Went with friends to dinner and 80's night over the Sylvan Beach Canal Fest Weekend. Was very disappointed. Waitress came to take order and learned most if not all the seafood was frozen and not fresh. Waitress was friendly but had to ask multiple times for things like plates to share appetizers with the group or drink refills. Food took awhile to come out. I had to do a double take when my salad came out as the parmesan cheese on my Caesar Salad was melted over top of salad. I get this was a seafood restaurant but I am a snob when it domes to seafood and do not care for fishy smelling frozen items. Thought salad would be a safe choice after all how difficult is it to put lettuce into a bowl. I would be wrong. My salad appeared to have been left under a heat lamp and lettuce was welted and not good. Cheese was baked into lettuce and melted onto the grilled chicken. Haddock was dried out and appetizers were not good. Even the desserts what few they had on the menu were processed and not made at restaurant or one of the local bakeries. This to me was an overpriced frozen dinner place. Definitely not worth it. Even the music ended up just being a DJ rather than a band. Best part of the evening aside from being with friends was hearing songs from my past. Restaurant has both indoor and outdoor seating which gave it a beachy vibe. read more

Great service! I absolutely loved my lobster roll (and the fabulous martini ). The best part? They warmly welcomed our pup -- such a huge plus since he's family and goes everywhere with us! It was refreshing to find a spot that's both delicious and dog-friendly, especially when so many other places with outdoor seating in the area aren't. Can't wait to come back to this friendly, welcoming gem! read more

The crazy clam has really reinvented itself! Having been a regular to Sylvan Beach spots for many years, crazy clam had "fallen off" my list until they renovated/updated things and they've done an amazing job. Spent easily 10 or more meals with friends or just on my own for takeout trying many items on the menu and the food is great! They also have great weekly specials that are always fun to get. New manager Kelly is also a gem and so is the staff. All for the most part are helpful and responsive. read more

tl/dr; adequate but not great table service, food took a long time, food quality was only a step up from terrible, very expensive for what you get The wait staff were adequate but our server let us sit unattended for too long between visits despite the restaurant being far from full with a fair few servers working that evening. Drinks were empty for long periods before she came back to check. The food took a very long time to come out given the number of customers. The Crazy Clam came highly recommended but my experience there has just confirmed the dearth of quality culinary experiences in central NY such that people here literally have no idea what good food is and I need to stop listening to their reviews. The Crazy Crab is a perfect example; the food was poorly prepared with low-grade ingredients that lacked flavor, flair, or anything that indicated any care or attention to quality exists in the kitchen. It was memorably bad. The lobster bisque fries looked like a unique option and combined two of my favorite things. I was intrigued and went for it despite knowing this was likely going to be either awesome or a disaster, it was definitely the latter. The fries were just fries, crinkle cut frozen potatoes probably delivered in a bag from Sysco. While fresh cut would have been better I wasn't expecting anything more than what they were and that was fine. The true disappointment was the bisque- greasy, nearly devoid of flavor, barely discernible microscopic bits of lobster, with a slimy texture that was very off-putting. It had little to no lobster in the flavor and was among the worst attempts at lobster bisque I've even endured. Coconut shrimp appetizer was equally bad. The batter was so bready and heavy it completely overpowered any coconut and even the shrimp. The habañero sauce was sugary sweet to the point of being gross. The haddock fish fry was equally terrible. The batter was like an armor shell protecting the filet, heavy and flavorless. It cracked and shattered like plastic and was the exact opposite of what fish batter should be. Grease spit out from the fish whenever another piece was cut off and, of course, the fish was slimy with grease. Literally one of the worst pieces of fish I've had. The alfredo sauce tasted more like flour than cheese, in fact there was almost no discernible cheese flavor to it at all. Bland and lifeless, bare pasta, which was cooked to a decent approximation of al dente at least, would have been preferable. Mussels (spelled 'muscles' on the menu) were gritty and dirty, clam strips fried into nearly inedible chewiness, shrimp somehow blanched of all flavor...the list goes on. It seems there is no one with any culinary sensibilities in the kitchen. This was low effort, low quality food that I would be ashamed to serve at home. The final insult came with the bill- utterly offensive prices for such bad offerings. For 5 people the bill came to nearly $300 before tip and alcohol. In an area with mediocre options at best, this has to rate near the bottom. read more

