W C.
Yelp
We went back to 9 Craft with the Pops last week and left befuddled because some of the things we had liked were no longer good and some of the newer items we tried were better than anticipated.
Unbelievably we got sat at the very same table--service is still pretty great. The hostess was friendly and our waitress was on top of everything, although we did not appreciate her explaining to us that tartare was raw. Uh, yeah, we know, sweetheart, it's not our first rodeo.
For drinks, one of us got the sangria again (still wonderful) and the other tried their Kentucky cocktail, which was nice and refreshing. For apps, we got the corn fritters again (ditto on the still wonderful) and the deviled eggs--the ones with the beef tartare on top. They're tasty.
A couple of the mains really disappointed. The lamb pasta that we raved about last time SUCKED. Why? Because last time, they used braised lamb, and this time it was ground lamb. BIG difference! We no longer recommend it whatsoever. The bourguignon pasta was also a complete joke--the meat was beyond chewy. A lazy, disgusting culinary whack job. However, we did enjoy the miso cod dish and all the accoutrements on that plate. The acadia salad (add grilled chicken) was fine. Unfortunately, the side of green beans (which came out late) that we loved last time also went down in quality because they weren't cooked long enough and the sauce wasn't as refined. At that point we decided to skip dessert here.
So, all in all, some highs and some lows. It doesn't seem like whoever is at the helm of this kitchen is steering the ship quite right. This was our last meal on the Vineyard for the summer, and we wish it had been better. We might be back next time we're on the island, but also, we might not. Three stars, rounded down from 3.5 because at this price point, you should be putting out 4-star food.