If I had known the noise level would have been unbearable, I would have cancelled my reservation. I could not talk to anyone at my table. My ears hurt as I was right under the speaker. The hostess was top notch. She made sure the sound was lowered even though it was still unbearable, just less so. There were a bunch of inebriated people at bar by my table leaving their refuse on table as the hostess was trying to set up the table. Two different drunk women came over while we were having a meal trying to find their purses under the table--they were not there. I realize this is the Christmas Stroll but the atmosphere ruined the meal.
Christopher Binter
Amazing food and service. Super nice staff and great dinner. For sure coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pickle Plate, Cheeseburger, Pan
Mary D.
We recently tried this restaurant and enjoyed the food and drinks. We got in quickly and the service was great.
ANNIE BRADSHAW
It was very loud so as a party of 6, we had to really stress to listen. The food is good. Some with us don’t like spicy so that was limiting. Cocktails and service was fantastic The rice cake dish are not rice cakes but I’m glad I asked the server so I was prepared and it is absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
CarlW
We celebrated our 28th anniversary there. It's a beautiful restaurant with tremendous energy. Our timing was good as it was "Restaurant Week", and the chef had prepared a nice pre-set selection for a great price. I ordered the Trout, which had to be switched to Salmon due to availability, but that was actually what I preferred so it worked out. My wife ordered the Fall Salad with Sirloin. Both meals were excellent. We both ordered the house Old Fashions, which were perfect. We ended with the Pecan Pie, which was ridiculously good (highly recommend). Our server was so great and attentive. Overall, just a wonderful experience.
John Murray
Had dinner there this evening (9/20). Excellent food, excellent service and great atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Seared Branzino
JohnandSteven
Both reception and servers were great, very friendly and attentive. Indoors was noisy and a child at the next table next (accompanied with his indifferent parents) did not help. We asked to be moved to the patio within minutes of being seated. Champagne was perfectly cold and delicious. The steak frites for both of us were average (fries and peppercorn sauce were the stars) and the beef was substandard. The chocolate cake tasted store bought and like something you may have eaten in college. The other dessert was even less memorable, having only been there 12 hours ago I don't even remember what it was. It was a prescient decision to have moved to the patio, because by the time we left, the bar and dining room were even louder, and the child boy was circling other tables.
MaryR
The food - one Steak Dinner and Duck for 2 - was pretty good. Everything else wasn't. We were greeted by two young women who couldn't seem to get their responsibilities straight. One was talking on the phone and the other asked if we had a reservation. Next thing you know they switched roles and we went through the whole “yes we have a reservation” thing again. Both were more interested in hair, nails and eyelashes than welcoming guests. A party of 3- we were seated at a tiny round table meant for 1 or 2 in a high-traffic area of the restaurant. The noise from the bar was disruptive, we were not able to hear each other at our table. Once seated, the lethargic waitress took our order and was never seen again until we had finished eating and waited for the table to be cleared and the check to come. When she brought the containers we requested for leftovers, she said she'd bring us a bag if we needed one and “just asked for one.” It took forever to get the check and again to pay the bill. The price of the meal was a little ridiculous. $78 for half a duck, some lettuce, 6 mini-tortillas, some pickled onions and vegetables. The steak was priced a little more appropriately, but still high for a sirloin with fries and some weird peppers as a side. One bright spot in personnel was the young man who brought the food to the table and enthusiastically asked if we'd like him to explain the duck dish for us. We said yes, and he proceeded to describe the ingredients and explain how to combine them into hand-held packets. We won't be back.
Ben C.
Great spot, ate in the back patio. Friendly staff. Get the Korean pork to share, insane!
A L.
First time in a very long time that we've found a dinner place that we continue to talk about. The duck tacos were absolutely worth the cost. Perfect serving size for 2. We sat at the bar and the bartender was really nice. Patio was cute and just overall a good vibe.
Tuna tostada, bok choy, and duck carnitas tacos were delicious. Add cilantro to the duck to really make it ?. Great outdoor dining area. Our server was super nice and friendly. Been here a few times and will certainly be back!
Jordan Tobins
Ugh. A definite stay away.Although the food is decent, the service falls under “seasonally rude and incompetent.”The food takes entirely too long to come out once ordered, and just to order takes a true miracle.The management gave us a litany of excuses as to why everything was so awful during our visit, but at some point they just need to acknowledge that either their management isn’t good, the servers and staff need a LOT more training, or both.Just because you have a business in Nantucket, you shouldn’t take your customers or their experiences for granted.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Philip T
Good food limited menu. Service was not great. Many junk
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
We were surprisingly disappointed with our experience at or, The Whale. We made reservations for outside which was adorable but once seated we were told by our waiter that we had to order all of our food at once (apps, entree, etc.) because the kitchen requires an entire order. We figured it would come out staggered but all of our food came out at once. There were maybe 5 tables of people total (no one seated inside) so it clearly wasn't a demand issue. We wouldn't plan on going back unless that requirement changes which is a shame because the environment and ambiance is really sweet.
KKH72
Had a fabulous meal here last night. We had the tuna tostadas - tuna was like butter - and the app was delicious with just the right amount of heat. 2 tostadas were perfect to share between the 2 of us. We also had the octopus puttanesca. This was by far one of the best apps I have had. Capers, olive shavings, and grilled octopus legs were so tender you would not even know what it was. We split the extremely generous Duck Carnitas. Excellent, fall off the bone and very flavorful. Enough for three I'd say. Server was great - attentive but not overly so and knowledgeable. She said we picked her 3 faves and we know why! Def will be back! It, like all ACK spots, was pricey - with a bottle of wine and tip came to about $350. but interesting dishes and we left feeling like $$ well spent, relatively.
