Definitely one of the better spots on Nantucket for a night out and the secret's out since reservations during summer aren't the easiest feat. I actually don't think it's ever been a secret since for as long as I can remember, Straight Wharf has been one of the best restaurants on island. A definite hotbed of navy blue blazers, nantucket reds, popped collars and pearls, but the food is oh so good. The location, right on the wharf is perfect along with the building itself. If you can snag an outdoor seat, do it. Inside isn't shabby, with those high beam ceilings and large windows letting light pour in (we ate at 6, early bird style). Service is stellar and the food is equally as impressive. The bread is delicious. I opted for the pasta starter which was perfectly light and the sustainable fish ( the actual fish escapes me). Not too heavy, a nice sized piece complimented with farro verde, broccoli, pickled peppers, cherry tomatoes, lemon cream; I didn't want the dish to end. The man went with the house speciality -- the clam bake: a deconstructed lobster, chorizo, clams, potatoes and corn. Although pricy, all the seafood was so fresh, very well prepared and not the least messy, which gets hard when you're eating lobster. Dessert -- don't be an idiot. That swr galette is heavenly and although shareable, it's so light and perfect, you'll want your own. It's Nantucket expensive, but if you're spending the dough, Straight Wharf is worth the patronage.
(5)
Joseph P.
Straight Wharf restaurant is a fabulous property, located on the water, on Straight Wharf in Nantucket. My wife and I make this a standard stop while vacationing in Nantucket. The main dining, with its natural and candle lighting, makes it, arguably the most romantic venue on the island. SWR does have outdoor dining as well and lends itself to a very nice water view. A perfectly chilled '99' Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs awaited us at the table. The entire evening was one which our dinner was unhurried, perfectly timed and delicious. My wife's local swordfish and my hake dinner were both perfectly prepared and presented beautifully. All accompaniments matched the meal such that every taste proved the flavors and textures were all on the same song sheet. I must note that the dessert, Almond Financier, with local strawberries, beach rose cream, almond streusel, strawberry sorbet was just the best ending to a dinner we've had in quite some time. Great service and a big thanks to SWR's GM, Chris Sleeper, for making this evening one which will be remembered the remainder of the summer and through the cold days of winter.
(5)
Chris W.
This is Busy Season post-dinner review only. Straight Wharf is a viable option to enjoy an après beach grill sesh with a fun night of drinking more vodka drinks and partying on. I truly believe the DJ plays to the crowd as I've been on two separate occasions and have raged to two totally different genres. Night one was a Saturday evening and they were blasting chill rap music. Night two was a Tuesday and they must have noticed our crew rocking glow sticks so they were chaying deep house, progressive chill bangers and, tropical chill step. Bartenders are inattentive and none chill at times. 3 out 5 stars. I'd bro back.
(3)
John D.
It's my favorite place on Nantucket thus far, and I've been going to the island for over nearly 30 years. Service is great, the view is decent, and the food is terrific. Prices are a little higher than elsewhere, but I'm OK with it. NO draft beer selection, sadly, which is what gives the four star vs. five. These are the days of pairing terrific craft brews with our food, so they should modernize that. But coming from the Cisco brewery just prior, we weren't hung out to dry. We had the swordfish, scallops, and the black sesame ginger cheesecake (superb).
(4)
John C.
My family went thinking it was another restaurant that was recommended to us.The server Greta was so pleasant we decided to stay.The lobsters rolls were well recommended and could not have better.It was nice sitting out side great food great service I would highly recommend going their.
(5)
Joe V.
Yummy dinner starting with great skate ceviche taquitos- fresh and delicious. The tuna , swordfish , and tagliatelle dishes were all sized appropriately and very fresh! I'd recommend this place if you're looking for atmosphere , great food, & an upbeat trendy feel!
(4)
Nicholas D.
This is a wonderful restaurant with fantastic food and service. The portions are moderate in size and the price tag is hefty, but it's worth it. Young children are welcome here and parents are made comfortable by the friendly staff.
(5)
Thom A.
First impressions are lasting... Recently asked for an outdoor dining table with my dog. A waiter told us it would be a couple of minutes to get a table ready. As we were being seated another waitress abruptly told us dogs were not allowed. We explained that minutes ago we were told differently. Instead of being polite the waitress was very rude to us even though the initial waiter came by to confirm what he told us. I understand mistakes can be made but speaking and treating us in a very unfriendly manner was not appropriate, especially in a very pet friendly island like Nantucket. We then just walked across the square and had a wonderful lunch with our dog at The Tavern.
(1)
Al J.
Aside from the stunning ambiance and excellent service, the food blew me away. My favorite restaurant on the island!!
(5)
K M.
This was THE best dinner I have ever had in Nantucket and one of the best ever, anywhere. The scallop dish was incredible. Very nice dimly lit restaurant. Outdoor seating was great. Although friendly, the hostess was a little confused. The server had a bit of an attitude. It seemed obvious she did not like us. The busser was great and other staff seemed friendly. Normally I would have given them 2 or 3 stars, but the food was so good, it made up for miss sunshine. Will defiantly go back.
(5)
Evan H.
Great food. Service was also outstanding. Loved it there, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is in Nantucket.
(4)
Leanna C.
Straight wharf is a great restaurant to go and eat quickly right on the wharf. All of the food is good but I highly recommend the chicken under a brick, the chicken is moist and succulent all while remaining a reasonable price. Ask to be seated outside on the patio, it is busy and they can't always accommodate everyone but it's worth asking!
(4)
Kelsy W.
They were so unprofessional!!!!! Bouncer broke my ID In half and I am 23..... F that!
(1)
Jaimee A.
Decent food but the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!! The restaurant is cute enough, the bathroom is clean and the service was good. We had: 5 oysters green salad croissant 2 pancakes scrambled eggs _________________ $58 before tip Seriously? All the food listed above for almost $60. I think not.....
(2)
Therese D.
Straight Wharf is everything amazing about Ack. The very best view, mixed with the very best food. Cannot complain one ounce about my meal, service or experience. Everyone, please come to this restaurant , you won't be disappointed. Even better, is the when the bar opens next door at the beginning of the night. Great vibe and wonderful people go there. #1 must do for Nantucket adventure.
(5)
Panos H.
Awesome - seated w/out res. awesome tomato tarte, ceviche taquitos with avocado crema, sliced steak, tagliatelle with tomato broth&mushrooms! Also- Chateau Haut-Bailly 2006!! What a selection here
(3)
Nancy J.
The oysters and lobster were very good. At first they seated us at a very noisy area but we asked to move and they seated us at a very quiet area with a very nice view. Service was also good. Enjoyed dinner
(5)
H M.
I've had better, I've had worse. The best part of this restaurant is the bread. Our waitress was cold and had no personality. It is very dark in here, I could hardly see across the table. Didn't think the prices were too outrageous considering it is Nantucket.
(3)
Hilary L.
Great food with a creative menu, fun casual bar area, and very nice upscale dining room. Nice outdoor deck too!
(5)
Bill F.
Great yummy food ... Dessert delicious .. Service was superb ... Will definitely include this stop in our future Nantucket trips. We sat outside ... Great atmosphere
(5)
Jonathan A.
This is the worst review I've ever left for a restaurant where I truly loved the food. In actuality it's 2.5 stars but given the options I just can't give them 3. The only bad thing I can say about the meal is they didn't offer iced tea which struck me as strange. The reason I'm giving a 2 star review is this restaurant uses hand written checks. At the end of my meal I received a check with all of my items correctly listed but the total was given $200, over 50% more than the $130 my items added up to. Had I had a few more drinks I probably would have just paid that amount without thinking about it. Upon bringing this to my waitresses attention I expected a visit from the manager to apologize and/or offer to take something off the check to make up for unintentionally attempting to rob me. I waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to return but received neither . I think this was particularly inexcusable and showed a poor degree of customer service. I will recommend this restaurant to friends but warn them to check the math on their bill!
(2)
Ray H.
So good! The restaurant is beautiful-clean and beachy. The service and food was perfect!! We had the daily special and the fish was so fresh and cooked perfectly. I had the cucumber soup-very chunky which was odd, but so so good!!! Would definitely go again!
(5)
Sue W.
We were there for their soft opening, the Season would begin the next day. They were busy, but didn't miss a beat. Food and service were excellent. My husband's wood-smoked oysters had been cooked to a magical point, so that when they were served they were warm and superbly flavorful, plump, and clearly fresh from the sea.
(5)
Kathleen S.
Everyone got the scallops and loved them. That's the good news. We didn't get the patio even though we'd "requested" it when we made the reservation. It seems to be a "wait and see" thing, which is annoying. The chocolate macaron for dessert was crazy--ridiculously large and hard until you got to to the center, which was an arduous journey of chewing and messiness. It t is too hard to be utensil-friendly, so you are forced to eat it with your hands, BUT it's dipped in chocolate sauce, so. . . . bring some wet naps. The service was a little odd-we were asked by two different people, one right after the other, if we wanted water and various other questions. But, when we didn't look too excited by the dessert--we were in no man's land of service.
(2)
Andreas W.
My girlfriend and I had a fantastic meal here, I would highly recommend stopping in for dinner. The pricing is appropriate given the quality of the dishes.
