The Jolly Fisherman & Steak House

My husband, in-​laws and I went here to celebrate my birthday. It was our first time visiting this place. My pregnancy craving on this day called for seafood, so we thought this was the perfect spot!
We were greeted by a woman at the coat check who took our jackets. We made reservations for 6pm on a Saturday night, and even then the restaurant was not full. It did, however, fill up within an hour of us arriving, so reservations are definitely recommended! We requested a seat by the windows overlooking the water, and our request was fulfilled.
The waitstaff was very professional. Our waiter, Bob, was so nice and informative of all the menu items we had questions on. To start, we ordered the golden fried calamari and crispy shrimp dumplings. Both of these items were well-​seasoned and delicious. We would definitely order these items again. We also received (for free) a basket full of baked goods, as well as assorted olives and veggies with ranch dressing for dipping. The mini cornbread was definitely a hit at our table!
For our entrees, I ordered the broiled Atlantic salmon with a salad and baked potato. I asked how the salmon was seasoned, and Bob told us that it was minimally seasoned, with just salt, pepper, and butter, but that he could ask the chef to put whatever seasonings I wanted on it. I did not request any special seasonings, and I asked that the salmon be cooked all the way through. My salmon came out juicy and cooked to perfection. It came with a lemon wedge, which I used to season it further. I was nervous about the minimal seasoning, but it was actually better than I thought. I think I would order the stuffed baked potato next time, which is similar to a twice baked potato. For dessert, I ordered just a bowl of vanilla ice cream, but my father-​in-​law ordered a bowl of ice cream as well, and he was able to pick a few flavors instead of having just one flavor.
The restaurant is a little on the nicer side — I probably would have dressed up a little more, but considering I’m pregnant, I had no shame in wearing jeans and Pumas. I would definitely come back to this restaurant again, as it was one of the better seafood places I’ve been to.

First off, the service is really nice! Our waiter was attentive and kind. However, the atmosphere was dated and many of the customers were elderly. I do not imagine this place to be a trendy spot to go out with friends. The food was clean and the portions were big. My friend had a salmon that was too bland. I had the steamed lobster, and it was great.

Great place to sit and have a great meal — only down side is the issue to find parking if you don’t want to use their Valet service — other than that — you’ll have a terrific dinner at a reasonable price.

Faat, clean, great food and aervice. Went at 3pm on a Sunday in November. It’s a perfect place to look outside and fresh seafood

When I visited New York, this was the designated gathering place for our family. The surrounding of the restaurant was so peaceful and welcoming. This is a very popular place for local residents. It seemed everybody knows everybody. This time I noticed the food was not taste as good as before; however, the quality of the ingredients were still fresh. The complimentary breadbasket was still awesome.

The food was pretty decent. The venue was nice. I hate valet parking and they of course had valet parking. The host was super nice and the décor was very nice. He also gave us a nice table and the view was great because it overlooks the lake. We got the swordfish steak that was pretty good and branzioni I think Is what it was called, which is the European sea bass. Both fish were pretty decent. The only thing I didn’t like was the broccoli. It was just a big uncut vegetable with no flavor. Order the zucchini instead. It was prepared with more effort. Also，when we packed it up, they removed the fish skin for us, which was pretty nice. I Want to give 4.5 stars, but I can’t. So I’m just going to round up. Lol

Be sure to arrive on an empty stomach! The Jolly Fisherman makes sure you leave nice and full and the food is delicious. Each table gets a massive delicious bread basket full of corn bread, raisin-​nut bread and a few freshly baked rolls as well as olives and a small veggie platter with ranch dressing. All their fish is fresh and prepared to perfection– I wish I had room for desert because it looks amazing.
The staff for the most part are friendly and very pleasant. The bartenders are always smiling and polite. The last time we were there we did have a terrible waitress who we thought at one point forgot our table completely (most of the room was complaining to management about her) but we’ve been here so many times that one bad waitress/​experience won’t hold me back from returning.
It is a much much older crowd, which doesn’t bother me for the most part other than yes, I am very heavily tattooed and I do get stared and gaucked at (one woman actually said «isn’t she embarrassed?!») but I have a thick skin and I don’t let narrow minded people that are from a different era get to me– I’m sure when I get to be their age I’ll have issues with younger trends as well!
All and all the Jolly fisherman is a great date-​night spot and I highly recommend them!

