Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    The Buffet

    3.4 (1.2k reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 3:30 pm, 5:30 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    The Buffet Photos

    Business Info

    THE BUFFET ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Buffet

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    John C.

    Great buffet. Lots of variety. It's kind of out of the way and located inside of a hotel. But you get ample parking, which is a rarity in NYC. And the restaurant will validate your parking, to take about half off the parking fee I believe. The amount of variety is simply amazing

    Travis T.

    Don't be fooled, this is not a typical Chinese buffet. If you're looking for typical American Chinese food like lo mein, crab rangoons, and kung pao chicken, you'll be disappointed. I came in on a weekday evening and it was crowded so food easily ran out but it took a while to replenish. The containers for soy sauce on the table were not clearly marked so I was confused at first, so they should put labels to make it clear. The selection of sushi and sashimi was not the best since the rolls on the buffet weren't any better than a typical American Chinese buffet, which was disappointing. I enjoyed the rest of the dishes though such as peking duck and braised pork belly. The dessert selection was decent. but it's not spectacular. Overall, it's overpriced for the food selection and quality, but it has decent views of the NYC skyline.

    Desserts
    Aaron Y.

    Amazing selection of food and top quality too From the cold section you have salads, sushi, sushi rolls, cold seafood like shrimp king crab, raw cuts etc On the warm side you have beef, pork, chicken, lamb chops, fish, frogs, shrimp, scallops, squid, the whole works. Mussels, clams, abalone, American classics, soups. There's even a prepared cutting section for peking duck, roast beef, etc. Dessert section had sweet soups, mochi, ice cream (vanilla and matcha), fried doughs, cakes, jellos, cotton candy, crepes, chocolate fountain etc Service was on top of their game, checking in pretty frequently on tables to pick up plates or take drink orders. There's a select menu for drinks and those are free. Inside is very clean and spacious. The restaurant is located inside the hotel on the 4th floor. Very nice Great treat once in a while, very good experience

    gashapon in waiting lobby
    Stephanie T.

    My friends and I went to The Buffet for lunch on a Sunday. The Buffet is located on the 4th floor of Hotel de Point. I wasn't aware and parked on the street, but parking in the lot is validated with being a patron at The Buffet. I arrived at 11:10am and there were already a lot of people waiting in the lobby. The lobby is spacious with many benches to sit and there are gashapon machines as well. When our whole party of 7 people arrived, we were seated at 11:45am. The staff informed us that the dining time is limited to 1.5 hours. Buffets are great for friends hanging out since everyone can choose whatever they like to eat. There were many and a variety of options: hot lunch food, chilled seafood, dim sum, sushi, sashimi, hibachi, carved specialities (Peking Duck w Bun), soups, fruits, and desserts. When I went to get my first plate, there wasn't too much of a line but then after it did get more crowded. I really enjoyed the mapo tofu, pork su mai, bean curd skin meat roll, beef chow fun, beef tripe, and coconut pudding. I saw people take cotton candy out of the restaurant. The staff were very attentive and you will never find an empty plate longer than a minute. They always took away plates from the table quickly. On Saturday and Sunday, lunch is $35.99 + tax for adults. On the check, it saids "Tipping is not included nor required but appreciated." We tipped extra for their great hospitality. The Buffet is spacious and there are plenty of tables. The food is typical buffet quality, but I would return for the price and the range of options. Everything was being constantly refilled.

    Fateha A.

    $40 AYCE weekends. 2nd time here & I still haven't tried the chocolate fountain or the soft serve cuz I'm too full. I didn't notice the crepe station or the cotton candy last time either. Anyway, most of the food here needs more salt & more seasoning. 2/5 Wish the cheese shrimp didn't have mayo. 2/5 The red snapper was too sweet. 4/5 Fried rice & noodles are good. 3/5 Veggies & seafood are ok. Wish they had more tools to open the crab legs besides crab crackers, shears maybe? Wish all the shrimp was deshelled. Dessert: 4/5 I liked 2 of the cakes including the green tea cake & the 3-layered (rounded) one w/o the chocolate shavings. Nice & light, not too sweet. 2/5 strawberry cake/ top strawberry jelly? Layer was diabetes sweet. The other chocolate cake just tasted weird. 2/5 melon sago- sago needs sweetener, maybe some honey? 4/5 mango sago- sweet, pretty good 4/5 mango jelly, osmanthus jelly & citrus jelly- all pretty good, sweet 3/5 brownie- too sweet, pls have a dark chocolate, less sweet version available? Ok, I done.

