staff is so friendly. The food is so good and great selection of good food. Highly recommend if you are in the are! You won't regret it. read more

Canal Cafe - Steak tacos - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

The Lobster rolls are absolutely phenomenal. You need to go to Maine to get anything close. read more

Canal Cafe - The Lobster rolls are absolutely phenomenal. - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

The food was excellent with very good service during a very busy lunch hour. The only down side is that all the outdoor tables were taken so we sat inside. Suggest expanding dining tables to the area where there are people waiting for a table at the picnic benches. read more

Decided to swing by here with friends while looking for a place to eat on the 4th of July weekend. The actual restaurant itself is in a marina which is pretty cool and compliments the overall experience and ambiance. It is literally right on the water. However, Initially I wrote the Canal Cafe off as a simple, bar-type food establishment, but am incredibly glad those expectations were far exceeded. We started at the bar while we waited for a table and were met with a friendly staff who kindly proceeded to serve us drinks and then sit us. Our waitress was incredibly kind and very personable. She made the experience much more enjoyable and welcoming. For appetizers my friend and I shared the fried oysters and clam fritters. After ordering both off the recommendation of the waitress (who told us that she would cover the bill if we didn't like them) I was delighted by how good each was. Both dishes were breaded wonderfully, seasoned nice and actually tasted far better than what I was expecting. For dinner I decided to get the Tuna Ponzu special with no idea as to what I was possibly getting myself into. I can confidently say that it was one of the best meals I've ordered whilst out in Quogue by far. The interior is filled with spicy noodles and wrapped with ahi tuna, topped with seaweed and tobiko with a ponzu sauce on the side. It was absolutely delicious and a highlight of the night. I had friends asking every second if they could try it. However, there was one thing that was making me scratch my head the entire night. I was super confused as to why all of the delicious food was served on what looked like lunchroom-esque paper plates. After asking the waitress she informed us that because of their vicinity to the water, standard plates and silverware weren't allowed so they simply opted for disposable things. None of that even matters one bit as Canal Cafe clearly knows what they're doing. I suppose I've been accustomed to too many restaurants that are simply looking to cash in on the influx of people driving out east for the summer and paying exorbitant prices for mediocre food; so Canal Cafe being quite the opposite was a breathe of fresh air. I will definitely be back soon. read more

Canal Cafe - Tuna Ponzu special - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Located in a marina with waterside dining (including tables for take-out orders - dog-friendly). Best lobster rolls eh-ver. Served on warm ciabatta rolls instead of those pasty potato bread hotdog rolls. Insane. With fries that are thick, crisp and utterly irresistible. Throw in the other delicious entrees including seafood tacos plus a stocked bar serving super-refreshing umbrella drinks and you've got a destination eatery. Vibe is informal and super-friendly. We stop in whenever heading east or west on Rt 27. Do NOT miss this place! read more

No reservations so get there right when they open or be prepared to wait as it fills quickly. Amazing view of the marina, great menu, and great service. Came here with a group of 4 based on other Yelp wife recommendations and was glad we did. The hostess was a tad abrasive, but all of the waitresses were great. Max 2 credit cards for splitting the bill. read more

Canal Cafe - Marina - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Lobster roll. What more can I say. I'm sure there are other things that deserve praise but the large lobster roll with 6 oz. of lobster was one of the best I've had. And I've had a lot of lobster rolls. Easy ambiance, deck overlooking the canal. A little had to find if you don'a know the are because it's in a boat dock parking lock. I drove in by luck and asked a passer by where the restaurant was and as she pointed, I looked up and it was right in front of me. read more

Canal Cafe - Large Lobster roll - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

What could be better than sitting dockside in the Hamptons on a Saturday? All aspects of the experience were excellent. Particularly the service and care taken by the Wait Staff. The young women were meticulous. Food was enjoyable. My only complaint was with the House Salad. I can never understand how a salad can be served without a tossed dressing. Dressing in a plastic cup on out of a bag greens is a waste of a Chef's talent. There was nothing special in that house. read more