(5)
Ann T.
Had a very good experience at Straight Wharf. The pros: very good bread and my entree: dayboat chatham scallops w celeriac, cauliflower, bacon, & caper-meyer lemon vinaigrette. Also, my husband really liked the chicken under a brick w haricots verts, local baby kale, cippolinis, & hazelnut romesco. Service was very good. The cons: room was too warm and I was not a fan of the Spanish octopus appetizer.
(4)
Bob H.
Five of us went to dinner at Straight Wharf and three had great meals and two did not! The two who had a problem ordered tuna and NY sirloin. They were served each other's dinner. My wife thought they changed the vegetables on her tuna!..only to find out she had been trying to eat the steak. The person who ordered the steak, ate all the tuna; and is not even a tuna fan! The restaurant took the tuna off the bill; and plated the remaining steak in a to-go container.
(4)
pablo e.
This was the best dinner we (my wife and I) had on Nantucket. I was a little bit skeptical: a location suggests the potential for a tourist trap and having gotten a lot of recommendations from trusted foodies, but only one recommended it. The clam bake and chicken under a brick were very solid. I'm not a huge lettuce person, but the salad with buttermilk dressing was a surprising highlight.
(5)
Sarah G.
Gotta get the groom at smash! Food is fabulous! Come early if u want quiet & lights 9p lights go down & it's loud
(5)
industrial c.
I am being generous with 3 stars. The only thing good about this restaurant was the ambiance. Awful service (some of the worst I've had in years) and the food wasn't that good. In fact, the bread was the best part of the meal! For the prices they charge it should be unbelievable.
(3)
Ryan L.
SWR was fantastic. Went here with the family for dinner. The restaurant has 2 sides; bar side with self seating at tables, and the fine dining side where a hostess seats you. We got a table on the fine dining side with a view over the water. The sunset had just passed, but if we were there an hour earlier, we would have had an even better view. The architecture and decor in side was very "Nantucket" as well. Thick wood beans, maritime themed decor, local paintings abound. Very cool stuff. Drinks: The 5 of us just split a few bottles of a regular cab. Nothing special here. They did have a very extensive wine list, but we didn't really feel the need to go cruising through it. Appetizers: A couple of us got the pumpkin chowder, I got the mussels, and 1 other got the harvest salad. The mussels were pretty good, but a bit too salty. I can't complain though, as I finished the whole thing without an issue. The chowder had a lot of onions, so I stayed away except for dipping a piece of bread a few times (which was delicious). Main Course: I got the harpooned swordfish. Very good fish. It was slighty overcooked for my taste, but 99% of people would have said it's perfect. It was served with eggplant and other veggies on the side. Blonde got the steak. It was great. She only gave me 1 peice, though. It was perfectly cooked as medium rare. Mom got the clam bake. Most expensive thing on the menu, but not much food. From what I had, it was fantastic. If I had gotten though, I would have left still quite hungry. We got a side of brussels sprouts. They were very good and vey interesting. Almost like a soy or miso flavor. Dessert: We got 2 of the apple pie-style treats. Delicous. No other way to describe it. Get this dessert. They do take 20 minutes to make, so they tell you to order it early on in your dinner. Service: Our waitress knew her job. She was prompt and attentive at all times. Very friendly, and very knowledgable about the menu. She offered reccomendations, and even told us a few things she likes to stay away from. Other details: The restaurant has a free bluefish patte that is out of this world. It is served with melba toast squares. We got about 8 reloads of it. So good! I took off 1 star just because how ridiculously expensive a few of the dishes are, compared to how much food you actually got. The taste and flavor was there, but when you pay $48 for 1 dish, you expect it to at least fill you up. Definitely a place to check out, especially if you can get a table during a sunset.
(4)
Kelly B.
Expensive. The food was pretty good. I got the scallops, and the 3 scallops themselves were delicious, but the green beans that they were on tasted like they had been previously frozen? My husband had the lobster bisque for an appetizer and the clambake special for dinner. He said it was delicious, but he was searching for the (2 tiny) clams and there were hardly any! But he said he didn't mind bc they gave 1.5 lbs or lobster (already out of the shell). Maybe I'm just having an off night. I really wanted to give this place a better review :/
(3)
William K.
Tuesday night, I had an unfortunate experience where a male bartender tried to rob me of $100. Thankfully, I was with a local face and went to extremes to get his attention after he blatantly gave me change on $10 and ignored my follow up demands. BUYERS BE AWARE: count your change when closing out here. Obviously this bartender was willing to risk the reputation of a high end Nantucket location in hopes of scoring on some extra tip money for the night. Disappointing and unprofessional to say the least...
(1)
Sheila Y.
If you're looking for a really cool & casual place for lunch - this is it!! When I'm on the island I ALWAYS make a stop over at the Straight Wharf where I can relax and chill out with family and friends!! Their oysters are a long time favorite of mine!!!! Enjoy!!
(5)
Nicole J.
Bartender was so rude to multiple customers. I have never seen anything like it before. Stayed for one drink and left. Would never go back and spend my money here. Too many great places to waste my time.
(1)
John B.
Incredible dining room and back patio. Very romantic setting and a quintessential Nantucket experience. The scallops were divine. Highly recommended.
(5)
Razoo D.
Great weekend brunch with the (extended) fam this past weekend. Eyed Curiously and Decided I Liked: Greek Yogurt w/Granola and Fruit served in a wineglass Consumed without thinking: French Toast Budin 1/2 of Mom's straightforward scramble & bacon Chef Frasca (of NWF fame) delivers as anticipated
(4)
Dave K.
A Perennial Favorite The food here is second to none. Plus, it has a fantastic location right on the water in the heart of down (right as you come off the ferry). And I haven't even mentioned the bar scene - one of my hands down favorite bars. Anywhere.
(5)
J P.
Absolutely fabulous! Dined here on the last weekend of the season with husband and 2 friends. This was our first time on the island. We chose this place based on Yelp reviews. The meal starts with a delightful bluefish spread with parmesan toasts (complimentary) and they offered us more if we wanted it. Our apps were the Oysters, Harvest Salad, and the Pumpkin soup. All were exquisite! Entrees were the Sirloin, Chicken under a Brick and the Scallops. All exquisite! For dessert, 2 people pre-ordered the apple puff pastry. The other 2 shared the cheese plate. The cheese plate was one of the best ive ever had. It came with 10 oz of cheese, 2oz each of 5 varieties. Soooo good and worth the $15. I heard no complaints on the apple puff. We will definitely be back if we ever go to Nantucket again!
(5)
Steve B.
Great service and amazing food. Right on the ward next tot the boats. Great setting. Large prices but very romantic.
(5)
Favalaro F.
Top notch. Seriously good chef. Attentive to detail. Inventive dishes. Highly recommend.
(5)
Susan W.
Little pasta ricotta appetizer with peas to die for, a callops and halibut perfectly Cooked and seasoned and large servings, great bread - a real thing with me, why is it such a problem most of the time? And superb setting. Also important, great music playlist at reasonable sound level, I thought.
(5)
Rocket C.
I have long ago given up hope of finding a reasonably-priced dining experience on Nantucket. What I look for is a quality experience. My traveling companions include a finicky eater, a gastronome with food allergies, and a connoisseur of French wines. Pity me: the Quality Experience is elusive at best. We found it at SWR on Friday, 15 June. The front desk was typically Nantucket Impossible: acted like our modest request for a table for 4 was a demand for a kidney transplant. Once we were seated, however, we were no longer outsiders. The waitstaff welcomed us and made us their own. We ordered salad from a local farm (huge, delicious); cavatelli (my companions would not share, so I can't tell you how good it was) and asparagus with some weirdly boiled egg. I had that, and it was worth getting. We had a very nice bottle of wine (merci, M. le Connoisseur). What astonished me was that the whole staff conspired to welcome us and make our meal enjoyable. The Bus-girl spoke knowledgeably about the menu. The sommelier bussed our plates when she was near and they needed clearing. The waiter was attentive without being suffocating. In short, the service was excellent! The meal was delicious. We had steak, swordfish and fluke. The staff was completely attentive to food allergies. We declined dessert; we had eaten so well. I even got my dining companions to sample the oregano on our table :-) I want to go back in busy season. I want to have the same experience of dining well. This place CAN do it; I hope they will do it again.
(5)
Ciprian T.
Very briefly - great lobster rolls, good service, fantastic location. What I DO NOT LIKE is their HOURS ! On a beautiful day, full season, at 1.48 PM, Straight Wharf stops seating new tables for lunch. This is unheard off, especially in Nantucket, when the summer season is in full swing...
(4)
Jonathan R.
I dine here every year. I always get the SWR Clambake. It is the ultimate lobster dish on the island. You can find delicious steamed or grilled whole lobsters at a couple other restaurants on the island. But if you are looking for a one of a kind lobster dish. Here it is. Service is always great. Wine list is top notch. I love this place
(5)
C N.
We have come here many times and the food just keeps getting better! The ambiance is wonderful. Servers that actually seem happy to serve!
(5)
Elizabeth G.
