Molly T.
Yelp
3.5 stars is about right. Rounding down because there wasn't anything thrilling here, and the prices may lead one to believe that what's offered is particularly notable. Just solid but underwhelming, overpriced eats typical of the Martha's Vineyard dining scene. Three seems a little bit harsh because there was also nothing particularly negative about our experience here and the ambiance was delightful, so please just read this review in full and don't look at the star count and move on. The views and vibe are superb, the service is solid (someone must've read all of those reviews bashing the service recently) and the food is generally light, fresh and healthy. I do not regret dining here but there's not much creativity going on. Solid portions but muted flavors. But the photos we got out on the porch were great for the 'gram.
Came here at 7pm on 4th of July for my sister's birthday. We were originally a party of four but added on two more people a few weeks prior to arriving in Martha's Vineyard, so they were initially going to seat us at two separate tables. Thankfully, we called day-of and they said they could accommodate a table for six. We sat in what seems to be the overflow space: right next to the main restaurant and up a flight of stairs, there's a second floor dining space complete with a covered deck when the weather is nice. I was a bit concerned about being a forgotten child, especially after reading some of the reviews about the service, but thankfully everything was prompt. And the sunset views were wonderful.
We started with a round of cocktails: nothing fancy, just the classics. I went with the Summer Manhattan (Rye Whiskey, Sherry, Fig, Cascara Cherry) which hit the spot. The wine selection here is also decent -- I enjoyed the sparkling rosé that my sister was comped but the hit of the night was the Chenin Blanc.
Food-wise, the emphasis here is on seafood, as it should be. My fiancé and I split mostly smaller plates, with one main thrown in there. We sampled a good amount of the menu between the six of us. The most advertised dish was the Lobster Thermidor, coming in at just below 50 bucks. My dad ordered it and was not impressed. The preparations looked exciting on paper so it was definitely a letdown in some respects. Much of it bland and uninspired. But there's definitely potential. Eats, below:
Tuna Crudo w/ Radish, Shallots, Yuzu, Soy: B+
A solid start, very fresh with muted flavors. Radish is always a good go-to with a crudo, and the yuzu also went nicely with the dish. A subtle palette but nothing too overpowering should be added to a crudo/tartare-style plate.
Olive Oil Poached Shrimp w/ Tomato Tartare, Horseradish: C+/B-
Meh. Could have done without this. Very well-presented shrimp cocktail. The horseradish addition was minimal at best -- more could have added more character to the plate.
Watermelon w/ Great Hill Bleu, Fennel, Onion: A
The highlight for everyone who ordered it. Fresh and refreshing and so tasty. I love a good watermelon and feta salad but the bleu cheese was a great twist.
Local Bass w/ Crisp Skin, Summer Vegetables, Pinot Noir Gastrique: B-
The description jumped off the page to me but the fish was just okay. Underseasoned and the gastrique didn't really come through. I ate more of the veggies than I did of the fish, when what we paid for was obviously the protein. But the skin was crispy, as advertised.
Belgian Endive w/ Blue Crab, Radish, Shallot: B/B+
This oddly came well after our main, as we were starting to wind down for the evening, but it was still pretty good, though not aesthetically pleasing. Radish and shallots made sense for the crudo but overall, I found the flavors too muted here. Still, fresh ingredients and enjoying some lump crab is always a treat.