    Raw Bar
    Diego P.

    Came here for lunch and was honestly impressed. There is a very large assortment of food to choose from, and everything felt well thought out. The sushi was very fresh, and the raw bar oysters were fresh as well, which is always a big plus. One small suggestion: it would be great if the sushi was kept colder, as a few rolls were slightly warm. The hibachi was good it's the only station where you might have to wait a bit since the food is prepared to order, but it's worth it. There's also a huge selection of dim sum, and everything I tried was delicious. The food here is traditional Asian, so don't expect a lot of American-inspired dishes. That said, they do have a basic kids section with French fries, chicken nuggets, and pizza, which is nice for families. The restaurant was very clean, and the staff were friendly and attentive throughout our visit. For lunch, this place is a very good deal for the variety and quality you get. Desserts were more traditional too coconut and mango jello, matcha ice cream and they even have a cotton candy station, which was a fun nostalgic touch if you're into that. Overall, a solid lunch spot and definitely worth checking out.

    Crab Legs Station!
    Jennifer Y.

    A wonderful buffet this is. So many delectable stations of an abundance of seafood, meats, dim sum, sushi, noodles/rice, fruits, and, desserts. A few more cooked vegetables would have been even nicer for my taste. It's been ages since I've been to a buffet. With eyes wide open on this visit, as soon as they brought out trays fresh from the kitchen I went for their crab legs, grilled lamb chops, black bean clams. I also was more than willing to wait for a chef and stood in line for the made-to-order stations of prime rib; peking duck; teppanyaki; and, crepes. Along with the efficient service, bright & cheerful ambiance, great pricing including 10% off with cash, and, valet parking, I'll be back! CHEERS!

    First round
    Christine M.

    We went back again and I got to get a few things I didn't get to try the first time around. There was no wait and we were seated in the already packed restaurant at 6pm. The waitress noticed I was cold and turned off the air conditioning above us. I didn't have sushi this time around so I can indulge in the other offerings I missed , like the soft shell crab, fried rice. Roast pork to name a few. The desserts were plentiful and I had A lot of it! My kids also had a blast although my daughter thought squid and melted chocolate made a great combo she had a blast with her combinations We will be back again Tipping isn't expected but please tip your servers events it's not a full 20% they work so hard

    Nia B.

    First and foremost we got here at 2:30pm and the food WAS NOT FRESH... everything seemed to be reheated possibly from the day before or dried out from being sat out upon opening .... The I tried to get what I think looked more freshly made. The chicken and duck were cold. The rice and noodles were dried out. My friend's crawfish was brown inside. I got dessert and the ice cream came out semi melted. The little carrot cake probably was the best thing I ate. My friend told them that the food was old, so one lady encouraged me to get hibachi, which was decent. The food selection looks greater on TikTok. Overall I was very displeased and will not be returning. Oh and they did not have crab legs.

    Sherry W.

    Came here with my family on Saturday for lunch to celebrate Father's day (a day early). Full parties are seated and no tipping required but appreciate (and especially at certain stations). Was too busy eating to take a picture of my plate... or the plates at the table... but also didn't want to look like a pig especially when you know it's a buffet and the restaurant is called, The Buffet. Everyone here is eating alot and their worth in admission. All tables cramped together but it's a very large restaurant with so many stations and different options. Fast / quick cleaning service so you can get more plates while they removed the old dirty plates. I wish there was a drink menu at the table (or QR code) but we all only said water / tea for the parents as we thought even soft beverages would be additional costs without free refills. And we didn't want to fill up on sodas anyways. The restaurant is on 4th floor of a hotel with valet parking (but they don't drive the car back to you unless it's on those high raise platforms. They just show you to the car and give key for you to drive out of the spot). It sucks that parking time counts before you even get a table... it should count from when you are seated to when you leave. There is a cute arcade center in the lobby for kids to play while waiting to be seated. I noticed the crepe station wasn't really staffed... but a lady was replenishing crayfish saw me and was kind enough to assist me. I wished she changed her gloves tho because I have a crustacean allergy and she was just handling a plate of crayfish. I also had yaki udon at the hibachi station... the man said 15min and I watched him finish within 8min because I was still on line to the food stuff next to him. There was no way of keeping the food warm/safe as he just leave the plate to the side. I had to point and asked if that was mine for him to give it to me.. if I did return in 15min, it would be colder. It was already getting lukewarm because it took me abit to get in between people (that is on line) to ask him for the plate. All the people around the line blocked the front window and also the sauces... I wished I had the A1 sauce for the steak as it was kinda dry. I was disappointed with the chicken feet Fèng zhǎo (鳯爪, phoenix claws) at the dim sum section... I guess with the amount of hungry folks, they have to hurry to keep up with refilling. But most food seem to be cooked just enough to put out but quality not as good (also, yeah it's a buffet). A few items were mislabeled as it was put in an empty spot but not what it was. Saw pork ribs sign but dish looks like crispy frog legs (no thanks!). Was lucky a few times that fresh stuff came when I just happened to pass by so I quickly grab. Very long line, and I refuse to get back on... so I attempted & succeed in fitting everything in 1 trip. 2 plates to fit all hot food items from start (bar /register area) to the appetizer fried food section. Then 1 trip to dessert to browse the other side... I skipped sushi. Overall was pretty decent. Good price for huge selection of food. Didn't expect the crepe & chocolate fountain station or the hibachi station. Very cool. Would return again one day... but not soon. Too busy there.

