The Shack
The Shack is a charming outdoor dog-friendly spot in Centerport, NY, known for its casual dining with a focus on seafood and comfort food. It offers great outdoor seating in a beautiful setting with a relaxing atmosphere and friendly service. The menu includes a variety of options like Cajun chicken burgers, lobster rolls, crab cakes, and fried clams. The Shack provides amenities such as free parking and accessibility features, making it suitable for families, kids, and pets. While the food portions and prices can vary, it remains a popular spot for visitors and locals alike, especially those visiting nearby attractions like the Vanderbilt Museum.
Reviews
We visited the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium close by but the museum cafe closed early so we visited the Shack for a quick lunch before our 3pm planetarium show. The food was great and service was very quick. We enjoyed the catfish sandwich and the pairing of fish with fresh slaw and some sauerkraut was perfect. Parking was easy and the atmosphere was relaxing. They are open 7 days a week. Great spot for food if you are visiting the Vanderbilt Museum.
Beautiful outdoors restaurant. The portions and food are great. Friendly staff. The food takes a little bit to be ready however it’s worth the wait.
My husband and I have been Shack fans for years; this is our second visit there this summer. We ordered a cold lobster roll, crab cakes, and fried clams. While still very good, I noticed the portion of lobster salad in the cold lobster roll was definitely smaller than last year’s. The amount of whole lobster pieces was also less (most of it was ground up lobster). If you are as picky as I am w/lobster rolls (lol) it wasnt as satisfying as I expected. Crab cakes (2) were delicious, (perfectly seasoned and the right proportion of crab to bread crumbs), if a tad bit overdone. My husband’s fried clams and fries were perfectly done and delicious w/crunchy coating and tender clams inside…also a smaller portion than last year. Cost: NULL
Would we return? Yes, but it isn’t our first choice for seafood as it has been in the past.
I paid NULL for two lobster rolls, NULL each for what looked like a sample at a food festival.I blinked and thought the appetizer arrived early—turns out, that was the main dish.
You’d expect something generous at that price, but these were tiny, with barely enough filling to justify half the cost. I’ve had appetizers with more substance.
To those who might say “it’s about quality, not quantity I get that. But even the quality was just decent, not exceptional. When you’re charging premium prices, the food should reflect it in both flavor and portion. Unfortunately, it felt more like a case of cutting corners than offering a refined experience.
Overall, it came off as cheap with their portions and value. Definitely not worth NULL a roll, and I left still hungry and disappointed.
Stumbled across The Shack today while road-tripping through Long Island and it was fantastic! It’s very cute and has great outdoor seating. Jen took my order and welcomed me warmly. The menu is mostly seafood which I don’t eat but I had the Cajun chicken burger with fries and coleslaw and that was perfect for a beautiful afternoon sitting outside. It’s definitely a casual spot. Would love to go back next time I am in town!