Tony's Pier – Cash-only seafood restaurant on City Island with waterfront views, fried and broiled platters, and casual cafeteria-style seating.
Located at the tip of City Island, Tony's Pier sits directly on the Long Island Sound with a large pier and views of the Throggs Neck Bridge. The menu centers on fried, broiled, and raw seafood—including lobster, snow crab legs, fried shrimp, and calamari—served in a no-frills, casual setting with both indoor and covered outdoor seating.
Tony's Pier offers covered outdoor seating along with indoor cafeteria-style seating, all with waterfront views. The restaurant is open daily from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM and serves beer and mixed drinks, making it a practical choice for a relaxed seafood meal with a view without leaving the city.
Tony's Pier was voted Best Oyster Bar in the Bronx for 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025. In addition to raw options, the menu includes steamed clams, baked clams, and fried calamari, all served in a casual, family-friendly environment on the waterfront.
Tony's Pier won first place for New England Clam Chowder in a City Island competition. The menu also includes Manhattan clam chowder, giving diners a choice of styles alongside the restaurant's fried and broiled seafood platters.
Tony's Pier specializes in fried shrimp platters, snow crab legs, and fried calamari served in paper baskets with dipping sauce. The setting is explicitly casual and cafeteria-style, with no waiters—guests order at the counter and find their own seats indoors or outdoors.
Tony's Pier is a 276-seat, cash-only seafood restaurant with no reservations—it's first-come, first-served. The large dining room, covered outdoor seating, and casual cafeteria-style setup mean big groups can usually find space, though weekend lines can be long.
The casual, no-frills atmosphere at Tony's Pier makes it easy to bring children—there's no formal dress code, and the covered outdoor seating lets kids move around while adults enjoy the waterfront view. The menu includes burgers and chicken alongside seafood, accommodating picky eaters.
Tony's Pier offers free customer parking in a lot next to the restaurant, which removes a major hurdle for large groups arriving by car. The 276-seat capacity and mix of indoor and outdoor tables make it easier to seat parties together than at smaller island restaurants.
Tony's Pier does not take reservations and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests order at the counter, grab a tray, and seat themselves indoors or outdoors. That flexibility suits families and groups who prefer spontaneous plans over booked dining times.
Tony's Pier has a wheelchair-accessible entrance according to Google Places data, and the spacious, cafeteria-style layout offers room for strollers and mobility aids. The single-floor setup and wide seating areas make it more accessible than cramped older establishments.
Tony's Pier offers a private dining room and customizable menus for special occasions, from birthdays and rehearsal dinners to business meetings. Parties ranging from 15 to 250 people can be accommodated, with options for a complete buyout or a private dining experience.
A complete buyout is available at Tony's Pier, giving hosts exclusive use of the 276-seat waterfront space. The restaurant also offers customizable private dining menus for smaller groups who want a semi-private experience rather than a full buyout.
Tony's Pier caters to graduations, anniversaries, birthdays, holiday parties, corporate events, and business luncheons with fully customizable private dining menus. The events team handles planning for both small gatherings and large celebrations up to 250 guests.
Tony's Pier sells large aluminum trays of popular items for takeout through its Family Style Feast Menu, including fried calamari, fried clams, fried shrimp, lobster tails, baked clams, and snow crab. Orders are placed by phone at (718) 885-1424 for pickup.
Once in the Bronx, the BX29 bus travels directly to City Island. Tony's Pier is located at 1 City Island Avenue at Belden Point, near the tip of the island, making it a natural stop after a walk along the main strip.
Tony's Pier sits at the tip of City Island at Belden Point, offering views of the Long Island Sound and the Throggs Neck Bridge. Its location at 1 City Island Ave makes it a destination spot for visitors who walk or drive the length of the island.
Tony's Pier offers waterfront views and pier access in a casual, no-frills setting with price level 2 ($$). The menu includes fried shrimp platters at around $18 and flounder at $20, making it more affordable than many white-tablecloth seafood restaurants while still delivering the waterfront experience.
After eating at Tony's Pier, visitors can walk the pier for views of the Long Island Sound and the Throggs Neck Bridge. The restaurant's covered outdoor seating and waterfront location mean the dining experience itself is a key part of a City Island day trip.
Tony's Pier provides free customer parking in a lot directly next to the restaurant. That convenience is notable on City Island, where street parking can be competitive, especially on summer weekends when visitor traffic peaks.
Fried shrimp platters at Tony's Pier start at $18, fried whiting and flounder are $18, and a cheeseburger is $6. The cash-only policy and cafeteria-style service help keep prices lower than full-service waterfront competitors.
Tony's Pier is cash-only, with ATMs available on-site for convenience. The policy is clearly stated across its website, Google profile, and review platforms, so diners should plan accordingly before visiting.
At Tony's Pier, fried whiting, fried flounder, fried shrimp, and fried clam strips are all priced at $18, while a cheeseburger is $6 and French fries are $4. That makes it possible to eat a full seafood meal without crossing the $20 mark.
