Tag: Cape Cod

Posted on by

An Intimate Dinner Party at Victor’s in Provincetown’s Quiet West End

There are two ways to dine in Provincetown. Visitors are apt to double down on Commerical Street

Victor’s tuna tartare.

and absorb the dynamic energy of hundreds of passersby. Whereas, regulars tend to skirt past the commotion, preferring a quiet night in the West End at a popular haunt like Victor’s.

Victor’s has it all. Cathedral ceilings, precious works of art, whispers of an attempted murder carried out by Victor himself, and tuna paté served on fresh loaves of crusty bread.

From the outside, Victor’s appears to be just another quaint home in a residential neighborhood. A beautiful flower garden gives way to couches and a firepit on the front patio where a small circular sign reads, “Shhhh!! While using our patio please be considerate of our neighbors.” You can tell they mean business because of the extra exclamation point. Make no mistake, this is as far from a tourist trap as one gets in Provincetown.

Victor’s deconstructed ahi Napoleon.

A meal at Victor’s feels like you’ve been invited out to your most swanky friend’s beach house for a private dinner party. All of the small plates on the menu are designed for sharing so don’t hold back. Two dishes per person seems to be the rule of thumb.

Start with the tuna tartare, served on a house made tortilla chip topped with fresh local tuna, avocado relish, and a rich tamari sauce that makes for an alluring umami bite. Order some bacon wrapped dates for the table. These are fresh dates, not the wrinkly Medjools that you’ll find in the mirin-braised short ribs.

Lobster sliders served between shining knots of brioche alongside hand cut french fries.

Fresh dates are in season for just two short summer months and their honeysuckle sweetness will send you into a frenzy when coupled with the buttery crunch of hazelnuts and the jolt of roasted garlic.

Graduate to the sake steamed mussels and an order of handmade pork dumplings served with a savory peanut sauce. The deconstructed ahi Napoleon is fun to excavate for bits of cajun-seared tuna, crispy wontons, avocado, and delicate micro-greens. There are lobster sliders to please the crowd, served between shining knots of brioche alongside hand cut french fries.

It’s worth pausing by the lucent fire pit with your companions on the way out to tick off all of the dishes you’ve tried and compare your favorites. Just remember not to tick off the neighbors; after all, we’d like a return invitation to the most cherished dinner party in Provincetown.

Victor’s offers cathedral ceilings, precious artwork, and a stunning hearth.
Victor’s outdoor fire pit.
Posted on by

The Grandfather Clause That Keeps Cape Cod Sexy: Another Summer at The Beachcomber

There are three rules that don’t apply to The Beachcomber in Cahoon Hollow.

The Beachcomber is Cape Cod’s only true oceanfront restaurant.

First, it’s okay to be that guy sporting the band’s t-shirt at the show. Wearing Beachcomber merch to The Beachcomber is not only acceptable, it’s encouraged. A badge of honor. A moniker of chill.

Second, social media is dead to The ‘Comber. It did happen – even without the real-time pics. I suspect that the lack of service is intentional. Put your cell phone away. This is Cape Cod’s only true oceanfront restaurant and I strongly suggest that you admire the panoramic scenery. Plus, The Travel Channel named it one of the “Sexiest Beach Bars in the World,” so if the Atlantic doesn’t do it for you, the people watching will.

The Beachcomber offers a rare and refreshing escape from cell phone service.

Third, we know your grandmother told you never to walk on the dunes, but by virtue of a grandfather clause, The Beachcomber has maintained its stake as a commercial entity in the dunes of Wellfleet. The structure itself was erected in 1897 as a Life Saving Service station. In 1953, it was outfitted with driftwood and converted into a nautical inn. The current owners purchased the property in 1978, but you won’t be able to pick them out of the crowd. They’ll be wearing flip flops and a ‘Comber tee shirt like everybody else.

The beachside bartenders have paid their dues, most having spent upwards of fifteen summers at The Beachcomber. They claim to have sold over three million Goombay Smashes, a signature rum drink made with a Myers’s float for that woody-molasses bite. Sip wisely. For a gentler dose of botanical refreshment, order a Dry Line Gin and tonic, infused with Eastern Red Cedar juniper berries from nearby Truro. All cocktails are served with straw-ternatives; the North Atlantic garbage patch is no joke.

Fried clam strips are also virtually a requirement at The Beachcomber.

Don’t skip the raw bar. Enjoy some Wellfleet oysters shucked by Big Daddy himself and choose from a wide array of mignonettes including jalapeno, cucumber, garlic, and shallot ginger. If you don’t love a viscous seabrine slurp on the half-shell, but you’re willing to give molluscs a go, try the Eastham mussels. Each deep blue capsule contains a fat little sponge soaked in butter with just a mild nod to the ocean. (Fried clam strips are also virtually a requirement.)

Break all the rules. There’s no such thing as a bad mood at The Beachcomber.