We have passed the marine and Cafe many times via the waterways and happened upon it while driving through Hampton Bays. We should have known it was good just by having to chat with two separate parking attendants upon entering the lot. Many shady, waterfront and patio tables available. Walk up and order via window one, when you are buzzed for ready, go to window two, easy as can be. Plenty of seafood and landlover options. We had chicken sandwich and burgers and fries. Everything was hot, delicious and plentiful. Full bar and soft drinks. Very nice presentation and packaging for to go. Look forward to another visit soon. Enjoy! read more

Canal Cafe - Beautiful day for an outside lunch! - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

Gotta tell ya. I've reviewed this place prior to Covid, and rated it well. No more. This place is still in full Covid methodology. No table service. Totally inconvenient window & pickup ordering. Terrible. Honestly-not worth it. Go elsewhere. read more

Food and service were (mostly) good. Plastic cutlery. Maybe there's a reason for this but it's a major turnoff. I didn't appreciate the secret up charge on the cocktail. Ordered a "G&T" and they used premium liquor without asking for an extra $4 charge. Kind of spoiled an otherwise nice visit. read more

The lobster roll was absolutely delicious and the french fries was scrumptious. Everything was lovely. We had a wonderful afternoon.

I came to canal cafe last weekend on a rainy day. There was ample outdoor seating and the dock with boats and yachts were right in front of the Cafe which was super cool. The food here was hands down best of all the food we had during our Hampton trip. We kept talking about it...the lobster roll, the fries, the beer battered shrimp. Like everyday about the beer battered shrimp. We kept singing and reminiscing over that one particularly haha. Even talked about it today, how we have to revisit on a nice sunny day like today. And hence why I remembered to write this review. Definitely recommend this spot to travelers heading to the hamptons! Im pretty sure the locals are already regulars here. read more

Canal Cafe - Seafood Near Me - Hampton Bays, New York

See all

Outdoor Dining Review: Now I finally know why the Canal Cafe Lobster Roll is so famous! Located on The Shinnecock Canal, this restaurant has gorgeous views mixed with a cool ocean breeze. Large parking lot. The lot is shared with the marina parking. They have valet at the marina but didn't for the restaurant when I went (Sunday). The lot attendants were very helpful showing us the way to the cafe parking. There are plenty of outdoor tables. Some in the shade, some in the sun. Lots of people were pulling up on their boats to get food. The service was quick and incredibly friendly. Due to COVID, all orders are takeout. There is no table side service at this time. Everything was served in takeout containers which I didn't mind. They have water stations near the tables if you get thirsty. The prices are a bit high but not surprising due to the location. $32 for a lobster roll is the most I've ever paid thus far. I will say, I left being very satisfied with the food and service, so this restaurant is totally worth the $. Drinks were in range of other restaurants. I had a Bad Mamba which was very tasty. The food was absolute deliciousness! Everything served exceeded my expectations. I will be reviewing what I tried: -Lobster Fritters: Definite order! The only way to describe these is to compare them to hushpuppies with lobster added. Came with 10 little fritters & an incredible dipping sauce. Would share between 1-2 people. 5 out of 5 stars -Smoked Fish Dip: (Special) Comes with North Fork Potato Chips. Yes I've lived on Long Island all my life, but this is actually the first time I've tried smoked fish dip. Wow I was missing out for the longest time!! The smokey flavor was delicious and the fish had a similar texture to tuna but less dry. I would 100% order this again. 5 out of 5 stars -Lobster Roll: As I said above, this is the most expensive lobster roll I've ever had. The ciabatta bread was so fresh, and the lobster salad was exploding out of my sandwich. Huge pieces of meat! It's definitely a fat lobster roll, very delicious. It came with fries & coleslaw. The fries were delicious but I could leave the coleslaw next time. 5 out of 5 stars -Grilled Steak Sandwich: Beautifully marinated and cooked flank steak served on fresh ciabatta. The cheese was melted to perfection and the onions heightened the dish. This sandwich came with fries & coleslaw. 5 out of 5 stars This restaurant is a perfect place for a relaxing & delicious meal! I felt right at home here! Overall, bravo Canal Cafe! read more

See all