Brunch, a treat normally reserved for Sundays, can now be found every single day from 10 am until 3 pm at Beetlebung in Oak Bluffs. Wouldn’t it be great to wake up leisurely on a random Wednesday morning and make your way to brunch?
The menu has some stellar items, unique to their brunch, along with the classics. If you’re waking up and craving tacos, this is the place to be. You can choose between the fish tacos ($18), made with Vineyard yellowtail, or the carnitas tacos with a Latin-spiced pork shoulder ($16). Then again, why choose? Get ’em both, served on the best corn tortillas I’ve had in New England. And where else on the Island can you wake up to get tacos at 10 am?
But before you order tacos, or anything else for that matter, you’re going to need to caffeinate yourself. I personally need at least two cups of coffee to be a functioning human being on any given day, and brunch day is no different. The fantastic thing about Beetlebung, other than the food, is the coffee. Fresh, roasted-to-order coffee beans from Barrington Coffee make up their espresso bar, available whether you’re craving a simple latte or want to indulge in their Beetlebung Brunch Coffee (Borghetti espresso liqueur, Whisper Creek cream, Jameson, Beetlebung iced coffee, and chocolate mole).
Sitting down for a couple of minutes with John Molinari, owner and everything-doer at Beetlebung, I sense the passion and love he has for the place. Every single detail has a story, every lamp, every painting, every light bulb. A behind-the-scenes tour uncovers an herb garden that supplies the bar with all its fresh garnishes. A peek into the freezers unveils the process behind the handcrafted ice cubes for drinks. There’s no frozen seafood, as it arrives daily from Menemsha. All the beef and pork comes from small family farms in New York and New England. Even the interior of the building has several unique Island touches, including:
- Floor plan and curved bar layout by Chuck Sullivan, Sullivan & Associates Architects, Oak Bluffs
- Interior design by Kim Nye, Oak Bluffs (A Gallery building owner)
- Computer-controlled theatrical lighting by Alexander Senchak, West Tisbury (Vineyard Playhouse executive)
- Zinc bar by Johnny Brazil (Oak Bluffs), hammered, soldered, and sanded in place on site
- Handcarved Rorschach Lobster exterior sign by J.P. Uranker, Oak Bluffs
- Harpoon exterior sign bracket/sculpture by Greg Blaine (Edgartown)
- Original artwork by Christine Janak, MVRHS 2012
Like every detail, the food shines, and the brunch menu now has my heart. Don’t miss the lobster deviled duck eggs ($12), a twist on the classic deviled eggs, packed to the brim with lobster meat and fresh herbs. The Eggs Benedict has pulled pork tucked between the English muffin and the poached egg. If you prefer a sweeter start to your mornings, go with the cranberry pecan French toast ($12). Cape Cod’s favorite bakery, Pain d’Avignon, bakes the loaves of cranberry pecan bread, which are dipped in an organic egg batter, grilled up, and served with citrus ricotta and fresh berries. Whatever your choice, just get out of bed and enjoy brunch. It’s the magic of living on Martha’s Vineyard, where you can get brunch every day.
Beetlebung is located on 53 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs; call 508-696-0053 for reservations and details. Brunch is served daily from 10 am until 3 pm, while dinner is served from 5:30 until 11 pm.