Went here with the beau for a birthday trip with a gift certificate from Gilt City in hand. We were a little wary that we would be relegated to the corner for the discount-seekers but we were greeted with a custom menu for an INCREDIBLE 5-course tasting with pairings (plus a couple extras given gratis by the sommelier.) The tuna crudo and butter poached lobster were definitely the stand outs but everything else was just amazing. Looking forward to heading back soon!
(5)
EJ P.
I am going to make this short and sweet because this restaurant does not even deserve for me to waste my time writing about it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME COMING HERE. I went here in fall of 2011 and there was pieces of shell in my seafood (my molar almost cracked), the food was cold, it was puny portions, the soup I was served likely had 3 tablespoons of salt in it, the restaurant was freezing cold and they clumsily brought in space heaters, which was amateurish at best and stupid at worst, it's overpriced, and basically whomever is running this place now does not know what he or she is doing OR doesn't care. It's better to go almost anywhere else on Nantucket than this place. Absolutely horrid.
(1)
Mike C.
Anyone who spends any time on Nantucket in August knows what its like to get a last minute reservation at a restaurant. Last night, six of us arrived at the Straight Wharf at 6pm to get a quick bite. We were promptly (and luckily) seated on the patio. All of us are from Nantucket and understand what August is like on the island. About the same time that my big mouth said, "there is no rain in the 10 day forecast," a rather strong thunderstorm dropped giant globs of cold water on us... The food and service here is always superb, but I am writing to acknowledge how professional and calm and pleasant the staff was while they made extra room in the bar dining area, presented us with a few snacks - gratis - and then served six wonderful dinners that obviously weren't "waiting in the window" while we waited for a seat inside. The entire experience reminded me of what Danny Meyer (Union Square Cafe, etc) deems "enlightened hospitality." No one at Straight Wharf had control over the weather, but they took control of the situation. Thanks for the great meal!
(5)
David M.
One of Nantucket's best restaurants. Their Great seafood and excellent service made me a fan. Excellent wine list and their sommelier didn't try to over-sell the pricier wines. Had their signature clam bake which hit the spot. Very romantic out on the deck, looking out to the boats moored in the harbour.
(4)
nick g.
This place is good. Very hot and crowded inside on a Thursday night in August. Luckily we scored a table outside which was beautiful. The pasta appetizer was just OK - a little bland. Everything else was very good, including Octopus appetizer, flounder main course. Want to go back for lunch to try the lobster roll.
(4)
Gabrielle A.
We had the most amazing meal at SWR while visiting the island a few weeks ago. Not only is the restaurant itself romantic (too bad I was with my sister), elegant, but laid back and comfortable, the service was excellent. But really what shines is the incredible food - from the fish patee with melba toast, to the desert of mixed berries shortcake - AMAZING!!!
(5)
Rob H.
The food was pretty good and the atmosphere fun. One huge disappointment was that their wine list contains a bottle that should never be consumed by humans. The wine was so sweet, it was almost undrinkable. Whoever put that wine on the menu should be eternally banished from the restaurant industry.
(2)
Kristin T.
I think the food at this restaurant is fantastic. Yes, there is always a wait even if you have a reservation. Yes, it can be difficult to make a reservation and yes the music in the bar area is laughable but the food and service make up for it. The gazpacho, the clam bake and the scallops are all top notch.
(5)
Courtney D.
We left a $3 tip at the bar for a beer (in a can) and a blueberry vodka lemonade and the bartender yelled at us and called us cheap.
(1)
Alex N.
Had a fine meal here with my girlfriend last night. She ordered the straight wharf clam bake and I had the halibut. I was quite pleased with the quality of the fish I had, and the clam bake was a full plate of sea goodness. I'd go back here next time around.
(4)
Bella R.
Great food! Lobster was heavenly and desserts were on the top! Servers were attentive at all times!
(5)
Kenan F.
Perfection. This is my Blue Ribbon Brasserie or Aquagrill of Nantucket. Always reliable, consistently great food and service. We've had dinner at the restaurant, at the bar and takeout from the seafood market adjacent. The best lobster rolls, stuffed with the most lobster meat I've ever had in a lobster roll, fresh as can be and not too much sauce. At the restaurant we had the clam bake which is a pre-shelled 2 lb lobster on top of creamed sweet corn, leeks, chorizo. Excellent wine selection and knowledgeable sommelier, we had a beautiful bottle of Meursault 1er cru Genevrieres. Delicious homemade mint ice-cream and fragrant French press coffee. At the bar a salad, the halibut, local beer and that wonderful French press coffee. All on different days, of course. This is a must must must. Hard to not eat here every day when on Nantucket!
(5)
Alice M.
Fabulous dinner overlooking the harbor! Butter poached lobster with chiorzo and crispy fingerling potatoes on a bed of pureed roasted corn. Topped off with a strawberry rhubarb galette. Perfect!
(4)
Mark W.
The Bloody Mary's were flavorful but weak the pasta dish was very good. The fish taco's were fried fish which was a big surprise and disappointment to the table. The service was good. Overall ok place for lunch.
(3)
Brian P.
Very good all around. Our dinner was excellent - from appetizer to entree to dessert. Execution was excellent. Baby octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly, and oyster appetizer was fresh and refreshing. Grilled swordfish was very good...fluke incredible. Each was prepared delicately and arrived hot. Service was attentive and good. Overall - a very enjoyable meal and evening. A place to visit while on Nantucket.
(5)
John B.
One of the best dinners of our two week vacation/culinary adventure through the Hamptons and New England beach towns. The clam bake was out of this world, as were the squash blossoms stuffed with lobster and the grilled calamari. For dessert, their special galette was also delicious. Our waitress, Meghan (sp?) and sommelier (forgot her name, sorry!) were both top notch. Attentive but not overwhelmingly so, very knowledgeable about menu and wine list and made successful recommendations with conviction. They were fun to engage about all things Nantucket without being inappropriately familiar. This was a truly excellent experience. We were so glad that this was our final vacation meal, so that we were able to leave on a very high note. Can't wait for our next visit to Nantucket and to Straight Wharf!
(5)
Philip W.
Great on the water location. I've been here many times over the years. Never disappointed. There were three of us for dinner. One had the lobster special, one scallop dish and one Nantucket Fluke, All were great. We had a great table and great service. Will definitely come back next year.
(4)
Steve R.
Great food. Pretty good service (Don't really think you get "great" service in too many places on the island so the expectations should be managed. They do no have a kids menu but they prepared pasta from the menu and brought cheese to put on top. Had I ordered this meal for myself I would say it was one of the best plates of pasta I have ever had. Great lobster rolls on awesome Challah bread. Their fries were very interesting. Crunchy like potato sticks almost. Delicious.
(4)
Bryan R.
Followed up with a manager who was very friendly and said that she would talk to the general manager about what happened and get back to me. No one ever called back and as far as I can tell the bouncer who assaulted me is still working there. Do I have to file a police report to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else?
(1)
Cathy B.
Overpriced. $39 sirloin was just so so and $30 chicken was a strange texture. Great cavatelli but for $18 they give you less than a cup. We did enjoy the rosemary shortbread after.
(3)
Gordon H.
Very popular place located next to the boat basin and the ferry. Was a little hot when we were eating there. They had set up free standing fans in various places to try and move the air around but it only added more noise to the room. The key is sitting outside and not getting stuck inside. Food and service was good. The specials were very good but portions were on the small side for the money. Reservations are strongly suggested and try to get the outside seating. This is a very popular place for dinner.
(3)
Tim C.
Had my birthday drinks at the bar - goombay smash - does a body good! Swordfish skewers were awesome! Will return for actual dinner next trip!
(4)
Kelly E.
My boyfriend and I ate dinner at the restaurant last night. We had a 9:45 reservation and therefore were able to get seated outside, which was very romantic (candlelight, right on the water). As we left, I couldn't believe how noisy the bar out front was, because we couldn't hear it at all from the back patio! :) We both LOVED the food, especially the heirloom tomato appetizer and the sea scallop entree. The raw oysters had some sort of lemon ice on them that was delicious. Everything was very tasty and fresh. I also had a (pricey) glass of chardonnay that went perfectly with the meal. They also brought us complementary bluefish pate with the appetizers and rosemary shortbread with the check - both were delicious. It took a while for the waitress to come by after we had been seated, but after that the service was good and very friendly. Overall, very expensive (not out of line with most Nantucket restaurants), but excellent food and a lovely ambiance (at least outdoors).
(4)
Annie R.
The food here is pretty good, the bar scene at night is terrible. So if you want to grab some food, come earlier, later on at night, its like a preparty for the chicken box....
(3)
Romeo F.
Our reservation for 7:30 was confused for 6:30. The manager could only seat us at 9. It was worth the wait. The manager brought u s a bottle of Chardonnay and bottled water to bridge the gap. Dinner was great, service was attentive, the company perfect. Loved the sword and zucchini blossoms.
(5)
Paul M.
Solid experience. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. We sat outside and the view and atmosphere was great. The lobster clam bake was a bit of a hot mess with too many leeks.
(4)
Sarah M.
Ate here twice this past week, (early Sept. 2009), once in the dining room and once at the bar. Overall, the food is excellent, the servers are very good and everyone had a great time. The same can be said for the bar area as well which has a separate menu and slightly lower prices. Portions are a tiny bit small, though plating is excellent and everyone seemed to be very happy with their choices and wanted more when they were done. We all had room for dessert too. I'm looking forward to going back next time I'm on the Island.
