The Black Whale

Went there for brunch outside branches leaves falling on my food waited over 20 minutes for a person to cook some eggs. Employees was dress in street clothes. Food was ok nothing to brag about. Had to walk through a narrow area to get to the buffet. I wont be going back.

I still love this place. Haven’t been here in awhile. Good to get here early as it gets very busy after 11. New items on buffet bar were a sweet buttery dessert type dish. .buttery crumbles and berries=yum! The gazpacho was phenomenal. My best description of soup would be an absolute savory flavor. treasures from the garden. Staff is super nice and attentive. My only gripe is due to be an old building, the space can get very crowded with some cautious maneuvering required while shuffling back and forth to buffet. Give it a try. the ambiance is very cool and inviting.

Ventured onto the Island to enjoy this beautiful sunny day at The Black Whale City Island outside patio.
It was perfect in its eclectic, odd garden way! With stone statuary, potted plants, trees breaking through the brick floor pavers and mismatched items everywhere! Very charming and cheerful!
The menu is varied with many choices from soups and salads to sandwiches and wraps to pasta dishes and entrees and everything in between!
I started with their Lentil soup that was the ultimate comfy food! It was very fragrant with a nice hearty stock with chunks of ham between the lentils and carrots!
We also had the penne alla vodka with chicken that was good with a nice light sauce but it could have had more chicken in it.
My Cobb Salad with grilled beef filet was chocked full of tomatoes, bacon, corn, avocados and blue cheese with a side of creamy peppercorn dressing. It was huge, so half came with me for tomorrow.
We decided on the baby whale which was a Minnie Sunday with vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, whip cream and sprinkled! It was simple yet a wonderful ending!
Don’t forget their brunch on Sunday’s and they Will be having a special Mother’s Day menu coming soon! #blackwhalecafe #cityisland #bestofthebronx #bestofthebronxdining #bronxyum #bronxfood #bronxcuisine #cityislandnyc #cityislandresturants

Arrived around 615 to an empty restaurant and had to wait at least 10 min before receiving at least wtwr and bread. then waited another 10 minutes before the waiter took our drink menu. btw the waiter was very attentive. food lacked flavor internally. drenched in sauces. dumpling soy sauce was very salty and the empanada bean dip is a fluke, which is really black beans, tomatoes and onions but not at all dip just all clumped in a dish. mashed potatoes are not real potatoes but instant. some woman was moving relics and asking for customers to buy her items. restaurant does have a romantic feel but food lacks true flavor and authenticity. will not be returning

We’ve actually been here several times because the brunch was so delicious. Sadly, this morning I felt wasn’t what I was expecting. I made a reservation for two adults and a child– my daughter is 11. The back patio was open for the first day and only had one family, but we were ushered to a corner in the patio. My daughter was offered coffee, which seemed strange, but then when I got the bill, we were billed as 3 adults. No one thought to ask how old she was, and I’m baffled why she’d be listed as an adult. Their menu lists children as 12 and under. I let the server know as we left but didnt argue the bill– they can keep the difference, and I’ll rethink coming back. In the future, they should ask ages, and should generally refrain from offering children coffee.

Had a great time at the Black Whale, taking full advantage of the Seaside Trolley and all its Perks. They were very understanding of the 5 kids on our table (1 year through 9 years). They also served my son who has celiac great gluten free spaghetti and made the other kids happy with the food options, and our wallets happy with the bill. All around a great experience.

First visit, came in to try the Sunday brunch. I must say I wasn’t impressed. We sat in one room but had to walk to another room to select brunch items. And if you wanted a omelette you had to walk outside, where there is additional seating. I tried everything here and the only thing I will remember are the tiny crème brules, I did like those but as for the rest it wasn’t the quality I expected for the price. Service was slow, I waited quite a bit for a coffee refill. The place was busy but not packed.
Overall, first experience was OK not really worth a second for me.
Happy Unilocaling :)

Came here one night while waiting on friends. Only got appetizers and a drink.
The appetizer sampler was delicious and the wings were so good I’d go back just for them!
My drink however, barely had alcohol and tasted like juice so I could have saved myself a couple bucks there and actually ordered JUICE lol.
Love the ambience. Nice and quiet, lighting isn’t super bright or dim, and the staff was friendly. Definitely a nice little nook to hide (and eat) in.

Really cool and quaint little place on City Island, perfect for a weekend brunch. Staff is very friendly and attentive. The interior design is eclectic featuring interestingly placed antiques such as church stain glass windows, mismatched furniture, and nautical décor giving it a very cozy feeling. Crab cakes are delicious and enormous (I still have dreams about mine) and this is one of the few places you can find a good Dark n’ Stormy, or two… just keep your Über number on hand!

This is the very top place on City Island. it would rank as above average even in Manhattan. Seafood is actually the weak link. Our party had average, probably farm raised salmon.
But all other dishes were excellent. Large St Louis style ribs, (not the inferior «baby back ribs» (served by many restaurants to cut costs) were the highlight. The vegetables-​superb mashed potatoes and green beans, rare in a restaurant but needed for a healthy diet. Appetizers were topped by an authentic chorizo filled quesadilla. The large portions left us unable to try the reputedly good desserts. Prices are competitive for the area and less than Manhattan.

