Just terrific. Imagine walking around in 100 degree weather. All of a sudden you see a nice seating area where you can sit under a sea of umbrellas to get away from the sun, to smell some fresh air, people watch and have an iced coffee to boot. Well, you found it. Scan a bar code on your table, which takes you to a menu, and in a little bit a friendly server comes by to bring your meal. Once you finish, take a nice stroll up or down the park and enjoy the rest of your day. read more

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Located in the beautiful Riverside Park South, Pier One Cafe* is a delightful break from the hustle and bustle of NYC. My friend Rochelle and I are always in search of perfect oasis to find peace, scenic beauty and good food. First, the location which is nestled beneath the Hudson River. It boasts stunning views of " shiny diamonds" strewn across the river. There are a multitude of sailing boats, ferries and river cruises crossing. There is a boardwalk to enjoy the sun and see New Jersey across from the park. There is a promenade that has a lot of benches to soak up the sun, catch a breeze, rest or people watch. Second, the park boasts a playground for kids Third, Pier One Cafe offers a menu that includes upscale comfort food. One can find build your own burger, salads, grilled chicken sandwich, Morita (hot) honey chicken sandwich or chicken tenders. There is a cocktail menu and nice varieties of iced tea. This is not the first time we have dined at this cafe because the food is quite good. Here's what we dined on: Morita Honey Chicken Sandwich: two grilled chicken tenders in a brioche bun with a side of Morita Honey. Rochelle enjoyed it but found the honey too strong. Chicken Tenders: my go to dish but should have ordered the Kids Chicken Tender Meal ($11 for two tenders and fries). Four huge fried chicken tenders which were delicious but too much. After two tenders, I was stuffed.There are three options for condiments: BBQ, spicy mayo or mustard. The BBQ sauce was weak and watery. When we dined here during COVID, there were packets of BBQ sauce that were great smoky BBQ flavor. Fries: plentiful and delicious. One can order Truffle fries for $2 more Tea: choice of all unsweetened plain tea, Moroccan mint or Hibiscus Elderberry. I had the Elderberry and it was ok, Rochelle thought the same of the Mjnt version. Dessert: ice cream sandwich which we thought was similar to the Good Humor Sandwich. Nope! This massive chocolate chip cookie with half vanilla and chocolate ice cream. The cookie was hard as a rock but the ice cream was delicious. Customer Service: awesome! We wanted mayo, cups of ice, etc and were given everything we asked for with a smile Ambience: dinner service must be great especially during summer time and we plan to finally come back to enjoy. They were setting up a bar inside cafe @4pm. If you are looking for a little oasis I highly recommend Pier One Cafe. *aah you noticed "Pier I Café gets its name from its location at the foot of Pier I, a historic 795-foot recreational pier located in Riverside Park South (near West 70th Street)." Pier One Cafe 500 West 70th Street Take 1 to 66th Street Lincoln Center and walk all the way to the River, after West End Avenue read more

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Review is just for the frozen blueberry lemonade - cost aboVery refreshing especially on a hot summer day. We love walking by the river and this place is very convenient when you're walking the path on the upper west side by the hudson river. They have food and other drinks (alcohol and non alcoholic). There are a lot of outside seats but gets filled up quickly. read more

I loved, keyword: loved Pier i Cafe however obviously with tarrifs / inflation things have definitely changed year over year. In 2025, we had ordered fish and chips which we had a good experience with and decided to order it again this time around. There is a noticeably apparent difference between what we had ordered vs. now. For the price point and what you get, you're mainly eating french fries. I enjoy the hospitality and vibes of Pier i however sadly this time around, the only thing worth writing home about and worth coming back to get is the frozen coffee. read more

Pier i Cafe - June 2025 - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Fantastic and refreshing, buttery lobster roll! Their garlic shrimp was also so tasty with bread to dip the sauce. The outdoor seating had a wonderful view! read more

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Come one come all! Get a $35+ room temperature sandwich but don't dare ask for a refill on your drink! Plus tip!