(4)
Dianna B.
Dined here on Thursday night late in September. The bar menu was more tempting (and affordable!) to us than the restaurant, so we opted to dine bar-side. The waitress was great and let us slowly wind our way through the meal-- we sat with some drinks for awhile, then shared 2 apps and finally ordered entrees. We were the only diners on the bar side (I think there were 3-4 tables occupied on the restaurant side), but there were a few people at the bar as well. Good food, awesome service and a primo location to boot!
(4)
Craig A.
Best restaurant in Nantucket by far. Great service, impeccable food, and a beautiful atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone!!
(5)
Joanne E.
Went for lunch yesterday. We were seated at a table outside. After a few minutes (we had already put our napkins in our laps and were about to get our water glasses filled) someone else came running over and told us we couldn't sit there as it was reserved for another party. We were asked to go back inside to wait for another table. Embarrassed, we got up and left the table. We should have left the restaurant after that. We were seated again in about 20 minutes and proceeded to have the WORST service we have ever experienced. And we weren't the only ones. Other tables were complaining too. We waited forever for someone to help us. This is lunch on an outside deck mind you, not an extended fine dining experience. After 20 min someone finally took our order. Our drinks came after another 10 min. The table next to us waited even longer. However another table seated after us got their drinks and food before we even ordered. The restaurant was not crowded. The service was completely haphazard. No one seemed to know what to do. No one appeared to be managing the restaurant. My husband ordered a second glass of ice tea and it never arrived. The food was mediocre and arrived 45 min after our drinks. We had a salad, fish tacos, and a sandwich. We asked for the check and waited another 15 min. The second glass of ice tea was on the bill. When asked the waitress said "I didn't think you got it but I put it on anyway." Really?!! The table next to us ordered extra oysters for their oyster salad and when their check came they were charged for two salads! We heard the restaurant arguing with them that that was the way they did it and they didn't price out extra oysters. The table made such a stink about it that I do think their check was adjusted somewhat. All in all, lunch was pushing two hours for us. Terrible service and mediocre food. Our B&B told us later that they have stopped recommending Straight Wharf as their poor service is now becoming known on the island. Wish we would have asked them before we went. AVOID this restaurant at all costs.
(1)
Laurie A.
Amanda Lydon (formerly of Upstairs @ the Pudding, Truc, Chez Henri, Radius.....) and partner Gabriel Frasca (Hammersleys, Chez Henri, Aquitane, Bouley Bakery, Spire...) took over this former location one, two, something like that, years ago and made it into the ideal place to eat as well as drink on Nantucket. Yes, the restaurant side is pricey but what isn't on Nantucket - at least you get an incredible meal (food/serivce) AND unbelievable water views (2 things that are most always at odds with one another). Being from SF, I did find the wine mark ups pretty offsensive but again, it's in line w/the rest of the island (and frankly, Boston in general). After a blow out meal on the restaurant side (no dishes disappointed but highlights, if you are able to get there in the next 3 weeks, included: watermelon gazpacho w/the ubiquitous Bartlett Farm produce, scallops served over white almond gazpacho and an heirloom nectarine (who knew) galette w/wild bluberries...i didn't so dig the corn ice cream on top of it but the homemade mint ice cream was a good substitute), we returned for dinner the next night at the bar. The bar menu is completely different than the dinner menu and allows you to have a "regular" meal or graze-we got a full order of the bluefish pate, which is complimentary in the restaurant (lots of cream cheese, of course it's good), several bowls of the chowder, a few pressed cubans (huge) and halibut served over cousous with raisins and a light romesco. both nights:05 alex gambal fixin - great w/the food and a more reasonable markup. even mom and dad liked this place and could deal w/the bill. i'm sure it's a total scene in august but in early september, either side is ideal for eating as well as drinking, just go with whatever menu appeals to you at that moment...and make sure you come back for the other. ps-I did not try their new take out, which is right next to Provisions, but it looked great too.
(5)
Melissa M.
For starters, the restaurant is in a Great location - right on the wharf! Unfortunately you can't eat brunch in the back on the water, but dinner back there from what I remember was outstanding. I just went for brunch (sadly it was a rainy day so we were stuck inside, though I do like the decor of the restaurant, so I didn't mind). The brunch at Straight Wharf is really tasty - my only complaint is the lack of selection. Three people at my table got the eggs benedict which were really yummy - it was a great sweet and salty dish because of the sweet portuguese bread. The huevos rancheros was also really excellent. I was boring and had poached eggs (cooked perfectly and even seasoned with salt and pepper), chicken sausage (tasty) and home fries (ok but I've had better). The coffee and bloody mary's were excellent!
(4)
Alix H.
OMG, so good! Do not miss this restaurant!!! This is our third year in Nantucket and we have had some good meals, but this one was truly GREAT. We had avoided it because it has a very good location and we assumed it would be a tourist trap but from the food to the service, we could not have had a better experience. We ate in the more informal bar area and it was a very relaxed and casual ambiance. We started with the crostini special (a nice but pretty basic bruschetta) and then had swordfish skewers and the halibut. The quality of the fish was extraordinary but the preparation really was fantastic. Dessert was a wonderful send off -- we had the chocolate brownie and a mixed fruit type of cobbler. Both were fantastic. We will be back soon!
(5)
Jenny T.
So, so so so good. We stumbled across here last weekend on a day trip to Nantucket, not knowing what to expect of the local area and going into our restaurant hunt with zero recommendations and expectations. SWF was able to squeeze us in w/o a reservation Friday night, got a great table with great service and even better food. First, we were treated to complementary bluefin pate with parmesan crackers, a nice surprise. We started off with the ricotta carbonara cavatelli...sauce was surprisingly light with homemade pancetta and peas, topped with a slightly weird foam on top that didn't add to the dish (nor subtract), just added to my confusion. The real treat was the entree, I had the local halibut which was seared and seasoned PERFECTLY over homemade chive garlic spaetzle (the real reason I ordered this dish), asparagus, and mushrooms. For dessert, we split the Pain Perdu, a mini french toast of sorts with cherries and almond ice cream. They literally had to roll me out of the restaurant I was so full, but it was definitely worth it (not to mention the amazing pouilly fume wine we had). It is definitely on the pricier side, but if you're just visiting Nantucket for a day or two, why not splurge a little. I have nothing local to compare it to, but after browsing 10+ menus, this one had already stood out among the rest.
(5)
Nandini H.
what a prefect little restaurant. i was here in the winter months so the patrons all seemed to be locals. i am not sure if the straight wharf restaurant is usually bustling with tourists or not. it was cozy and i thoroughly enjoyed the locally inspired seasonal cuisine. it was our last night on the island and unintentionally, we saved the best for last. the menu had creative takes on common seaside meals. when we got our plates of food from the friendly waiter, our eyes must have been popping out of our heads in excitement as everything in front of us was so artfully arranged. the prices are on par with the quality of the food and the fantastic views in which straight wharf is known for.
(5)
kelly w.
I had such high hopes for dinner after having fantastic meals here over the the last several years... Service was mediocre at best...waitress greeted us the didn't come back for 15-20 minutes for cocktail order; after ordering never came back until after first course was served and tried to get her attention to order wine a few times and by then we were almost finished; gal who was selecting wine was not knowledgeable at all and waitress never checked in until well after entrees served and didn't know what what wine was chosen and i didnt have my wine brought until a while after main course was served. signature entree of clam bake sounded delicious and was not... Very tough chorizo sausage- hard to chew, dish served barely warm enough, overkill in fried fingerling potato coins, leeks were tough as well. Swordfish dish that my husband ordered was well cooked but highly over-seasoned and I am not shweaken it comes to seasoning food. On the plus side the desserts were absolutely delicious and we loved the rosemary shortbread and bluefish pate that are both compliments of the chef and the atmosphere is so pretty- beautiful candlelit rooms and artwork.
(3)
Lizzie C.
went here for dinner last night. the mussels were amazing-- so fresh and the tomato sauce was delicious. my girlfriend and i also spilt the halibut which was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were wonderful. the dip and bread was a nice surprise as well. the waitress had the fish spilt for us which was really nice. overall wonderful food, okay service and great ambiance. i would definitely recommend straight wharf!
(4)
Jonathan B.
Ha, ha! The Straight Wharf. I've only been here during Figawi. The place is an absolute shit show. Mid-20's to mid-40's. Start drinking at 1PM and watch the rest of the drunks do their thing. It's totally hilarious. People hooking up left and right. Oh, I'm sure the food is just fine. I've never eaten any of it.
(5)
Amy B.
Dinner or drinks? What's your guilty pleasure? If you opt for dinner at the Straight Wharf your expectations should be high and you should expect them to be fulfilled. I had an amazing experience here with a large group of family and friends; it was one of those marathon dinners with many courses and many bottles of wine. The food is delicious, the service impeccable and the atmosphere is classy. Be sure to wear your Nantucket reds and a blue blazer. On the flip-side the Straight Wharf is a pretty fun place to go out on a Friday or Saturday evening. The bar and outside deck is generally packed with the preppiest of 20-30 somethings on Nantucket; it is quite a scene.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Stephanie Y.