Many years ago this was a good restaurant, but now it has gone totally down hill.
When I was there a few weeks ago with my mother we had one order of shrimp and one order of the fisherman’s platter. The shrimp tasted bland and without any seasoning or flavor. The fisherman’s platter was likewise undistinguished.
Coming from further away it was definitely not worth the effort.

I’ve eaten here a few times. The food is very good, but the place is expensive. They serve the meal on white linen tablecloths, and the waitstaff is well dressed. The restaurant definitely tries to make it a fine dining experience. On every table before you order, they serve nut bread, corn muffins, rolls, vegetable crudité (including radishes), and olives. The calamari is good here. They have a lot of good seafood. Again, overall it’s a great restaurant, but it’s pricey. Be prepared to spend at least $ 30 per person (minimum) and possibly much more than that. Depending on the time of year you go, you may be able to see Roslyn Pond, which the restaurant overlooks, outside the window. However, when the trees have leaves in summer and spring, then the trees can block the view. The restaurant only offers valet parking in their lot. I’ve never had a problem with their valet, but I hate all valet parking everywhere in general. The street parking in Roslyn is difficult, but fortunately, there is a municipal metered parking lot with about 50 spaces about 1 block away from the restaurant (and the metered lot takes credit cards). Overall, the food is good, and I recommend this restaurant.

I am always hesitant to go to Jolly. It is old school kind of place with both the crutite, the staff and the majority of patrons. BUT, tonight had the excellent yellow fin tuna with a nice wasabi sauce on the side. Cannot recall having a better piece of tuna. My nephew started with the wedge, which looked amazing with thick cut bacon and wedges of blue cheese. I will not make make the error of not getting the wedge next time. As a nice finish, the prices are refreshingly old school as well. Not a high cool factor but really good meal at good price.

The staff was polite, courteous and friendly, and the Chef stopped by our table to say hello. The seafood was excellent. Everybody raved over their meals. The Cherrystones and Macadamia nut-​crusted Salmon was a home run for me and the portion was more than most places normally serve. They even had locally brewed beer on draft from the Oyster Bay Brewing Company. Now that sealed the deal for me!
I don’t understand what all the talk is about in some reviews on an older crowd. When a restaurant is in business nearly 60 years you’re going to have a strong following of satisfied customers. It was a very mixed crowd like you would expect any restaurant to have.
If you love seafood you will love The Jolly Fisherman

Always always a great meal here. Place has been around forever and there is good reason. Freshest fish here. Great seafood lobster, scallops, shrimp all great here. Recently redecorated, some complain about an older crowd here. I’m going to eat, I don’t care how old a person is sitting at the next table. I’m here for the food. You won’t be disappointed at this great establishment.

Sat at bar. Bartender was very nice.
Restaurant smells like a musty basement. Had a quiet meal which is what we wanted. Bread is outstanding!!! Came with some sort of spread. Enough of a meal to just have this amazing bread and we should have stopped there. The shrimp was uneventful and tired
and the sole was too heavy.
Valet parking in a cute town. Visit the duck pond while you are there.

This is a great seafood place! The broiled seafood plater I had was wonderful and the atmosphere outstanding! We have a super waiter, friendly and efficient, and someone who made a point of relating to us and making us feel welcome.
If you want great seafood, a nice lake view, and good service, this is the place for you.
I don’t know why the one reviewer hates older people, but that he would make such a comment pretty much made me dismiss anything he had to say…
Who knows, I“m in my 50s and my wife younger, so maybe he was taking about me!
Enjoy the best seafood in Roslyn and the area!