    Matcha ice cream
    Huai E.

    Food was alright. Nothing too fantastic. Had the clam chowder which was too salty, had enoki mushrooms (good), salmon sashimi ( good), clams, crab, ginseng chicken soup, sharkfin soup, and several desserts. Place was clean and staff was attentive. Tips are recommended but not required. Overall decent buffet. Went for lunch so it was like $34.99/person.

    Tata G.

    First time to try this buffet restaurant in Queens. One of the best buffet in Nyc i've been to so far. So many selections especially if you like seafood. The seafood is fresh and tasty. Not so heavy in msg either. The meat dishes that we tried siomai, chicken feet etc is a little dry but not that bad. We came 12noon on a Friday and the place is just starting to get busy. No waiting for us. The wait staff are all nice, even took good pic of us. No tipping required, but we did tip. They deserved it. Price is good for nyc, parking free for first hour and 2 bucks after. The waitress validated our ticket prior. All in all, this place is worth a trek to Queens.

    Emily T.

    I was curious to check out this buffet after watching a YouTube video on it. I went here for lunch. After tax, the price came out to be just under 35 dollars. Tipping at this restaurant is completely optional, but I tipped the staff anyway because the service was great :) The buffet had a nice selection. Lots of sashimi and sushi, which were all fresh and delicious. There were also oysters, dim sum, takoyaki, desserts like green tea cheesecake, a soft serve machine with matcha ice cream, a chocolate fondue fountain, Chinese-American staples like orange chicken, et cetera. Most of the items I had were tasty, though I did notice that a couple of items were dry like the salt pepper shrimp. Nonetheless, I thought the buffet was a great value. The buffet price also includes non-alcoholic drinks, and my glass of sweet tea was rarely empty.

    Matcha Soft Serve as One of the Highlights!

    See all

    Photo of Tori A.
    0
    82
    52

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of K.Y W.
    25
    193
    2

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The B.

    The B.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2
    Photo of Ginette P.
    755
    2045
    14993

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 5
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Pretty alright buffet, more authentic food but also a little cheap quality which makes it more authentic

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of John Y.
    66
    56
    2

    2 years ago

    Much variety and good services fresh and good especially roast duck Bao's good sushi I particularly loved the wolfberry soup

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Connie P.
    19
    17
    16

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of X P.
    21
    428
    486

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Fran M.
    17
    26
    1

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 9
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 33
    Thanks 1
    Love this 27
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of The B.

    The B.

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tee L.
    49
    31
    22

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 2

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    5 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Eva J.

    Eva J.

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    Page 4 of 29

    The Buffet Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Buffet

    Is there a parking lot?

    Yes first two hours are free.

    At what time do they start serving crab legs?

    5:30 for dinner

    Are they still rationing the crab legs and raw oysters? I use to love this place until they started holding back these items and will only let customers have 1 piece at a time.

    Nope, it's at your leisure

    When do you serve dim sum and Peking duck, lunch, dinner, weekends?

    Dimsum and peking ducks is served everyday during lunches and dinner.

    Do they have steam oyster with black bean sauce on the shell? Not referring to raw oysters.

