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    Vistamar

    3.2 (309 reviews)
    Open • 12:00 pm - 12:00 am (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

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    VISTAMAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    Casual
    Very loud

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    Recommended Reviews - Vistamar

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    Christine R.

    It's very rare to find a Restaurant in City Island that offer Happy Hours so we ventured out to Vistamar to try their Happy Hour Drinks. To my surprise, no one was sitting at the bar when we arrived so we had a choice of seats. This restaurant has a very elegant decor and I was looking forward to trying their drinks. The mixologist handed us an iPad which had all of the menus, drinks along with pictures - which was very helpful. The drinks we ordered looked exactly like the picture and were very good. We ordered a round of Sangria, Margaritas and a Lychee Martini. We were very pleased with our choices and our very pleasant mixologist who did an excellent job. Vistamar is definitely worth visiting for the drinks and we will be back to try the food.

    Chips and Guac
    Jeffrey G.

    I came here for my moms Birthday. It's a Hispanic fine dining restaurant in city island. We came here early afternoon on a Sunday for the brunch menu and it was an interesting experience. The interior is really nice. It's fancy and you get a view of the water. We started with sides. Everybody was able to pick a side from the brunch menu. We got chips & Guac, calamari, and I got the soup of the day. I feel like they could've done better on the calamari portions but it was definitely good quality. All the other sides were solid. My soup was good. The broth just needed more of kick to it. The octopus dish was my favorite of all. My sister got the oysters. I don't eat them so I can't speak on those. She seemed to enjoy the oysters. For the mains, I got the chicken and waffles which doesn't come with a side. Every brunch dish comes with a side besides the chicken and waffles. One of my sisters got the branzino with rice & beans and my mom got the steak and eggs with mashed potatoes. The chicken and waffles was okay. Presentation was on point. I love how they added all the fruits. The chicken had flavor but was lowkey hard/not tender as I wanted. I tried the branzino. I like how soft and flaky the fish was. The rice & beans was bland. The steak and eggs was really good. I like the portions of the steak, eggs, and mashed potatoes. Everything pairs well. If I had brunch here again I would get that dish instead. For dessert I got the flan. I love the cotton candy hit. The flan wasn't as sweet as I expected but I ate it with the cotton candy and it worked. As someone who loves Flan, it was definitely an interesting mix lol. For service, I wasn't a big fan of it. I felt like everything felt delayed. I don't know if it's because there's unlimited mimosas a part of the brunch package or something. There was only one person at the table actively drinking. We got there before the rush of people but overall anything we needed took more time than expected. One of my favorite parts was the entertainment. They had singers and dancers at first. Then Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Then there was a clown lady. I enjoyed the entertainment it was funny and family friendly. Overall, the experience was not bad.

    Grilled chicken
    Victor P.

    Great Saturday night vibe. Dinner & show, live DJ. Good service, great food. Drinks were good as well. Great atmosphere

    Oysters
    James W.

    Tons of fun, average food: Great fun atmosphere and perfect for a lively and entertaining restaurant experience. The food seemed to play second fiddle to the spectacle but was good enough. Periodic performances from the staff added to the fun aspect and was executed with great entertainment value precision. The service was good but overall, it took a while for our orders and drinks due to the kitchen and bar being backed up. We went on a Saturday so birthday celebrations were abundant adding to the festive vibe. The DJ played great music all night but the volume was loud, so it was hard to hear while conversing. Outdoors, people enjoyed hookah and/or the perfect weather. All in all, great place for a fun time and good/decent food, but not necessarily the place for a more intimate setting or exceptional eating experience.

    Tamo' Ready cocktail ($18 2024)
    Greg J.

    Found out about this place last year and really enjoyed it, but after coming back a bunch of times since then (current Duke of Vistamar), I've realized they really play fast and loose with their rules. One of my hard NOs for some places is when they are misleading with their pricing/billing. Sometimes they honor the happy hour thru to 7, sometimes they don't and it's extremely frustrating because nobody lives out here; it can require additional effort or an uber to make it in time. So when they decide to go to 7 or stop at 6:45 (when you get there at 6:47), it's like a slap in the face. Idc, update the website daily to your actual honored hours based on however the manager feels when they woke up that morning.

