Summer Escape: City Island

Just beyond Pelham Bay Park, on the western end of the Long Island Sound, is a Bronx seafood lover's utopia: City Island. (Story and photos by Rachelle Anthony)

It is an island of restaurants, with many to choose from like Lobster House, Sea Shore, Sammy’s Fish Box, and the Black Whale. Portofino Restaurant offers Italian cuisine, as well as seafood and steaks. The popular Puerto Rican Restaurant Don Coqui joined the list of restaurants on City Island when it opened doors last year.

Sammy’s Fish Box is an island favorite, known to many simply as Sammy’s. Its menu features broiled, fried or baked fish and shrimp, snow crab legs, whole Maine lobster, filet mignon, baby back ribs, and chicken.

Tony Correa, dining at Sammy's, summed up his experience, “It was good. I had chicken and ribs.” It was not his first time at Sammy’s. Correa also recommended the Black Whale Restaurant.

City Island has family restaurants like Seafood City, an energetic, loud cafeteria-style spot with outdoor seating and arcade games. "It has a nice atmosphere," said patron Robert Murray who said Seafood City was his favorite for kids. "Crowded, but nice and the price is reasonable.”

After your meal, if you want to satisfy a craving for something cold and sweet, you can head over to the Lickety Split Ice cream shop. It's hard to drive pass Lickety Split’s attractive green house with white windows without stopping.

Another reason to make your way to City Island is for antiquing at stores like the Treasure Antique Shop.

City Island is relatively tranquil and less densely populated than the rest of the Bronx with about 4,400 residents.

City Island Bridge connects the community to the mainland Bronx.

For boat lovers, the island is also home to several yacht clubs like the Stuyvesant Yacht Club, the Harlem Yacht Club, the City Island Yacht Club, and the Morris Yacht and Beach Club.