We had a wonderful time at Pier I. The fish and chips were very good and we enjoyed some cocktails. It was a calm and cool Saturday afternoon on the water. We will be back for sure! read more

Food tastes great and view is spectacular. Hovering pigeons are annoying but not their fault read more

Pier i Cafe - FISH N' CHIPS - American Near Me - New York, New York

Great location. Sits on the pier and has lots of tables to accommodate patrons. The food was okay. Nothing to brag about. I ordered a Caesar Salad and added chicken for an extra 7 or 7.50. Smallest portion of chicken I've ever received on a salad. Small extremely think slices. (Don't let the picture fool you, there is lettuce under that chicken, larger slices on top ) It also had WAY too many capers. The fish and chips were a better size and the coating was very good. We ordered a couple other dishes that were okay as well. Best thing was the blueberry lemonade. Although the cup Was very be filled before adding the top and it spilled on me when I tried to drink it. It's a decent place to eat on the pier after a nice walk, etc. The table scan menu ordering was a helpful touch. (You can also order at the counter). read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

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I found the tastiest burger I've eaten in Manhattan in a long time here, which was an unexpected surprise given my low expectations for the location. A worthwhile pitstop while riding up/down the Hudson River Greenway. read more

Great service and good food for the area. I had the lobster roll which I'd definitely recommend. The frozen drinks are also amazing.

Great spot by the water to enjoy some drinks and people watch or meet up with a friend. The wait for our food wasn't too long, especially on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Will definitely be back! read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Packed seating, decent bar food, and good selection of cocktails at this self service place facing Hudson river - what else could one ask for after a rather long walk from UWS to this bar! Nothing much to say other than try it for a quick bit and a drink if that's your jam! read more

Pier i Cafe - $9 Kona Big Wave - American Near Me - New York, New York

Absolutely one of my favorite spots on the riverside walk!! Good food lots of seating and reasonable priced foods. read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Stars rounding up for the ambience and location. The drinks are better than the food and the foodis a little overpriced. That being said, the drinks were delicious -we had mocktails and the atmosphere and customer service are warm. Great spot for watching the sunset or dog spotting. Frozen blueberry lemonade was refreshing and the mangonada was flavorful and interesting. They were out of one beer my bf wanted but had a suitable other option. Fries were so small for $5.75 and none of the sandwiches or burgers come w fries except the lobster roll. So expect to spend more than you would elsewhere but to enjoy a beautiful view and location while you do. read more

Pier i Cafe - HOT HONEY CHICKEN SANDWICH - American Near Me - New York, New York

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I love how convenient it is to eat here during a bike ride. I often get the lobster roll with nice Cole slaw and a salad / grain bowl. The tofu was really good! The service was fast on a windy Sunday afternoon around 1:30pm. there are lots of seats and water fountain and bathroom nearby read more

I really like Pier I Cafe. It's definitely a great summer vibe. Pitchers are a good value, but everything on the menu is so expensive. It shouldn't cost that much to serve food seasonally. There's a blueberry vodka cocktail on the menu that I love. It is dog friendly, but not all the people are dog friendly... read more

Spent over $100 on food and drinks here and the food was terrible. The chicken tenders came out covered in dirty brown oil and tasted 2 weeks old. Do not buy food here, just enjoy the okay drinks! read more

Very pleasantly surprised! This place had opened when I was still living in the neighborhood, but I'd never tried it. This visit was suggested by a friend whom I was meeting for lunch. Even though I live across town now, it seemed like a good idea on a beautiful day. They have plenty of umbrellas for shade - this isn't one of the piers like several downtown that have either trees or otherwise physically shaded areas, and it can get unbearably hot on a sunny day as the sun moves west. You order at the counter, and there were lots of vegetarian options for us. I chose the quinoa and black beans bowl. It's presented with each ingredient in its place and includes: said quinoa and black beans, plus roasted corn kernels, guacamole, chopped salad, and pickled onions. It was really quite delicious, and sometimes I ate a food solo, other times mixed it up, but it wasn't at all gloppy mess as sometimes these bowls are. My friend had the watermelon salad, which I think was a special that day, and she loved it. It did look refreshing! She's a huge fan of their blueberry lemonade, which to my surprise has blueberries in it! I enjoyed my mint iced tea. Overall, a satisfying, flavorful, and lovely meal. I'd come again. P.S. A rarity in NYC that I truly appreciated because I was heading for the subway downtown after lunch - clean, open, public restrooms along the bike/walk path. read more