Definitely one of the better spots on Nantucket for a night out and the secret's out since reservations during summer aren't the easiest feat. I actually don't think it's ever been a secret since for as long as I can remember, Straight Wharf has been one of the best restaurants on island. A definite hotbed of navy blue blazers, nantucket reds, popped collars and pearls, but the food is oh so good. The location, right on the wharf is perfect along with the building itself. If you can snag an outdoor seat, do it. Inside isn't shabby, with those high beam ceilings and large windows letting light pour in (we ate at 6, early bird style). Service is stellar and the food is equally as impressive. The bread is delicious. I opted for the pasta starter which was perfectly light and the sustainable fish ( the actual fish escapes me). Not too heavy, a nice sized piece complimented with farro verde, broccoli, pickled peppers, cherry tomatoes, lemon cream; I didn't want the dish to end. The man went with the house speciality -- the clam bake: a deconstructed lobster, chorizo, clams, potatoes and corn. Although pricy, all the seafood was so fresh, very well prepared and not the least messy, which gets hard when you're eating lobster. Dessert -- don't be an idiot. That swr galette is heavenly and although shareable, it's so light and perfect, you'll want your own. It's Nantucket expensive, but if you're spending the dough, Straight Wharf is worth the patronage.
(5)Joseph P.
Straight Wharf restaurant is a fabulous property, located on the water, on Straight Wharf in Nantucket. My wife and I make this a standard stop while vacationing in Nantucket. The main dining, with its natural and candle lighting, makes it, arguably the most romantic venue on the island. SWR does have outdoor dining as well and lends itself to a very nice water view. A perfectly chilled '99' Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs awaited us at the table. The entire evening was one which our dinner was unhurried, perfectly timed and delicious. My wife's local swordfish and my hake dinner were both perfectly prepared and presented beautifully. All accompaniments matched the meal such that every taste proved the flavors and textures were all on the same song sheet. I must note that the dessert, Almond Financier, with local strawberries, beach rose cream, almond streusel, strawberry sorbet was just the best ending to a dinner we've had in quite some time. Great service and a big thanks to SWR's GM, Chris Sleeper, for making this evening one which will be remembered the remainder of the summer and through the cold days of winter.
(5)Chris W.
This is Busy Season post-dinner review only. Straight Wharf is a viable option to enjoy an après beach grill sesh with a fun night of drinking more vodka drinks and partying on. I truly believe the DJ plays to the crowd as I've been on two separate occasions and have raged to two totally different genres. Night one was a Saturday evening and they were blasting chill rap music. Night two was a Tuesday and they must have noticed our crew rocking glow sticks so they were chaying deep house, progressive chill bangers and, tropical chill step. Bartenders are inattentive and none chill at times. 3 out 5 stars. I'd bro back.
(3)John D.
It's my favorite place on Nantucket thus far, and I've been going to the island for over nearly 30 years. Service is great, the view is decent, and the food is terrific. Prices are a little higher than elsewhere, but I'm OK with it. NO draft beer selection, sadly, which is what gives the four star vs. five. These are the days of pairing terrific craft brews with our food, so they should modernize that. But coming from the Cisco brewery just prior, we weren't hung out to dry. We had the swordfish, scallops, and the black sesame ginger cheesecake (superb).
(4)John C.
My family went thinking it was another restaurant that was recommended to us.The server Greta was so pleasant we decided to stay.The lobsters rolls were well recommended and could not have better.It was nice sitting out side great food great service I would highly recommend going their.
(5)Joe V.
Yummy dinner starting with great skate ceviche taquitos- fresh and delicious. The tuna , swordfish , and tagliatelle dishes were all sized appropriately and very fresh! I'd recommend this place if you're looking for atmosphere , great food, & an upbeat trendy feel!
(4)Nicholas D.
This is a wonderful restaurant with fantastic food and service. The portions are moderate in size and the price tag is hefty, but it's worth it. Young children are welcome here and parents are made comfortable by the friendly staff.
(5)Thom A.
First impressions are lasting... Recently asked for an outdoor dining table with my dog. A waiter told us it would be a couple of minutes to get a table ready. As we were being seated another waitress abruptly told us dogs were not allowed. We explained that minutes ago we were told differently. Instead of being polite the waitress was very rude to us even though the initial waiter came by to confirm what he told us. I understand mistakes can be made but speaking and treating us in a very unfriendly manner was not appropriate, especially in a very pet friendly island like Nantucket. We then just walked across the square and had a wonderful lunch with our dog at The Tavern.
(1)Al J.
Aside from the stunning ambiance and excellent service, the food blew me away. My favorite restaurant on the island!!
(5)K M.
This was THE best dinner I have ever had in Nantucket and one of the best ever, anywhere. The scallop dish was incredible. Very nice dimly lit restaurant. Outdoor seating was great. Although friendly, the hostess was a little confused. The server had a bit of an attitude. It seemed obvious she did not like us. The busser was great and other staff seemed friendly. Normally I would have given them 2 or 3 stars, but the food was so good, it made up for miss sunshine. Will defiantly go back.
(5)Evan H.
Great food. Service was also outstanding. Loved it there, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is in Nantucket.
(4)Leanna C.
Straight wharf is a great restaurant to go and eat quickly right on the wharf. All of the food is good but I highly recommend the chicken under a brick, the chicken is moist and succulent all while remaining a reasonable price. Ask to be seated outside on the patio, it is busy and they can't always accommodate everyone but it's worth asking!
(4)Kelsy W.
They were so unprofessional!!!!! Bouncer broke my ID In half and I am 23..... F that!
(1)Jaimee A.
Decent food but the prices are OUTRAGEOUS!! The restaurant is cute enough, the bathroom is clean and the service was good. We had: 5 oysters green salad croissant 2 pancakes scrambled eggs _________________ $58 before tip Seriously? All the food listed above for almost $60. I think not.....
(2)Therese D.
Straight Wharf is everything amazing about Ack. The very best view, mixed with the very best food. Cannot complain one ounce about my meal, service or experience. Everyone, please come to this restaurant , you won't be disappointed. Even better, is the when the bar opens next door at the beginning of the night. Great vibe and wonderful people go there. #1 must do for Nantucket adventure.
(5)Panos H.
Awesome - seated w/out res. awesome tomato tarte, ceviche taquitos with avocado crema, sliced steak, tagliatelle with tomato broth&mushrooms! Also- Chateau Haut-Bailly 2006!! What a selection here
(3)Nancy J.
The oysters and lobster were very good. At first they seated us at a very noisy area but we asked to move and they seated us at a very quiet area with a very nice view. Service was also good. Enjoyed dinner
(5)H M.
I've had better, I've had worse. The best part of this restaurant is the bread. Our waitress was cold and had no personality. It is very dark in here, I could hardly see across the table. Didn't think the prices were too outrageous considering it is Nantucket.
(3)Hilary L.
Great food with a creative menu, fun casual bar area, and very nice upscale dining room. Nice outdoor deck too!
(5)Bill F.
Great yummy food ... Dessert delicious .. Service was superb ... Will definitely include this stop in our future Nantucket trips. We sat outside ... Great atmosphere
(5)Jonathan A.
This is the worst review I've ever left for a restaurant where I truly loved the food. In actuality it's 2.5 stars but given the options I just can't give them 3. The only bad thing I can say about the meal is they didn't offer iced tea which struck me as strange. The reason I'm giving a 2 star review is this restaurant uses hand written checks. At the end of my meal I received a check with all of my items correctly listed but the total was given $200, over 50% more than the $130 my items added up to. Had I had a few more drinks I probably would have just paid that amount without thinking about it. Upon bringing this to my waitresses attention I expected a visit from the manager to apologize and/or offer to take something off the check to make up for unintentionally attempting to rob me. I waited nearly 15 minutes for someone to return but received neither . I think this was particularly inexcusable and showed a poor degree of customer service. I will recommend this restaurant to friends but warn them to check the math on their bill!
(2)Ray H.
So good! The restaurant is beautiful-clean and beachy. The service and food was perfect!! We had the daily special and the fish was so fresh and cooked perfectly. I had the cucumber soup-very chunky which was odd, but so so good!!! Would definitely go again!
(5)Sue W.
We were there for their soft opening, the Season would begin the next day. They were busy, but didn't miss a beat. Food and service were excellent. My husband's wood-smoked oysters had been cooked to a magical point, so that when they were served they were warm and superbly flavorful, plump, and clearly fresh from the sea.
(5)Kathleen S.
Everyone got the scallops and loved them. That's the good news. We didn't get the patio even though we'd "requested" it when we made the reservation. It seems to be a "wait and see" thing, which is annoying. The chocolate macaron for dessert was crazy--ridiculously large and hard until you got to to the center, which was an arduous journey of chewing and messiness. It t is too hard to be utensil-friendly, so you are forced to eat it with your hands, BUT it's dipped in chocolate sauce, so. . . . bring some wet naps. The service was a little odd-we were asked by two different people, one right after the other, if we wanted water and various other questions. But, when we didn't look too excited by the dessert--we were in no man's land of service.
(2)Andreas W.
My girlfriend and I had a fantastic meal here, I would highly recommend stopping in for dinner. The pricing is appropriate given the quality of the dishes.