    I only saw they had this with angel hair noodles like twice the time I went for dinner, but haven't seen it again.

    Do we need to make reservation now? Is there any discount for going on your birthday?

    It seems that you need to make reservation if you have 10 or more people in the party. They all have to be there for the party to be seated.

    Is it worth it to go for lunch over the weekend? Do they have sushi and sashimi during lunch?

    Yes they have sushi. Lunch is good also

    Does the lunch buffet on weekdays include roast duck or Peking duck?

    Yes they had Peking duck during lunch, but snow crab legs were not available

    Is the place handicap accessible? my friend is wheelchair bound. Is there a ADA toilet?

    Yes, I am able to get around very easily. The hotel elevator gets you up and down, and the aisles are wide. The toilet has an ADA stall. Very accommodating.

    Because of Covid, are we still allowed to go pick our own food from the counters?

    Yes. The service is like Pre-Covid times.

    What is the difference between lunch n dinner buffet? Are there more options at certain times?

    Yes. The snow crab legs and some meat options are weekend/dinner only options. Their website lists all of these on their menu page.

    Are they open for indoor dining?

    No. This answer is posted on 03/12/2021. The whole building is closed temporarily. Neither restaurants nor hotels are opened. The recently reviews are misleading people to think about the restaurant is still opened. Unfortunately, no idea when will… 

    Is that same food lunch and dinner?

    No. Typically lunch has a slightly different in food menu.

    How much is the price for weekend lunch? Is it went up from $25 to $35?

    Please just call the restaurant, they will be glad to answer your questions . You won't be regrettable to make the choice at eating there ! Bon aperitif , nice weekend . 1-718-886-3722 .

    Do they serve warm snow crab legs or only cold snow crab legs on ice?

    On ice

    有人知道是星期幾有起司干貝 ?還是都不一定呢?還是假日才會有?平日假日東西不一樣嗎? 好像沒有人問過 可以麻煩知道的人解答一下嗎

    每天都有

    Is it pay to park? Anyone knows what's the price of parking?

    I believe it is three dollars to park but the first two hours are validated. So if you exceed the two hours, then you have to pay the difference.

    Menu pricing says no tipping. So price included tipping? Does price include soft drink?

    The best deals are in town : as to quality food . The answer is Yes with in-house sodas .

    Did the buffet stop offering the cheese covered corn scallop for dinner? I haven't seen it for the past two times I stopped by. It seems like it's replaced by the cheese covered mussel. Is it temporary or permanent?

    Well, innovative dishes appeared each time are just extremely great . These are what we call : the art of culinary ! What do you think ?

    Will they offer the dinner buffet buffet on Christmas Eve?Do we need to go early ?Whether there are a lot of people?

    Yes. They do have dinner buffet on Christmas Eve. Definitely go early, like 5:30-6 pm. They do accept reservations for at least 10 people usually. Not sure if they would on that day. Call them if any questions. They pick up fast.… 

    View All 37 Questions

    Seafood Mixer - What's Your Season?

    Seafood Mixer

    4.9(8 reviews)
    2.8 miSoundview

    Run like a thief in the night with Seafood Mixer on Seward Ave. in Soundview. The plot where…read moreSeafood M. stands has become near and dear to the hearts of many Soundviewians. Including me. Whoever the business developers are, they took this overgrown grassy lot that's been vacant for the last 40 or so odd years and built a multi-business structure from scratch and Seafood M. dove in deep with it. I'll truthfully credit this find to my daughter- who, on her recent Holiday visit staying with Grandma, found this place on a whim. I jumped on it too days later. The first 2 dishes my kid got were the steamed AND seasoned Crab Legs+veggies and a steamed shrimp platter for my mom. According to her, my kid devoured the crab legs- which were perfectly steamed without making the shells soft. And my Mom's steamed Shrimp platter had a considerable amount of plump shrimp with a light seasoning that didn't overpower the seafood. On my recent trip though, I picked up the 3 piece Catfish-only meal and the 4 piece Whiting (the owner actually threw in like one or two pieces in there- thank you!). Both delicious. I may not be Southern, but I know a good dredge on fried fish when I see it and taste it. Renée(sp?) the owner- uses a fantastic and light that holds its own and doesn't crack into dust. The space may seem untidy- so don't come here for looks. Just come for the food. But, Renée has a great thing going and at 3 years strong, she's creating a sense of community and flare when Soundview never had a stand-alone fried fish/fish market spot. Wishing you much more success.

