STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Wow, you've landed on The Rock! Welcome, friend. Now, your eating options depend on how much time you've got on your hands. Staten Island has excellent restaurants within walking distance to the Ferry. But if you're in a rush or not looking linger too long, here are your food options at the St. George Ferry Terminal.
Pamela Silvestri
In the mood for pizza?
Good news! Staten Island is a glorious place for pizza! If you can't make it to some of our famous places outside the Ferry terminal, there's ZZ's Pizza and Bar. They've got a full booze menu plus a few stools and tables to cop a bite and brew.
Pamela Silvestri
Feel like sitting down?
Recently, the River Dock Cafe opened in the terminal. It's a more sophisticated-looking restaurant than the others but you can sit down inside with flatscreen TVs and a bar in a dining room that peeks out to the busy New York Harbor. There's also an outdoor dining section. River Dock is primarily a seafood restaurant but the menu carries casual American options like Buffalo wings, burgers and sandwiches.
Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com
Cooling options
Ferris Wheel Yogurt and Smoothie Cafe (formerly Tasty Delights) vends smoothies, frozen yogurt (slang check: "fro-yo," yo), ice cream, fresh juices, fruit cups, coffee, soft drinks, panini, wraps, Jamaican patties, hot dogs and nachos. You can buy food here from the ferry terminal proper or while waiting for the next boat. By the way, its name hails from the news of a Ferris wheel coming some day to the Island — presumptuous, perhaps in an all-out naming of a food stand over the attraction. But people are excited for its arrival!
(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
A quick fix.
The national brand puts out its predictable menu mainly of coffee and pastries. It's quick — you're in and out, bada bing bada boom — plus it's super close the waiting area for the next boat.
Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com
And another quickie stop.
Watersedge Cafe (pronounced: Water's Edge Cafe) sells all sorts of stuff from cupcakes to nachos and soft drinks, tchotchkes, newspapers, the lottery and so on. Oh, yeah, and they sell beer enticingly served over ice and available for the brown-bagging.
Pamela Silvestri
Soft pretzel alert.
Island Soft Pretzel Stop has some filling Philly-pretzel-style options that include a pizza version. They also sell a whole bunch of other stuff — freshly popped popcorn, peanuts, candies, bananas and the lottery, an important thing for select Staten Islanders who tend to be very lucky with New York State Lotto.
(Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)
The Statue of Liberty is here!
Kidding! Statue of Liberty Cafe, as the name suggests, features Statue of Liberty-esque nick nacks. Hey, you don't even have to visit Liberty Island — that's what the Staten Island Ferry is for! Keeping with the American spirit, ther's pure American enterprise going on at this little stall that sells out of two sides of the terminal. Staff can give a quick hand-off of beer for those running for The Boat. The menu reads like that of a diner (with no seating) proclaiming burgers, sandwiches, breakfast items like bagels, pancakes and omelets illustrated for your convenience. You can buy food, t-shirts, keepsake mugs (and the lottery, of course) all in one shot!
Hilton Flores
Standard fare. with seats!
There's Subway and DQ Grill 'n' Chill. Ya know — it's just fast food, although both have places to sit and chill.
Pamela Silvestri
Wait, there's more!
Food (and beer) are available on some Staten Island Ferry boats. The John F. Kennedy sells soft drinks, coffee, ice cream and quick eats. It ain't fancy — but taking a free ride and snacking on Jamaican patties with that harbor view. the experience is priceless.
Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com
Just to review.
There's booze to be found all over the Staten Island Ferry terminal.
Pamela Silvestri
Did you know? If the weather permits, there's an outdoor, upstairs pavilion overlooking River Dock Cafe's patio section where you can take your food and eat on a bench, nary a crowd to be found.
But remember.
You must disembark from the Staten Island Ferry: Rest assured, (chortle) the Ferry crew will shoo you off. Once your orange sea queen docks, no snoozing, studying maps, malingering, potty-breaking or lollygagging are allowed, so you're gonna have to pass through the terminal. You're stuck with us, man — like it or not — for at least five minutes. Might as well mangia!
Pamela Silvestri | silvestri@siadvance.com
