Restaurant reviews in Provincetown
alphabetically (on a 5 point system).........
Bayside Betsy's
177 Commercial Street
508-487-6566
www.baysidebetsys.com
NO RESERVATIONS
With nice views of the bay and a reliable menu, Bayside Betsy's offers in season dining that may be more suited for a good lunch than a relaxed dinner. I have heard mixed things about the restaurant over the years but after finally trying it on my own (we were actually a group of 6) it deserved its own place on the site. The people who have been down on Betsy's may have indeed given it a bad rap. While it is common to compare them to Bubala's or The Patio, Betsy's distinguished itself by serving what would best be described as a pub menu. That translates to a mostly fried menu with a sprinkling of salads and non-fish platters.
A special salmon burger was tasty and filling and the fries, while quite ordinary, were not greasy in the least. Fried seafood sandwiches fared pretty well also with a rarely found clam belly version that was quite large. Other seafood platters and sandwiches were hearty as well. A caesar salad was quite ordinary but I will admit that it's not what you might come here for.
As mentioned, Betsy's has some good bay views if you are lucky enough to snag a patio table. Otherwise, the indoor tables provide a bar-like atmosphere that accompanies the pub-like menu quite well.
Service was quite efficient and pleasant. And while Betsy's may not be everyone's thing, it became quite clear to me why they have been here for so many years.
3 /5
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UPDATED
Blackfish
17 Truro Center Road, Truro
508-349-3399
(no website)
https://resy.com/cities/trrm/blackfish (and by phone)
BLACKFISH IS NOW OPERATING A FOOD TRUCK AT TRURO VINEYARDS. IT'S A GREAT EXPERIENCE. CHECK IT OUT HERE.
Traveling up Route 6 to Provincetown and gazing out on the neighboring towns of Wellfleet and Truro, I had convinced myself that there really was no good reason to venture out of Ptown for a good meal. Yes, I’ve been to Moby Dick’s and thoroughly enjoyed it (see separate review) but I was sure that little else existed of appeal.
In Truro, hidden a half mile off the main road lies Blackfish restaurant. And for people spending their days and nights in Ptown, I suggest that you get there because (spoiler alert !), Blackfish is the best thing in the PTW (Ptown, Truro, Wellfleet) area.
After entering the restaurant to what is a rather nondescript waiting area and bar, the first dining room is more likeable and has a rather tavern-like ambience. Deeper into the restaurant a more garden-like room is revealed, my preference being for the latter.
You are first presented with a rather extensive wine list with many offerings by the glass. Specialty cocktails have their own lengthy list. Prices vary but you will find some very good lower-priced options.
Chef Eric Jansen has a terrific hand and knows exactly how to take what could be ordinary and turn it into extraordinary. A delicious crispy haddock was served over a pea puree with diced carrots and an orange zest accompanying the fish. The chef’s signature tuna Bolognese is a riff on the ordinary Bolognese and works just wonderfully. Short ribs of beef served with carrots, onion and mashed potatoes tastes as if it were all pulled out of a large pot of boeuf bourguignon, Julia Child quality. A special one evening roasted lamb shoulder was terrific as were the roasted carrot starter. You may think, what could be so special about carrots but this is just one item out of many that shows why Blackfish stands apart from the others. I had my eye on a nearby entree of duck leg confit that looked just as crispy as you can imagine. Bread is a menu item here and the crust alone would be worth its $3 price tag but it is all served with a very good olive oil containing a large dole of white bean puree for swiping your bread. Desserts vary by day and it won't be an easy task having to choose from among them. On a recent night there, I went with the apricot crostada. Nice!
Wait staff is very professional and helpful and has always steered us in the right direction whenever we've been undecided.
It's not easy to pull P-towners away from Ptown. But if you don't have wheels, I suggest you find someone who does. Let them know that one of the best restaurants may be just 15 minutes down the road.