(5)Ann T.
Had a very good experience at Straight Wharf. The pros: very good bread and my entree: dayboat chatham scallops w celeriac, cauliflower, bacon, & caper-meyer lemon vinaigrette. Also, my husband really liked the chicken under a brick w haricots verts, local baby kale, cippolinis, & hazelnut romesco. Service was very good. The cons: room was too warm and I was not a fan of the Spanish octopus appetizer.
(4)Bob H.
Five of us went to dinner at Straight Wharf and three had great meals and two did not! The two who had a problem ordered tuna and NY sirloin. They were served each other's dinner. My wife thought they changed the vegetables on her tuna!..only to find out she had been trying to eat the steak. The person who ordered the steak, ate all the tuna; and is not even a tuna fan! The restaurant took the tuna off the bill; and plated the remaining steak in a to-go container.
(4)pablo e.
This was the best dinner we (my wife and I) had on Nantucket. I was a little bit skeptical: a location suggests the potential for a tourist trap and having gotten a lot of recommendations from trusted foodies, but only one recommended it. The clam bake and chicken under a brick were very solid. I'm not a huge lettuce person, but the salad with buttermilk dressing was a surprising highlight.
(5)Sarah G.
Gotta get the groom at smash! Food is fabulous! Come early if u want quiet & lights 9p lights go down & it's loud
(5)industrial c.
I am being generous with 3 stars. The only thing good about this restaurant was the ambiance. Awful service (some of the worst I've had in years) and the food wasn't that good. In fact, the bread was the best part of the meal! For the prices they charge it should be unbelievable.
(3)Ryan L.
SWR was fantastic. Went here with the family for dinner. The restaurant has 2 sides; bar side with self seating at tables, and the fine dining side where a hostess seats you. We got a table on the fine dining side with a view over the water. The sunset had just passed, but if we were there an hour earlier, we would have had an even better view. The architecture and decor in side was very "Nantucket" as well. Thick wood beans, maritime themed decor, local paintings abound. Very cool stuff. Drinks: The 5 of us just split a few bottles of a regular cab. Nothing special here. They did have a very extensive wine list, but we didn't really feel the need to go cruising through it. Appetizers: A couple of us got the pumpkin chowder, I got the mussels, and 1 other got the harvest salad. The mussels were pretty good, but a bit too salty. I can't complain though, as I finished the whole thing without an issue. The chowder had a lot of onions, so I stayed away except for dipping a piece of bread a few times (which was delicious). Main Course: I got the harpooned swordfish. Very good fish. It was slighty overcooked for my taste, but 99% of people would have said it's perfect. It was served with eggplant and other veggies on the side. Blonde got the steak. It was great. She only gave me 1 peice, though. It was perfectly cooked as medium rare. Mom got the clam bake. Most expensive thing on the menu, but not much food. From what I had, it was fantastic. If I had gotten though, I would have left still quite hungry. We got a side of brussels sprouts. They were very good and vey interesting. Almost like a soy or miso flavor. Dessert: We got 2 of the apple pie-style treats. Delicous. No other way to describe it. Get this dessert. They do take 20 minutes to make, so they tell you to order it early on in your dinner. Service: Our waitress knew her job. She was prompt and attentive at all times. Very friendly, and very knowledgable about the menu. She offered reccomendations, and even told us a few things she likes to stay away from. Other details: The restaurant has a free bluefish patte that is out of this world. It is served with melba toast squares. We got about 8 reloads of it. So good! I took off 1 star just because how ridiculously expensive a few of the dishes are, compared to how much food you actually got. The taste and flavor was there, but when you pay $48 for 1 dish, you expect it to at least fill you up. Definitely a place to check out, especially if you can get a table during a sunset.
(4)Kelly B.
Expensive. The food was pretty good. I got the scallops, and the 3 scallops themselves were delicious, but the green beans that they were on tasted like they had been previously frozen? My husband had the lobster bisque for an appetizer and the clambake special for dinner. He said it was delicious, but he was searching for the (2 tiny) clams and there were hardly any! But he said he didn't mind bc they gave 1.5 lbs or lobster (already out of the shell). Maybe I'm just having an off night. I really wanted to give this place a better review :/
(3)William K.
Tuesday night, I had an unfortunate experience where a male bartender tried to rob me of $100. Thankfully, I was with a local face and went to extremes to get his attention after he blatantly gave me change on $10 and ignored my follow up demands. BUYERS BE AWARE: count your change when closing out here. Obviously this bartender was willing to risk the reputation of a high end Nantucket location in hopes of scoring on some extra tip money for the night. Disappointing and unprofessional to say the least...
(1)Sheila Y.
If you're looking for a really cool & casual place for lunch - this is it!! When I'm on the island I ALWAYS make a stop over at the Straight Wharf where I can relax and chill out with family and friends!! Their oysters are a long time favorite of mine!!!! Enjoy!!
(5)Nicole J.
Bartender was so rude to multiple customers. I have never seen anything like it before. Stayed for one drink and left. Would never go back and spend my money here. Too many great places to waste my time.
(1)John B.
Incredible dining room and back patio. Very romantic setting and a quintessential Nantucket experience. The scallops were divine. Highly recommended.
(5)Razoo D.
Great weekend brunch with the (extended) fam this past weekend. Eyed Curiously and Decided I Liked: Greek Yogurt w/Granola and Fruit served in a wineglass Consumed without thinking: French Toast Budin 1/2 of Mom's straightforward scramble & bacon Chef Frasca (of NWF fame) delivers as anticipated
(4)Dave K.
A Perennial Favorite The food here is second to none. Plus, it has a fantastic location right on the water in the heart of down (right as you come off the ferry). And I haven't even mentioned the bar scene - one of my hands down favorite bars. Anywhere.
(5)J P.
Absolutely fabulous! Dined here on the last weekend of the season with husband and 2 friends. This was our first time on the island. We chose this place based on Yelp reviews. The meal starts with a delightful bluefish spread with parmesan toasts (complimentary) and they offered us more if we wanted it. Our apps were the Oysters, Harvest Salad, and the Pumpkin soup. All were exquisite! Entrees were the Sirloin, Chicken under a Brick and the Scallops. All exquisite! For dessert, 2 people pre-ordered the apple puff pastry. The other 2 shared the cheese plate. The cheese plate was one of the best ive ever had. It came with 10 oz of cheese, 2oz each of 5 varieties. Soooo good and worth the $15. I heard no complaints on the apple puff. We will definitely be back if we ever go to Nantucket again!
(5)Steve B.
Great service and amazing food. Right on the ward next tot the boats. Great setting. Large prices but very romantic.
(5)Favalaro F.
Top notch. Seriously good chef. Attentive to detail. Inventive dishes. Highly recommend.
(5)Susan W.
Little pasta ricotta appetizer with peas to die for, a callops and halibut perfectly Cooked and seasoned and large servings, great bread - a real thing with me, why is it such a problem most of the time? And superb setting. Also important, great music playlist at reasonable sound level, I thought.
(5)Rocket C.
I have long ago given up hope of finding a reasonably-priced dining experience on Nantucket. What I look for is a quality experience. My traveling companions include a finicky eater, a gastronome with food allergies, and a connoisseur of French wines. Pity me: the Quality Experience is elusive at best. We found it at SWR on Friday, 15 June. The front desk was typically Nantucket Impossible: acted like our modest request for a table for 4 was a demand for a kidney transplant. Once we were seated, however, we were no longer outsiders. The waitstaff welcomed us and made us their own. We ordered salad from a local farm (huge, delicious); cavatelli (my companions would not share, so I can't tell you how good it was) and asparagus with some weirdly boiled egg. I had that, and it was worth getting. We had a very nice bottle of wine (merci, M. le Connoisseur). What astonished me was that the whole staff conspired to welcome us and make our meal enjoyable. The Bus-girl spoke knowledgeably about the menu. The sommelier bussed our plates when she was near and they needed clearing. The waiter was attentive without being suffocating. In short, the service was excellent! The meal was delicious. We had steak, swordfish and fluke. The staff was completely attentive to food allergies. We declined dessert; we had eaten so well. I even got my dining companions to sample the oregano on our table :-) I want to go back in busy season. I want to have the same experience of dining well. This place CAN do it; I hope they will do it again.
(5)Ciprian T.
Very briefly - great lobster rolls, good service, fantastic location. What I DO NOT LIKE is their HOURS ! On a beautiful day, full season, at 1.48 PM, Straight Wharf stops seating new tables for lunch. This is unheard off, especially in Nantucket, when the summer season is in full swing...
(4)Jonathan R.
I dine here every year. I always get the SWR Clambake. It is the ultimate lobster dish on the island. You can find delicious steamed or grilled whole lobsters at a couple other restaurants on the island. But if you are looking for a one of a kind lobster dish. Here it is. Service is always great. Wine list is top notch. I love this place
(5)C N.
We have come here many times and the food just keeps getting better! The ambiance is wonderful. Servers that actually seem happy to serve!
(5)Elizabeth G.
Went here with the beau for a birthday trip with a gift certificate from Gilt City in hand. We were a little wary that we would be relegated to the corner for the discount-seekers but we were greeted with a custom menu for an INCREDIBLE 5-course tasting with pairings (plus a couple extras given gratis by the sommelier.) The tuna crudo and butter poached lobster were definitely the stand outs but everything else was just amazing. Looking forward to heading back soon!
