Cafe By the Sea, Much more than coffee and dessert!!
Written: Nov 01 '03 (Updated Oct 17 '09)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: Very relaxed casual atmosphere with some great menu items.
Cons: Deck closes down for the winter. There plans for a deck on-the-water come summer.
The Bottom Line: Cafe By the Sea has a wonderful mix of fun entertainment, comfortable atmosphere, good and varied menu, and great desserts.
|
|
|
| popsrocks's Full Review: Cafe by the Sea |
Update June 2006
Good news and bad news about Cafe By the Sea/
Cafe By the Sea has closed. Too bad. It was a place I enjoyed a few times a year.
The good news is that the origianl owners of Cafe By the Sea have taken over the building and are just about ready to open a new business there. I believe it will be called Riverside Grill or something like that. I will check that out and I will check out their menu too. I'm sure I'll have it added to the Epinions database in the near future.
End Update
About the time, a few years ago, when improvements were made on the canal and street that make up what is known as Freeport's Nautical Mile a new place came into being.
This very comfortable dining room with ivy and small white lights hanging from the ceiling became a regular summer time stop for some coffee, dessert, and live entertainment.
Cafe By the Sea became a favorite of ours. We could sit inside close to the "action" or if we preferred we could sit outside on the small deck area overlooking the "happenings" of the Nautical Mile. We have sat outside many times and had conversations with many people we know that happened to see us having coffee at one of the small tables.
The place also has an active bar that seats about fifteen people.
The first few years we brought many friends and family and spent some very fine and fun hours in each others company enjoying great desserts, coffees, and entertainment. I remember one night when my mom and her friend Frank enjoyed dancing to the live music. Yes, I got up and did a few rounds with my wife too. Dancing.
About a year or so ago new management took over the place. They didn't change the coffees and desserts, they left the decor as is. Much of the entertainment is exactly as it was.
What they did do was set up a kitchen with a chef that wanted to make a mark on Freeport's Nautical Mile. He deals mostly in American seafood with touches from south of the border and a little French cuisine. All in all they have an impressive menu.
MENU
The appetizers, soups, and salads are varied and nicely presented. They have a very nice Shrimp, Scallop, or Chicken Vinaigrette. Which ever you choose, they come out nice and hot over a bed of sauteed garlic, spinach, and roasted red peppers. Accompanied by Mandarin oranges, berries, toasted pignoli nuts and served with warm citrus vinaigrette. It looks great too!
RAW BAR
They also have a "Raw Bar" selection. That's the great thing about this place being on the canal. Fresh fish and seafood are always close at hand. They offer Littleneck and Cherrystone clams by the 1/2 or full dozen. $8.00 and $14.00. You can also have some fresh "peel and eat" shrimp at $9.00 a half pound. or $17.00 full.
CLAY POTS
I happen to like steamers, my kids like mussels. This place will set up what they call Clay Pots
You can have your shell fish in one of four different ways.
Taste of the Tropics Sauteed in garlic and natural juices, Chablis, tequila, and lime juice. Topped with cilantro, lemon and lime zest.
Fra Diavalo A rich spicy variation
I always like my sauce very spicy.
Provencial Sauteed in garlic, white wine, and tomato juices. Served in a light, fresh tomato broth
American/Irish Steamed in Guinness beer, an earthy port wine, natural juices, lemon butter and parsley. Anyway way you choose goes for $15.00
It's so hard to pick just one.
KIDS MENU
I have more to tell you about on the regular menu but I was just thinking of my kids liking steamers. Ha, I can never get them on the kids menu. They want the real deal! If you do have young ones they have some good deals.
Chicken Fingers $6
Spaghetti-Marinara or butter $5
French fries with cheese $5
Hot Dog $5
Grilled Cheese $5
Pizza $6
BACK to the ADULTS MENU
I didn't mention they have four or five pasta dishes too. I have never tried one, but they sure look good!
Remember you are on the canal. This place has plenty of fish on the menu. Swordfish, Salmon, and Tuna steak are some of the choices.
You might even try their Fresh Catch of the Day They will tell you what fish are available and your choice will be cooked up with Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops, Blackened, Grilled, or Broiled.
Lobster in varied sizes are on the menu at market prices. They offer a special called Lobster by the Sea Split and Broiled in butter, Chablis, lemon and fresh herbs. Topped with Fontina cheese cream sauce. Now doesn't that sound heavenly!
MEAT and More MEAT!!
Yes you land lubbers, they do have other choices besides salads,soups, pastas, and fish. They have their special Jack Daniel's Sirloin Steak. Other choices like Roast Chicken, ribs, Long Island Duck and Rib eye steak are also available.