5 /5
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Bubala’s by the Bay
183 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-0773
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
Unlike the Lobster Pot, here is a diner sized menu that is an overall better bet. Completely confused as to which of the 50 items to order, I went with the most dangerous food, a fried fish and chips platter. In the wrong hands, this could be one greasy mess. But on the contrary, it came out light, not greasy at all, and completely delicious although on one or two occasions, some very limp fries accompanying it. Salads are fresh and delicious and although there are burgers on the menu, I dare say that they won't be winning top prize. Fish sandwiches both broiled and fried are quite delicious and fresh and have become my go-to items.
Dinner entrees do not fare as well and overall but if you stick to the All-Day Menu, you've got a better bang for the buck. You will pay on or about $30 for the fresh fish entrees but it will be just OK when for a similar price, you can get the best in town, elsewhere. On the entrees, Chicken breast has been dried out and under-flavored and the pastas over-sauced. I'm also told by one waiter that the pastas are even cooked in advance. Eeks.
Bubala's will not be garnering any gourmet awards. And that's OK. That's not what they do here. There is indoor seating with a slight eau-de-public restroom. The outdoor area is much sought after and quite large with heaters for chilly weather. Bubala’s has earned a rite of passage and most everyone prefers the outside.
Bubala's has turned their wine list into something that most restaurants would be proud of and the cocktail list as well.
And on some given Sunday in August, if you happen to be in the neighborhood, you can watch the attendees of the Drag Brunch crowd make their way passed the restaurant . What a hoot!
Bubala’s has been a go-to place for lunch for many years. If you are spending an extended time here, you will find yourself returning again and again.
3.5 /5
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Café Heaven
199 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-1991
www.cafeheavenptown.com
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
On my home page of this site, I mention that my bigger purpose in writing reviews if to direct people to the best food when you have limited time. Spoiler alert…..Cafe Heaven doesn’t quite make that list, but it’s unfortunate and here is why.
What I always imagined of Café Heaven was that it was a reasonably priced restaurant and thereby accessible to the masses. It certainly seemed that way by the large breakfast and lunch crowds gathering outside in wait for a table. Granted there are other menu choices but lunch sandwiches here average about $14 and even more to my surprise, dinner entrees average $33. When you are in that price category, you’re competing with the prices at the best of the best. And sadly, Café Heaven comes up a bit short.
However, what they do have going for them is good food preparation, and a very extensive menu at all times. So extensive in fact that it’s a bit mind boggling that any place can offer as many choices as they do. Let’s see….. at dinner, there’s a large burger selection, many pastas, about 18 starters/ salads and nearly a dozen entrees.
Shrimp piri piri was large and tasty with its plentiful spicy sauce and good slaw, salads are quite hefty and can serve two even if the ones I sampled were a bit under-dressed. Tuscan cod was served slightly crispy and delicious swimming in a white bean broth that was very nice but would have been better served warm….it was all a bit closer to room temperature. The filet mignon steak salad was a good quality piece of meat over a too-complicated dish of greens, mixed veggies, a large disc of cheese and potatoes. Soups were creamy and velvety smooth. Bruschetta had some nice topping but served on bread that needed to be toasted a bit more. They were out of several entrée dishes on the nights we visited.
Service is pleasant but our waiter gave us little confidence that he was going to get it all correct and it was no surprise when he initially brought out the wrong appetizer. Atmosphere is pleasant and they take reservations which is a plus.
3.5/ 5
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The Canteen
225 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-3800
http://www.thecanteenptown.com/
NO RESERVATIONS
The Canteen is certainly unusual. It came onto the scene several years ago and was an instant hit. Its popularity has not changed much over time. Today its success needs to be questioned as the Canteen takes a rather big slide into mediocrity. Google defines the word canteen as “a restaurant provided by an organization such as a military camp, college, factory, or company for its soldiers, students, staff”. Excellent choice of words and in the case of The Canteen (the restaurant), I would lean more toward the military camp description.
