Chinar on the Island

Staten Island, United States

3.7

Open now

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
Free Wi-Fi

Contacts

QR code, vCard

Telephone:
+1 718-390-5305
Website:
chinarontheisland.com
Address:
283 Sand Ln, Staten Island, NY, 10305
Arrochar
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
0.7 miNarrows Rd S/Fingerboard Rd parada de buses X1 X10 para ir a Bloomingdale's
0.8 miBattery Rd/Air Force Reserve parada para bajar del S81
0.9 miNew York Av/Drum Av -Bldg 209 parada para bajar del S81
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Bussiness info

Takes Reservations
Yes
Delivery
Yes
Take-out
Yes
Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
Good For
Dinner
Parking
Private Lot
Bike Parking
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible
Yes
Good for Kids
Yes
Good for Groups
Yes
Attire
Dressy
Ambience
Casual
Noise Level
Quiet
Alcohol
Full Bar
Outdoor Seating
Yes
Wi-Fi
Free
Has TV
Yes
Dogs Allowed
No
Waiter Service
Yes
Caters
Yes

Today

Today 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Open now
Local time (Staten Island) 21:19 Thursday, 29 May 2025

Business hours

Monday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Tuesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Wednesday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Thursday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Friday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Saturday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am – 11:00 pm

Description

Specialties

Chinar on the Island is the best Mediterranean restaurant in Staten Island. Since Chinar’s founding in 2004, the restaurant has held the mission to bring an unforgettable dining experience, not only with our food, but also with our phenomenal and welcoming atmosphere.

Chinar on the Island only uses the finest and freshest ingredients in all of our dished. Our chefs are able to use these ingredients and cook them to perfection and then serving them in a setting that takes you to an outdoor café nestled in a small Mediterranean town. Thankfully, we are conveniently located just over the Verrazano Bridge, so no need to bring your passport. Chinar on the Island is easily accessible to all Staten Islanders and for city dwellers to take the short drive to for an impromptu night out.

We can’t wait for you to come to Chinar on the Island and escape the city and dwell in our encompassing atmosphere.

History

Established in 2004.

For more than 10 years, Chinar on the Island has been proving Staten Islanders the best Mediterranean food in the area. By only using the finest ingredients partnered with an atmosphere that transports you from Staten Island to a small café off the Mediterranean shore. Our chefs perfectly prepare your meals that will take your taste buds on unique trip. We look forward to continuing to serve you and provide with a place to escape the city.

Meet the Business Owner

Tea C.

Business Owner

As the owner of Chinar on the Island, Tea is committed to providing exceptional Mediterranean cuisine along with a great atmosphere that promotes friends gathering and enjoying each other’s company. Tea can’t wait for you and your friends to come out to Chinar on the Island and enjoy a great meal all in a breathtaking atmosphere.

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20 reviews of Chinar on the Island