Wish I could do zero stars. We went to crazy clam at 7:55 with 7 adults and 3 children. We where told 20 to 25 minutes. We sat waiting for 30 minutes. We asked about a table, Response was cleaning one off now. 15 minutes later we where told sorry we cant serve you tonight. So 45 minutes with 3 hungry children and 7 adults we went away hungry. Never in my life have I had such a bad experience. I had people from Florida with us showing them the town all day. This was a terrible experience That I hope is never experience again. read more

The food was amazing, we enjoyed watching the sunset and walking the beach. We are looking forward to seeing them next year when we visit Sylvan Beach! read more

The Crazy Clam - a steak with shrimp and vegetables - Seafood Near Me - Sylvan Beach, New York

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Went on Friday July 3rd. It was about 6 PM and we were seated right away at a high top across from the bar. Not overly busy yet. Servers passed us by and never even looked at us. Even the hostess walked by us. No water and no acknowledgement that we were even there. After 10 minutes of being ignored, we walked out. read more

The food is so good here. It's right along the canal so my favorite is to sit at there outside dining. Place is decorated beachy and fun! The staff are wonderful. Great music on weekends. read more

Not certain what has changed at The Crazy Clam. We have been long time patrons and always enjoyed our time there. First time there this year and what a disappointment. Appeared understaffed and very disorganized. Took over 20 minutes to finally be attended to by a server. Bar ran out of glasses for drinks. Food took longer than typical to be brought to the table. All service related issues. We were told they didn't expect this many people - honestly crowd seemed moderate and have experienced much larger number of people in past visits. While dissatisfied overall with our visit, still left 20% tip for server. I just couldn't hold these kids responsible for what appeared to be total mis-management. We'll go back and try again - everyone deserves another chance and hope they use some of this feedback to improve. read more

Clams provincial.. a really good appetizer Hot beef on weck.. wow Fried sea food platter surprisingly very good didn't need cocktail sauce or tartar everything was fantastic... Kristen is a very good server.. read more

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Went to the crazy clam for the first time the food was great the service was excellent I had to shrimps and they were delicious every time I go to Sylvan Lake I try different restaurants so if you're in the area are planning a trip to Sylvan Lake this must be one of your stops don't forget about turning stone just down the the newest casino right also down the road Point Place read more

The Crazy Clam - Great place for lunch - Seafood Near Me - Sylvan Beach, New York

After waiting at another restaurant in the beach area (no names H.E.re), we came to our favorite and were, as always, better served and food delicious. Hands down best in the beach! read more

i had the lobster roll and it was so good all flavors blended well not overly mayo or spiced it was perfect looks small but very filling. waitress was attentive but not constantly in our face which is appreciated to enjoy each other our food and and the canal view. read more

The Crazy Clam is always a good tme in my book. I want to say they have the best New England Clam Chowder ever! Their Haddock sandwich was a good portion as well. During the weekends in the summer they have the stage towards the back with local bands that play, and a little patio outside facing the canal so you can eat and drink outside. Love it read more

The Crazy Clam - New England Clam Chowder!!! - Seafood Near Me - Sylvan Beach, New York

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Not a fan at all, we had clam strips that were awful. Thick coating, over fried, couldn't chew them , they were like chewing rubber bands. Left most uneaten, won't be back. 2 appetizers of clam tenders as they call them 2 iced teas all for over $30. read more

The restaurant is located along side the canal between the water and an amusement park. Service was very good, our waitress was friendly and helpful. Not a ton of variety on the menu but what we chose was good. We started with the fried mac and cheese balls in the riggie sauce (appetizer). The riggie sauce was by far the best I have ever had. I had the fried seafood platter with a Caesar salad. Tasted great, but I couldn't finish it all. My wife had the lobster roll. An enormous amount of lobster meat! No skimping! The couple we were with also enjoyed their meals. The restaurant was clean. Outdoor dining if you choose. We would definitely return. read more