Let’s get the good news right up front. If you’re out for a lobster roll, it definitely gets high marks (I prefer their cold version over the hot one). The lines out front will attest to that. They are served on a good roll and packed to the gills with quality lobster meat and while I don’t purport to know their secret, there certainly must be one to be able to come up with this flavorful lobster roll. They have a rather lengthy list of other choices ranging from salads to various sandwiches (pulled pork, chicken salad, fish and chips, etc), most of which is highly average at best. Cold soggy fries were quickly replaced with fresh on request. Tuna tacos had little flavor and served only luke-warm. They also have a lengthy list of sides inclusive of their signature brussels sprouts cooked in a fish sauce which happened to do nothing for me on more than one occasion.
The staff is pleasant unless they are super-busy when substitutions become a no-no. Ordering is done at a counter where you will be met by one of the helpful staff. You will be given a number and when ready, staff runners will find you wherever you may be sitting. They are very adept at it too.
In 2018 a new backyard seating arrangement was introduced with a larger seating area. Nonetheless, it’s a good idea that you bring a sense of humor along with your appetite. There are a few “choice” tables inside, although I use that word loosely as they tend to become surrounded by those waiting on line to place an order. Most however opt for the rear-end of the building, with its well-worn tables and chairs, stone ledges and other furniture that appears to be minutes away from their final destination at the town dump. Not glamorous but then again, it’s the canteen!
3 / 5
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Central House
247 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-1430
https://onlyatthecrown.com/dining
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
By most, this restaurant sitting in tourist central on Commercial Street which is part of a small hotel and amid a large entertainment center would be shrugged off.
And how about those ratings on certain tourist websites? Eeeeeks. Some of them are fine but overall not in the excellent category. Or at least not as excellent as I think they should be because this remains one of the most underrated places in town.
When Michelle Ragussis took the helm in the kitchen several years ago, she transformed this very ordinary place into something rather special. As of 2018, she is gone but the kitchen staff remains. The change is mostly in concept with a new "all-day" menu in place and more outdoor seating.
A burrata salad with stone fruit and a drizzle of balsamic is nearly perfect and her signature Caesar salad, a wedge of Romaine drizzled with blue cheese dressing and dolloped with pickled onions is a winner. The main courses do not disappoint either. A perfectly cooked halibut one night and on another, seared scallops with a corn risotto that was delish. Lobster pappardelle was terrific. The tuna tartare with avocado gets a sesame oil kick and is billed as a small plate but can easily stand in for an entrée. The rosemary chicken brough back a homestyle cooking feel that was delightful.
There are also strange things happening here particularly surrounding lunch which can either be another wonderful meal, or a slight disappointment. I wish that the kitchen did not feel it was mandatory to offer a lobster roll simply because we are in Provincetown since this version is nothing to speak of at all. On the other hand, the lobster BLT is over-the-top excellent. And a lobster Cobb salad was light and fresh but when we asked for bread or crackers we were told that there were none available because all the bread is apportioned for each dinner meal, with no surplus. Strange indeed. The fried fish sandwich was nice but not so memorable.
Service is always friendly and helpful and seems to be way above the average for summer help.
An extensive selection of wines live here alongside a whole bunch of specialty cocktails.
If you're lucky, you will get a table near the railing’s edge on the outdoor deck of the restaurant and you can watch the P-towners go by. Or perhaps listen through the walls as locals sing show tunes around their indoor piano bar.
Totally worth the visit.
4 /5
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Chach
73 Shank Painter Road, Provincetown
508-487-1530
LUNCH & EARLY DINNER- TAKEAWAY ONLY
Located on a somewhat remote stretch of Shank Painter Road, I must have passed this place a dozen times without giving it any thought. Then several years ago a friend recommended a great place for breakfast. That place was Chach and ever since then it has become one of our go-to places for a great breakfast or lunch.
I can only imagine the lines out the door if they were located on a busy strip of Commercial Street. As it is, they do a rather brisk business in their current location just across the street from the town's big supermarket and a short bike ride from the center of town. In fact, I find it frequented by many of Ptown’s celeb status residents.
Viola “Chach” Briseño originally created this Ptown go-to place for a good old fashioned breakfast and lunch. Since , Chach is an all Mexican menu featuring burritos, eggs, tacos and more. The burrito, like so many other things they offer is perfect for kids of a certain age with a certain appetite. Wine and authentic drinks are on the short menu as well.