    Shantell S.

    Birthday Dinner at Vista Mar -- A Whole Vibe! So apparently I was the guest of honor and didn't even know it -- my birthday dinner at Vista Mar was a total surprise! From the outside décor to the inside ambiance, this spot was giving vacation dinner in another country energy. When we arrived, a live performance had just wrapped up, but don't worry -- we got treated to three more shows throughout dinner! I was living for the energy -- it gave the night that "we're not in Brooklyn anymore" vibe. Appetizers: I had the crab cake -- good, but not the best. He had the lobster mac & cheese and shrimp cocktail, and let me tell you, that mac & cheese was definitely the star of the starters. Entrées: I went with the lobster linguine (10/10 recommend), and he had steak with mashed potatoes and broccoli. When I say that steak was so tender it cut like butter, I mean it. Whoever cooked it deserves a raise. Drinks: I sipped on a spicy margarita and a sidecar -- both strong enough to make me dance but classy enough to keep it cute. Dessert: The lemon drop cheesecake was heaven! It came with ice cream, macaroons, and the cutest birthday sign. The presentation alone made me feel like a celebrity. There were Libra birthdays everywhere that night -- it felt like a whole zodiac convention. The vibe, the food, the performances... everything was top-tier. Overall, my night was amazing -- I'd definitely go again. Vista Mar, you understood the assignment!

    Delicious crabcakes
    Lynda G.

    We received excellent service from our server Miguelo. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was inviting. I recommend Vistamar and will return.

    Lobster Mariscada for two
    Jacklyn P.

    I've been a loyal customer of Crab Shanty's for 35 years, so I had high hopes when I decided to try something new and visit Vistamar on City Island for a fun and classy evening by the water. Based on Google reviews, it seemed like a great pick, but the experience turned out to be quite surprising. First off, Vistamar has a Latin nightclub vibe with bachata, merengue, salsa, and heavy reggaeton music blaring so loudly you can feel it in your bones. Unfortunately, my Spanish isn't the best, and most of the staff spoke only Spanish. Even after I explained the language barrier, they couldn't hear us over the music anyway, so communication was a real challenge. Adding to the chaos, the DJ constantly interrupted the music to sing along--badly. We ordered a couple of appetizers and an entrée to share. The ceviche was mediocre at best--a 6/10. The crab cakes were the highlight of the meal and earned a solid 7.5/10. For the entrée, we got the whole lobster with shrimp, mussels, clams, octopus, corn, and potatoes in lobster sauce. Sadly, the lobster was undercooked, making it almost impossible to remove the meat from the shell. My date had to request rubber gloves to deal with it, and when we asked the waitress if the chef could crack the lobster for us, she said yes--but nothing came of it. Again, I don't think she could hear us over the music. There was one bright spot: an energetic busboy who, despite the language barrier, checked on us every two minutes and danced for every table. While we couldn't stop laughing at the sheer entertainment of it all, it didn't make up for the challenges. Overall, the experience was a 6/10. We made the best of it and had some laughs, but between the deafening music, language barriers, and underwhelming food, I can't say I'd return. If you're looking for a lively Latin dance party with okay food, this is your spot--but it's not for everyone.

    Art
    Kisha V.

    Visit this lovely restaurant to celebrate my friends birthday. I would say the overall ambiance at this restaurant is a 10/10. Food is hands down outstanding & amazing. Drinks where excellent 10/10. Dj/entertainment 20/10. Delicious fresh and out. Service was okay 6/10. We waited over 40 minutes to be seated evenin tho we had an reservation. We also had arrived 20 mins before and waited a very extensive amount of time to be seated. Service was great staff was very attentive and professional!! Highly recommend visiting and trying this restaurant/lounge. Jocelyn was our server excellent 10/10.

    Inside the restaurant

    We were there for a birthday party with family and friends was seated promptly when all of our guests arrived. Everyone was very thoughtful. Food was good. Drinks were wonderful live music and live entertainment. We had a wonderful time and I will be back.

    Evita N.