I thought I had yelp'd the Crazy Clam last year but I guess I missed them as I see they have no reviews. I had a very bad experience here early last year but everything since has been great and they fully deserve 4 stars. They just added a smoker in their parking lot this year and we stopped by tonight to try it out. My chicken platter was good but the star of the night was the Ultimate platter my husband selected - brisket was really, really good. Some of the best I have had outside Texas. Their Utica greens are good albiet a little greasy. My favorite here is the Chicken riggies - be prepared to take a box home here as the portion is always huge. read more

Best bar food so far in Sylvan Beach! We had: Open Faced Prime Rib Sandwich smothered in melted cheese sauteed onions and mushrooms. Homemade horseradish sauce and homemade potato chips. All delicious and better than expected! Beef on Weck. The stole a Buffalo area favorite but they did it right! The beef was roasted in house and it was beefy, tender and juicy served on a good kemmelwick role with a side of aujus and the same homemade horseradish sauce. I want to eat another one as I'm writing this. It's that good! The waitress said that they smoke their own pork as well. I'm going back tomorrow! read more

Not a fan. We sat outside, nice view of the canal. The wait staff was awful. The young girl who waited on us had to be flagged down several times for drinks. At one point my BF got up to get us drinks at the bar. The owner or manager was not very friendly and asked for ID's which is no problem. Once he got back to the table to get our ID's the waitress was behind him saying you didn't have to go inside I was coming. We paid and left went to walk by the water. When we walked back to our car the same woman was standing outside just giving us the dirtiest look. We got in the car and left. Such a shame we spend good money in Sylvan beach every summer but it won't be here! read more

As someone who lives in central NY, I've heard about The Crazy Clam numerous times! I've heard their meals are phenomenal, so I had to try it out myself. The restaurant is nice and clean. The food is delicious , ( everyone ordered something different and we all tried each other's food )and the staff were friendly. Overall it was a good choice for dinner with friends. Also, if you are hosting a party and you're in need of a caterer, I'd definitely give The Crazy Clam a call or email. They provided more than enough food for a decent price. They came and set up and cleaned up. I hosted a party and the food was incredible. There was sausage with onions and peppers, salted potatoes, pulled pork, macaroni salad, chicken and salad. My mouth was watering from looking at all the food! Everyone had complimented on the food. It was excellent. read more

After walking around and sitting outside in the heat, we wanted to have lunch at CRAZY CLAM inside- where it was cool! I have had a few meals here and I'm never disappointed. The prime Rib Sandwich is also great besides the seafood. The bread with the spicy tomato oil is yummy! I've had the seafood marinara twice now and it"s is delish- 4 of everything- Big scallops, shrimp, and clams! The company that I had on my last visit ordered the Linguini with white clam sauce- and they loved it- plenty of clams came in the shell and they said the while clam sauce was loaded with chopped up clams. I was not impressed by the clam chowder this time around, hardly any seafood in the chowder. We had a great and attentive waitress. read more

Standard dive bar. Only been there twice, but generally good scene from what I can tell. Best part is the decor, for sure.

We picked up our order - a burger and a lobster roll. Menu is limited due to COVID but what we ordered was good. The LR was a good balance of meat and mayo. Could be a little more seasoned but overall, impressive for the middle of central NY. read more

It's tough to be family friendly when you charge an additional $2.50 for milk with the $7 kids meal. My burgers and chips were fine but my wife's haddock and fries weren't crispy at all, kind of rubbery. No way I would pay the extra $3 for fries because the chips are better anyway. read more

Used to love this place, then I went to the ER for food poisoning after eating the fried clams even though they come frozen (go figure.) I let the manager know and she said sorry-that's it. Overall not happy with the response and I'm honestly surprised no one did anything to compensate. Anyways, go at your own risk! read more

By far the best restaurant in sylvan beach. Great burgers and Wednesday wing night is always fun.