This place should really be called the Jolly Fisherman Retirement Home.
They have valet here and when I pulled in the attendant told me there were no more spots left and to park somewhere else even though I was eating here. After I found a spot on the street i saw cars pull in with people older than I get their car valeted. If the valet is only for elderly people that’s fine with me just don’t lie to my face.
Once inside I sat down with my group which was pretty large over 10 people. The food was mediocre and lacked flavor, most of us got a seafood dish. And the wait staff were very rude.
Pro:
None
Cons:
Rude wait staff
Feels like a retirement home
Mediocre food at high prices
I highly suggest you go somewhere else.

The fisherman’s platter is perfect. You want to get it. The scallops are super soft and the crust is crisp. So was the shrimp and clams. The date bread was addicting and I don’t even like dates. and the long island duck, at first the bite was wierd because orange brandy glaze tasted odd, but the second bite grows on you. since the duck is so moist, glaze or no glaze it was amazing! Great spot near school!

We went during Christmas for dinner, and from the first course to the dessert — everything was just enjoyable.
The service is excellent, had such an accommodating waiter — funny one too!
I had the duck with brandy and orange glaze — best dish I’ve had here so far. The sauce was tasty, and the duck was juicy — the skin perfectly crisped. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water again. Definitely the highlight of my Christmas meal.

Must be a picky crowd. We came for a large catered dinner, and holy cow if we didn’t have one of best seafood dinners we’ve had in a long while. Excellent clam chowder, perfectly cooked sole, potato and spinach. I probably wouldn’t schlep from the city, but if I find myself in Roslyn again and I’m looking for a nice dinner? I’d absolutely hit the Jolly Fisherman again. Great meal and lovely service.

I don’t get all the bad reviews. Went there last night at 6:00 for dinner and everything was fantastic. This was my first visit and I almost didn’t go because of some of these reviews. Glad I ignored them.
Started off with escargot, which was a special item. Cooked perfectly and couldn’t stop eating bread dipped in the garlic & parsley butter. For an entrée I had the 2 pound lobster stuffed with Lump Crab a la Maison. It was superb! The broiling created a slight char on some of the legs that imparted a nice grill like flavor to the stuffing.
My wife had the Branzino with lemon, wine and capers. My friend’s wife had the Orange Roughy and asked that is be prepared with lemon, white wine and garlic. My friend had Bluepoint oysters and then the Boston Scrod «Chicago style», which essentially is broiled with garlic, butter and some breadcrumbs sprinkled on top.
No one had a single complaint about the food or the service. And about the service, if you are there on a Saturday night ask to be seated at a table waited on by Sergio. He was very pleasant and on top of everything. We never had to ask him for anything, he just knew when you needed something. In fact, I asked him if they ever have Lobster Thermidor as a special. He said no and later sent the chef to our table to talk about it. The chef was equally pleasant to chat with.
We will definitely be back again.

The Sea was angry that day, and so was the crowd at the Jolly Fisherman. I knew it was trouble before we even got out of the car. I saw the line of people waiting to pull into the parking lot and the crowd trying to break the door down to get to into the restaurant. These were folks who were not to be denied their Mother’s Day Dinner.
Once entering the establishment it was clear that they were way over booked. We ended up waiting an hour for our table despite our reservation. The reception area that we waited in was extremely over crowded. It felt like being stuck in the middle of a game of bumper cars with all the walkers and wheel chairs bullying their way around.
Not once did the reception manger offer any concession due to the unreasonable wait and close quarter «holding cell» conditions. IMO this was management trying to make a quick buck by not turning anyone’s reservation request away. Instead what they did was piss a whole bunch of people off that won’t return.
Oh yeah about the food, It was predictably terrible. It was clear from the chaos in the front of the restaurant that the quality in kitchen would most likely be subpar. And it was. My brother got diarrhea. And the sweats.
We will be somewhere else for Father’s Day, that’s for sure.