Fella’s on Union is an eatery in Vineyard Haven with a variety of quick and delicious lunch options, which can be really handy whether you’re stepping out from your office or waiting to catch a boat back home.
As I walk in, the ambiance in this spot near the Steamship Authority dock is surprising. Rustic wood interiors, cases of gelato, and baked goods welcome me as I’m greeted by co-owner Jane Cecilio. If you’ve been on-Island for more than a minute, you might also recognize Fella, the other owner of this namesake restaurant. The pair began their business in 1984 as a catering company. The business quickly grew and in 2005, they expanded to a brick and mortar store and opened Fella’s Takeout in West Tisbury. Fast forward to 2015, when they decided to open a second shop in Vineyard Haven, now Fella’s on Union. They still offer catering services such as barbecues and clambakes, but focus on larger parties now, as their attention is divided between Vineyard Haven and West Tisbury.
The menu covers anything you might be craving for lunch, from cold specialty sandwiches like their Tarragon Chicken Salad ($9.50), paninis such as their Cuban ($10.50), as well as tacos, grilled items and more. For lunch, my dining partner and I grabbed the Caprese Sandwich ($9.50) as well as the Fish Tacos ($11.50) and neither disappointed. The Caprese Sandwich is served on a choice of bread (we went with the ciabatta, although you can order focaccia, baguette, multigrain, sourdough, marble rye, or gluten-free bread). The crusty ciabatta was the best choice to showcase the fresh, soft mozzarella and the gorgeous tomatoes, all slathered with a housemade pesto ground by Fella himself.
And what doesn’t he make? You can grab a jar of beach plum jelly (seasonally), as well as fresh salsas and BBQ sauce. Make sure you grab a jar of that BBQ sauce before the summer ends and use it on anything you’re grilling at home. It’s smoky and sweet, pretty much all I need in a sauce.
But back to those fish tacos: pan-seared cod fish served on a corn tortilla with freshly sliced avocado, shredded red cabbage, and a pineapple salsa (that Fella also makes). It’s summer food at its finest. They also serve a pulled pork taco ($10.50) with a citrus-soy marinade and mango salsa that’s sure to be a homerun.
It’s a pretty complete menu for lunch, supplemented by daily special additions. Lunch is great, but next time I’m coming back for the Backyard BBQ. Thursdays through Sundays during the summer months, from 5 to 9 pm, Fella cooks up some tasty barbecue meals such as ribs and chicken, served with cornbread, black bean salad, potato salad, or coleslaw. Prices range in the low 20s for a meal, and sides are $3 each if ordered separately.
Follow Fella’s on Facebook for daily menu updates facebook.com/fellasonunion/ and make sure to stop in for lunch.