(5)EJ P.
I am going to make this short and sweet because this restaurant does not even deserve for me to waste my time writing about it. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME COMING HERE. I went here in fall of 2011 and there was pieces of shell in my seafood (my molar almost cracked), the food was cold, it was puny portions, the soup I was served likely had 3 tablespoons of salt in it, the restaurant was freezing cold and they clumsily brought in space heaters, which was amateurish at best and stupid at worst, it's overpriced, and basically whomever is running this place now does not know what he or she is doing OR doesn't care. It's better to go almost anywhere else on Nantucket than this place. Absolutely horrid.
(1)Mike C.
Anyone who spends any time on Nantucket in August knows what its like to get a last minute reservation at a restaurant. Last night, six of us arrived at the Straight Wharf at 6pm to get a quick bite. We were promptly (and luckily) seated on the patio. All of us are from Nantucket and understand what August is like on the island. About the same time that my big mouth said, "there is no rain in the 10 day forecast," a rather strong thunderstorm dropped giant globs of cold water on us... The food and service here is always superb, but I am writing to acknowledge how professional and calm and pleasant the staff was while they made extra room in the bar dining area, presented us with a few snacks - gratis - and then served six wonderful dinners that obviously weren't "waiting in the window" while we waited for a seat inside. The entire experience reminded me of what Danny Meyer (Union Square Cafe, etc) deems "enlightened hospitality." No one at Straight Wharf had control over the weather, but they took control of the situation. Thanks for the great meal!
(5)David M.
One of Nantucket's best restaurants. Their Great seafood and excellent service made me a fan. Excellent wine list and their sommelier didn't try to over-sell the pricier wines. Had their signature clam bake which hit the spot. Very romantic out on the deck, looking out to the boats moored in the harbour.
(4)nick g.
This place is good. Very hot and crowded inside on a Thursday night in August. Luckily we scored a table outside which was beautiful. The pasta appetizer was just OK - a little bland. Everything else was very good, including Octopus appetizer, flounder main course. Want to go back for lunch to try the lobster roll.
(4)Gabrielle A.
We had the most amazing meal at SWR while visiting the island a few weeks ago. Not only is the restaurant itself romantic (too bad I was with my sister), elegant, but laid back and comfortable, the service was excellent. But really what shines is the incredible food - from the fish patee with melba toast, to the desert of mixed berries shortcake - AMAZING!!!
(5)Rob H.
The food was pretty good and the atmosphere fun. One huge disappointment was that their wine list contains a bottle that should never be consumed by humans. The wine was so sweet, it was almost undrinkable. Whoever put that wine on the menu should be eternally banished from the restaurant industry.
(2)Kristin T.
I think the food at this restaurant is fantastic. Yes, there is always a wait even if you have a reservation. Yes, it can be difficult to make a reservation and yes the music in the bar area is laughable but the food and service make up for it. The gazpacho, the clam bake and the scallops are all top notch.
(5)Courtney D.
We left a $3 tip at the bar for a beer (in a can) and a blueberry vodka lemonade and the bartender yelled at us and called us cheap.
(1)Alex N.
Had a fine meal here with my girlfriend last night. She ordered the straight wharf clam bake and I had the halibut. I was quite pleased with the quality of the fish I had, and the clam bake was a full plate of sea goodness. I'd go back here next time around.
(4)Bella R.
Great food! Lobster was heavenly and desserts were on the top! Servers were attentive at all times!
(5)Kenan F.
Perfection. This is my Blue Ribbon Brasserie or Aquagrill of Nantucket. Always reliable, consistently great food and service. We've had dinner at the restaurant, at the bar and takeout from the seafood market adjacent. The best lobster rolls, stuffed with the most lobster meat I've ever had in a lobster roll, fresh as can be and not too much sauce. At the restaurant we had the clam bake which is a pre-shelled 2 lb lobster on top of creamed sweet corn, leeks, chorizo. Excellent wine selection and knowledgeable sommelier, we had a beautiful bottle of Meursault 1er cru Genevrieres. Delicious homemade mint ice-cream and fragrant French press coffee. At the bar a salad, the halibut, local beer and that wonderful French press coffee. All on different days, of course. This is a must must must. Hard to not eat here every day when on Nantucket!
(5)Alice M.
Fabulous dinner overlooking the harbor! Butter poached lobster with chiorzo and crispy fingerling potatoes on a bed of pureed roasted corn. Topped off with a strawberry rhubarb galette. Perfect!
(4)Mark W.
The Bloody Mary's were flavorful but weak the pasta dish was very good. The fish taco's were fried fish which was a big surprise and disappointment to the table. The service was good. Overall ok place for lunch.
(3)Brian P.
Very good all around. Our dinner was excellent - from appetizer to entree to dessert. Execution was excellent. Baby octopus appetizer was cooked perfectly, and oyster appetizer was fresh and refreshing. Grilled swordfish was very good...fluke incredible. Each was prepared delicately and arrived hot. Service was attentive and good. Overall - a very enjoyable meal and evening. A place to visit while on Nantucket.
(5)John B.
One of the best dinners of our two week vacation/culinary adventure through the Hamptons and New England beach towns. The clam bake was out of this world, as were the squash blossoms stuffed with lobster and the grilled calamari. For dessert, their special galette was also delicious. Our waitress, Meghan (sp?) and sommelier (forgot her name, sorry!) were both top notch. Attentive but not overwhelmingly so, very knowledgeable about menu and wine list and made successful recommendations with conviction. They were fun to engage about all things Nantucket without being inappropriately familiar. This was a truly excellent experience. We were so glad that this was our final vacation meal, so that we were able to leave on a very high note. Can't wait for our next visit to Nantucket and to Straight Wharf!
(5)Philip W.
Great on the water location. I've been here many times over the years. Never disappointed. There were three of us for dinner. One had the lobster special, one scallop dish and one Nantucket Fluke, All were great. We had a great table and great service. Will definitely come back next year.
(4)Steve R.
Great food. Pretty good service (Don't really think you get "great" service in too many places on the island so the expectations should be managed. They do no have a kids menu but they prepared pasta from the menu and brought cheese to put on top. Had I ordered this meal for myself I would say it was one of the best plates of pasta I have ever had. Great lobster rolls on awesome Challah bread. Their fries were very interesting. Crunchy like potato sticks almost. Delicious.
(4)Bryan R.
Followed up with a manager who was very friendly and said that she would talk to the general manager about what happened and get back to me. No one ever called back and as far as I can tell the bouncer who assaulted me is still working there. Do I have to file a police report to make sure this doesn't happen to anyone else?
(1)Cathy B.
Overpriced. $39 sirloin was just so so and $30 chicken was a strange texture. Great cavatelli but for $18 they give you less than a cup. We did enjoy the rosemary shortbread after.
(3)Gordon H.
Very popular place located next to the boat basin and the ferry. Was a little hot when we were eating there. They had set up free standing fans in various places to try and move the air around but it only added more noise to the room. The key is sitting outside and not getting stuck inside. Food and service was good. The specials were very good but portions were on the small side for the money. Reservations are strongly suggested and try to get the outside seating. This is a very popular place for dinner.
(3)Tim C.
Had my birthday drinks at the bar - goombay smash - does a body good! Swordfish skewers were awesome! Will return for actual dinner next trip!
(4)Kelly E.
My boyfriend and I ate dinner at the restaurant last night. We had a 9:45 reservation and therefore were able to get seated outside, which was very romantic (candlelight, right on the water). As we left, I couldn't believe how noisy the bar out front was, because we couldn't hear it at all from the back patio! :) We both LOVED the food, especially the heirloom tomato appetizer and the sea scallop entree. The raw oysters had some sort of lemon ice on them that was delicious. Everything was very tasty and fresh. I also had a (pricey) glass of chardonnay that went perfectly with the meal. They also brought us complementary bluefish pate with the appetizers and rosemary shortbread with the check - both were delicious. It took a while for the waitress to come by after we had been seated, but after that the service was good and very friendly. Overall, very expensive (not out of line with most Nantucket restaurants), but excellent food and a lovely ambiance (at least outdoors).
(4)Annie R.
The food here is pretty good, the bar scene at night is terrible. So if you want to grab some food, come earlier, later on at night, its like a preparty for the chicken box....
(3)Romeo F.
Our reservation for 7:30 was confused for 6:30. The manager could only seat us at 9. It was worth the wait. The manager brought u s a bottle of Chardonnay and bottled water to bridge the gap. Dinner was great, service was attentive, the company perfect. Loved the sword and zucchini blossoms.
(5)Paul M.
Solid experience. Wait staff was friendly and attentive. We sat outside and the view and atmosphere was great. The lobster clam bake was a bit of a hot mess with too many leeks.
(4)Sarah M.
Ate here twice this past week, (early Sept. 2009), once in the dining room and once at the bar. Overall, the food is excellent, the servers are very good and everyone had a great time. The same can be said for the bar area as well which has a separate menu and slightly lower prices. Portions are a tiny bit small, though plating is excellent and everyone seemed to be very happy with their choices and wanted more when they were done. We all had room for dessert too. I'm looking forward to going back next time I'm on the Island.
