Edibles: Good eats up-Island

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You have an advantage if you are lucky enough to live up-Island where you’re steps away from the many take-out spots in Aquinnah and Chilmark. If you do not, these cafes and snack bars are at least a half-hour drive away, but the delicious food and stunning scenery make them worth the trip. In Aquinnah, the westernmost tip of the Island, are Faith’s Seafood Shack, Aquinnah Shop Restaurant, and Dreamcatcher Snack Bar. Faith’s boasts the freshest seafood: oysters and little necks on the half shell, lobsters, steamers, and much more. There’s also sushi and sashimi, with several Chef’s Special Rolls, such as the Seafood Shack Roll: steamed lobster, fresh mango, and avocado with lemon mayo, for $18.95. The Aquinnah Shop Restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch. Sit down inside or out for table service, a glass of wine or a beer, and a view that you won’t forget. Dreamcatcher is a legit snack bar. Find burgers, hot dogs, grilled cheese, and ice cream.

In Menemsha, part of Chilmark, many places offer take-out food in a scenic spot — on the beach, dock, or jetties, among the fishermen. Larsen’s Fish Market and Menemsha Fish Market offer fresh seafood and other snacks such as stuffed quahogs, crab cakes, lobster bisque, and chowders. They’ll steam lobsters for you to eat outside on the lobster trap picnic tables, or you can take home fresh scallops, oysters, and many varieties of fish to cook at home. At Larsen’s, there are many gluten-free snack options.

The Bite in Menemsha is famous for their fried food: coconut shrimp, clams, scallops, you name it. Try the “Bite” fries, which are fried pieces of skin-on potatoes.

The Galley offers a wide variety of take-out, from hamburgers and grilled cheese sandwiches to soft-serve ice cream and milkshakes. They also have many vegetarian options, such as tomato, pesto, and mozzarella on white or wheat bread.

Home Port’s “Back Door” menu allows you to carry out your dinner to the Home Port deck, or to another spot overlooking Menemsha Harbor and the sunset. The menu offers everything from fried food to fresh fish. Also at the restaurant, which is celebrating its 80th year, is a raw bar on the deck and Sunday brunch.

Up the road a bit towards West Tisbury are the Chilmark Tavern and the Beach Plum Inn and Food. The Beach Plum offers Bistro Night on Tuesday where three courses are $40. Find entrees from $28 at Thursday Grill Night. Bring your own booze to the Tavern’s daily Raw Bar “Happy Hour” at 4 pm. Sunday Brunch is from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Prices are subject to change