They close relatively early each day and they are dark on certain days each week. Definitely consider the operating hours before you head up there.
3 /5
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Fanizzi's Restaurant by the Sea
539 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-1964
https://fanizzisrestaurant.com
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
Despite the fact that it's been in Ptown for a century, if you don't frequent the far East End of town, you may never have known that Fanizzi's exists. Being East End travelers, we knew that it existed but it took some time to finally take the plunge after constant recommendations from townie friends. Interesting to note....and spoiler alert.....that everyone told us it was "good" but few told us that it was "great."
Cut to the meal and I can understand why that's the case. This is not a restaurant that anyone would love to hate....quite the contrary. It's a good, basic Italian restaurant that will serve you a very nice meal at a fair price. If you keep your expectations somewhat low, you will have an even better time.
Caesar salad was good and lemony but not outstanding. A stuffed artichoke was filled with bread crumbs but lacked a distinct flavor. Grilled salmon was tasty but mainly due to the cucumber sauce layered over it. And scallop scampi (also available with shrimp) over pasta was tasty but never provided that real punch of flavor that you would expect from scampi. Sides were all tasty and the bread selection was better than most.
This is an extremely busy place with a large staff that needs to keep on their toes in order to service the large dining room. They do an excellent job of it. Staff is friendly and helpful and in the case of a nearby table overheard, eager to make things right when it began not quite so right.
Fanizzi's has an extensive wine list and I am happy to report that they do not feel the need to serve only Italian wines but instead, offer a broad spectrum.
The restaurant also serves lunch with a menu so extensive you wonder how they can keep it all going.
There is a small parking lot (currently their outdoor seating) and a rack for bikes, not something that very many Ptown restaurants can claim.
3.5 /5
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Front Street
230 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-9715
http://www.frontstreetrestaurant.com
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
If any restaurant looks, acts and feels like a throwback to some earlier day in Provincetown, Front Street is that place. This cave-like restaurant is not unlike that of some smoky New York Village hideaway. And if it's not the top of the town, you will find yourself returning time and again for many good reasons.
The menu is exhausting. If you include the evening's specials, of which there are many, we are probably looking at over 30 entrees to choose from on any given night. Appetizers the same. And no doubt when they hand you what looks to be a relatively brief list of desserts it will be complemented by a lengthy list of special desserts verbally communicated to your table by the wonderful staff here.
This is and has always been a very active and busy restaurant. Wait staff moves around what appears to be a giant maze of tables. And it's this band of perfectly experienced wait staff that gives this place some magic. No matter how hurried or frantic they may seem, when it's your turn, they will be with you 100% and make you feel like you are the only person they need to attend to. That's their little magic.
Front Street has mostly an Italian style menu supplemented with a bunch of Continental dishes. Shrimp parmesan on one occasion was deliciously crunchy with just the right amount of sauce and cheese. In fact, a bit more cheese would have made it nice and gooey in all the right ways. , A special pasta with lobster scampi was fantastic and just the right size. Caesar salad was dressed perfectly with just the right amount of crunch, a grilled artichoke with a nice dipping sauce was as oily and messy as it should be, escarole and beans was fresh and light but could use a punch more flavor, pappardelle with a Sunday sauce of meatball and sausage resembled that of any good homemade kitchen. Eggplant and chicken parm combo was a bit too cheesy and maybe a bit too salty. Swordfish was perfectly tasty with a nice accompaniment of veggies but all a bit boring.
This is not your Italian grandmother's kitchen. Portions are just right but not overblown. You will absolutely leave here satisfied and still able to walk through town when you're done.
Front Street has been on my list every summer since I have been coming to this town. I suspect it will be on my list each year in the future. They will be here through every economic downturn, Armageddon, and the next World War. Or at least I hope so.
4 /5
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UPDATED
Helltown Kitchen
338 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-246-3871
www.helltownkitchen.com
RESERVATIONS BY PHONE
NOW IN A NEW LOCATION
Formerly sharing the Yolqueria location, Helltown has found its own spot and with it, has established itself in the top 10 in Ptown.