This is a great stop in Sylvan. Park your motorcycle right out front for free! Their food is reasonable, and very consistent. The kitchen is small, but clean. I know. I've worked in it several times. Try the Chipotle Grilled Chicken Sandwich. It's money though the roll is thin on the bottom. Turn the sandwich over for the best result. read more

Food was ok-not great, but not bad. Atmosphere & decor was nice. Prices were a little high for what you got and the quality of it. Why I won't go back is the following: we had a large party & planned to tip generously. . When I told the waitress to charge my cc and we would leave a cash tip she just said ok. Not that the 18% tip was included which seemed a bit deceitful. read more

Great service, good bar, good food, and probably the best wings in the beach area. I've been going here a couple times every year for the past 14yrs and I think this place has actually become better than it was years ago. read more

We are n town on vacation and thought we would give this place a try. We waited for 30 minutes for drinks then over an hour for food. We ordered only appetizers! Table of five and five appetizers later 100$ later!! We were extremely unhappy !! read more

Went here today, completely understaffed. On top of that the bartender passed me by twice while I was at the bar. Seems like they only cater to regulars, so if you've never been here, don't bother coming. Plenty of other bars in town that know how to operate a business. Left without getting anything after 25 min, along with the 5 other people I was with. read more

Good view of canal. Food is okay. Wait staff is kind of off putting. Good for once in a while meal.

This place is absolutely horrible. I will never return or rev commend to anyone. Subpar food. Abysmal service. Worst 275 dollars ever spent. I honestly believe the waitress must have had a mild intellectual delay or perhaps was high? Majority of our order was not correct. We were charged twice for items. She refused to alter bill or take off her own tip of which she granted herself 18% which she did NOT deserve. No one from management was available. Heed my warning and choose another place to eat. You have been warned! read more

This place is really good! Very basic but good! The wings are outstanding! And have a nice crispy crunch to them! They have great seafood I never had a bad meal there it is very good! read more

Crazy Clam is one of those local bar/restaurants where the food is both good and inexpensive. We began with steamed clams at the bar washed down with draft beer served in iced mugs. Both were delicious. We then went to a table where the waiter told us the specials of the day. We each chose a special. My friend had the haddock florentine and crazy fries while I had the fried haddock and garlic mashed potatoes. The haddock was fresh tasting with a nice light breading. My friend said his haddock florentine was equally good. With a view of the canal and all the boats, this is the place to go in Sylvan Beach. There was a band scheduled for later, but sadly we didnt stay. read more

In ny visiting and couldnt wait to come here. What a disappointment. It was awful. Ordered New England Chowder and my spoon stood up straight.. Side salad was par. Clams were ok but in the $11. dozen only 10 were open. Won't be returning. read more

Great time, great atmosphere and great food. I highly recommend the Crazy Clam!! As appetizers go, try the crazy platter (it's a great deal) or the hog wild wings. For entrees there are some really amazing seafood options, including a huge surf and turf combo and the best chicken riggies outside of Utica. The night bar scene here is also great, with regular music acts on the weekends. Check it out! read more

This restaurant, although very close and in the center of Sylvan Beach is horrible. Service is atrocious, lighting is horrible, and staff could care less. While listening to another server apologize for the wrong order and bad service it left us skeptical. To our gut instincts, the next server did the same to our group. Appeared unapologetic, lacked courtesy or professionalism and yet a bill of $300 was expected to be paid in full. After reviewing the bill, discovered the orders were double charged and the server again appeared not to care, as if we were expected to pay it. Backing up, let's start with getting the orders wrong, bringing out incomplete meals and leaving a guest in our group to wait over 20minutes, watching everyone else eat. When asked for Management was advised no one was available. No one appeared concerned and it seemed a common practice to screw up orders, expect customers to pay, and just move along with the 18% gratuity, which was completely unwarranted and undeserving. When further questioned, advised that per Management nothing could be adjusted...but yet just prior advised no one from Management was available. It is appalling to have a restaurant operate like this and servers have no concern. I would never go back to this restaurant based alone on lack of service and respect for customers. Just a shame since it is right in the canal area and a great location. They better get on it, otherwise it may go under with this poor management and operation. read more