Buoy One - Riverhead

Had a lovely experience enjoying an early dinner at Buoy One. Our server, Clare, was really considerate in seating us outside out of the sun's glare. After a qu... read more Had a lovely experience enjoying an early dinner at Buoy One. Our server, Clare, was really considerate in seating us outside out of the sun's glare. After a quick review of the specials menu...we settled on a 1/2 pitcher of Blueberry Margaritas another of Peach Sangria. Both arrived with 7-8 minutes or so were made fresh. They were both refreshing not too sweet (my concern always) at all! We ordered the lobster bake (whole steamed 1 1/4lb lobster, shrimp, clams mussels) and the Cod Shrimp burger. We were served within 20 minutes by Clare. The lobster was slightly overdone but delicious nonetheless, the accompanying shellfish were very tasty too. We both substituted our potatoes for freshly made onion rings which turned out to be a great choice! We'll be returning highly recommend you visit if you're in the neighborhood.

Had another nice meal at the Buoy while out visiting family in the burbs. Sat on the outside patio on a perfect summer weekend. Cooler weather with lower humidi... read more Had another nice meal at the Buoy while out visiting family in the burbs. Sat on the outside patio on a perfect summer weekend. Cooler weather with lower humidity was terrific to enjoy a cold local brew and cheat meal of fried fish goodness. As always, very nice service and worth the cost. Snowflake ice cream across the street is the best for a cold creamy dessert!

We wanted to have fresh oysters, found this place by great reviews. This place is fish market/restaurant. Only one server with more than 10 tables, needs to be... read more We wanted to have fresh oysters, found this place by great reviews. This place is fish market/restaurant. Only one server with more than 10 tables, needs to be patient. 7 of us order 3 dozens of Oysters and other stuffs (steamed clams, linguine, stuffed clams etc). Very fresh oysters but lack of flavor with other kitchen foods.

First and foremost, there was no air conditioning. We were seated outside under umbrellas, but that left half of us in the shade and the other half exposed to t... read more First and foremost, there was no air conditioning. We were seated outside under umbrellas, but that left half of us in the shade and the other half exposed to the sun. We arrived early, following the restaurant's advice, and were seated and placing our orders by 4:30. After two guests ordered scallops, our server informed us that they had just run out—at 4:30. To stay cool and hydrated, we requested ice for our drinks, only to be told they were out of ice. When the shrimp arrived, which used to be the best I've ever had, they looked pale and, more importantly, they hadn't been cleaned properly. There were visible remnants of the deveining through the batter, making them quite unappetizing. I ended up removing the breading and deveining the shrimp myself, only to find they were overcooked and tough. Friends who know how much I love Buoy One were shocked and asked if the restaurant had “slipped.” This might have been just a bad night, but I'm not eager to return to find out. I used to travel from Pennsylvania specifically to dine here because it was that good. The owner is a talented and capable woman, and I can only guess that these issues occurred outside her control. I’m not sure if the restaurant has changed ownership or what led to the closure of the other location, but I’m concerned about its future. This is a disappointing review for me. If you don’t have air conditioning, consider installing awnings so your guests don’t have to endure the heat. If your ice machine is broken, send someone to get bags of ice. And please, do not let the quality of your amazing menu items falter. UPDATE: I emailed Lorraine as requested. She replied, attributing the mistakes to her staff and the heat, and offered me a $100 gift card to take down the review. Six hours later, she emailed again to say that North Forker magazine had rated them the best seafood on the North Fork, implying my review wouldn’t matter. I declined the gift card and am keeping the review up because it reflects our real experience, and I’m uncomfortable being compensated to remove it. She’s lost a loyal customer in me. Buyer beware.

I visited the restaurant earlier today and had an incredible experience thanks to my waitress, Drea! She was outstanding, especially considering the difficult c... read more I visited the restaurant earlier today and had an incredible experience thanks to my waitress, Drea! She was outstanding, especially considering the difficult conditions she and her colleagues have to endure. With the summer heat outside, it was quite uncomfortable in the restaurant, lacking both fans and air conditioning. I can’t imagine how tough it must be for the staff to work under these circumstances every day. It’s concerning that a business can operate without ensuring a suitable environment for its employees, as the absence of AC makes their jobs significantly harder. Despite the heat, Drea remained professional and efficient, but I believe that having air conditioning would greatly improve her working conditions. My advice to the management is simple: install AC or consider shutting down.