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Nestled along the scenic waterfront at 154 Mansion Ave in Staten Island, Marina Cafe Restaurant & Tiki Bar offers a truly memorable dining experience that showcases a delightful fusion of seafood, American, and Italian cuisines. This versatile establishment doesn’t just serve meals; it crafts moments — whether you're indulging in a leisurely dinner or enjoying a lively evening at the Tiki bar overlooking serene marina views.
Step inside and you're immediately captivated by expansive floor-to-ceiling windows that flood the space with natural light and frame breathtaking views of the marina, creating an atmosphere of tranquility and understated elegance. It's a perfect backdrop for savoring dishes that rival some of Manhattan’s finest steakhouses and seafood restaurants, as noted by many impressed guests.
The menu here is a tantalizing tour through the ocean's bounty and classic American and Italian fare. Begin your culinary journey with standout starters like the Classic Calamari — crispy, tender, and seasoned to perfection — or dive into the fresh briny burst of the Blue Point Oysters. The Baked Clams Oreganato and Grilled Octopus Salad highlight the kitchen’s skill in balancing vibrant Mediterranean flavors and textures.
For mains, the Seafood Risotto is a luxurious, creamy dish that envelops you in delicate layers of flavor, while the Lobster Tails promise buttery, succulent sweetness. Meat lovers will appreciate the expertly prepared Rack of Lamb — tender and perfectly seasoned — and the Salmon with Risotto, which offers a beautifully harmonious marriage between land and sea. Dining here means indulging in dishes that are thoughtfully plated and crafted with care.
No meal is complete without dessert, and the Creme Brulee with its caramelized sugar top and silky custard interior is a sublime way to close your meal. The Apple Tart also delivers comforting warmth and a touch of sweetness, rounding out the culinary experience.
Beyond the food, Marina Cafe shines with its welcoming Tiki bar — a beloved local staple especially during summer. Here, guests linger to enjoy refreshing cocktails, casual vibes, and the gentle marina breeze. While some reviewers have noted that cocktails occasionally lean on the stronger side, many appreciate the diverse drink menu and reasonable prices, including well-known brews like Bud Light and Heineken as well as vibrant options like the Frose frozen rosé.
Service experiences have varied, with many highlighting attentive and friendly staff who provide thoughtful recommendations and genuine hospitality, enhancing the relaxing ambience. Though a few guests mention minor missteps in food temperature or preparation, the overall consensus celebrates the restaurant’s inviting atmosphere, spectacular vistas, and menu variety.
Whether you're seeking a sophisticated dinner with stunning waterfront views, a casual drink at the Tiki bar, or a venue that accommodates larger gatherings with its banquet hall and catering services, Marina Cafe Restaurant & Tiki Bar delivers a deeply satisfying and authentic Staten Island experience. It’s a place where flavors, views, and good times effortlessly converge.
Drinks and vibes were on par for a casual setting, nothing to write home for us about. Appreciated the drink menu but found the cocktails were not particularly well balanced, and very spirit forward.
This staple restaurant is a classic in Staten Island. Came to the tiki bar to sit outside and catch the breeze. Our waitress (wish I remembered her name) was super friendly gave great recommendations and followed through with checkups. We started with calamari (a little cold) and the lobster and carb sliders (no food presentation) then ordered the tuna steak and salmon, they were cooked well and taste was good, they were able to substitute the sides. I didn’t like the paper plates and plastic cup service. This is a tiki bar so there was a crowd on the younger side but played the music at a decent volume for patrons to hear one another during dinner.
Food was mediocre. We ordered the dry aged rib eye steaks but the meat was more chewy/ striated than rib eye cuts should be. Minimal marbling. Mashed potato was lumpy and looked microwaved. Broccoli was bland and seemed like it was simply steamed. The service was also mediocre- it is apparent they’re not bothered about hospitality and “wooing” customers as the location is the main attraction. In summary, the price tag is literally for the beautiful waterside view and location. The restaurant has large glass windows so no matter where you sit you get a great view and feel of the natural sunlight.
This was my first visit to the marina several weeks ago and I was very impressed. The floor to ceiling windows offer an incredible view of the marina from everywhere in the restaurant and gives the place a feeling of serenity. Some of the food I tried would rival some of the best Manhattan steakhouse and seafood restaurants. The food was perfectly prepared and plated beautifully The seafood tower as an appetizer was very impressive with right off the boat fresh tasting clams, oysters, very large shrimp and lobster. The tuna tartare had a very unique and delicious sauce and was mounded on an absolutely delicious fried disk. My other two stand out appetizers were the seafood salad and, a surprise, what they call an Italian eggroll With really delicious Italian red sauce. If you are a lobster bisque lover this lobster bisque was to die for. The Châteaubriand was cooked exactly as ordered, medium rare with house made barbecue sauce and Demi glace which were both excellent with a roasted garlic bulb creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. The very fresh angry red snapper came on top of broccoli rabe and was topped with very fresh premium crab meat. The best part of this dish for me was the ring of gnocchi around the fish that were like little pillows of softness. The variety of desserts are homemade and all were delicious. If you happen to be there on a nice day and the tiki bar is still open, it is definitely worth sitting out there for a cocktail and a dessert and coffee. I can’t wait to go back there in several weeks for my birthday.
One of the best Italian spots on the island AND good views ? It's hard to find a place that does both but this one hits the mark. Growing up on SI there have been so many parties and dinners here especially during the summer for the tiki bar, the drinks are well made for the price! I would definitely recommend if you haven't been !
We started with the dragon shrimp and meatballs. Both were great! The shrimp was our favorite but meatballs were really tasty as well. They also gave us bread with the sesame crackers I love. Then we got the pasta di vincenzo and the short rib. The eggplant pasta wasnt our favorite but not bad. The short rib was very good but tasted a bit like stew meat not what i expect from short rib. Would still get it again just know to expect a more stewy short rib. For dessert we got the creme brule and apple tart. The creme brulle was really good but the apple tart crust wasnt our favorite
Love there food and great service. Love their seafood pasta.. my favorite