Good Taste : Plenty of room
By Eleni Collins
Published: October 15, 2009
Now that we're not so busy working three jobs, visiting with family, and avoiding the summer crowds, there's finally time to get together with those you hardly saw all summer. Need a table for 12? The following restaurants have space for large parties. A general rule: it's a good idea to call ahead.
In addition to its main dining room, Lambert's Cove Inn in West Tisbury has a semi-private library and a private dining room for large parties. Photo by Ralph Stewart Lambert's Cove Inn has two options for big groups. Their private dining room can fit up to 22 people, and their semi-private library fits up to 35. Owner Kell Hicklin says that menus can be altered ahead of time for a specific party. There's a one-time corkage fee of $30 for parties of seven or more.
In Vineyard Haven, the Black Dog Tavern is a great spot to go with a big group. Their tables in the main section of the restaurants can be combined to accommodate more people. There is also a nook in the near corner, with many windows, which has two large picnic tables that can be combined for a large group of more than six.
In Edgartown, Atlantic Fish and Chop House has ample space for large parties, and a big menu to fit most anyone's palate. The Wharf's back room can seat multiple parties of six or more in the booths or tables. Lure at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort has a back room that can accommodate a private dinner for up to 30 guests. Sharky's in Edgartown takes reservations for its private, enclosed room at the back of the restaurant. With its own doors, the room is completely separate from the dining room and bar and can fit 6 to 10 people comfortably. It offers individually controlled DirectTV on two TVs, room temperature, music volume, and two-way mirrors. Alchemy's upstairs bar area has a few bar tables and comfortable chairs that can handle a big group, and several large tables downstairs, including one in the window, and one in a more private interior spot.
In Oak Bluffs, Mediterranean's open floor plan allows for great capacity. In addition to the space, a separate section towards the north of the restaurant allows for approximately 20 people at one table, while looking out on to the rest of the restaurant.
At the Ocean View, there's a separate room in between the bar and the dining room that is often used for private events, or reserved for very large tables. Offshore Ale Co. has a large circular table and several booths that line the wall that fit six comfortably, eight or more if the party is close, or if it's Wings and Oyster Fridays or Two-For-One Mondays. And Oyster Bar Grill can easily fit many large parties in the same night with their open seating plan. Several tables can easily fit more than eight people, and the large bar offers a comfortable waiting area.
M.V. Food and Wine Fest
The third annual Martha's Vineyard Food and Wine Festival starts tomorrow and runs through Sunday, with dozens of events in between at various Edgartown locations. For $500, purchase a VIP ticket that gets you in to three main events; events range from $20 (a tour of Katama oyster flats with Jack Blake) to $187.50 (a wine dinner at Atria featuring Duckhorn Wine Company).
This year, they've added celebrity talents to the mix. On Saturday at 12 noon, meet Bravo Top Chef season five finalist Chef Richter. He'll conduct a cooking demonstration at 67 Winter Street, for $45.
The Grand Tasting is Saturday from 2 to 5 pm, and features Island chefs who will demonstrate dishes prepared with local ingredients, as well as off-Island notables such as Andy Husbands, a Boston restaurateur and cookbook author. Admission is $50, and the tasting is at the Martha's Vineyard Museum.
And later that evening is a Spanish Wine Dinner at the Harbor View Hotel. For $99 (including tax and gratuity), enjoy a menu prepared by chef Levon Wallace using ingredients from Island farms, and wines courtesy of Ruby Wines.