Hey, you ever see that game where you pick numbers and try and win a few bucks while sitting at the bar. Well they have it and guess what they also have a special called QUICK PICK. You get your choice of any three. Sirloin, Rib Eye, Apple Honey Glazed Ribs, Tuna Steak, Sword Fish, Salmon or Grilled Chicken. $25.00
DESSERTS
As soon as you walk into Cafe by the Sea you start thinking of desserts. At the entrance is a beautiful open glass counter fridge. Your eye is drawn to all the wonderful treats inside.
I had asked for a menu to take home but they were a bit protective of their oil stained and dog eared mini dessert menus. I can tell you about a few things we have had over the years that I know they still offer.
Cannoli and many other fresh Italian pastries always get me, or should I say I get them. Many cheese cakes are in the fridge. Oh yes, I've had baklava too.
From their freezer they offer ice cream Sundays and ice cream and whipped cream specials on top of warm waffles. I had a Fudge brownie Sunday the other night. Could you believe they were out of vanilla ice cream! I had strawberry instead. It was perfect with the chocolate sauce over the top of it all.
COFFEE
They have plenty of choices and they also push them with different after dinner drinks. You name it and they have it. I always stick with my double espresso I still don't get why they offer just the "thimble size" servings of the stuff. The coffee is good though and, when you top it with a bit of Anisette, it's perfect.
My wife likes the Irish Coffee.
WHAT KIND of CROWD GOES to CAFE by the SEA?
This place has a mixed crowd in age. It can be a romantic place with the cloth red and white table cloths and lit candles on each table. Young couples do come by.
Families, especially in the afternoon, find this a good place to stop by after visiting the small, quaint, and very informative South Street Seaport Museum @ Freeport just across the street. Right now, next door to the cafe is the tall ship The Bounty. She has been there for the last few weeks and has been commissioned as a "Haunted Ship". Kids have been on line from 5PM every night. I was in the cafe the other night and families stopped by for something to eat and have desserts. Many young couples were there too.
While the crowd is mixed many of the kids of the 50's 60's and 70's come to this place. The entertainment that starts most nights at 8 or 9PM is perfect for them.
They have a guy that has been a success at the Cafe for years. He is around most Saturday nights. He is a great singer and he does some great humorous impersonations. Hey, you may see Elvis, Sonny and Cher, and a host of others when Barry is around. Always call if you are just coming for a show. Schedules do change. time to time. They also have live bands. Again, call if that's what you are looking for.
I have never had a bad night at Cafe by the Sea. The menu is diverse, the atmosphere is perfect, and coffee and desserts are excellent. Ha, if you catch Barry singing, that will only add to it all.
My wife had lunch at Cafe by the Sea yesterday with some students on a photo field trip. The cafe set them up nicely. Anyways she was talking with someone there and it was said they may put up an open deck right on the canal. I will let you know what I hear about it. That will be a huge draw. There is nothing like sitting outside on the canal enjoying a good dinner. I hope it happens!
Update May 12, 2004
My wife stopped by and had our first dinner of the season here. The cocktails were excellent. The gal behind the bar mixes a good drink. We shared a nice sized appetizer of Calamari . You can have regular or a hot red sauce. We went for the fra diavolo and it was also excellent!! It's also a good value.
My wife opted for their Jumbalaya. The fish was very fresh but the spices were too hot. We happen to like spice in our food, but this was a bit too much. I ordered the rack of lamb that is served in a peculiar presentation. It was a generous portion. They were apparently cooked over a very hot grill. Unfortunately they were on a bit too long and were VERY burned on the outside. Inside the meat was delicious.
The service was very good and we do happen to love sitting down on the water.
I did notice a T-Bone steak being served to a patron. It sure looked gooooood!
Freeport destinations
Freeport's Nautical Mile A great destination with dozens of fine restaurants.
The Crab Shack
Rachel's Waterside Grill An inspired chef. Try him!!
Otto's Sea Grill Fine dining or partying on the canal
Bracco's Clam and Oyster Bar
Jeremy's Ale House
Water Lilly's Waterside Cafe
Wildfish
Pier 95 A very fine Portuguese-Mediterranean Restaurant on the Hudson Canal just minutes from the Nautical Mile
Montana's pizzeria and restaurant Good Italian food near Nautical Mile
Ralph's Famous Italian IcesThey are on Freeport's Nautical Mile and elsewhere across the Island
Freeport's, South Street Seaport
Long Island Some love it, some don't
Recommended:
Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Call up and see what entertainment may be playing and at what time.
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.