River Dock Cafe

Delicious seafood and great outdoor seating that overlooks lower Manhattan! The spicy prawns are very , very good and the clams are worthy going to Staten Island alone. Dipping the bread into the sauce is pure job:-)

Horrible customer service, I never send back food but the fish had a hair in it and my steak was way over done, at first they only said they could give me sauce with my steak, after much disagreement they finally offered to remake the steak. As I no longer had an appetite we asked to pay for our drinks and leave and then had to argue with the manager as he wanted us to stay.

Yes, ladies and gentleman, you read that right… Staten Island. Now let’s get the giant elephant in this blog post out of the way. Yes, River Dock Cafe is in Staten Island. And yes, some of you may balk at even the thought of going out to Staten Island. But, for those lucky enough to realize a free scenic boat ride providing breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan doesn’t sound that bad, you’re in for treat.

River Dock Cafe is located just steps off the ferry. The restaurant has both an indoor dining area as well as (recommended) an outdoor patio with awesome views of the Manhattan skyline. This patio screams refreshing happy hour cocktails on a Friday. Any takers?

The views aren’t the only thing that make River Dock Cafe. Sitting literally on the water would lead you to believe seafood is a large part of the menu here. You’d be spot on. During my visit we were treated to a never-ending onslaught of food. A sampling of what we had is outlined below.

Appetizers: Fresh mozzarella, crab cakes, appetizer assortment of coconut shrimp, mozzarella sticks, calamari and Buffalo wings, shrimp satay, black and white ahi tuna salad
Main Courses: Cajun steamed pot, fresh Maine lobster, Thai mussels pot, shrimp fra DiaVolo, grilled mix combo, Alaskan pan fried salmon
Dessert: Red velvet, chocolate molten cake, New York cheesecake

I wasn’t kidding about all that food! Every dish was plated beautifully and tasted just as good as it looked. The versatility of River Dock Cafe was on full display here. Not only can they do seafood right, but they can do all types of seafood. Whether you’re ordering a steamed lobster or an ahi tuna salad you can’t pick wrong. Don’t feel restrained to seafood either. We devoured some delicious tasting baby back ribs smothered in barbecue sauce and free range chicken breast.

What really made me love River Dock Cafe wasn’t the view or the food but the owner’s connection to the local community. While sitting with us during dinner, multiple people came up to him to say hi, he told us stories about his ‘regulars’ and the homeless people his kitchen feeds with leftovers. I can’t say enough about the impression that left on me. This is a restaurant that clearly wants to become part of the local Staten Island community.

River Dock Cafe is bound to only become more popular as word continues to spread. Additionally, the area around the Staten Island Ferry Terminal is slated for a major revitalization, with an enormous Ferris wheel and outdoor outlet mall set to be constructed in the coming years. In other words, get to River Dock Cafe quickly before the crowds do and enjoy a picturesque trip on the Staten Island Ferry. I promise you it will be one of the nicest trips you’ll ever take to a New York City restaurant.

I would highly recommend this restaurant to anyone! I had the Maine lobster and clams, both of which made a very good meal. You also get a great view of the Manhattan skyline alongside the Statue of Liberty. The servers are friendly and accommodating, making your dining experience that more pleasant. If your thinking of taking the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island, don't forget to check this place out, as it is about 30 seconds away from the doc. I was very happy with choosing to come here for an afternoon meal!

Everything we had off of the menu here was so outstanding! If I had to choose one item as my favorite, I'll go with the lobster ravioli. Simply mouth-watering!
The vegetable spring rolls were fresh and fantastic. Whatever sauce they use for them is awesome.