    Visited Vistamar for my sister's birthday during their Wednesday cigar and live music night. We were seated right away outside, and although the live music was quite loud, the view was amazing. We got there right around sunset and it couldn't have been prettier. They are doing some updating inside their restaurant, but overall, the ambience indoor is beautiful- I loved the bar and various photo op spots. I would opt to sit inside for the next visit. Jonathan was our server and he seemed new to the gig. Nonetheless, he was attentive when we called him over and adhered to our requests. For drinks we ordered bottle service which came out right away. For dinner we got the seafood tower which was HUGE. The only complaint I had was the whole lobster served with it. It was so messy to break this lobster down and most of it ended up going to waste :( We ordered a few other appetizer samplers and they were not bad but for the price our expectations were higher. Overall, for the steep price of dinner, I expected better tasting options and better communication from the servers. For 6 adults, with bottle service and mainly appetizers, our total bill was $630. I would give Vistamar another shot for drinks only and taking in the scenic water view.

    Guacamole and chips

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

    Good food but it took forever to come out. The staff was nice and the vibe was very lit!

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    4 years ago

    Hola el servicio fue formidable. Magnífica atención por el personal. Ms Berfill. Muy buena atención.

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    City Island Lobster House - Raw clams

    City Island Lobster House

    3.7(905 reviews)
    0.2 mi•City Island
    •$$$

    I think I officially found my new seafood spot!…read more My boyfriend took me to City Island Lobster House, and the food and service were easily a 5/5. Our waiter, Antonio, was an absolute delight and took great care of us! Fair warning: this place gets PACKED, so be prepared for a wait. One thing I really appreciated, though, was that as soon as our food was ready, they brought it out. Everything arrived HOT and fresh. They start you off with antipasto and garlic bread, and both were SO good. But consider yourself warned pace yourself. We made the rookie mistake of going in a little too hard and were already getting full before our entrées arrived. I mean... you can't go to the Lobster House and not get lobster. I ordered the $49.95 Lobster Clam Bake Special, which came with Maine lobster, mussels, baked clams, corn, clam chowder and dessert. Everything tasted fresh, the portions were generous, and for everything included, I thought it was a great value. My boyfriend ordered the grilled Norwegian salmon, and honestly, his was REALLY good too. Now, if you love garlic like I do, GET THE NOODLES. The linguine in that garlicky olive oil sauce was one of my favorite things on the table. My only miss was the clam chowder. Mine had a lot of potatoes and barely any clams, so I would've liked a much better clam-to-potato ratio. The ice cream cake roll that came with my special, was rich and decadent. Definitely a good way to end the meal. Overall, fresh seafood, generous portions, hot food, great value and wonderful service from Antonio. We will absolutely be back!

    We ordered the lobster roll, twin lobster, fried calamari and the seafood broiled platter. We also…read moreordered the sangria and another cocktail. We received complimentary garlic bread and another bread... I think it was corn bread. The food was good but considering the portion size, it was absolutely worth the money. I am looking forward to trying this place again.

    Photos
    City Island Lobster House - Nautical Stop

    Nautical Stop

    City Island Lobster House - Lobster clam baked special

    Lobster clam baked special

    City Island Lobster House - View behind restaurant

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    View behind restaurant

    Johnny's Reef Restaurant - Virgin Piña Colada

    Johnny's Reef Restaurant

    3.9(770 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    •$$

    Food was so good I couldn't even get a picture of the before. Everything here was off the charts…read morefrom the drinks to the food to the sauces to the workers. My favorite place to get food in city island. You cannot go wrong with anything on the menu! 10/10 service, chefs and management. Everyone is so helpful and friendly. Best place on city island by far!!

