We can all agree that Nantucket is downright dreamy. Hydrangeas at every corner, picturesque beaches, cobblestone streets… the only thing that can wake you up is maxing out your credit card.
The gourmet food and artisanal drinks (see coffee) come at a pretty penny. That being said, half the fun of being on Island is trying all the amazing dishes Nantucket has to offer.
We won’t bore you with our journey of grilled cheeses and Stop & Shop popcorn chicken; instead, we put together a streamlined list of bars and restaurants so you can have the true Nantucket experience without going into debt.
In no particular order, we recommend:
*Note: We’re recapping more inexpensive/mid-range restaurants for typical Nantucket prices. We know our recommendations are pretty amazing but we’re not Glenda, we cannot and will not commercialize Nantucket & grant you a Wawa (sorry New Jersey, Cumberland Farms is enough).
LET’S DINE
Lola Burger
This burger spot is located a short drive or semi-short walk away (ok, it’s not that short, but walk off the burger you’re about to eat, people) is a reasonable & phenomenal option for dinner. Get there earlier than later in the summertime, unless you want to wait for deliciousness.
Abby’s rec – The Lola Burger, so fondly named after the restaurant (or perhaps, vice versa?) is the move. $20 will get you an juicy burger, delicately topped with cheddar and caramelized onions and christened with foie gras gravy. This masterpiece sits between a lightly toasted English muffin and is served with shoe string french fries. Though, I recommend upgrading to the truffle fries.
Denisa’s rec – I’m not huge on meaty burgers, I prefer a thin patty like In-n-Out or Shake Shack. So when I can, I switch up my orders to try different variations other than a classic burger. I also love Korean food. So, when I saw a Korean Pork Burger on the menu, I had to try it, and let me tell you, it was INSANE. 10/10 would recommend, even though I know we’re using a 5 point scale here. It’s also one of the slightly cheaper options on the menu!
Enjoy this mediocre photograph of an extraordinary burger. I was too hungry to take a better one! The phone should eat second.
The Tavern
Located in the heart of town, The Tavern is a solid spot for anyone looking for Americana eats, great outdoor seating, and some hearty fried fish. Sayles Seafood would have initially been our recommendation if you were looking for a good fish fry up, but it seems they’ve gone downhill over the years. The Tavern still serves awesome fried jumbo shrimp- no sea monkeys here. You’re also likely to find some cute doggos lounging on the outside patio.
Provisions
Like the Sox and the Yankees, people tend to go half and half on Something Natural versus Provisions. Personally, the Turkey Terrific is what sells us on Provisions. For around $12, you can get yourself roast turkey, hot homemade stuffing, & cranberry sauce on fresh Portuguese bread. An awesome pick for Thanksgiving lovers. #Fact: Rachel Ray even featured this sandwich on $40 a Day back in the early 2000’s.
Fusaro’s
Family owned, open year round. You’ll find Fusaro’s near the rotaries out of town. If anything, go for the roasted garlic bread, the handmade pappardelle with bolognese, and the fair pricing.
Aunt Leah’s Fudge
Don’t waste your time waiting in line for an hour at the Juice Bar for ice cream when you can sample your weights worth of the best fudge of all time. Buy a 1/4 pound for the road because Aunt Leah is #bae.
LET’S DRINK
This is where we pause and say if you really are broke, you probably want to stay at home and maybe sip on your Mango White Claw. But, if you must go out (I mean we did), you must.
Straight Wharf
Looking for a shambly night with 29 year old artists who supposedly own yachts? Go tell your therapist, that’s concerning!
In all seriousness, Straight Wharf is the place to be for the younger crowd, or the young at heart. It’s straight shot from Main Street by the water, so you really couldn’t ask for a better location. Great for dancing–the music is pretty well curated! Note: you’ll pay $12 for cocktails here, so plan accordingly. (Do NOT order a Life is Good- it’s just a $12 Red Bull with raspberry Svedka SOS)
The Gaslight
New for Summer 2019, the Gaslight is a 1920s Prohibition-era inspired bar in town, with live bands for a more classy night out (than the Box). The decor is very chic and cool, and they even have a Moët vending machine (dope!) if you feel like dropping $25 on a personal bottle of champagne.
Not gonna lie, cocktails will set you back $16. So, if you’re looking for a place to get drunk, maybe head to Straight Wharf. But if you’re looking for a casual night out where you sip on one drink, this place is very ~trendy.
The Gazebo
Denisa says: This is not so much a review than a rant. Under no circumstances do you try to get into this place underage. Why, you ask? Because they will deny you entry even if you are legal!. Now not that we know anything about fake IDs, but please comment below and let us know if you have ever laid eyes upon, or even heard of a fake ID from California. We do not believe that any semi-legitimate ones exist, even if several Malibu-imbibing nineteen year olds wish that they could will it into existence.
Due to this slight (we are being nice here) inconvenience, Denisa cannot comment on the atmosphere of the Gazebo. She only wishes that the supposed “extra” bear on her real California ID would have disappeared for the evening.
Abby says: Go for the people watching, stay for the mudslides.
Cisco Brewers
We don’t care if you don’t like beer, you’ll like Cisco Brewers. Think of an outdoor frat party with families that doesn’t offer Natty Light–that’s Cisco. (So basically nothing like a frat party, and there are dogs. You’re welcome.)
This isn’t just a beer yard, they serve their own wine (& frozé!), and all cocktails are made with liquor distilled on property. Not to mention, they have taco carts, food trucks, and gardens surrounding the place! We went on a rainy day, which was a bit of a bummer, but still fun. This place is dog friendly, too, so pick a nice sunny day, grab a beer or cocktail or whatever, and find the nearest dog. Perfect day.
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