The Cull House — Restaurant in Town of Islip

Restaurant Review: The Cull House – A Hidden Gem on Long Island

Tucked away near the Patchogue waterfront, The Cull House is one of Long Island’s true seafood treasures — a place where the atmosphere is as fresh as the catch. On a recent visit, I had the pleasure of experiencing everything this beloved spot has to offer, and I can confidently say it lived up to its stellar reputation.

From the moment we arrived, we felt welcomed. The outdoor seating area gives off cozy beachy vibes, perfect for a summer evening. But what truly elevated the experience was our incredible server, Alexa.

Alexa was nothing short of phenomenal. Friendly, attentive, and effortlessly knowledgeable about the menu, she made us feel right at home without being overbearing. She offered honest recommendations, remembered every detail of our order without writing a thing down, and checked in just enough to make sure we were fully taken care of. Alexa brought both warmth and professionalism to our meal, and it’s clear she genuinely cares about her guests’ experience.

Now, let’s talk about the food — because wow. We started with the classic raw oysters, which were unbelievably fresh and briny, served chilled on ice with all the right fixings. For mains, I had the lobster roll, served buttery and warm with just the right amount of mayo and seasoning. Every bite melted in my mouth. The clam pasta was another standout — perfectly al dente linguine tossed in a garlicky white wine sauce with tender little neck clams. And don’t skip the crab cakes — they’re packed with meat, not filler, and seared to a golden crisp.

Portions were generous, flavors were on point, and the drink menu offered a great variety of local beers and refreshing cocktails (the frozen mudslide is dangerously good). Dessert? We shared a key lime pie that struck the perfect balance between tart and sweet.

All in all, The Cull House isn’t just a seafood restaurant — it’s an experience. Whether you’re a Long Island local or visiting from out of town, this place is absolutely worth a visit. And if you’re lucky enough to have Alexa as your server, you’re in for an even better night.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Five stars. Would...

Let me preface this by saying we have been coming here for YEARS and have never had such an awful dining experience... ANYWHERE!! 5 o'clock for dinner this past Friday night. 4 people & were seated immediately only to wait over 20 minutes for our glasses of water. The place was not overpacked and they seemed to have plenty of people on staff. We ordered our appetizers, clams on the half shell...Where on earth does it take over an hour to get a raw appetizer?? When they finally brought it out we inhaled it. They then brought the same appetizer 45 minutes later which we sent back as it was not ours. I ordered the lobster bake which was fine (but they forgot my corn and overcooked the sausage), my wife had the very dry and unflavored tacos (you can get much better at QDOBA and not wait 2 hours for it), my Mom got the broiled with butter halibut dish which was completely overcooked and dry as a bone, my Father ordered the Cull House lobster bake as well and was not happy with his overcooked sausage and missing corn cob. We did not receive our meals until 7!!! That is completely unacceptable. No manager coming around to assist anyone. We never got an apology or explanation as to why we were treated this way. This was enough to never come back again. Everyone is entitled to an "off night" but this was beyond!! Everything went completely wrong and no one acknowledged it. $224 & we should not have tipped at all...

As a local, I have been coming to The Cull House on & off for many years. Sometimes, the food and service is outstanding, other times it is mediocre at best. I can't give a higher rating because it's hit or miss. With that being said, my most recent visit was ranked a definite 5 out of 5. The food and service was spectacular!

Located near the Sayville Ferries, there's a private lot for the restaurant as well as some street parking.

The service is always unpredictable. During my last visit, our server was excellent. She continued to offer drink refills and was very friendly. At other visits, the service is slow and not very attentive. Maybe they have stepped it up, hopefully it's permanent.

The prices are fair. For the area, the menu items are priced ok. This is certainly not a restaurant that is going to break the bank, but it may not be a cheap night out either.

The food is always unpredictable as well. During my last visit, I was more than impressed. Over the years, I've tried a ton of menu items. I will be listing my favorites: Seafood Penne Alla Vodka, Steamers, New England Clam Chowder, Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, Skirt Steak.

Overall, The Cull House is a cute restaurant with a great location. I hope the service and food continue to improve!!...