Gilligan's Clam Bar & Grill — Restaurant in Town of Haverstraw

When I started working up in this area, Gilligan's was the first potential lunch spot I stumbled across, and yet it took over a year before I finally made my debut (though I did walk over once to get a pickup order involving catfish, but I decided that didn't count). One co-worker from the area gleefully told me a story about a stabbing that took place here several years ago, but a) I found no evidence of that and b) it honestly made this a more intriguing destination. There's a bar in Fairfield, NJ I once went to because every time my grandfather drove by it he'd say, "That's a real bucket of blood. Someone was killed there in the '30s.' I can at least say Gilligan's is not a bucket of blood.

This felt from day one like more of a dinner/drinks spot than lunch, and that was certainly my takeaway yesterday when I came by around 1:30pm. I definitely got poor man's Margaritaville vibes in here - there's a lot of tropical-themed decor and a hidden tiki bar in the back that had no customers or employee manning it. I'm honestly not sure if it was open or not. Regardless, the regular dining area was pretty busy and needed at least one more waiter/waitress; the two I saw were very overworked/harried and constantly on the move. One of them finally saw me by the entrance after a few minutes and brought me to a table.

Seafood seemed like the right call here, and I went with the Lobster Fra Diavolo ($31). In hindsight, I would have gotten something less dramatic that didn't involve me getting my paws dirty and wearing a bib, but that's obviously on me. The lobster itself was partially open so it was fairly easy to remove the meat from the tails; nice touch, in my view. The Fra Diavolo sauce had a nice zest to it that made my nose run slightly but not overwhelmingly (which is what happens when I wander into the Thai restaurant nearby). I'm by no means an expert on this particular dish, but I wasn't crazy about the fact that the sauce was exclusively applied to the interior of the lobster. As a result, the accompanying linguini was devoid of a lot of flavor and required extra work to mix in some of that sauce. This is also a rare instance where I don't think they had enough pasta in the entree. Keep in mind that I'd accidentally been gorging myself on holiday snacks all week but even with a smaller appetite I easily consumed the pasta and could have quite a bit more. The inclusion of the full lobster for sure cut down on space, but they could have put another handful of linguini underneath it, especially given how deep the bowl was.

The service was mediocre. I don't really put that on the waitstaff that assisted me, as they were constantly moving around from table to table and were certainly busy. But because of the fact that they were spread thin, no one stopped by to check in (thankfully it wasn't needed) and I had to be pretty proactive in catching someone's eye to grab the check. The waiter who did ultimately process my payment did take a few seconds to make eye contact with me at the end and wish me a happy holiday, which was a nice gesture.

There was a lot to take in here, but suffice it to say I'd come back after work, not during. Hopefully the service is a bit better and I can consume a rum-based...

This is a very popular place to eat seafood in Rockland County, NY. Lots of traffic. I wanted the experience. Visited it 2 weeks ago. I was able to find parking easily, maybe because it was mid-afternoon. I immediately noticed a sign hanging on the property fence "no crabby attitudes." The outside of the restaurant is modest. Once inside, the decor vibe and the theme are definitely seafood. Although they serve all different types of dishes, salads, soups, burgers, and pizza, The menu is extensive. Small tiki bar by the entrance, and then the hostess/host area. We were attended not greeted by a hostess young lady with glasses, not courteous, nor friendly. Simply said how many, grabbed the menus, and proceeded to a table in the middle of the dining room. I asked for a different table, and she indicated very curtly that this is what you are getting. Got my attention, not a good start to the experience. Now I'm wondering, is this how it's going to be? To the rescue, our server Nicolina!!. She exuded friendliness, courtesy, professionalism, empathy, always a smile, and very pleasant. Changed my tune immediately. Started with my usual, a margarita, and a mojito for my date. Mine not lemony, tasty, refreshing, a bit heavy on the ice. This i mentioned to our server. The mojito was not Miami Cuban style, but it did the job. Missing the mint leaves flavor, and the sugar cane stick. I know I'm wishing for too much. For apps had the stuffed mushrooms with a crabmeat spinach combo, and a New England clam chowder a bit soupy, and tasty, good flavor, lots of clams, enjoyed it. For the main course, i ordered the cape cod broiled dinner for 1. I noticed the servings were small, so i ordered double the serving. I wanted my fish, one blackened and the other broiled because the texture changes if it is blackened. It also included scallops, shrimps, vegetables, salad, and coleslaw. Remember, i ordered double the entry. Everything on the plate was delicious, hot, fresh, and cooked to my specs. I had fun with it. My date ordered the Alaskan surf and turf, which included half a pound of king crab legs and a NY strip steak. The steak was tender. I tasted it. Not chewy. Medium size portion accompanied with linguine. Good presentation. Remember the hostess as I'm eating she's going by with a high chair and bumps into my chair from behind and says nothing. I just laughed it off. At this point, i had no room for dessert. What a shame. Regardless of the hostess, my date, and I truly enjoyed the experience at Gilligan's Clam. The main dishes were a bit pricey, and the servings between medium and small. Enjoyed the food very much, and especially the exceptional service by Nicolina. I rated this...

Have eaten here for many years. While not a staple in my go-to list of restaurants, we do enjoy Gilligan's several times a year.

Portions are plentiful and often times most people in the party are unable to finish their entree's, especially anyone ordering seafood bowls. The specials are always well designed and well seasoned. Serving staff is attentive and very quick to meet the needs of their tables. The decor is beach, sand and surf and definitely brings the fun and sun, especially on cold winter days.

GF options are plentiful but cross contamination is possible as cooking is done in one kitchen. Serving staff is good about clarifying entrees that describe as GF and the chef will modify.

Appetizers are good size and well seasoned. Rarely do we go to Gilligan's and not order Calamari (served several different ways - fried, sauteed, broiled) and Oysters Rockefeller. Both are excellent.

Non seafood options are also good. Some entrees can be heavy on the oil, including some pasta dishes.

You definitely are not left without several courses including breads and salad for most entree dishes.

Desserts are also very well done as is the coffee selection and offerings. Speciality drinks at the bar are well made and offer a nice compliment to your meals.

The biggest challenge with Gilligan's is that they do not take reservations and will not seat you party until everyone is present. It can also get quite loud when fully packed. However, the upside is at the end if the meal they okay "bingo" and alliw the table to pick a number. If that's the number of the bingo ball drawn you win a $25 gift card for a future visit. And yes people do win! (it has happened to us once!)

On Fridays and weekends parking is often valet. This is not optional, given the limited space.

Overall, if your looking for fresh seafood and large portions then this is a...