    So about last night's fish by pickup, I was craving some fried Shrimp & fish from last time, I had…read moreto place my order ahead. The service was great, and the ambiance was peaceful, just the cooking of seafood was in the air. No pictures this time cause I ate my food so fast. I got the fried Shrimp and fish basket with tartar sauce, buttered broccoli and a Peach seamoss drink. Some leftovers for lunch. Can't wait to go back...until next time my seafood lovers!

    Photos
    Seafood Mixer - Sauces & Things

    Sauces & Things

    Seafood Mixer - Under The Sea

    Under The Sea

    Seafood Mixer - Butterfly Dreams

    See all

    Butterfly Dreams

    The Waterfront New York City - Crispy Ravioli Bites

    The Waterfront New York City

    4.1(74 reviews)
    2.1 mi

    The overall place is beautiful, both inside and out. Even the bathrooms were impressive, with…read moreshowers and lockers available. The atmosphere was relaxed, and it wasn't crowded at all. The food was flavorful, but it came out cold. Also, the pasta in my Primavera was undercooked and still hard. I think the dish would have been even better with a white sauce. Despite those issues, I'd definitely come back and give it another try because the view is absolutely amazing.

    We stopped in at Bally's Waterfront Restaurant near Ferry Point Park, adjacent to the Whitestone…read moreBridge. Guests enter through the gift shop, which was an unexpected touch. The restaurant itself is attractive, bright, spacious, and decidedly upscale. Although we had made a reservation, it really wasn't necessary on a weekday. The hostess warmly invited us to sit wherever we liked and promptly provided menus and a beverage list. Unfortunately, the service got off to a slow start. Despite the restaurant being nearly empty, it took quite a while for our server to acknowledge us and take our order. A few more minutes and we were prepared to leave. My dining companion ordered the hamburger, while I chose the Cubano sandwich. Both dishes were attractively presented and quite tasty. The food was definitely the highlight of the experience. Our primary disappointment was the service. The server never formally welcomed us or introduced herself. Given the Bally's brand and the restaurant's upscale appearance, I expected a more polished level of hospitality. Obtaining our check was also a lengthy process. At one point, our server appeared engaged in conversation with the bartender, then walked past our table and disappeared into the kitchen for several minutes. Upon her return, I had to raise my hand to get her attention. To be fair, she was pleasant and courteous, but she wasn't particularly attentive--especially considering that we appeared to be her only active table. I had noticed similar comments about inconsistent service in previous reviews and assumed they reflected busy weekend conditions. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case during our visit. We had considered staying for dessert, but decided against making the additional time investment. Now that I've experienced Bally's Waterfront Restaurant, I don't think I'll be returning.

    Photos
    The Waterfront New York City
    The Waterfront New York City
    The Waterfront New York City

    See all

    IBN Hamido Seafood - You pick it they cook it....

    IBN Hamido Seafood

    4.4(660 reviews)
    3.6 miSteinway, Astoria
    $$$

    Do you want an authentic Astoria seafood experience that will leave you and your party stuffed and…read morefeeling like you made a great choice? Look no further. Everything I've had here was fantastic, and the seafood is fresh and prepared exquisitely.