The fried dinners at Tony's Pier include French fries and come in generous portions—10 pieces of fried shrimp, whole soft shell crab, or fried lobster tails. Reviewers frequently note the large serving sizes relative to the price.
Tony's Pier serves beer, wine, and piña coladas at a bar with what Tripadvisor reviewers describe as an inexpensive selection. The casual, counter-service model means diners are not paying for table service or gratuity structures typical of full-service restaurants.
Tony's Pier serves fried, broiled, and raw seafood, plus burgers, BBQ, and wings. The menu includes lobster, snow crab legs, fried shrimp, fried calamari, scallops, flounder, steamed clams, baked clams, and clam chowder, with French fries or baked potato included with most broiled dinners.
Reviewers and the restaurant's own description highlight fried shrimp platters, steamers, crab clusters, fried calamari, and New England clam chowder. The chowder won first place in a City Island competition, and the restaurant was voted Best Oyster Bar in the Bronx for four consecutive years.
Tony's Pier offers a Family Style Feast Menu with large aluminum trays available for takeout, including calamari, fried clams, fried shrimp, lobster tails, baked clams, and snow crab. Orders are placed by phone at (718) 885-1424, and other items and sizes are available upon request.
Most fried and broiled seafood dinners fall between $17 and $39, with fried shrimp, whiting, and flounder at $18, broiled salmon at $34, and red snapper at $39. Lobster and snow crab legs are market price. Side orders range from $3 to $8.
The menu includes burgers, BBQ ribs, chicken wings, mozzarella sticks, onion rings, pasta, and tostones. That variety makes it easier to dine with guests who do not eat seafood, a point noted in reviews from mixed-diet groups.
Tony's Pier is located at 1 City Island Avenue, Bronx, NY 10464, at Belden Point near the tip of City Island. The restaurant overlooks the Long Island Sound and offers views of the Throggs Neck Bridge from its pier and seating areas.
Tony's Pier is open seven days a week from 11:30 AM to 11:00 PM, according to Google Places data. Hours are consistent across weekdays and weekends, making it a reliable option for both lunch and dinner visits.
Free customer parking is available in a lot directly next to the restaurant. The restaurant's website explicitly advertises this as a convenience for diners arriving by car.
From the Bronx, the BX29 bus travels to City Island. Once on the island, Tony's Pier is at the far end near Belden Point. The restaurant notes on its website that the trip is manageable without a car and worth the effort.
Tony's Pier does not accept reservations. The restaurant operates on a first-come, first-served basis, which contributes to its casual, spontaneous atmosphere but can mean long lines on weekends.
Tony's Pier is cash-only. Multiple sources confirm this policy, and the restaurant has ATMs on-site for guest convenience, though they may charge a fee.
Google Places data indicates that Tony's Pier has a wheelchair-accessible entrance. The single-floor, cafeteria-style layout with wide seating areas also supports easier mobility than more cramped traditional restaurants.
Tony's Pier serves beer and wine, and the bar offers mixed drinks including piña coladas. The restaurant also holds a license to serve alcohol, which was part of the post-Sandy rebuilding process coordinated with the State Liquor Authority.
On October 29, 2012, Tony's Pier was gutted by fire during Hurricane Sandy. The restaurant burned to the ground at the height of the storm, destroying decades of history at the City Island landmark.
Tony's Pier reopened on October 29, 2013—exactly one year to the day after the fire. Co-owner Anthony Palumbo joined Senator Jeff Klein, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr., and Assemblyman Michael Benedetto for a rededication ceremony at 1 City Island Ave.
Senator Jeff Klein's office worked with the owners to obtain building permits, expedite electrical and gas work, speed up Department of Environmental Protection plan reviews, and secure a liquor license through the State Liquor Authority and Community Board.
Co-owner Anthony Palumbo was identified at the 2013 rededication ceremony. Reviewers also mention that the owner is personable and that many staff members have been there for over 20 years, suggesting long-term family or local ownership.
The exact founding year is not documented in available sources, but Tony's Pier is described as a long-standing City Island staple with decades of history. Staff tenure of over 20 years and the restaurant's deep community roots indicate it has been operating for a significant period.
Tony's Pier has a private dining room ideal for special occasions. The events team handles birthdays, rehearsal dinners, graduations, anniversaries, corporate events, and business luncheons with fully customizable menus.
Tony's Pier can host parties from 15 to 250 people. For the largest events, a complete buyout of the 276-seat restaurant is available, while smaller groups can book the private dining room with a custom menu.
The restaurant provides customizable private dining menus and publishes a Sea Shore Party Packages PDF for event planning. Hosts can download the packages from the Special Events page or call (718) 885-1424 for assistance.
The Family Style Feast Menu offers large aluminum trays of popular items for takeout, including calamari, fried shrimp, lobster tails, and snow crab. While primarily designed for pickup, these trays function as a catering solution for off-site gatherings.
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