I love the black whale! This place has been a staple on city island since I was a child. The food is consistently delicious with great specials, and their dessert is always great. I love the shabby chic décor and local artistry displayed throughout the restaurant. Their menu is well priced and on certain days of the week they host old movie nights.

Just left the The Black Whale, food was very good. I was not disappointed its unique in its own way. I had the tilapia and black beans with tomatoes and corn. It was well prepared. It came with string beans and rice. I enjoyed the place, it was quiet, staff was polite and professional. I will go back and enjoy another meal. It’s not your typical seafood place you will find on City Island. When in City Island stop by and enjoy.

Really enjoyed coming here for a Sunday brunch this passed summer. It was a beautiful day so we got to sit outside! It was slightly annoying that we had to walk inside and to a separate room to grab our food, but that is just me being picky!
Food was great! Nice blend of different items and even cultures. There was an amazing spanish breakfast lasagna that I could not stop eating! Then they had your typical breakfast foods like waffles, eggs, bacon, etc. Even the little dessert cups were fantastic. Im not so sure what everything was, but they looked like little pudding cups, or crème brueles. My friend and I sat there for almost two hours just enjoying the beautiful atmosphere, the food, and getting lost in conversation. The price for the brunch is decent, I was just a little upset you have to pay separate for a mimosa. It would have been nice if at least 1 was included in the overall brunch price.

Great back outside sitting area and so pretty and relaxing. Lately I been somewhat disappointed in the food. I always loved it but the last few times wasn’t as good. It’s a great spot with friendly staff and comfortable setting.

Amazing atmosphere, beautiful staff who make you feel at home /​Brunch was amazing and reasonable. Loved sipping my tea outdoors with a fresh omelet aimed to please.

You can say that the Black Whale is kind of the oddball among the many restaurants on City Island. Surrounded by eateries with bright fluorescent lights and big signs, the Black Whale sits on a corner almost blending into the neighboring buildings on City Island Avenue. Don’t be fooled though, The Black Whale is a gem and has some of the best food and ambiance City Island has to offer.
The restaurant itself is very eclectic, the dining areas are compartmentalized into two separate rooms and they also have a back garden/​courtyard area to sit during nicer weather. Think of the feel of the Black Whale as a converted old house — wooden floors, mismatched tables and chairs, etc. It’s imperfection is what gives the restaurant its charm.
The dinner menu has a number of choices, but what the Black Whale is best known for is dessert and brunch. The desserts are very good and large enough to share.
I recently visited for their brunch, which was awesome. Their brunch is a buffet and for $ 15.95/person you get a lot; they had a selection of sausage, bacon, pancakes, eggs Benedict, bread pudding, French toast, pancakes, scrambled eggs, rice balls, crème brûlée, plus a selection of danish and dry cereal. Additionally, you can have omelettes or waffles made to order.
Service was great, they were attentive and periodically checked up to see if we needed anything.
I’m looking forward to going back in nicer weather so I can take advantage of the outside seating area. I definitely recommend — it’s a nice alternative to your typical City Island restaurant.

I love this place. It’s cute, cozy and totally funkylicious. I’ve been here twice with my sister’s for brunch. I like the vibe of Black Whale.
The food selection is great and they cater to all taste buds. You’re not stuck with trying to figure out what to eat, because they provide a dish for everyone.
Their bread pudding is to die for. Jesussss! Their crème brûlée omg!!!
But there is a downer to all this glory– mimosas are not included :-(
I’m not dismissing this cute spot, I will definitely be here again…

This is a very cute, local place located in the heart of City Island. I went there for brunch last week with a friend and their brunch was delicious, and all for $ 16.95 a person.
They offer an omelette stand, where they could also make fresh waffles. A variety of breakfast goodies from croissants, cereals, fruit, bacon, sausage with even some lunch options including penna alle vodka and eggplant rollatini.
You have to try the bread pudding! So thick and tasty!
Continuous coffee or beverage is included, with one alcoholic beverage, Bloody Mary or Mimosa.
Parking is a little tough but that’s expected on CI.
Happy eating!

I’ll go on a limb and say this is the best food you can get on city island. Pricey, but worth it if you want a delicious meal. The brisket is usually my go-​to option, but I ordered the cuban the last time I was there and it was just as good. When its nice out they have a section in the back that you can eat outdoors which is always cool.
Will surely return.

Cons:
— We came here because we purchased a deal on
for $ 25 off of $ 50 or more worth of food. When we presented it to our waitress, she said nicely but very matter-​of-​factly that her boss stopped accepting this particular deal and we could take it up with the website
— I went to take a bite of Brian’s grilled cheese and brisket sandwich and found a big, black hair. When we showed the waitress, she apologized, but didn’t really do or say anything to indicate that she wanted to salvage our experience
— When she asked me how I was liking my Mediterranean salad and I said «Meh, it’s ok» she said «yeah, it’s kind of plain, but most people like it» … again, not even an effort to see if I wanted something else
Pros:
— Despite the fact that she wasn’t really attuned to our dissatisfaction with the experience, our waitress was nice
— Our appetizer dumplings and mussels weren’t bad
Final Word: Why would I go back to a restaurant with lackluster customer service, moderately priced food, and questionable (at least based on our sole experience) sanitation when there are a ton of other restaurants on City Island???