3.5 rating. Pier i Cafe is a good option for the vibe and location. Located on the Upper West Side right on the water, Pier i Cafe is a great spot to take a break from biking the West Side Highway and stop for a pick me up, whether you want a drink, snack, or a full meal Food is solid with good portions. I got to try the calamari app, fish and chips, and shrimp tacos. The fish and chips were my favorite with the fish being nicely fried in a thin batter and the shrimp tacos, which were sauced just right. The calamari was too thinly sliced and over-fried. The downside is the wait can get pretty long if they are busy and it is an order at the register and a self-pickup-style establishment however they still expect a 18-20% tip. read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

The food wasn't great, but the outdoor setting was very nice in the summer. There were plenty of tables on the weekend, and seating is pretty free. You can stay as long as you want- a perfect place to catch up with friends or read! read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

We live in the neighborhood and go there very often. I don't know what happened, but it was so bad this year. Both the food and drinks were disappointing--we couldn't even finish them. They were pretty good last year, so maybe there's different management now. Please improve so we can enjoy outdoor dining again. read more

In a way this place lived up to my expectations, as in mediocre because it's a tourist kind of spot. It's self seating so you just pick an open table and can order on your phone which is much faster than lining up. We ordered fish and chips, calamari, and frozen blueberry lemonade. They ended up giving us the regular (non-frozen) blueberry lemonade bc they ran out of frozen, but didn't say anything until I noticed and brought it up to them. Then, they did end up giving me a refund since we paid more for the frozen version. The blueberry lemonade was meh though, didn't really taste the lemonade part. Fish and chips were okay but calamari was not good bc very soggy. Overall wouldn't come here again although I do think the portions are decent. read more

Pier i Cafe - Fish and chips Calamari Blueberry lemonade Coffee - American Near Me - New York, New York

Great lil spot a must go! Food and drinks are great with a view . You have a beautiful view of New York skylight and New Jersey .. nice cool breeze from the Hudson River! read more

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I liked the veggie burger and Cesar salad. The beets were not bad but less appealing than I expected. Good service, ambiance. My friend had the tofu grain bowl and it looked good. I might try the chicken in the salad next time. Reasonable prices for location and quality. read more

This place has the location going for it the most. They do a great job keeping the place beautiful (with flowers, etc). I also want to give them points for being conscious of the recycling bit. Food is decent for a cafe that honestly didn't have to even focus on it. They come up with healthy options and always have enough choices. Lately been trying their drinks and they do have a great blueberry lemonade read more

Good grief, the service here was terrible. And the food not much better. Everything seems like it'd be perfect -- sitting outside, on the waterfront. And do go ahead and do that. Just don't set your heart on any kind of food or beverage here, not without some serious bad attitude and overcharging. read more

We had fish last night and want say was amazing !!!! Fresh and taste so good !!! Please guys if You go there tip extra ! Prices are good and people work there so hard to have this fantastic place ! Also the guy who run this place each Year is really nice super friendly guy ! read more

Man, I miss coming here during the nice summer weather to chill out with a tasty frozen cocktail, cold beer, or glass of wine with my gal. It's almost like a secret spot along the Hudson on the UWS. Sitting outside under the umbrellas on a sunny day, taking in the amazing waterfront views, people watching, and at times being entertained with live performances on the adjacent pier. All while sipping on a libation. Hopefully it will come back for this summer. read more

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I always loved this place but my last two visits have been disappointing. I ordered the lobster roll on both occasions, my favorite. Two visits back the fries were ice cold. Today the "lobster " roll was an inedible, mayonnaise laden mess. Do better. read more

I love coming here so much! Such a nice place to watch the sunset. The frozen blueberry lemonade is great and so are the chimichuri chicken wings. Everyone who works here is very kind and patient. read more

Pier i Cafe - CHICKEN WINGS-CHIMICHURRI BLUEBERRY LEMONADE - American Near Me - New York, New York

