Thatched Cottage

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  They were my favorite site and they were initially my number 1 choice  even though they were 45 minutes away from home. The person I initially spoke with was accomodating but on the day of our appointment, we got stuck in traffic. I called in to say that we were running late and Nancy picked up the phone. She kept us on hold and told us to  come in anyway but they could not show us the room. So we tried to reschedule but scheduling was an issue. So we decided to take her up on her offer of coming by anyway at 12:30 since we were only 15 minutes away now from the location. She said no which does not make sense since she just said OK to 12:30 when we began the conversation. So I was disappointed and hanged up. My fiancee said since we are in the vicinity, we will drive around the area and they don't need to spend time with us. We will pick up the package info as well. I called and Nancy said no. She said a banquet manager needs to sit with us. After talking in circles, I gave up the dream. If I am having a hard time now, how about on the day of the event when other issues may come up?  Nancy already seemed ill-equipped. She was great at apologizing but what good is that when nothing is resolved? Thanks for frustrating me. It helped me realized that you were not the spot for us because it will be unlikely for an event to occur without delays or hitches. At least we only wasted our time, gas and efforts for that one day. Stay away unless you think you will have the perfect event or just be 10 minutes away.

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  Posted on 06.29.13 Rosa G.

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  I have been to a number of functions here and they always do a great job. The food is very good. The staff is very attentive and professional. Very pretty site. Their pasta and sushi stations are delicious.

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  Posted on 12.27.12 Frank M.

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  My daughter was married here on October 7, 2012. I was very happy , best wedding ever, food was great, service was unbelievable, atmosphere beautiful and my friends and family loved  and complimented my wife and I. This catering venue was well worth it, and we are very happy we found it. Thanks to a wonderful staff.

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  Posted on 10.09.12 Donata C.

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  Outside was Beautiful. The Food was Fantastic! Servers are very helpful. Would consider my own wedding here. if i had 90k to blow in 1 day.

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  Posted on 04.23.12 Nick C.

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  I came here for a tasting one day and they treated us very well, with two bottles of champagne and our private dinner in the bridal suite.  They gave us an array of appetizers, which were only ok.  It was dominated by seafood.  The dinner was the salmon, but it was placed on a bed of mushrooms?  Weird.  It had great decor and they presented it well.  The mandatory valet service is ridiculous, even when we went when there was nothing going on.  Parties are expensive here so consider yourself warned

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  Posted on 01.24.12 Matt M.

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  My wife and I were at a wedding here last week. The food was excellent and the grounds quite attractive. My biggest complaint, (otherwise I'd give it an extra star), was that my car was damaged in the valet parking lot. Of course, the attendants denied the damage, claiming I brought in the car with a cracked windshield! Imagine!
  After over a hour half of arguing and appeals to mgt from the restaurant I got a phone number to make a claim. It took two days to contact the insurance company and another three days to get a claim form. To make a long story short I can't drive a car with a cracked windshield and had to take care of the damage myself. Thankfully I have coverage, but it may be at a cost to me on my next premium.
  A word to wise when you are a business and have to deal with a separate vendor as such: take responsibility for what happens on your watch. I should have been told, "Don't worry, take care of the damage, send us the bill. It will be taken care of." I'm sure they made a pretty penny on the 250 guest affair.

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  Posted on 10.08.11 David B.

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  I recently attended a family wedding here. The outdoor terrace area overlooking the water is just spectacular, everything looks absolutely perfect all of the plants were in bloom and everything looked healthy. The lower level hall off of the terrace is also nice but showing some disrepair, there was a recessed light just hanging out of the ceiling by the wires above one of the tables and there were a number of dark areas because of what seemed to be blown light bulbs. The "happy hour" food was very good from what I tried, there was so much food there was no way I could get to it all.
  
  The formal reception was in the hall directly above the lower level, which I'm assuming is the main hall. It looks dated also but still has a classy feel to it.
  
  I was not very impressed with the service staff, while they were very professional, few of them seemed very happy to be there.
  
  The meal service I was not happy with either. You place your order from the set menu as normal. When the food came out they made a service line on the dance floor and the servers brought enough of each dish for everyone at your table to be served, once they get to your table they reach around you to assemble your order on your plate (this should be done in the service line). When my plate was being put together I had our main server putting my steak on from the left side and another attendant putting the sides on from the right (Food should be delivered from the right and cleared from the left). It felt crowded in an already full room (we have big families). My wife and I ordered the Prime Rib. They cooked it as one piece of meat and slice the steaks in the service line, so any seasoning (if any) was just on the outside of the steak, so while the steak was nice and juicy it had no flavor other than cooked meat. After everyone had some time to eat they did come around and ask if anybody would like to try another dish, we decided to share a fish. It was MUCH better. The Chicken dish looked great too but we didn't have a chance to try it.
  
