damnlines.comdamnlines.comA popular, touristy City Island seafood restaurant known for its waterfront deck that runs first-come, first-served.
damnlines hasn't pointed a lens at City Island Lobster House yet. The most-wanted lines get a camera first.
City Island Lobster House's own site describes handling high-volume summer crowds, noting that "on those hot summer weekends when island traffic can discourage even seasoned veteran diners," it recommends accessing the restaurant via Bridge Street to bypass congestion at the main entrance -- a sign of how packed the property gets in peak season. Per the restaurant's website, the deck runs first-come, first-served, and indoor reservations aren't accepted for parties smaller than four.
Per Tripadvisor reviewers, the wait can be real even for those who plan ahead -- one reviewer reported standing in line for at least 45 minutes despite having a reservation, and multiple reviewers describe the restaurant as "always packed." Because the coveted waterfront deck has no reservation system, reviewers commonly advise arriving early for lunch or dinner to grab an outdoor table before a line forms.
The restaurant's site states it is "now operating at 100% capacity, both indoors and outdoors," underscoring that both dining areas fill up, and a Yelp Q&A discussion notes at least one case where a phoned-in reservation wasn't honored on arrival -- reinforcing reviewers' advice to treat the deck, and reservations generally, as unreliable without an early arrival.
Patterns as reported by press and regulars — not measured by damnlines.
Reservations: Indoor reservations are accepted for parties of four or more by phone at (718) 885-1459, per the restaurant's official site; parties under four cannot reserve indoors, and the outdoor deck never takes reservations at all. A Yelp Q&A thread also notes a case where a phoned-in reservation wasn't found on arrival.
Walk-ins: Walk-ins are the norm for the coveted outdoor deck, which is first-come, first-served; the restaurant's site says it now operates "at 100% capacity, both indoors and outdoors."
Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun 12pm-11pm, per the restaurant's official site.
Waits can run significant -- a Tripadvisor reviewer reported standing in line for at least 45 minutes even with a reservation, and multiple reviewers describe the restaurant as "always packed." The outdoor deck, which has no reservation system, is especially prone to a wait since it's first-come, first-served and considered the most coveted seating in good weather.
Reservations are accepted for indoor parties of four or more by calling (718) 885-1459, but per the restaurant's own site, parties under four cannot reserve indoor seating and the outdoor deck never takes reservations at all. A Yelp Q&A discussion also notes at least one case where a phoned-in reservation wasn't found on arrival, so reviewers suggest confirming close to your visit.
Yes -- walk-ins are the norm for the deck, since it's first-come, first-served, and the restaurant's site says it now operates "at 100% capacity, both indoors and outdoors." Reviewers commonly advise getting there early for lunch or dinner to beat the crowd for outdoor seating.
Because the deck doesn't accept reservations, the advice from reviewers and the restaurant alike is to arrive early for lunch or dinner before the outdoor tables fill. On busy summer weekends, the restaurant's own site also recommends entering via Bridge Street to avoid traffic congestion at the main entrance.
Sources: City Island Lobster House official site · Tripadvisor · Yelp Q&A forum