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After so many years without being here, I finally came back... I feel like I sort of discovered this place and it held such a valuable place in my heart! Pier I was one of my boyfriend's and I first date spots and that was YEARS ago... Since then, I have brought family and friends here to have lunch and catch up. With that being said, it pains me to say that the food was not good. The burger was nothing like their original burgers... I remember literally telling people that Pier I had to be the best burger in NYC... Maybe I came on a bad night? Or I came too close to closing time, but the food was not it. I am pretty sure that the burger did not even have a pinch of salt... not even after being slathered in ketchup did it make a difference. I asked for old bay fries and the guy basically sprinkled the whole old bay seasoning bottle on my fries... the chicken tenders were also better before; these were definitely some frozen tenders. The piña coladas were decent. read more

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I have stopped by here a few times while riding my bike from Brooklyn , it has always been a wonderful experience. Yesterday I shared a watermelon feta salad and hummus plate. The portions were very generous and delicious. I also had a frozen mango drink , also excellent. I wish I had taken pictures. I didn't see those pesky birds another reviewer wrote about ‍ read more

Food was terrible. Customer service was terrible. I used to come here often,, must be under new management ,I would never recommend this to anyone.... Overpriced read more

Awesome outdoor setting on a nice day! Pier i is an all-outdoor restaurant down by the water inside Riverside Park off 70th St. There's no waiter service, you can order at the window or on your phone and they will text when your order is ready for pickup. Good selection of beer and cocktails. I had the hamburger plus a side of fries and a medium (32 oz) draft beer and enjoyed them all. The burger was char broiled, a nice touch. Not crowded at all at 6pm on a weekday, plenty of tables all with umbrellas. read more

I would return for the view. The food was fine, but that's not what you come here for. Hubby and I shared the bbq short rib tacos. While the portion of meat you get in each taco (order of three) is quite generous, the flavor wasn't what I was expecting. The meat is very tender and juicy, but I was really craving a bbq sauce. Nope. Not here. But it was topped with a nice pico and that alone might do it for most people. I also grabbed a cookie. It wasn't until after the meal that I realized it wasn't for me. After an indulgent weekend in the city of the best of the best, this cookie just didn't do it for me. That being said, it's a pretty decent cookie. Lol. read more

It's a nice little guilty pleasure during lunch time. I tend to walk through the park to enjoy nice nature scenery along with the river. Pier 1 is a little treat and break to get away from work, I always get their drinks and snacks such as old bay fries with chicken tenders. The chicken tender is amazing, it hit the spot, definitely need to go back again. read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

Pier I Cafe, what happened to you? I've been frequenting this place for as long as I can remember and have always had amazing food there. Low key, I thought their burger was one of the better ones in the city, so of course, that's exactly what I ordered tonight, as did my wife. I also ordered a side of fries to split (cashier recommended one order is good for 2 people). Once I got the food, the bag of fries was a tiny handful and barely enough for one person and for $5? On to the sad burger, where the patty to bun ratio was probably 1:4. The bun disintegrated as I helplessly searched for the meat in my burger, where I was met with a dry well-done, sad excuse for a patty. I was so turned off by that point, I stopped eating and waved the white flag. The cake topper to the experience was after a worker came by the table asking us to leave since we were no longer eating and had thrown our food away, stating that there was a time limit to the tables. We were there no more than 45 minutes at that point (which included ordering, waiting & eating) and it was 9pm with numerous open tables around. Why is this guy asking us to leave? I couldn't wait to go, so we got up and as we were passing by other tables I noticed a few where people were eating food they didn't even purchase from Pier I and here this guy is, kicking us out after I spent $40 on two terrible burgers and a handful of fries. Don't waste your time coming here. I don't know what changed, but it's not what it used to be. read more

Pier i Cafe - American Near Me - New York, New York

A cute grab and go place at waterfront on Hudson River park in Upper west side. You scan the QR code and order on your phone, they will call your order number to pick up. It's a bit hard to find table around sunset time, you just have to wait for some people to leave to grab the seats right away. There's one person coming around to clean the table too to keep it clean. Price is decent, with wine, beer, cocktails available in the plastic cup. Had the fish and chips comes with fries and two pieces of fish, can definitely fill you up. read more

This is one of my FAVORITE ... an CLEANEST summer spots in the city ..! food and drinks ALWAYS greeeat !!! very well priced