Sammy's Shrimp Box

I'm not usually one to write reviews, but after being a loyal City Island customer for decades, this is a must post! Sammys Fish Box has always been me and my husbands favorite restaurant on City Island. After retiring to Florida for 3 years and recently returning to NY, I have found heaven. SAMMYS SHRIMP BOX. As a welcome home dinner, my 3 wonderful children took my husband and I out to Sammys Fish Box. What a disaster! I do realize that it was August, a very busy time on City Island, but the wait was ridiculous, the hostesses were downright rude, the waitstaff were ignornant and not well spoken. I agree with everyone elses reviews that it is also very tight in there. The tables seemed incredibly close together. The oysters were not properly cleaned as well. And after complaining, the manager (a male in his late 30's or early 40's) was incredibly not understanding and a tad bit nasty. With complete dissapointment we decided to never return to Sammys again, that is until I was invited to a shower at the Shrimp Box a few weeks later. I was hesitant at first but, What A PLEASANT suprise! The food was out of this world, the waitstaff was fantastic! The atmosphere was beautiful, not crowded and immaculate! Our waiter David was impeccable! And the managerial staff was beyond delightful. The manager Jon? came into the room and was terrific. He was an absolute doll. I took an order or crabcakes to go, as they were highly recommended, and they were DELICIOUS! TRULY THIS RESTAURANT WAS A GODSEND FOR CITY ISLAND! I hope they stick around for a long time, because I will stay retired right here in NY for the Shrimp Box. more

My wife and I love to travel the world and try new restaurants, just think how surprised were we to find that just 3 miles from home exists perhaps the most incredible Seafood restaurant we have ever experienced? Seriously, this must be the best restaurant in all NYC ? We tried numerous dishes and loved every one of them. We look forward to our next visit. Pros: Great Food Cons: Lighting more

Sammy?s wife Lauren personally chatted as she walked us to the door as we left. I couldn?t help wishing that if only the town I lived in had a neighborhood restaurant this good, Congratulations to Sammy and his lovely wife, they have created a superb restaurant with great food and drinks, good service and fair prices. Definitely worth my long drive from Southern New Jersey. Pros: Ambience, food, staff Cons: a bit noisy more

Over the many years I have been going to Sammy's on City Island I have seen many restaurants come and go, but Sammy's is the one constant Star.. Always good, always fresh and just plain the best seafood I have ever eaten outside my moms North Carolina kitchen. Pros: The Food Cons: None for me more

if you like Lobster, Crab and Shrimp this is the place for you, Nobody does it better..Giant portions lots of extras free with dinner. Two kinds of bread, Cheese and olives, relish tray , Salad served in a wooden bowl, the list goes on and on.. Even without all the freebees this place rocks. Pros: Seafood Feast for two more

In the days of plastic food like Red lobster and the like, it is refreshing to think one can find great seafood like I use to get in Boston where I grew up. Ten years ago when I moved to NY I found Sammy's and have been going ever since. Pros: The food and the management Cons: Sometimes the wait is a little long more

every saturday night my family about 20 of us meet at Sammy's on City Island for a greaT NIGHT OF FUN AND FOOD. We come from parts of the city and suburbs, why you might ask, because they always treat u like royality. Last week we sat in front of their real fireplace, it was a magic night. The giant portions of seafood kept coming until we couldn't eat anymore, everyone took home large doggie bags of left overs. More important than the giant portions the food as always was exceptional.. this is a must try restaurant for if you never been. Pros: great great seafood Cons: always busy more

I love maine lobster, Yesterday I had a 3lb Lobster stuffed with crab meat at sammy's it was the best I ever had..The lobster was cooked to perfection. This was my first time at Sammys. I ceratinly will return whenever I crave lobster. Pros: five star food Cons: Service was not as good as the food more

I don't like to wait, but when it comes to dining at Sammy's on City Island the wait is well worth it. I love the atmosphere especially the real fireplace that is always on and creates a home feeling. The days I know I am going to Sammy's I always skip lunch because not only is the food delicious but the portion are gigantic. My favorite is the Jumbo Fried shrimp or other times I order giant king crab legs. Pros: great food, warm and cozy, friendly people Cons: the 1/2 hour wait more

we just went for lunch at Sammy's and it was a terrible experience. The Oyster Rockefeller were not shucked properly and had lots of grit in it. There was way too much spinach and a whole lump of mozzarella on it... Pros: parking on site Cons: food was terrible more

I love coming here with my family. I'm addicted to clams and crabs just like the rest of my family and Sammy's is always our choice. I love that they broil the crabs and they are well cleaned. They have more than one obtion of clams which matters to me since I prefer ipswich clams instead of little necks and the price you pay for your meal is well worth it when you get this huge plate set infront of you and you don't know were to start. I would say that the only downfall to sammy's is that they aren't good at cooking anything but seafood. My boyfriend has tried the chicken, the beef, even the beef cooked carribean style and they have always managed to fail. If you want fish and other sea creatures then sammy's is very good. Pros: huge plate of seafood Cons: awful taste on turf selections more

we loved, the food....but the services is too slow....and the area is to crowded....the tables are to closed together....thats something that they need to fix......otherwise....the food are really good... Pros: food.... Cons: service... more

Just try this place my seafood was just out of the sea fresh jumbo and succulent and the steak in my surf & turf was as good as Lugers..Great food, great fun and happy people. I also loved my tropical Martini. Pros: food and staff Cons: always extremely busy more

Um... Yum! Get a whole lotta food and a whole lotta service at this place. Can't go wrong. Love it here! more

Um... Yum! Get a whole lotta food and a whole lotta service at this place. Can't go wrong. Love it here! more

the bad thing about sammy's is the poor service.....and the long wait.....the space is alttle tight....but the food is amazing...everything is carefully prepared.......i would love to visit samm'ys moe often...great... Pros: food Cons: service more

My friiends took me to Sammy's and i will return. The people know how to treat you. We had the most delicious food and the doggie bag I took home was our supper the next evening..I will be back and can't wait to take my boss who is always bragging about the Seafood restauarnts in Brooklyn, when he took me out last summer he took me to a famous brooklyn restuarant..but belive me it doesn't compare to eating at sammy's Pros: big portions of top food Cons: 30 minute wait more

I never visited City Island before last night. what a surprise, the place is right out of a Rockwell painting. Pros: cozy palce with 5 star food Cons: nothing tha I can think of! more

I took my mother and grandmother to Sammy's on City Island mother day. Of course the restauiarnt was extremely busy so we had to wait 40 minutes however I must say it was well worth the wait. Once seated we were promply served, The food came fast and was hot and mouth watering. I had stuffed filet of sole with crab meat it was great, in fact in our party of 12 ever single dish was outstanding. the waitress Helen gave us wonderful and careing service in spite of her being extremely busy. Thank You Pros: food and service Cons: loud music more

Sammy?s was recommended by a couple of different people over the past couple of months so I finally drove out to City Island to try it. It was fantastic, so good in fact I called my friends to thank them for the recommendation. To start we had mile high delicious Pina Coladas to start and then we had mussels and baked clams that were wonderful. We then split a 4lb female lobster that was to die for. I was also shocked with all the freebees, They gave us a free relish tray, a bread board with a whole round Italian bread, also Corn bread and the best cheese wedge I ever ate. With the meal we also got a large salad served in a wood bowl and then rice, veggies and giant baked potato as well.. All for free. I couldn't believe it, no wonder the place was packed....I will certainly go back again but perhaps next time I will go during the week when it?s less busy. Pros: Food and decor, plus friendly people Cons: very busy more