City Island in the Bronx is a hidden gem itself, but a hidden gem that happens to be located on that hidden gem is Johnny's Reef Restaurant. This cafeteria-style restaurant in New York has been thrilling and filling customers for more than 70 years with some of the best seafood you can get in the Bronx. People come from miles around to travel to the southern tip of City Island to visit Johnny's and to enjoy waterfront dining with friends or family. Read on to learn more about this very special place.
City Island is a small, one mile long island in the Bronx that feels a bit more like New England than New York City. At the end of this island, you'll find Johnny's Reef Restaurant.
This establishment is right on the water and has been serving the Bronx since the 1950s.
Johnny's Reef Restaurant is best known for its fried seafood. Want something fried and from the sea? Name it, and it's probably on the menu. Johnny's offers fried shrimp, fried fillet, fried whiting, fried red snapper, fried porgy, fried lobster tail, fried scallops, fried squid, fried clam strips, fried oysters, fried fish sticks, fried smelts, fried frog legs, and fried soft shell crabs!
Yes, really. All of that.
If you're not feeling like fish or other sea creatures, Johnny's also offers fried chicken fingers, fried chicken wings, and fried chicken livers. Plus, fried onion rings and fried french fries to go with any of the above.
Oh, there's fried tostones, too. And also fried mozzarella sticks!
You can also get seafood that is steamed, if you're trying to be a little healthier. Maybe you'd like steamed shrimp, steamed fillet, steamed whiting, steamed lobster tails, steamed scallops, steamed squid, or steamed red snapper.
You can also get steamed little neck clams or cherry stone clams by the half or whole dozen.
The steamed snow crab legs are a popular option. Yum!
If none of that sounds appetizing - which is hard to believe - Johnny's also sells hamburgers and cheeseburgers and hot dogs, too. But more likely, your table is going to end up looking something like this.
You might be happy to hear that Johnny's Reef Restaurant serves alcohol, too. The restaurant sells several brands of common beer, but most people opt for a Johnny's piña colada.
You're on the waterfront, after all.
This place is very special. It's no surprise that it's been around and popular for decades.
Grab a spot at a picnic table and dig in!
Johnny's Reef Restaurant is one of those iconic hidden gems that's worth a road trip. Plus, there's probably a good chance you've never been to City Island before, so it's worth checking it out for that reason, too. City Island is an island, but you can drive there; there's a bridge. Plan a visit today, and be sure to bring your appetite when it's time to go to Johnny's!
Looking for more great seafood in New York? Check out this list: These 7 New York Seafood Restaurants Are Worth A Visit From Any Part Of The State
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