  The bridal attendant and everyone else assigned to the wedding party were definitely on top of their game, any time the bride was moving someone was right there beside her helping move the train or anything else she needed.
  
  I don't know the prices paid but I do understand that this is a much lower priced venue than others in the area. Having said that you get good value for the money paid.
  
  I've become a little more picky in recent years about quality of service but I would definitely recommend the Thatched Cottage if someone was looking for an affordable wedding venue in that area.

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  Posted on 07.02.11 Ross J.

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  Was invited to attend a wedding ceremony/reception here on Monday Memorial Day 2010. Why is that information pertinent you may ask?? Anyone who books a place to host a wedding on a major holiday weekend is pretty much a cheapskate. Especially on a MONDAY! So, you get what you pay for...
  The locale is very pretty....near the water and nice picturesque views. So you think to yourself, OK, these cheapskates screwed up my 3 day weekend, at least I will make the most of it and enjoy myself. You go up to the bar and order your first of hopefully many drinks, and realize that the liquor is totally watered down!  Here is a list of what drinks I consumed ( only during cocktail hour!) and didn't even get a slight headache.....2 Strawberry Daiquiris, 2 Pina Coladas, 2 Long Island Iced Teas and 1 Vodka Cranberry.  I had even gone as far to ask the bartender to make my drinks stronger and at one point, he filled a glass with "rum" and put a splash of Pina Colada mix into it and that still wasn't adequate to give me a buzz. If you book your wedding at this place, make sure you see them opening the bottles of liquor in front of you just to make sure they are really serving alcohol!
  The cocktail hour food consisted of some pickled veggies from a jar, very basic sushi ( California rolls), a mashed potato station ( regular and sweet), cut up fruit, cold cuts , pasta station, carving station etc. Nothing exceptional.
  Dinner: The dining room is bright and pleasant. The food, eh. Ordered the salmon in puff pastry and it was OK. The potatoes that accompanied it were cut to look like mushrooms and we inedible. Wet and soggy, blech.
  Overall, if you are getting this place on the cheap, then go for it. If you want to impress your guests with good food and booze, then I would recommend looking elsewhere.

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  Posted on 08.20.10 Kathleen M.

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  My friend held her wedding and reception at the Thatched Cottage.  This place is a lovely small caterer overlooking a bay that feeds out into the Long Island Sound.
  
  The Thatched Cottage is a nice, snug caterer that seems to be unique in the world of Long Island caterers, where big and glittery seem to be the standard.  If you're looking to have an intimate wedding where you won't run into several brides on your big day, then I suggest booking the Thatched Cottage.  They only have two reception rooms, and I believe they only do one wedding at a time. My friend grew up an hour away in Nassau County, and the fact that she chose to hold her wedding at this Suffolk County venue, rather than at one of the myriad caterers in Nassau, attests to the quality of the Thatched Cottage.  It's really gorgeous, and as Sarah D. noted, this place does indeed look like "Snow White's House."  It looks like something plucked from a fairy tale and is very charming.
  
  My friend got married outdoors at the gazebo that overlooks the bay.  This setting has a lovely ambiance and comes complete with a gentle weeping willow tree.  When the breeze is right and the willow tree begins to sway it's really pretty.  And if the weather is just right - my friend had a perfect day - then an outdoor ceremony at the Thatched Cottage is a beautiful way to begin your life together.  If you're looking for an outdoor venue then I can't recommend the Thatched Cottage enough.  
  
  My friend got married in the morning, so she opted for a buffet brunch reception.  In addition to standard lunch and salad items, there were choices of scrambled eggs, french toast, eggs benedict and crepes.  There was even eggplant rolatini for those guests who didn't feel like breakfast food.  I had the french toast, which came complete with sides of strawberries and syrup, and it was definitely one of the most popular entree choices at my table.  I didn't have the crepes, but several people at my table did and apparently they were not as successful as the french toast.  But the Thatched Cottage made up for that with their tastefully presented wedding cake and the accompanying ice cream bar, which included real hot fudge and bananas foster. Yum!
  
  Overall, I really enjoyed the time I spent at the Thatched Cottage, but I did have a couple of caveats.  I hesitate to say these things because I think it may sound like I'm bashing my friend and her day, which I'm not.  These things are separate from her, and if saying them helps people who are booking future events at the Thatched Cottage, then it's okay.
  
