I will only be on Nantucket for 3 nights. I am having a difficult time selecting just 3 restaurants from all of the wonderful choices on the island. I would love to get your opinions (especially recent ones) on these restaurants so that I can make a more informed decision.

The restaurants I am considering are :
Oran Mor
Company of the Cauldron
American Seasons
The Galley at the Cliffside
The Boarding House

Thanks in advance to all who can help!!!

last month i had dinner at the Galley. best to be here when the weather is cooperating as the sunsets are perfect from any table in the place. in our case, the weather was cooperating.
food is very good, but portions are very very small!! my husband left hungry, and this was after an appetizer, entree and a dessert. it is also very expensive. entrees are between $28 and $40. all desserts $10 if i remember correctly. is it worth it? maybe for a once a summer special occasion.
the best kept secret on the island is Caffe Bella Vita, a small Italian restaurant tucked away in shopping area outside of town. fabulous food every time. we keep going back.
have a great trip!

Since you're visiting over Labor Day weekend, recommend picking up the phone immediately and checking availability. Those in the know make their dinner reservations as soon as they book their accomodations.

Should all have availability, I'd recommend reserving them all, then visiting each and perusing the menu once you arrive - then decide which to confirm and which to cancel.

stellaluna, thanks for your description of the Galley. As beautiful as it sounds, I don't think that my husband will be happy leaving hungry after paying those prices. There's no problem spending alot of dollars on dinner if you leave happy and satisfied, though.

i haven't been to Oran Mor since it was called the Second Story....years ago...The Boarding House is popular, and a lot of people like the restaurant located directly above it called The Pearl. owned by the same people. across the street from the Boarding House is 21 Federal, also a favorite of many. Company of the Cauldron is very small. They have one or two menu choices per night and you are sitting very very close to other people. claustrophobics would go right over the edge! American Seasons is also a good choice. i would probably say American Seasons and The Boarding House for two in town restaurants. if $$$ is no object and you want to travel to the eastern end of the island you might consider Toppers at the Wauwinet or the Chanticleer in Sconset village. very pricey, lots of atmosphere....

Some more opinions here http://forums.egullet.com/index.php?...&f=33&t=23655&

also some cape cod info

Thanks for your opinions Stellaluna. I am going to try Oran Mor, American Seasons, and possibly the Boarding House, Company of the Cauldron, or the Galley onm the third night.

From what I have read, the Pearl is a little bit too trendy and with a bit of an attitude. I can eat in restaurants like that right here in New York or in South Beach when I visit family in Florida. So I think I'll skip that one.

I was seriously thinking about Topper's since we would be able to see another part of the island, see the famed Wauwinet, and take the pleasant launch from town to get there. But I have read that Toppers is a little stuffy and that a jacket is required. The innkeeper of the B&B I am staying at said that Toppers is the only restaurant on the island that requests a jacket. I'd love to try it one of these days though.

We are passing on Chanticleer since we will be having a similar type of dinner later in the week at Chillingsworth in Brewster.

21 Federal seemed like a good choice but it seems like people either enjoy the restaurantimmensely, or are disappointed it -with no in between. Some people seem to think that the service is a bit stuffy/spotty, and the food isn't outstanding. This is the one restaurant for which I would have liked to have gotten very recent opinions.

mclaurie, thank you for the link. It seems like Queequegs is a fairly new restaurant that is getting alot of attention. Next time I'll have to visit Nantucket for a week so I can try out all of the restaurants I can't get to this time!

Also, I would love to get opinions of the Galley for lunch vs. dinner. One of the posters on the link you shared with me seemed to enjoy the restaurant at lunchtime. I wonder how different the menu is midday -selection and price-wise.

Thanks again! I can't believe that I am leaving tomorrow!