Sand Castle — Restaurant in Town of Brookhaven

Lovely 39th anniversary dinner seated outside near the ocean boardwalk but spoiled by the behavior of a waiter who challenged our tip and requested more money. My husband and I have been fortunate to travel this world extensively and we have dined in many fine restaurants and local bistros which have been fairly rated over the years (I’m a Google Level 7 reviewer). When deciding what to leave for a tip after the meal, we consider our servers’ attitude, attentiveness to requests, assistance choosing menu items and the sort of magic that we sometimes witness where the server anticipates what we might request and follows through in an ingratiating manner. We are aware that tipping behavior varies based on location, whether or not the restaurant has charged a service fee etc. Over the years we have never been challenged about tips left. Not here! We calculated a 15% tip on the food sub total before tax. Having visited the restaurant four days before our dinner, and reading the menu i enquired as to whether the restaurant could place a special order for champagne - this being a celebration of our 39th anniversary. I was told that the restaurant does not place such orders for customers. So we agreed to pay restaurant $25 corkage fee and made a trip to Patchogue to buy a nice bottle. So when we received our check we used the same approach that we’ve applied for years: tip base calculated on the quality of service based on the sub total before tax. For exemplary service we often pay 20% or more, for good service 15% and rarely lower percentages. We initially gave 15% on the subtotal for food, not including the champagne that we brought. We handed the bottle to the welcoming staff when seated and in about 5 min it appeared on the table with no ice. We had to remind the waiter to bring ice and made multiple requests for bread. Pouring was inconsistent during the meal but not a major calamity. So at the meal’s end we calculated and paid 15% on the food order and not on the tax or corkage. Acceptable service we reckoned but not extraordinary. him an additional tip. I excused myself to use the restroom and the waiter came over to discuss his tip. He said that 20% is typical for good New York City restaurant. My husband paid over an extra $10 after the waiter requested 20%. This was truly galling behavior. I’m posting lovely meal photos and the atmosphere was good but if his colleagues behave similarly expect a shakedown after...

My visit to Sand Castle was utterly disappointing and disheartening. Let's break down the nightmare:

Appalling Service: The waiter was not just condescending but outright arrogant. It felt like he was doing me a favor by taking my order. To top it off, their racist behavior was shockingly blatant and unacceptable.

Portions are a Joke: Each dish had portions smaller than your average appetizer at a decent NYC restaurant. Seriously, who serves such minuscule portions and expects customers to be satisfied?

Food Quality: Okay, let's talk about the food. It was... alright. Nothing to write home about, just mediocre at best. Certainly not worth the price they charge.

Hidden Fees: Imagine my surprise when I saw a $10 fee added to my bill for "small plates for appetizers." No prior notice, no explanation, just a blatant rip-off. Absolutely disgraceful.

The Only Saving Grace: The only positive thing about this place is the view of the ocean. But let's be real, you don't come to a restaurant for the view alone.

In conclusion, save your time, money, and dignity. Avoid Sand Castle at Cherry Grove at all costs unless you enjoy being treated poorly, served minuscule portions, and being ripped off...

Lives up to the hype!

Got to go here for the first time for my birthday dinner after having heard so much over the years. And WOW was it everything I’d hoped.

We arrived early for our reservation, but our table was already waiting for us despite a full house. Then to our surprise, the host asked if we’d mind waiting a moment so they could clear one of the best tables that just opened up. It’s this kind of attention to detail that is so often overlooked in a busy NY restaurant.

And make no mistake. This IS a NY restaurant.

Yes you’re at the beach, and the setting - hard up against the Atlantic Ocean - is exquisite. But this is no fried fish joint. You sacrifice nothing in terms of cuisine.

We started with the delicious crab nachos (pictured), a small plate packed with flavor.

The panko encrusted tuna is a star, and the short rib pappardelle melts in your mouth.

The cocktails (pictured) are large and yet still nuanced

Service was simply on point, even with a full house.

Our ONLY quibble was that the beignet (dessert special) wasn’t topped with enough sugar. However the pastry itself was fried to perfection.

A must go in...