Garde East
Awesome food in a gorgeous setting if you are willing to pay the price!
I’ve been a summer person on Martha’s Vineyard for about 6 years. While in MV years, I’m a short-timer, I feel like I’ve sampled many of the island joys. Somehow I missed Garde East in Vineyard Haven.
The restaurant is off Beach Road, a main drag leading to the town of Vineyard Haven. It’s hard to figure out where the restaurant actually is. It’s part of a marina and everything in this cull-de-sac looks like a place to buy boat stuff. A small, easy to miss blue sign is the only marker.
The steps at the end of the cull-de-sac-cum-parking lot put you face to face with the hostess standing behind the desk on a small deck. The restaurant is a mini-complex, with several small indoor eating areas, outdoor dining on balconies, plus chairs on the beach where you can dig your toes in the sand and enjoy a cocktail. Every table has a water view.
You won’t find any pretension in this place – it’s got a relaxed, wind-in-your-hair, kick-back-and-linger vibe. The service is friendly, but a tad slow. You sometimes worry you’ve been forgotten – but it doesn’t get to the point of irritation.
In contrast to the lobster-shack vibe, the food is very gourmet – with prices to match.
We were a party of three and ordered:
Goat cheese and pistachio carrots
Citrus salad
Tomato feta salad
2 olive oil poached halibuts
1 sea scallop
Salted caramel ice cream
Brea pinot noir
Minuta rose
Vodka and tonic
Cost: $380 before tip.
The Experience.
The dinner made me happy – so happy!
Sitting at the quiet table at sunset, breeze blowing in the windows, the view of the harbor and boats in front of us was so relaxing.
Two of us started by splitting the citrus salad. Unasked, the kitchen split the salad for us so we each got a beautiful presentation of the tangy greens and pistachio with just enough blue cheese to give it a unami undertone.
The tomato feta salad was composed and looked delicious – apparently it was so delicious, the friend who ordered it didn’t care to let us share.
The goat cheese and pistachio carrots arrived with a thinned goat cheese spread covering the plate. Roasted multi-colored carrots, high in flavor, sat on the spread; the carrots were sprinkled with pistachios and spices
The the delicacy of the perfectly cooked halibut could bring tears to your eyes. A fairly small piece, maybe 1.5” x 2” long, was moist and delicate. It was served with a a ginger citrus broth poured over the top that added just the right hint of ginger-citrus.
Here’s the sad news. Despite my fondness for the halibut, I had scallop envy most of the night. The sea scallops were so fresh and sweet. They were presented with a fried something – maybe lotus root. It was a high taste dish, with just a perfect amount of subtle Asian seasonings.
The restaurant is known for its wine list but seemed to be having trouble restocking menu items. This was a special night out for me, and I wanted to splurge on a $25 glass of Anthill Farm Pinot Noir, only to be told they were out of it. They substituted a BREA Pinot Noir, which is another coastal California wine. The BREA was pretty great – a medium to deep purple with a pronounced nose, medium body and alcohol, and a long finish. I think the shocker was that the $25 glass came from a $20 bottle of wine, according to what I found on Google. Seemed a little pricey, and yet oh-so-enjoyable.
The Minuty rose was made from black grapes: Grenache, Cinsualt and Syrah. It was a glass of provencal delight - light, pink, off-dry, perfect for a warm summer night.o
Bottom Line:
I’m picturing a return to Garde East very soon. I want to bring visitors, explore more of their wine list while my toes dig in the sand, and then stay for a leisurely dinner as the sun sets. The perfect ending to a summer day.
Garde East
52 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven
508-687-9926
info@gardeeast.flywheelsites.com