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Place rating: 2
Staten Island, NY
I’m not a regular here but time to time I come for dinner and today was very disappointing. I ordered a chicken kebab and it was horrible. It was so dry I couldn’t cut it with a knife. Tasted like it was done yesterday and microwaved for me today. I told the waiter about this and he was actually nice enough to offer not to pay for it, I still paid but I’m never coming back here again.
Place rating: 5
McGuire AFB, NJ
I Insisted we come here again for a celebratory dinner. We were seated promptly and attended to immediately. In a blink of an eye fresh bread, butter and hot delicious black tea was served.
The ambiance was festive and cozy. We ordered:
Garden salad, smoked eel over Basmati rice, potatoes with garlic and dill, herring, mushroom julienne and chicken kebab.
The garden salad was the absolute freshest and perfectly seasoned. My friend mentioned the dressing was tasted incredible.
Eel with avocado was tender and juicy, flavorful and delicious.
Potatoes with garlic and dill was bursting with garlic flavor, perfectly seasoned.
The herring was out of this world, not salty at all and absolutely fresh.
The rest of food items were at peak freshness and incredibly delicious.
Once again by the time the main course arrived, we were stuffed and just had room for dessert. I ordered my favorite, «smyetanik» which is a spongy cake with layers of a sweet/​sour cream mix.
We had the pleasure of meeting one of the owners, Tea. She was gracious and charming.
It was a wonderful day made complete.
Place rating: 4
Staten Island, NY
First time here and was pleasantly surprised. Staff was tentative and on top of everything. Fresh bread is outstanding and the appetizer (Lamb dumplings, cheese plate) were amazing. The entrees were cooked to perfection and my youngest ordered the burger platter which to our surprise was amazing. They have a fully stocked bar seating for intimate all the way to big groups. Plenty of parking and they accept credit cards. The desert menu is small but very good the Kiev cake was outstanding.
Place rating: 4
Staten Island, NY
We decided to try a new (to us) restaurant & chose Chinar on the Island, as the Unilocal & Trip Adviser reviews were positive.
This is an absolutely beautiful venue. The middle court-​yard area (with tables) is lovely, with «Chinar» trees in the center, underneath a mural on the ceiling of a picturesque blue sky. The surrounding area has private booths that are both comfortable and spacious.
The bread is delicious — piping hot & fresh. Our entrees were (1) lamb kabobs with rice and (2) shrimp & (gigantic) mussels over linguini in a light basil sauce. Hubby said the mussels were possibly among the best he’s ever had. The lamb was delicious, as was the white rice that accompanied it.
The dessert, an absolutely delicious Russian cake, was ‘to die for’; we just could not stop eating (until we finished it).
Our meal at Chinar was delicious and we left with very full tummy and look forward to our next visit.
Place rating: 4
Staten Island, NY
Nice place! Parking lot, beautiful décor, live music, good food and friendly staff.
Place rating: 5
Shore Acres, Staten Island, NY
Russian restaurant at its best. They call it Mediterranean food and all I know is that it’s delicious. We tried several appetizers and all were good same thing with the entrees. My fav is braised ribs in a marvelous gravy. Also try the salmon it’s very good. We usually don’t have room foe dessert they look great. We will continue to enjoy China’s wonderful treats.
Place rating: 4
Woodrow, Staten Island, NY
I was here in early June. Right off the top, the interior of this place is amazing. Very well decorated, and the music they had (some woman playing a brass instrument, I can’t remember exactly what) was perfect.
The food was mostly great. I had the Uzbek pilaf, it didn’t have the taste that everything else had, and I wasn’t expecting the little bones in the meat, but it did taste good and they give you a TON.
Service was great, and I’d definitely recommend this place.
Place rating: 5
Midland Beach, Staten Island, NY
Very good food and excellent service. Every time! Long time customer of at least 10 years and never had a bad experience. Under very good management now. I highly recommend! They are very flexible and accommodating to all your party needs as well.
Place rating: 1
Staten Island, NY
We went here a few months ago. We waited to be sat more than a half an hour. The restaurant was empty. The waiter and bartender I guess you would consider them were nasty and threw the menus on the table. We didn’t get water and no one spoke to us for another half hour… finally we left. 1 hour – no water – nofood – no one even took our drink order. I will not go back. If you want to stop by the décor is lovely but if you do not know someone who works there you are not being helped.
Place rating: 4
Staten Island, NY
It feels like your in another country when you step into Chinar. The décor makes you think your in Russia or another Mediterranean country. the menu though small will not disappoint you the usual standards of assorted kebabs lamb dishes and pickled vegetables are all good .The dessert menu is also small but I recommend the Kiev cake a combination of merengue chocolate and nuts yum, try this place for a different experience
Place rating: 1
Brooklyn, NY
Think twice before making a reservation here! Two hours before the party they called apologizing to say that the table we requested wasn’t available and they could move us to a smaller room that fits 6 people while we had 10. When we came back to get the deposit the staff was really rude too. Horrible service and disgusting attitude. Never ever again!
Place rating: 1
Shore Acres, Staten Island, NY
Had a boy’s night out here, and 4 out 10 people got sick. Diahrea isn’t my idea of fun. Sorry, but won’t be coming back.
Responded to owner so she could «make it right»; still waiting. (actually doesn’t matter…)
Place rating: 5
KEW GARDEN HL, NY
Came here for a very early dinner on a sunday with a table about 15. We ordered a round of appetizers which were the avacado salad (delicious), fried calamari (delicious), and the potatoes with doll (delicious)
For entrees we ordered the steak, trout, salmon, sea bass, pilaf, and seafood salad. We all loved everything! !!The portion sizes here are huge!!! I didn’t eat half of my meal because the portions were so big! Every meal was good and cooked to perfection.
Service was great. They are very tentative. And we were able to bring our own bottle or whiskey and liquor.
Place rating: 5
Staten Island, NY
Today, on a weekday we had lunch at Chinar restaurant. It was not the first time, all Russian community know this cosy place.
We had Shepard salad, veal liver and chicken kebab.
The best salad, crunchy fresh vegetables, juicy onion, very tasty!
Veal liver was the best, covered with spices, white onion rings and fresh herbs.
They have the best collection of teas, served with preserves. It all reminded me of the old country. Thank you, Chinar on the island !
Place rating: 5
Brooklyn, NY
Great food and excellent service. If you go there to eat as a couple make sure to ask the waiter for their specials. They always have something interesting ranging from smoked sea bass to marinated venison. Very fun place.
Place rating: 4
Staten Island, NY
Nothing spectacular but good food, cozy place, outside seating area and parking lot makes it overall satisfactory experience.
Place rating: 3
Brooklyn, NY
Food is ok but cannot be compared to Brooklyn location. Overall best Russian /​French cuisine on the island.
Place rating: 5
San Diego, CA
This place is phenomenal. I eat here all the time. They have a great mixture of Eastern European and middle eastern cuisine. This is not a bar or a lounge, it is definitely formal dining for celebrations, birthday parties, anniversaries etc. The waitstaff is extremely observant, so be prepared for a lot of attention. The prices are decent for the quality of food. The chillean seabass steak is one of the best dishes I have ever had… no question!
Place rating: 2
Staten Island, NY
The best part about this place is that they have hookah. But, it’s not much of a place to just lounge around and smoke. It’s more of an upscale restaurant. They couldn’t even get their WiFi to work. They say they are contacting Verizon. There also were so few laptop hookups that they put us in a private room, and it made us feel like we were boxed in a closet. There is seating outside, but it is more formal than someplace to lounge by the beach. If you just want to go smoke and drink, there is a bar, but only a few uncomfortable stools at it.
The wait service was very annoying. At times there were 3 waiters there to see if we want something else. However, remarkably, it took a half hour to get one hookah and a cappucino. The food took even longer. There were 2 – 3 tables of people there, and 5 – 6 servers, and they couldn’t get the hookah out in a timely manner, or a simple cappucino.
The menu selection was good and interesting but very overpriced for what it was. They probably think they can get away with the prices because the place is decorated so well. You can tell you are paying for their décor. (It is really nice, though.) It came to $ 77 for one hookah, a pitcher of sangria, one cappucino and one order of dolma. The hookahs are around $ 20.
I would only go there again if I was very desperate for hookah on the island.
Place rating: 5
Butler, NJ
The owner/​manager of this place must have taken notes from all of the best restaurants around the world to establish a monument like this one. All I can begin to say about Chinar is that it is fantastic. Everything about this place is first-​rate. Eat here and Enjoy