    We were excited to try IBN Hamido and came on a Sunday. There was no wait to be seated (lucky us!)…read moreand we were told to go to the back and to pick out our seafood before picking seats. It's a little overwhelming because there is definitely a lot of seafood to choose from. The fish selection looks fresh but they do have some previously frozen seafood like large prawns and lobster tails. They have the names of everything and the price per pound posted which can be a little intimidating because it's a bit expensive. We ordered a grilled branzino and asked for the large tiger shrimp. The staff behind the counter said it would be the ones without the head but when long at the sign, it said head on tiger shrimp so I was a little confused but we just went with it because we assumed the staff knew what they were talking about. We did also get the head-on large prawns. We asked for everything to be grilled and confirmed that they don't use butter or cheese or cream on anything and then we went upstairs to get a table. Upstairs by the window is nice because you can people watch on a good day. We asked the staff member if there were any butter or cream or cheese in the mezza or rice and she said no, so we proceeded to order those and also asked about the soup of the day. She told us it was a shrimp and corn soup and that sounded good so we ordered that as well. The mezza came and the babaganoush and moussaka were good. The lemon potatos were fine but other places have made it better. The tahini was tahini and nothing special. The soup came and we took a sip and it tasted like cream so we were confused because the staff member didn't mention cream when she was taking about it. We asked about it when another staff member came by to drop off the rice. The original staff member who helped us came back over and we asked her if there was cream in the soup. She told us that yes because it's a chowder and the chowder has dairy and told us that we ordered the soup. I'm not denying that we ordered it. My issue is that we specifically asked about avoiding dairy in other food menu items and she didn't even stop to mention that hey the soup of the day that you want is a shrimp and corn chowder and has dairy. She took it back but I felt like we were inconveniencing her because of her tone. The mains arrived shortly after. The head-on prawns came and then the branzino. The large head-on prawns were overcooked and a little rubbery. The branzino was a touch too lemony but that was probably my fault for squeezing lemon over it. The fish was firm and smooth. There wasn't a lot of flavor on either dish. By this time, our table is pretty full and one of the staff members came by with the tiger shrimp and he more or less just stared at the full table and then plopped the plate down right next to my husband's phone. We barely even had time to move plates around to clean up space for him, but I feel like they should have definitely looked a little harder because one of our plates was just full of bones and shells and could have been taken away which would have made room for the shrimp. They were also over cooked and rubbery. Throughout our meal, no one came to check on us once. At the end of the meal, I used my own hand sanitizing wipes and was a little puzzled that they don't give any to customers. We got the bill and were a little peeved that they charged us $3 to butterfly the branzino. We weren't told about that and we didn't particularly ask for them to butterfly it. There's individual hand wipes by the stairs and it's odd that staff don't bring them to you once you're ready to pay. Are customers expected to walk around with dirty hands to go grab the wipe by the stairs? It's definitely a one time experience and overall, I wouldn't recommend it for the poor service and seafood being overcooked and underwhelming.

    Photos
    IBN Hamido Seafood - Indoor seating downstairs

    Indoor seating downstairs

    IBN Hamido Seafood - Hamido Salad (~$8)

    Hamido Salad (~$8)

    IBN Hamido Seafood - Scallops

    See all

    Scallops

    Dakota’s On The Cove - Oh.....& These Flatbreads? For An Excellent Tuna Tartare

    Dakota’s On The Cove

    4.4(75 reviews)
    3.0 miThrogs Neck
    $$$

    From the moment we stepped in, the warmth of a this family/partnered ran establishment recently…read moreopened in the past year on the east side of the Bronx. The owners personally held space, making us feel like honored guests. The terrace was a a cute bonus...cozy yet entertaining, buzzing with laughter and the rustle of the fire pit that you could sit around and relax with a glass of wine, a perfect stage for sharing stories with your fam or friends. Every dish that was an astonishing presentation. The shrimp arrived glistening, its sweetness lifted by a tangy white sauce that demanded dipping and spreading. The lobster roll was a masterclass....chilled, yes, but each bite was full of juicy, sweet lobster meat, the mayo proportion on it was my fav on that dish. But the best part of house was the steak dish, truly breathtaking with the sauce. Didn't really try the mussel pasta or the fruit salad due to allergies, but others at the table who had it really enjoyed it. Proportions were great. The ambiance is a cute restaurant near/on the pier. Truly appreciative that it is an accessible restaurant with wheelchair ramps. The joy of lingering over good food with good and some familiar yelp folks was just the highlight of it all.

    Another warranted update…read more What a difference a Chef makes! Thank you Dakota's management for making the necessary edits to match the creative aesthetics of this restaurant. The addition of Chef Mike has so far improved the culinary experience, with a much needed revamped menu. Additionally, the Dakota's team remains consistent in their efficient and personable service, which continues to enhance the experience. With these two things at the forefront, it surely helps to keep these local customers coming back.

    Photos
    Dakota’s On The Cove - Crafted Cocktails and Sodas

    Crafted Cocktails and Sodas

    Dakota’s On The Cove - Because Phones Always Eat First: (Tasty Broccoli Rabe)

    Because Phones Always Eat First: (Tasty Broccoli Rabe)

    Dakota’s On The Cove - A Little Sparkle, A Little Peach & A Lot Of Strength

    See all

    A Little Sparkle, A Little Peach & A Lot Of Strength

    The Buffet - buffets - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...