 Intro
One of the few waterfront restaurants on the island, The Galley has a prime
location on Cliffside Beach, an ideal spot to view the sunset. The
proprietors, David and Geofrey Silva, continue the family tradition
supervising one of 's outstanding restaurants. The food
under the supervision of chef Steven Polowy is a gourmet's delight.
The atmosphere of this wonderful restaurant is most appealing, so
be sure to time your reservation to watch the sun set. You are in
for a perfect night out. Daily casual lunches are also popular
Ambiance:
Whether walking along the beach or driving up Jefferson
Avenue, passersby notice the brightly colored flower boxes
and the green striped canopy, the signatures of The Galley
Restaurant. During the day or late afternoon you can sit
at casual outdoor tables, best suited for drinks or snacks.
But this attractive place is most appealing after the crowds
have left the beach, the life guard station is empty, and
the sun slowly sinks into the sea. Inside the main entrance
is a small room with a piano and a few tables for drinks.
The dining room has a canopied roof overhead. In fine weather
the breezes filter through the room, but clear plastic
sides are used when the weather turns cool or stormy, still
allowing an excellent view of sound. The evening
dining room atmosphere is relaxed and the emphasis is on
the view rather than the interior. This July night, the
tables were filled with family and friends laughing and
in high conversation, while waiters moved carefully about.
Tables for two and four line the outer edges with larger
groups clustered in the center of the room. White table
cloths cover the surface of each table with a single red
geranium adding a splash of color. You definitely feel
like you are on at The Galley.
Food: 
 The
food we sampled was superb. There are six
warm and six cold appetizers offered, ranging
from tapas tartlet of beef carpaccio, lobster
spring rolls, veal sweet breads, Hudson Valley
foie gras to more traditional clam chowder,
crab cakes and a host of salads. We tried
the night's special, escargot served with
garlic and a shaved endive and anjou pear
salad with blue cheese. These arrived on
modern white square plates, most artistically
arranged. The taste equaled the presentation
and every bite was one to savor. Next came
the entrees. The black striped bass, which
can be quite bland, was flavorful served
as a one inch thick rectangular portion with
a crunchy crisp surface and a delicate sauce. "When
I come again, I will definitely order this!" was
the comment of one reviewer. The carmelized
sea scallops won equal raves. Chocolate ganache
and zabaglione were the perfect finale to
this extraordinary dinner. A minor weakness,
the bread, was good but not irresistible,
not true of everything else served!
Other Observations:
The last time we visited The
Galley a thunderstorm raged, which
was very dramatic and interesting,
but this time our experience was
more typical. It was a warm summer
night with a gentle breeze and even
with two plastic sides down, the
view was lovely. There were a number
of men with jackets, the women were
all dressed for an evening out, and
the festive atmosphere made you feel
this night was an occasion. This
is an expensive restaurant, but for
the setting and the meal, the price
is right!
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