Good Taste : Around the world: Ethnic cuisine on-Island
By Eleni Collins
Published: September 3, 2009
You don't have to travel far to find restaurants that serve more than fried seafood and the catch of the day. Despite its size, the Island has a lot of ethnic eating choices, and many of them are open year-round. Here is a sampling.
One of Bangkok Cuisine's specialties is the Pad Thai entrée, served with chicken and shrimp. The restaurant is located at the end of Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs. Photo by Ralph Stewart Because of the large Brazilian population, there are several Brazilian cafes for a quick snack, pastry, or meal. Tropical Bakery in Edgartown (next to Sharky's) offers fresh-baked pasteries and calzone-like sandwiches. Tropical Restaurant in Vineyard Haven offers a $5.00/lb lunch buffet daily, with fresh meat, a variety of salads, rice, vegetables, and dessert. They also serve breakfast. Wrap and Roll is half convenience store/half bakery with sweet and savory items, such as the Coxinha, a popular snack made with minced chicken and seasonings, covered in a wheat flour batter and deep fried.
For the Italian-lovers, there's Nicky's Italian Café, Lattanzi's, and Il Tesoro, new this year (formerly The Catch at the Terrace). Nicky's classic entrées include the Pasta alla Puttanesca: a spicy mélange of tomatoes, onions, capers, olives, anchovy and garlic all cooked together in olive oil, tossed with linguine ($18.95; $21.95 with chicken; $23.95 with shrimp). Il Tesoro features Northern Italian cuisine: the Tagliatelle Campagnola is fresh tagliatelle pasta tossed with sautéed diced filet mignon, Portobello mushroom, and fresh basil in a fresh tomato Port wine sauce ($23); or try the Gnocchi Quattro Formaggi, dumpling-style pasta sautéed in a sauce of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, with a touch of cream and fresh tomato pesto ($21). Lattanzi's in Edgartown features authentic Italian cuisine, such as pizzas, salads, and pasta entrees. The pizzeria is more casual. Pizzas range from $16-$19.95, from the basic Formaggio e Pomodoro: cheese and tomato sauce, to the more elaborate Funghi: porcini tomato sauce, woodland mushrooms, truffle oil and mozzarella. In the restaurant, dinners range from $21.95 to $38. The pizzeria also serves pasta dishes and salads.
For a Mediterranean meal, visit Mediterranean in Oak Bluffs. The tapas menu includes Feta, Olives, and Roasted Red Peppers served with fresh artisan crisps ($7), and Grilled Lamb Skewers with oven-roasted vegetables and basmati rice ($16).
To satisfy your Far Eastern cravings, there are several Asian restaurants on the Island. For Chinese, there's The Golden Dragon (located in Vineyard Haven across from the Black Dog Bakery), and The China House in Edgartown (near the Dairy Queen). Find General Tsu's chicken, chicken and broccoli, and other traditional Chinese dishes such as fried rice, sweet and sour chicken, and boneless spare ribs.
Find Japanese and Asian cuisine at O-Sun Asian Kitchen in Oak Bluffs. Currently, they offer a $5.95 lunch. There's also gyoza ($6); Japanese noodle dishes such as Yaki Soba, a stir fried buck wheat noodle with shitake mushroom and vegetables with chicken or shrimp ($13-$16), and Wok Specialties such as Basil Chicken, sautéed tender chicken breast with mixed vegetables, fresh basil, in a light soy sauce ($14).
Bangkok Cuisine is one of two Thai restaurants on the Island, and both are on Circuit Avenue in Oak Bluffs. Bangkok Cuisine features a lunch and dinner menu with popular items such as the curry dishes that are served with tofu, chicken, or shrimp, in red, green, and mango curries. Sai Mai is new and located inside The Ritz Cafe. Already popular is the Mus-Sa-Man, a curry dish with vegetables, chicken or beef, served in a coconut milk sauce. Entrées range from $7.95 to $13.95.
For Mexican, there's Sharky's in Edgartown and Oak Bluffs. The Super Nachos are a good appetizer to split among a group or an entrée for one or two. They're loaded with cheese, salsa, sour cream, jalapenos, guacamole, and your choice of meat or seafood and beans (prices range from $10.95 to $16.95 depending on the meat). Don't forget to check out their drink menu. Zapotec boasts authentic Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, and tasty margaritas. For a meal with a kick, try the chicken mole: marinated grilled chicken glazed with a special mild Mexican chile mole sauce ($16.95).
For an Irish meal, visit Danny Quinn's in Oak Bluffs. Among a variety of entrees, its Irish dishes include The Irish "All Day" Breakfast: scrambled eggs, sautéed mushrooms, grilled tomato, and Irish bacon ($14); Chilled Potato Leek Soup ($8), and Fish and Chips: tempura battered and served with French fries ($18).
And visit Le Grenier for a quick trip to France. Find authentic dishes such as the Beef Wellington: filet mignon, liver paté, and mushrooms, in a puff pastry ($36); Quails aux Raisins: grapes, Cognac, and demi-glace ($28); and Frog Legs Provençale, served with garlic and lemon ($29).