Mostly outdoors with just a handful of tables indoors, the atmosphere may appear no-frills but definitely warmed up by the very friendly and helpful servers and the white table cloth setups at each table. The servers here are among the best with each every one one taking pride in what they do as if they were owners.
The food is inventive, delicious and beautiful. Each table receives a sampling of good bread and a very good olive oil. The dishes are presented in a beautiful and professional manner. A simple wedge salad has a parmesan dressing as a twist with pancetta replacing the usual bacon. Pork vindaloo was spicy and wonderful with some homemade naan bread. The seafood stews are brothy and terrific and we wished it had just a bit more seafood for the price. The salad of burrata and strawberries was unusual and a winner. The shrimp ceviche was so different in all of the best ways and a sign that the kitchen really knows how to made the ordinary into extraordinary. The weak spot appeared to be the lobster risotto with a nice portion of deliciously poached lobster but sitting on top of very ordinary risotto. There is a nice selection of both apps and entrees. I will be back for the desserts which all sounded wonderful.
Definitely a welcome addition to Ptown.
4.5 / 5
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Jimmy's Hideaway
179 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-1011
http://www.jimmyshideaway.com/
https://resy.com/cities/bos/jimmys-hideaway (approx. 4 weeks in advance)
I have forever been a loyal contributor and reader of TripAdvisor reviews. Four or five years ago, when I begin paying even more attention than ever, I noticed that Jimmy's was the #1 rated restaurant in town.
How is it possible that the number one restaurant eluded me? With its tiny sign on the street and its subterranean position, it was no wonder. And after eating a very hearty meal there, I was somewhat puzzled over its number one ranking but I was surely not disappointed and could understand why it received genuinely high marks.
Perhaps now my visits to Jimmy's pale in comparison to some of the other restaurants in town. The venue has been reliably the same for years, the food incredibly plentiful, and the wait staff just as pleasant as could be. But while I continue to patronize Jimmy's, its place remains about the same in the long list of Ptown restaurants. The pork spring rolls were mighty tasty. Meat dishes tend to be in large portions as well and what could be a well-seasoned and delicious dish on one occasion was followed on the next visit by something tough and dry. Roasted salmon was plentiful and delicious and just about as moist as can be. Scallops piccata was super delicious but it was not necessary to drown the plate in the sauce when a little would have gone a long way. Pasta needs to be ordered al dente or it will arrive overcooked.
It's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last that restaurant ratings have baffled me. Had it been the 10th best restaurant on their list, I would have made no mention of it. But #1 is a tough spot not just for Jimmy's, but for anyone.
So, let's just say that I really like Jimmy's and it's definitely worth a visit there at least once. And possibly two and three times if you order right. A few years ago, I took it off my list of must-do’s. And then I found myself gravitating right back. Jimmy’s will do that to you.
4 /5
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Joe Coffee
170 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-6656
(no website)
NO RESERVATIONS
More so than any full-scale restaurant in town, the outdoor seating at Joe Coffee may be the most sought-after in town. With about a dozen tables on a patio right on Commercial Street, no venue offers a better view of the Ptown traffic (on two and four legs as well).
New management as of a few years ago has made Joe much more than a good seat with its excellent coffee and espresso and a selection of some of the best-looking pastries and cookies. Here is also one of the few places that you can buy good freshly ground coffee by the pound. Joe also offers a selection of breakfast sandwiches, all easy on the wallet.
Sadly however, the new management has decided to abandon the lunch sandwiches altogether which were a really nice treat.
And one other unfortunate thing to note.....while some its customers come to Joe's on a daily basis year in and year out, management makes very little effort to recognize them. If I saw the same faces every day, I would make the effort to let them know how much I appreciated their business. Sadly, management is nowhere to be found.
An accessible bathroom available to customers, good coffee, decent eats, and on-site bicycle parking.
It may be unconventional to include Joe among restaurants but no better people watching (in comfortable chairs) exists in town.
3.5 / 5
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Joon Bar
133 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-413-9336
AS OF JULY 11, 2021, TAKEAWAY ONLY. WATCH FOR REOPENING !