    Ordered: Henny Colada (~$16): piña colada with Hennessy…read moreFried Shrimp (~$18): with French fries & coleslaw Fried Red Snapper (~$25): with French fries & coleslaw Aya's take: Where have I been all these years!? I'm a born & raised New Yorker but this is my first time at City Island and I knew I had to do it right by coming to Johnny's Reef. They have a pretty solid system where you order at various stations. It seems confusing at first but is actually super efficient. We got the Fried Shrimp & Fried Red Snapper. Both were so fresh, crispy, and tasted clean. It hit the spot!! Their French fries are also super addicting and fried well while the coleslaw adds a nice freshness to the meal. They have a sauce station where we got cocktail sauce, tartar sauce, and ketchup. These are a must with their fried fish! The Fried Red Snapper was fried nicely as well. It was done to the point where it was crispy on the outside but not dry on the inside. The fish with a little spritz of lemon was spectacular. We also got the Henny Colada to try and honestly, they are heavy-handed with the Henny! I personally would just get the piña colada next time since it was super refreshing and not too sweet but if you're looking for a slight buzz, the Henny Colada will do you right. All in all, I was unbelievably satisfied after this meal and so glad this gem exists! Tons of seating both inside and outside, and don't forget to bring cash!

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    Johnny's Reef Restaurant - Updated menu boards

    Updated menu boards

    Johnny's Reef Restaurant - Fried Smelt

    Fried Smelt

    Johnny's Reef Restaurant - Piña colada

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    Piña colada

    Archie's Tap & Table - Shrimp and avocado omelette

    Archie's Tap & Table

    4.6(142 reviews)
    0.1 mi•City Island
    •$$

    Food is amazing! Service was great and attentive…read moreAmbiance was very relaxing since I think we came after the morning rush. Early is better to find street parking. Cozy place so get a reservation. I look forward to going back.

    Archie's Tap & Table is operating on an entirely different level from the typical City Island…read morerestaurant scene. This is not your standard seafood shack or casual neighborhood spot. The chef comes from the world of high-end NYC dining, and you can feel that experience in every detail of the food. There's a level of creativity, precision, and thoughtfulness here that honestly feels Michelin-worthy. This makes sense, because the restaurant has earned that recognition. Beyond the food, Archie's also has one of the best Scotch and whiskey (bourbon and rye included) selections anywhere in the area. It feels curated by people who genuinely care about food and drink, not just running another restaurant. We eat there often, especially for brunch, which is spectacular and consistently better than it has any right to be for a neighborhood spot on City Island. The best example of the attention to detail was the chopped cheese sandwich special. When it arrived, my first thought was: "How is anyone supposed to eat this giant thing?" But then you take a bite and realize the bread was custom made specifically for the sandwich. Somehow it completely melts in your mouth along with the meat and cheese, making this enormous sandwich unexpectedly delicate and perfectly balanced. It's the kind of detail most restaurants would never even think about. Archie's is a true hidden gem and proof that truly exceptional food can exist in places you wouldn't expect.

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    Archie's Tap & Table
    Archie's Tap & Table - Steak n eggs

    Steak n eggs

    Archie's Tap & Table

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    The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant - Broiled scrod

    The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant

    3.6(960 reviews)
    0.4 mi•City Island
    •$$$

    Had lunch here the other day…read more My clams on the half shell were fresh and briny. Good stuff. I had the Broiled Fisherman's Platter Lunch Special: Filet of Fish, Scallops, Baked Mussels, Baked Clams & Shrimp. It comes with Soup or Salad, Choice of baked Potato, French Fries, Linguine or Rice and their famous Garlic Bread. Coffee or Tea and a Dessert of the Day. All for $30.99. I had the Manhattan Clam Chowder, Linguine and a baked potato as my choices. Banana cake for dessert. Everything was good and fresh and tasty and I left stuffed. Will definitely return.

    I'm giving The Original Crab Shanty a solid 4 out of 5 stars…read more We came in with a MASSIVE group, and they handled us like Diana had been given command of the Enterprise. The restaurant has plenty of room for large parties, and I appreciated how accommodating everyone was. Our server, Diana, deserves her flowers. She was friendly, patient, detailed, and stayed on top of everything. Managing a group our size without needing the Avengers as backup deserves some recognition. Now, the food. Visually, everything came out looking good and cooked properly. The biggest issue across our table was simple: SALT. Somebody apparently sent the seasoning to a galaxy far, far away. I ordered the crab cakes. They were made with real crab and prepared the way crab cakes should be, but mine had almost no flavor. I ended up adding blue cheese to give them some life. I also had the rice with broiled scallops. The scallops were a little chewy, but the sauce had enough seasoning and salt that mixing some into the rice helped tremendously. I wasn't the only one reaching for the salt shaker either. Several people in our group added salt to their meals. The prices also felt high, especially since many of us ordered from the lunch menu. None of this makes me write the place off. The service was strong, they treated our large group well, the seafood was fresh, and there are several things on the menu I still want to try. So yes, I'll return. My final message to the kitchen, with all the seriousness of Captain Picard addressing the bridge: Season the food. The Force is already with the seafood. Now bring the salt.

