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Restaurants Overview

From fried fish at roadside stands to boiled lobster and foie gras at fancy French restaurants and a growing array of international influences -- Thai, Brazilian, Japanese, Mexican, to name just a few -- the Vineyard serves an amazing variety of culinary choices.

The majority of eating establishments, both take-out and sit-down, are concentrated in the three Down-Island towns of Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown. As you travel Up-Island -- to West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah -- choices dwindle, especially when it comes to sit-down dinners. Sadly, Vineyard diners -- all-American institutions where you can get an honest, no-frills meal at reasonable prices -- are a dying breed. Luckily, you can pick up sandwiches, pastries, and other to-go specialties at a number of places around the island, and with good planning you can eat well on a modest budget and splurge for an elegant dinner.

Most restaurants are open on weekends starting in late spring, and by Memorial Day weekend most are serving daily. Although the season seems to stretch longer each year, most restaurants remain open full time through Columbus Day weekend, then only weekends through Thanksgiving (a small handful of die-hard restaurants remain open year-round). Dress, even for the upscale spots, is casual; a man in a sport jacket is a rare sight. Reservations are highly recommended in the summer months.