(4)Dianna B.
Dined here on Thursday night late in September. The bar menu was more tempting (and affordable!) to us than the restaurant, so we opted to dine bar-side. The waitress was great and let us slowly wind our way through the meal-- we sat with some drinks for awhile, then shared 2 apps and finally ordered entrees. We were the only diners on the bar side (I think there were 3-4 tables occupied on the restaurant side), but there were a few people at the bar as well. Good food, awesome service and a primo location to boot!
(4)Craig A.
Best restaurant in Nantucket by far. Great service, impeccable food, and a beautiful atmosphere. I would recommend it to anyone!!
(5)Joanne E.
Went for lunch yesterday. We were seated at a table outside. After a few minutes (we had already put our napkins in our laps and were about to get our water glasses filled) someone else came running over and told us we couldn't sit there as it was reserved for another party. We were asked to go back inside to wait for another table. Embarrassed, we got up and left the table. We should have left the restaurant after that. We were seated again in about 20 minutes and proceeded to have the WORST service we have ever experienced. And we weren't the only ones. Other tables were complaining too. We waited forever for someone to help us. This is lunch on an outside deck mind you, not an extended fine dining experience. After 20 min someone finally took our order. Our drinks came after another 10 min. The table next to us waited even longer. However another table seated after us got their drinks and food before we even ordered. The restaurant was not crowded. The service was completely haphazard. No one seemed to know what to do. No one appeared to be managing the restaurant. My husband ordered a second glass of ice tea and it never arrived. The food was mediocre and arrived 45 min after our drinks. We had a salad, fish tacos, and a sandwich. We asked for the check and waited another 15 min. The second glass of ice tea was on the bill. When asked the waitress said "I didn't think you got it but I put it on anyway." Really?!! The table next to us ordered extra oysters for their oyster salad and when their check came they were charged for two salads! We heard the restaurant arguing with them that that was the way they did it and they didn't price out extra oysters. The table made such a stink about it that I do think their check was adjusted somewhat. All in all, lunch was pushing two hours for us. Terrible service and mediocre food. Our B&B told us later that they have stopped recommending Straight Wharf as their poor service is now becoming known on the island. Wish we would have asked them before we went. AVOID this restaurant at all costs.
(1)Laurie A.
Amanda Lydon (formerly of Upstairs @ the Pudding, Truc, Chez Henri, Radius.....) and partner Gabriel Frasca (Hammersleys, Chez Henri, Aquitane, Bouley Bakery, Spire...) took over this former location one, two, something like that, years ago and made it into the ideal place to eat as well as drink on Nantucket. Yes, the restaurant side is pricey but what isn't on Nantucket - at least you get an incredible meal (food/serivce) AND unbelievable water views (2 things that are most always at odds with one another). Being from SF, I did find the wine mark ups pretty offsensive but again, it's in line w/the rest of the island (and frankly, Boston in general). After a blow out meal on the restaurant side (no dishes disappointed but highlights, if you are able to get there in the next 3 weeks, included: watermelon gazpacho w/the ubiquitous Bartlett Farm produce, scallops served over white almond gazpacho and an heirloom nectarine (who knew) galette w/wild bluberries...i didn't so dig the corn ice cream on top of it but the homemade mint ice cream was a good substitute), we returned for dinner the next night at the bar. The bar menu is completely different than the dinner menu and allows you to have a "regular" meal or graze-we got a full order of the bluefish pate, which is complimentary in the restaurant (lots of cream cheese, of course it's good), several bowls of the chowder, a few pressed cubans (huge) and halibut served over cousous with raisins and a light romesco. both nights:05 alex gambal fixin - great w/the food and a more reasonable markup. even mom and dad liked this place and could deal w/the bill. i'm sure it's a total scene in august but in early september, either side is ideal for eating as well as drinking, just go with whatever menu appeals to you at that moment...and make sure you come back for the other. ps-I did not try their new take out, which is right next to Provisions, but it looked great too.
(5)Melissa M.
For starters, the restaurant is in a Great location - right on the wharf! Unfortunately you can't eat brunch in the back on the water, but dinner back there from what I remember was outstanding. I just went for brunch (sadly it was a rainy day so we were stuck inside, though I do like the decor of the restaurant, so I didn't mind). The brunch at Straight Wharf is really tasty - my only complaint is the lack of selection. Three people at my table got the eggs benedict which were really yummy - it was a great sweet and salty dish because of the sweet portuguese bread. The huevos rancheros was also really excellent. I was boring and had poached eggs (cooked perfectly and even seasoned with salt and pepper), chicken sausage (tasty) and home fries (ok but I've had better). The coffee and bloody mary's were excellent!
(4)Alix H.
OMG, so good! Do not miss this restaurant!!! This is our third year in Nantucket and we have had some good meals, but this one was truly GREAT. We had avoided it because it has a very good location and we assumed it would be a tourist trap but from the food to the service, we could not have had a better experience. We ate in the more informal bar area and it was a very relaxed and casual ambiance. We started with the crostini special (a nice but pretty basic bruschetta) and then had swordfish skewers and the halibut. The quality of the fish was extraordinary but the preparation really was fantastic. Dessert was a wonderful send off -- we had the chocolate brownie and a mixed fruit type of cobbler. Both were fantastic. We will be back soon!
(5)Jenny T.
So, so so so good. We stumbled across here last weekend on a day trip to Nantucket, not knowing what to expect of the local area and going into our restaurant hunt with zero recommendations and expectations. SWF was able to squeeze us in w/o a reservation Friday night, got a great table with great service and even better food. First, we were treated to complementary bluefin pate with parmesan crackers, a nice surprise. We started off with the ricotta carbonara cavatelli...sauce was surprisingly light with homemade pancetta and peas, topped with a slightly weird foam on top that didn't add to the dish (nor subtract), just added to my confusion. The real treat was the entree, I had the local halibut which was seared and seasoned PERFECTLY over homemade chive garlic spaetzle (the real reason I ordered this dish), asparagus, and mushrooms. For dessert, we split the Pain Perdu, a mini french toast of sorts with cherries and almond ice cream. They literally had to roll me out of the restaurant I was so full, but it was definitely worth it (not to mention the amazing pouilly fume wine we had). It is definitely on the pricier side, but if you're just visiting Nantucket for a day or two, why not splurge a little. I have nothing local to compare it to, but after browsing 10+ menus, this one had already stood out among the rest.
(5)Nandini H.
what a prefect little restaurant. i was here in the winter months so the patrons all seemed to be locals. i am not sure if the straight wharf restaurant is usually bustling with tourists or not. it was cozy and i thoroughly enjoyed the locally inspired seasonal cuisine. it was our last night on the island and unintentionally, we saved the best for last. the menu had creative takes on common seaside meals. when we got our plates of food from the friendly waiter, our eyes must have been popping out of our heads in excitement as everything in front of us was so artfully arranged. the prices are on par with the quality of the food and the fantastic views in which straight wharf is known for.
(5)kelly w.
I had such high hopes for dinner after having fantastic meals here over the the last several years... Service was mediocre at best...waitress greeted us the didn't come back for 15-20 minutes for cocktail order; after ordering never came back until after first course was served and tried to get her attention to order wine a few times and by then we were almost finished; gal who was selecting wine was not knowledgeable at all and waitress never checked in until well after entrees served and didn't know what what wine was chosen and i didnt have my wine brought until a while after main course was served. signature entree of clam bake sounded delicious and was not... Very tough chorizo sausage- hard to chew, dish served barely warm enough, overkill in fried fingerling potato coins, leeks were tough as well. Swordfish dish that my husband ordered was well cooked but highly over-seasoned and I am not shweaken it comes to seasoning food. On the plus side the desserts were absolutely delicious and we loved the rosemary shortbread and bluefish pate that are both compliments of the chef and the atmosphere is so pretty- beautiful candlelit rooms and artwork.
(3)Lizzie C.
went here for dinner last night. the mussels were amazing-- so fresh and the tomato sauce was delicious. my girlfriend and i also spilt the halibut which was perfectly cooked and the vegetables were wonderful. the dip and bread was a nice surprise as well. the waitress had the fish spilt for us which was really nice. overall wonderful food, okay service and great ambiance. i would definitely recommend straight wharf!
(4)Jonathan B.
Ha, ha! The Straight Wharf. I've only been here during Figawi. The place is an absolute shit show. Mid-20's to mid-40's. Start drinking at 1PM and watch the rest of the drunks do their thing. It's totally hilarious. People hooking up left and right. Oh, I'm sure the food is just fine. I've never eaten any of it.
(5)Amy B.
Dinner or drinks? What's your guilty pleasure? If you opt for dinner at the Straight Wharf your expectations should be high and you should expect them to be fulfilled. I had an amazing experience here with a large group of family and friends; it was one of those marathon dinners with many courses and many bottles of wine. The food is delicious, the service impeccable and the atmosphere is classy. Be sure to wear your Nantucket reds and a blue blazer. On the flip-side the Straight Wharf is a pretty fun place to go out on a Friday or Saturday evening. The bar and outside deck is generally packed with the preppiest of 20-30 somethings on Nantucket; it is quite a scene.
(4)