    Photos
    The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant
    The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant - Broiled crab stuffed lobster, broiled snow crab legs/shrimp

    Broiled crab stuffed lobster, broiled snow crab legs/shrimp

    The Original Crab Shanty Restaurant

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    Jp's City Island - Salad

    Jp's City Island

    3.3(283 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    •$$$

    So disappointed in my meal today. I am an out of towner and have been here once before to celebrate…read moremy aunt's surprise birthday before she passed away in 2022. Unfortuneately I did not enjoy my experience. Prices were was overpriced for the quality of food. My fried shrimp had no seasoning and it was not even browned. Looked like someone just used a cheap cornmeal batter with no flavor. Baked potato was plain and dry. Salad was an iceberg style (no green leaf lettuce or spinach). No refills on drinks, not the best service, and just felt like we could have gotten more for our money elsewhere. Highly disappointed . Should have went elsewhere.

    There's something about a restaurant with a quiet kitchen, absent aromas and diners on a Saturday…read morenight in a popular area that made me leery. What made me leave aside from poor service? The absolutely INSANE prices!!!! My guy and I were handed menus that were written over in pen with the most ridiculous prices ever!!!!! no words needed. We looked at each other and got up and left. If they are going out of business, they need to just throw the towel in, because overcharging people, not having professional waitstaff on hand, and the mystery of the quiet kitchen (which happened to be in the middle of the place and semi-open) was effing weird. We drove a few blocks down to another establishment and looked at the prices and knew that we were not losing our minds at JP's.

    Photos
    Jp's City Island - Old interior

    Old interior

    Jp's City Island - This is very unhealthy with the amount of oil on it

    This is very unhealthy with the amount of oil on it

    Jp's City Island

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    The Black Whale

    The Black Whale

    3.9(230 reviews)
    0.5 mi•City Island
    •$$

    This has become one of my favorite spots. It is a trek up to City Island, but more than worth it!…read more I love their pan seared tuna especially with the seasonal veggies. It is always fresh and juicy. Combined with a glass of cold prosecco This last time I got the meatloaf, which was delicious. More of a Hungarian dish, which you can't get everywhere. The ambience inside and out is hip and for me nostalgic. My friend who's from Europe, couldn't get over how friendly Bronxites are! The owner and the other guests, were charming As I said there's more to New York City than Manhattan!!

    I stepped foot on the Black Whale for the first time to experience dining in the heart of City…read moreIsland- when I pass by, I have always being intrigued by it's charming and quaint look which makes the place have a pleasant and unique feel. Once you step in it you don't feel like you are in The Bronx. I chose to sit outdoors since it was a nice breezy afternoon and I felt enchanted by all the garden furniture surrounded by plants under trees. I ordered the pan seared sesame tuna salad and a passion fruit margarita and they were both very good. I also ordered a tiramisu for dessert which was also delicious. De-the server was very friendly, attentive and helpful at the time of ordering- I communicated that it was my first time at the restaurant and she made a few suggestions to assist with my choices. It is definitely a place worth trying.

    Photos
    The Black Whale - Interior

    Interior

    The Black Whale - Meatloaf

    Meatloaf

    The Black Whale - Passion fruit Margarita

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    Passion fruit Margarita

    Sea Shore Restaurant & Marina - Baby Lobster Tails , Shrimp & Sea Scallops in a scampi like butter sauce  Fries in the back

    Sea Shore Restaurant & Marina

    3.1(546 reviews)
    0.1 mi•City Island
    •$$$

    I came with some friends last week, it was our first time exploring the area, and we left this…read moreplace impressed. We came without a reservation; they made us cross the whole (huge) restaurant, probably three rooms, and then we were given a great, beautiful table that faced the water. We ordered a few plates to share, together with a few drinks. We had a BLAST!! Lobster tails, crab legs, pasta, mussels, shrimps. And the drinks were delicious! Our server was super attentive and available to help us out with anything. Pretty fast service too, given what we had ordered. And it might be the fact that we shared everything for the table, but it came out somewhat of a convenient price per person, too.