By Ptown standards, Joon Bar is one of the newer residents in town and has gone from unknown to favorite in short time.
The appreciation of really good food and what it takes to operate a well-run restaurant is what leads us back to Joon Bar time and again.
This is one of the town's most sophisticated restaurants and one of the very few that work effortlessly when it comes to earning its five stars.
At the front door, you will be greeted very warmly. The attention to service details will be present throughout the meal. This is an attentive staff serving up amazing food helmed in the kitchen by Paul Krikorian.
Flatbreads were once a regular and amazing feature of the menu but are now sadly gone (I recall a fig and prosciutto combination with the figs thinly sliced, the prosciutto cooked to a crispy and salty perfection and all laid over a Manchego cheese base). But now that they are seriously gone for good, does the menu still hold up? The answer, yes.
On one occasion, scallops were expertly cooked and surrounded by an amazing relish, a lentil salad anything but typical with its hint of cumin, was absolutely delicious. An appetizer made primarily from Hen of the Woods mushrooms is a mushroom lover's paradise. A special of short rib served with just perfect oily toast was nearly spreadable and quite delicious. Bouillabaisse was well stocked with several kinds of white fish and shellfish and was excellent and filling. Sea bass was paired with a blueberry balsamic that was both unusual and tasty. The duck confit was crispy where it should be and moist on the inside with the star of the dish being a jicama and watermelon salad. If there was any misstep in recent years it was a special of Persian chicken stew that while tasty was too much of a good thing and served with white rice that took over the plate. Despite any small flaws expect to be wowed not only by a few dishes that I'm describing here but nearly all of them.
And, given that the word Bar is an integral part of the name, very inventive and delicious specialty cocktails are in order. As well, a beautiful selection of wines, many by the glass, include an un-oaked Chardonnay, a rarity in any restaurant these days.
Desserts tend to be small and sample-like in their presentation but do not disappoint either and range from the delightfully gooey to the simple and tasty (a strawberry shortcake, a saffron gelato), the exception being the biscuit over the mixed berries which no knife could seem to cut.
The interior space, designed by Kevin O'Shea, is also a winner in its simplicity, beauty, and coziness. Reservations are taken only one month in advance. I suggest you mark your calendar.
5 /5
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The Landing (at Pilgrim House)
336 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-6424
http://www.pilgrimhouseptown.com/provincetown-dining/
https://www.opentable.com/r/pilgrim-house-provincetown
Tucked away in an alley from Commercial Street you will find the Pilgrim House and in 2018 their restaurant re-emerged as The Landing.
In 2019, an Executive Chef change. In 2020, yet another change and even for the better. Enter Christopher Thames, a CHOPPED champion from 2011. And in 2021, the return of Esra Tualo, entertainer, excellent chef and all-around terrific guy.
In recent years, this has gone from a somewhat unknown place to one that was worth trying given certain improvements. Now, it seems like so much more.
Sea bass tacos were quite flavorful if a bit messy. Grilled halibut in a carrot ginger puree was fantastic. The short ribs of beef were quite good if a bit ordinary but the potato puffs accompanying it were anything but with their cheesy good flavor. If the wait staff weren’t close by, I might have licked the plate clean. The lobster roll was meaty and tasty. Lemon chicken over linguine was a wonderful surprise. A wedge salad starter was just as it should be- cold, delicious and not overdressed. And just when I thought I was over brussels sprouts, along came their version which I could not stop eating.
Wine choices by both the glass and bottle have only improved and the house cocktails smooth and delicious.
There are indoor and a good amount of outdoor tables and a sprucing up in recent years made it all seem that much more charming. Wait staff are very pleasant and helpful. Chef Tualo has taught the kitchen well and he has now opened another restaurant out front with Poke and other Hawaiian based dishes that call upon his roots. Also worth trying.
4.5 /5
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Liz’s Café
31 Bradford Street, Provincetown
508-413-9131
RESERVATIONS ACCEPTED BY PHONE FOR DINNER ONLY
Having moved into the former Devon's location on Bradford, Liz's was going to be promising. Could it be that good and reasonably priced breakfast sit down that the town could really use? In my mind, I was there weekly (at least) with its stones-throw location from where I live.
