The Wharf — Restaurant in New York

This is a nice place on the water but the customer service in this place was horrible. We were a party 8. We were seated at a table where the seats and table were wet. It had rained 2 hours prior to our arrival. So before seating us the host should have told us to wait while the table and chairs get wiped down and plates, silverware and menus be provided. But that’s not at all what happened. We had to ask the host to wipe down the seats and table. Menus were given but no plates or silverware, and no water was ever served the entire time we were there(other tables did have pitchers of water). The waitress took our drink orders but could not tell us what was in them. The cocktails came out and tasted like juice, not alcohol. One of my friends sent hers back asked for a beer which came out warm. Appetizers came out really quick but still no plates or silverware despite us asking twice for them. Buffalo wings came out with no buffalo sauce. By the time the waitress came back with the buffalo sauce we had already finished the wings. The mozzarella sticks came out with a porcelain bowl of marinara sauce and the bowl had multiple chips in it. Plates and silverware finally arrive ! Our main courses come out. My order was supposed to come with au ju sauce on the side that didn’t come out. When it did it had absolutely no flavor . It looked like dark brown water. Most people at my table ordered steak sandwiches. The steak was very good but sandwiches were supposed to come on garlic bread. It was on plain Italian bread. Shrimp tacos had 2 small shrimp. The fries was not fresh by any means . It looked old and reheated. We complained to the waitress who got the “manager” who came over with another man. Now typically when you ask for a manager you expect to be greeted with someone with a smile and a genuine desire to resolve the issue. That’s not what happened. They both came over with more of a “what’s your problem” approach. She did ask us for specifics but when we started explaining our issues she and the man with her were instead defensive. Specifically they said” oh we can’t control nature it rained. “We explained that it rained 2 hrs before we arrived and either way the table should’ve been dried before we were seated. Then they said the waitress was new, then they said the chef said he did put the steak on garlic bread(he didn’t). Now my table is getting aggravated because instead of apologizing and trying to fix the situation they were being combative. Unbelievable! We were a table of mature adults sharing our genuine discontent with the service .The “manager” did eventually reluctantly ask what she could do to make it better. We said we would wrap it up and let her know. The bill comes and there is ZERO adjustment made to it and the manager didn’t come with the bill to discuss how she was going to make it right. I ask for the manager . At this point my friends put in their portion of the bill and walked out telling me to forget it that I was wasting my breath. But on principle I needed to speak to the manager one last time. But guess what, now a DIFFERENT manager comes over. I explained everything to him and FINALLY I get the acknowledgement we deserved from the get go. This “manager” said “it sounds like the entire experience was an epic failure “ and he apologized. He said the boss wasn’t around and the most he could do was comp us for the drinks, which I agreed was fair, but it should not have been that difficult to get to this point. Too bad because it is a nice place on the water, but we will...

Update October 2025: Beautiful October day here for lunch with a buddy. Temperature is fabulous. Sitting outside on the deck in the shade. Watching boats go by. The fairy. National Park service board. Other miscellaneous folks doing Marine kind of stuff. Temperature is great. The wharf is still hidden. Server: Kayleigh (Note the variant spelling) She's incredibly busy taking care of customers, but at the same time incredibly efficient. Left a nice tip. Still one of the most beautiful places to sit and have a meal or drinks. Photos posted of my quesadilla. Thank you, Kayleigh! Older reviewer: The wharf is hidden. You walk or drive through a gas station parking lot. There are fenced off areas and there's a building. The outside wall that you see of the building has no windows, it's just a building. You walk in on the right side of the building here. You can walk out in the back and there's a deck and there are people and everybody's having a good good time. It is truly a real surprise to someone who hasn't been there. My wife chatted me cuz I've been there before with some friends and said "Why didn't you tell me about this place?" The menu is limited and comfort food filled as well as some seafood dishes. My wife had a lobster roll. I had muscles. As well as some beer. They do not take credit cards but they have ATMs so as long as you have money in your bank account you can pull some money out to pay for your bill. I posted some photos of views, distant views of Manhattan. It's really spectacular. You can walk there if you come in via bus or Subway. It's the last stop in Rockaway Beach at 116th Street. It's also the last stop on the q53 bus, also known as the q53 SBS or something like that. I haven't been there for dinner so I can't talk about dinner but lunch is absolutely wonderful. They do not do...

I have loved coming here for brunch for about six years. Mornings here feel like a meditative retreat on the water, with food which is tasty and fairly priced. And the waitresses - both old and young - and most customers are from the community. So if you are a visitor curious about the feel and goings on in the Rockaways, this is the go to place. Also, I was once here late afternoon for a drink and saw a large table with several people gathered around. So, as I might at a Manhattan singles bar, I sat at the table with my drink. Turned out it was an Irish extended family party, including kids. They insisted I stay there, including for the photos, which I did, the newest "member" of the family. How many places are like this? My one minor issue is inconsistent service. Last time here, I ordered an omlette with a choice of beverage included. Although the food is consistently very good, the iced coffee is sub-par. So I asked the waitress to substitute an iced tea (tasty). Then I asked not for a new one but for a refill, which they do at no charge with the coffee. When the bill came, she had charged me for two iced teas. I asked about this, especially since she had not said a thing when I asked to substitute one for the other. Doesn't the word substitute mean something? She insisted that iced coffee was included with the brunch, but not iced tea, which I separately paid for, times two. Out of a few dozen times I have come here, this was the only time I had a problem . Therefore, I am still giving five stars - with one caveat. To avoid an unwelcome surprise at the end, be sure to ask beforehand what is and is not included when you order. And to that Irish family a year or so ago - thanks for letting me join in....