Enjoy a Taste of the Caribbean with the Expansive Food and Drinks Menu at Fishbones Bar & Grille
by Johanna Bernhard
As the sun sets over the harbor in Oak Bluffs, and the evening crowd emerges ambling along the boardwalk, Fishbones Bar & Grille is the perfect spot to sit back, relax and enjoy the evening ahead. Large rectangular windows allow for an expansive view of the harbor and the jouncing boats in the water. Numerous overhead fans combat the sun’s rays shining down into the restaurant, allowing customers to completely immerse themselves in their surroundings, the music, and the friendly, attentive staff.
Mixers shake and drinks begin to flow around the bar. The restaurant fills with parties of families and friends. Fishbones is a summer favorite among locals and tourists on the island. The restaurant adds a twist to the generic fried food and fish options offered around the island by promoting a slightly different menu with a Caribbean influence, such as the Caribbean Cobb salad, which combines shrimp and crabmeat on top of mixed greens. The bar is filled with an array of different beers and liquors with enthusiastic bartenders ready to mix up a thirst quenching drink. A favorite for Lisa Hawkes, the manager, is ‘Paradise on the Harbor’.
Fishbones is a popular pit stop among those taking the Hy-Line boat to and from the island. The boat moors opposite the restaurant meaning that large crowds of people head directly to the bar and restaurant after arriving on the island. Similarly, many sit and enjoy lunch or dinner with an unobstructed view of the harbor, while awaiting the boat’s return to transport them home at the end of their day.
The menu is extensive. Appetizers include sesame seared ahi tuna with rice noodles and edamame beans, drizzled with a soy ginger dressing and sesame seeds, and fried coconut shrimp with house made orange marmalade, there is a diverse variety to satisfy hungry customers. Hot off the grill, the food is succulent and cooked to perfection.
The appetizers are merely a taster of the hearty and healthy entrées that follow. For those who prefer meat, the grilled chicken kabobs are divine. The chef’s special consists of skewered grilled chicken complemented by juicy red, green and yellow peppers, red onion, and tomatoes, served with coconut rice and grilled asparagus.
Covered with a pineapple mango salsa, the blackened Mahi Mahi fillet incorporates the Caribbean aspect into the restaurant’s menu. White rice and flavorsome black beans accompany the tender fish.
Fishbones attracts a diverse crowd, from college students to families and everything in between. The Bar & Grille is a social drinking place, according to Hawkes.
“It’s a fun place to come and you can’t beat the view,” Hawkes said.
From Memorial Day weekend to Columbus Day, the fun, casual atmosphere of Fishbones promotes a welcoming environment. Open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., enjoy the view of the harbor this summer, day or night, accompanied by a delicious entrée and a beverage of your choice.