Several years ago after a few tries, Liz's was a restaurant that was near the bottom of my list and sadly has not at all been that regular haunt I was hoping for. But then came 2020, year of the pandemic and Liz's showed us what they could really do. The parking lot became a wonderful socially distanced eating spot, service much improved and the food notched up.
My first visit some years back was at lunchtime and for those all- day breakfast eaters, eggs and omelets are served throughout. Nice. I went with the turkey club sandwich, my partner with an omelet. Omelets could use some improvement. A good French cookbook in the kitchen would be a perfect start. The second visit was sure enough for breakfast and I went with the traditional breakfast sandwich of eggs, bacon and cheese. The result....a mess of a thing that included a roll so soaked in butter that it was difficult to pick up and bacon that was so fatty that I removed it entirely.
But during the pandemic year of 2020, I tried Liz's for dinner. Scallops were excellent, and eggplant parm tasty and certainly plentiful. Salads were tasty as well.
As for everything else, service can be artificially pleasant, the French fries were pleasant but artificial and the inside 50’s style menu and decor, well, you guessed it.
All in all, worth a try but not worth a long wait.
3 /5
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Lobster Pot
321 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-0842
http://www.P-townlobsterpot.com/
NO RESERVATIONS
(The following review is based on a single visit)
For years I wanted to go to the Lobster Pot, but didn't. My partner, who had been here many times in years before we met, swore It off. Then came the year that I insisted…….and he caved.
Sitting smack-dab in the middle of the two most tourist driven blocks (which I lovingly refer to as the vortex of commercialism) on Commercial Street should say a lot. It is poised there for a reason. Here you will find every day- tripper to Provincetown along with their families and small children. It’s as though every day-tripping tourist received some book of “must do” family restaurants and there in big letters is The Lobster Pot. Some great marketing feat that must have been, given their long lines at the door! Is there a good wine list lurking in the shadows? hmmm, probably not.
Join the line for your helping of some of the town’s most ordinary food, all served by a congenial staff that understands they are serving up a glorified diner food menu and served in an environment that is slightly musty and dated. If it all sounds good, then this is your place! And the prices on the menu, reflective of the better restaurants in town really spells tourist trap. Believe me, I am all for the cheap lunch or dinner in town. But if you're getting a mediocre generic lobster roll you expect to pay medium prices.
The other items did not fare any better. The fried fish platter was plentiful but somewhat tasteless and the vegetable side dishes tasted like they had been cooking all day but not necessarily that same day.
I'm sure that my partner would add the following…. Don’t say I didn't warn you!
2 /5
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Local 186
186 Commercial Street, Provincetown
508-487-7555
NO RESERVATIONS
Scattered around this relatively small town is a decent burger or two. Local 186 is more than that. It's simply the best burger in town. And in addition, they’ve got a darn good lobster roll and other Ptown standard fare. In fact, one of our guests decided on the mussels and they were quite good sitting in a delicious broth and served with a tremendous piece of bread. Who would have thought so at Local?
But more than likely it's the burgers that you are here for and they do shine, and with choices more than just beef and turkey. A Kobe beef substitute is available as are lamb, and veggie. In fact, their turkey burger combo known as The Bird is far and away the best TB I know. Fries are done shoestring style but were too often a bit soggy and yet nearly perfect on other visits (a salad can be substituted if you're watching your waistline). There is a large variety of suggested combinations but you can always craft your own burger.
Almost everything is cooked to order and this translates to a bit more waiting time at your table. Service is pleasant but be warned that this is a very popular place in town. Lunchtime waits can often exceed 1 hour and it is best to get there long before you are hungry. In nice weather, they have a fairly large amount of outdoor seating, some covered on the patio and others on street level. But not to fear if these seats are filled. Their interior space is smart, spartan and clean and you won’t feel deprived having to eat indoors.
And it’s not just for lunch. We’ve had many a satisfying dinner here as well.
4 /5
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