    Warranted update. Summer 2026…read more In this day and age, it's difficult to know what type of service you're going to receive while dining out, it's such a gamble. On our group's recent birthday lunch, service and food were seriously lacking. -------------------------------------- A snippet of my conversation with the server. Me: "I will have the Lobster Bisque, please" Server: "Manhattan Clam Chowder?" Me: "No, Lobster Bisque" Server: "The white one? New England Clam Chowder?' Me: Oy vey! "No, Lobster Bisque" Server: "Okay, Lobster Bisque" Now that I think of it, maybe he was trying to warn me? As my "Lobster" Bisque was full on Tomato Soup. WTAF! Sea Shore doesn't serve Tomato Soup, so why is it in my bowl? I had two spoonfuls and asked for it to go. Mind you, I enjoy a good bowl of tomato soup, but I was looking forward to Lobster Bisque. After some thought, I threw the soup away. It wasn't worth my efforts to redeem. As for the rest of our orders, the consensus was the same, food lacking seasoning. Just a heavy dousing of flavorless Paprika for show. Your ordered meal should be prepared properly, especially at these exorbitant prices. The bill for 5.5 of us was just shy of $700.00, and 1.5 of us didn't have an alcoholic beverage. I'm fully aware of CI's prices, but generally we'll receive a more than decent meal to match. Poor service, mixed up orders, filet of sole sitting in a pool of water. I'm done! If the choice is Sea Shore for next year's first week of July birthday celebration, l will not be attending. And, I'll make my own Lobster Bisque. Thank you.

    Photos
    Sea Shore Restaurant & Marina
    Sea Shore Restaurant & Marina - Lobster bisque

    Lobster bisque

    Sea Shore Restaurant & Marina - Sunset from Sea Shore Restaurant parking lot

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    Sunset from Sea Shore Restaurant parking lot

    Sammys Fish Box - Garlic bread

    Sammys Fish Box

    3.1(1.1k reviews)
    1.1 mi•City Island
    •$$$

    It has literally been over a decade since I've visited City Island. I definitely remember it…read moredifferently. That said, I do remember Sammy's Fish Box as a good spot to visit. I came with my wife and while there wasn't much going on in the town, Sammy's was the vibe we were looking for. The restaurant is huge and kitschy. You feel like it's a diner on steroids. Just look at the massive menu with items written in fine print. We saw everyone walking away with leftover bags like they just went grocery shopping so we decided to order less. We went with the Sammy's Broiled Combination and the Piri Piri shrimp appetizer sized. But before we even ordered, they dropped 3 types of bread with pickled vegetables. We are basically full better the food even arrived. Our waiter was swamped. They were definitely understaffed for a Friday afternoon unfortunately. That said, the food was good overall. We won't necessarily be back to City Island anytime soon but if you're here, Sammy's isn't a bad choice.

    Very disappointed in my experience here. Definitely will not be back. Received crab legs that were…read moreold, stale and DRY. It was not fresh from the first bite. Charging $99 for 3 clusters is highway mf robbery! Came here towards the end of the night so maybe that's why. It's just not worth it, not even to come back during the day. The service relied on one old man, many times would disappear. Then when we would catch him he would somehow put water on our table and leave immediately. And we're all like wait why didn't he service us further as we didn't get to ask him for anything else we needed. City island used to be a gem. And used to be where you could come and get some good seafood but it's all sad, bland and old now. It was unacceptable to receive crabs that were not fresh.

    Photos
    Sammys Fish Box - Dining room

    Dining room

    Sammys Fish Box - FRIED SEACOMBO

    FRIED SEACOMBO

    Sammys Fish Box

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    Vistamar - seafood - Updated October 2026

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