  First off, they seemed a little understaffed when I was there - indeed, there was a sign outside indicating that they were looking for waiters.  My friend's reception was staffed by three waiters, two guys and a girl.  The girl was really with it, even helping my friend bustle her dress on the dance floor, but the two guys looked really morose.  I know that they probably didn't want to come to work that day, but they didn't have to look it.  The guy in charge of my table provided the bare amount of service.  The orange juice carafes were not refilled, the coffee wasn't provided unless you flagged him down.  The coffee pots were left on a tray in the corner, slightly inaccessible depending on where you were sitting.  One guy at my table actually got up a couple of times and began serving us coffee himself, and the coffee was not refreshed often.  By the time cake was served, we were drinking lukewarm coffee.  Not good.  
  
  If you plan to have an outdoor ceremony at the Thatched Cottage, make sure that they're not doing construction next door when you plan on getting married.  I think the property directly next door may belong to the Thatched Cottage, but I'm not sure.  If it doesn't, there's nothing you can do about it, but if it does, I'd recommend checking with them to make sure that there won't be construction while your ceremony is taking place.  Midway through my friend's wedding, the construction guys next door started banging and yelling and throwing things around.  The bride's mother looked annoyed, and the bride's grandmother commented on it at the end of the reception.  My friend just rolled with it, but things did get really loud at one point.
  
  Also, the Thatched Cottage isn't the easiest place to find.  I definitely think their directions could be a little bit clearer, and if your guests don't know Long Island well it could be a bit of a challenge for them.  My dad was on Long Island for the day and dropped me off here, and he had trouble finding it, and my dad is the human GPS.  If you're coming to an event here and have the opportunity, I'd recommend doing a practice drive.  It'll save you time.
  
  All in all, the Thatched Cottage is a very nice caterer in a beautiful setting, and my friend had an absolutely lovely day.  The Thatched Cottage provided a perfect spot for her to celebrate her wedding with her new husband.

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  Posted on 09.07.09 L K.

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  I have to say in advance - I may be a bit prejudiced!   I know the owner and although we are not close I do consider him a friend.  
  
  I have been to at least two events a year at the Thatched Cottage over something like 10 years, starting with a community awards dinner in the late '90s.  I was taking photos for a now defunct magazine that was giving the awards.  
  
  Two of my nieces were married the same spring as that event.  The first wedding was at Thatched Cottage, the second at a higher priced place in Center Island/Bayville.  Guests who were at both weddings all said that much as the second place was more elegant, they had a better time at Thatched Cottage.  
  
  At my nieces wedding one thing that stands out in my mind is how the staff treated my Mom.  Mom was getting on in years and had difficulty getting around.  They helped with getting her up and down the stairs, and waited on her like she was a queen.  And this was before I knew the owner!!  
  
  The food at every event has always been excellent, and I look forward to the next community event held at the Cottage!
  
  I don't know if they do this on a regular basis, but have also been at several events where the Thatched Cottage has catered food off site.

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  Posted on 03.27.09 Alphonse G.

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  We got married here on 7/27/08 and I can't imagine having our reception anywhere else.  I've always dreamed of having my reception here - when I was little and would drive buy I affectionately called the Thatched Cottage 'Snow Whites House'.  
  
  The service, food, and ambiance was absolutely out of this world.  Everyone for weeks after the wedding raved about what a wonderful time they had and how good the food was.  The maitre d and more importantly my bridal attendant did a great job so I never had to think about any of the small stuff and was really able to take in every moment of the day.
  
  Although I won't be getting married again, i really hope that I can go back here for someone else's wedding as it would be interesting to take it in not as the bride.
  
  If you are thinking about getting married definitely check out the Thatched Cottage.  Its well worth it!

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  Posted on 10.08.08 Sarah F.

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  Security Risk:    Valet Parking,   They take you car to a remoTe lot and leave it open and unlocked.   Rain was coming and I checked.   Also valuables left in car are at risk be being taken in their remote lot.  
  
  I walked back to the lot with an attendant to also find 2 cars with their lights on.  
  
  Suffolk PD is being notified as a potential for complaints.

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  Posted on 06.14.08 M V.

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  It has been almost eleven years since I got married at the Thatched cottage but it still is one of the most wonderful events of my life and the TC has a lot to do with that. The service was top notch the food was plentiful and delicious the space was beautiful.

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  Posted on 04.03.08 Leo B.

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