If I had known the noise level would have been unbearable, I would have cancelled my reservation. I could not talk to anyone at my table. My ears hurt as I was right under the speaker. The hostess was top notch. She made sure the sound was lowered even though it was still unbearable, just less so. There were a bunch of inebriated people at bar by my table leaving their refuse on table as the hostess was trying to set up the table. Two different drunk women came over while we were having a meal trying to find their purses under the table--they were not there. I realize this is the Christmas Stroll but the atmosphere ruined the meal.
Amazing food and service. Super nice staff and great dinner. For sure coming back again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pickle Plate, Cheeseburger, Pan
We recently tried this restaurant and enjoyed the food and drinks. We got in quickly and the service was great.
It was very loud so as a party of 6, we had to really stress to listen. The food is good. Some with us don’t like spicy so that was limiting. Cocktails and service was fantastic The rice cake dish are not rice cakes but I’m glad I asked the server so I was prepared and it is absolutely delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
We celebrated our 28th anniversary there. It's a beautiful restaurant with tremendous energy. Our timing was good as it was "Restaurant Week", and the chef had prepared a nice pre-set selection for a great price. I ordered the Trout, which had to be switched to Salmon due to availability, but that was actually what I preferred so it worked out. My wife ordered the Fall Salad with Sirloin. Both meals were excellent. We both ordered the house Old Fashions, which were perfect. We ended with the Pecan Pie, which was ridiculously good (highly recommend). Our server was so great and attentive. Overall, just a wonderful experience.
Had dinner there this evening (9/20). Excellent food, excellent service and great atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pan Seared Branzino
Both reception and servers were great, very friendly and attentive. Indoors was noisy and a child at the next table next (accompanied with his indifferent parents) did not help. We asked to be moved to the patio within minutes of being seated. Champagne was perfectly cold and delicious. The steak frites for both of us were average (fries and peppercorn sauce were the stars) and the beef was substandard. The chocolate cake tasted store bought and like something you may have eaten in college. The other dessert was even less memorable, having only been there 12 hours ago I don't even remember what it was. It was a prescient decision to have moved to the patio, because by the time we left, the bar and dining room were even louder, and the child boy was circling other tables.
The food - one Steak Dinner and Duck for 2 - was pretty good. Everything else wasn't. We were greeted by two young women who couldn't seem to get their responsibilities straight. One was talking on the phone and the other asked if we had a reservation. Next thing you know they switched roles and we went through the whole “yes we have a reservation” thing again. Both were more interested in hair, nails and eyelashes than welcoming guests. A party of 3- we were seated at a tiny round table meant for 1 or 2 in a high-traffic area of the restaurant. The noise from the bar was disruptive, we were not able to hear each other at our table. Once seated, the lethargic waitress took our order and was never seen again until we had finished eating and waited for the table to be cleared and the check to come. When she brought the containers we requested for leftovers, she said she'd bring us a bag if we needed one and “just asked for one.” It took forever to get the check and again to pay the bill. The price of the meal was a little ridiculous. $78 for half a duck, some lettuce, 6 mini-tortillas, some pickled onions and vegetables. The steak was priced a little more appropriately, but still high for a sirloin with fries and some weird peppers as a side. One bright spot in personnel was the young man who brought the food to the table and enthusiastically asked if we'd like him to explain the duck dish for us. We said yes, and he proceeded to describe the ingredients and explain how to combine them into hand-held packets. We won't be back.
Great spot, ate in the back patio. Friendly staff. Get the Korean pork to share, insane!
First time in a very long time that we've found a dinner place that we continue to talk about. The duck tacos were absolutely worth the cost. Perfect serving size for 2. We sat at the bar and the bartender was really nice. Patio was cute and just overall a good vibe.
Restaurantji Recommends
Tuna tostada, bok choy, and duck carnitas tacos were delicious. Add cilantro to the duck to really make it ?. Great outdoor dining area. Our server was super nice and friendly. Been here a few times and will certainly be back!
Ugh. A definite stay away.Although the food is decent, the service falls under “seasonally rude and incompetent.”The food takes entirely too long to come out once ordered, and just to order takes a true miracle.The management gave us a litany of excuses as to why everything was so awful during our visit, but at some point they just need to acknowledge that either their management isn’t good, the servers and staff need a LOT more training, or both.Just because you have a business in Nantucket, you shouldn’t take your customers or their experiences for granted.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Good food limited menu. Service was not great. Many junk
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
We were surprisingly disappointed with our experience at or, The Whale. We made reservations for outside which was adorable but once seated we were told by our waiter that we had to order all of our food at once (apps, entree, etc.) because the kitchen requires an entire order. We figured it would come out staggered but all of our food came out at once. There were maybe 5 tables of people total (no one seated inside) so it clearly wasn't a demand issue. We wouldn't plan on going back unless that requirement changes which is a shame because the environment and ambiance is really sweet.
Had a fabulous meal here last night. We had the tuna tostadas - tuna was like butter - and the app was delicious with just the right amount of heat. 2 tostadas were perfect to share between the 2 of us. We also had the octopus puttanesca. This was by far one of the best apps I have had. Capers, olive shavings, and grilled octopus legs were so tender you would not even know what it was. We split the extremely generous Duck Carnitas. Excellent, fall off the bone and very flavorful. Enough for three I'd say. Server was great - attentive but not overly so and knowledgeable. She said we picked her 3 faves and we know why! Def will be back! It, like all ACK spots, was pricey - with a bottle of wine and tip came to about $350. but interesting dishes and we left feeling like $$ well spent, relatively.