Classic, Contemporary, and Comfort Food Done Right
by Diane Alter
OCEAN VIEW IS ONE of MV’s celebrated restaurants that rises to the status of cultural icon. Indeed, don’t rely on Yelp reviews when looking for a place to eat on the island. Ask the locals, who know the island best, and they will tell Ocean View Restaurant and Tavern at 16 Chapman Avenue in Oak Bluffs, is one of MV’s most treasured dining spots.
Featuring a classic menu of traditional American fare, fresh seafood, and good ole’ comfort food, Ocean View’s menu has something for everyone. Everything is prepared to order and prepared right.
Try the clam chowder, thick and rich with plenty of clams. Order the creamy lobster bisque with big chunks of real lobster meat. And the fan favorite French Onion Soup is served piping hot with a think piece of crusty French bread covered with thick melted cheese.
Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail is fresh and artfully presented. The Fried Calamari is cooked to a golden brown and tender. Ocean View’s Mussels, sautéed in white wine, garlic and parsley, could be classified addictive.
Main dish salads include Caesar, Chef and Oriental. After 5 p.m., Ocean View offers a salad bar—the only one on the island. Hearty sandwiches and two-fisted burgers are popular at both lunch and dinner.
Try Ocean View’s Famous Pretzel Burger and find out why it has a beefy reputation. The Angus Beef Burger, topped with smoky sautéed mushrooms, sweet, caramelized onions, tangy Boursin cheese, lettuce and tomato, and held together by a soft pretzel bun, could aptly be described as a masterpiece.
The Shrimp Quesadilla, with plenty of whole shrimp, Monterey Jack Cheese, onions, and tomatoes, is excellent. And the Native Fillet of Sole Almondine, rolled in the restaurant’s special seasoning, does not disappoint.
Surf & Turf is one of those dishes that sadly does not get much respect nowadays. A hallmark of “continental cuisine” that was in vogue a couple of decades ago at high-end steak houses, this classic dish lost some of its swagger over the years. But Ocean View treats this legendary and luxury dish with the respect it deserves.
Ocean View’s Surf & Turf entrée consists of two large basked stuffed shrimp and a 9 oz. certified angus beef filet mignon. The shrimp are large and generously stuffed with crabmeat– not just a lot of breadcrumbs. The filet is a thick cut of beef cooked to order. The meat is juicy and tender. The first and every bite after melts in your mouth. A side of creamy whipped mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables accompany the entrée.
Desserts include Key Lime Pie, Carrot Cake, Triple Chocolate Cake, Gourmet Turtle Cheesecake, and a heavenly Chocolate Mousse Cake. It is hard to stand out in a crowded marketplace, but Ocean View Restaurant & Tavern stands does.
MORE INFO
16 Chapman Ave
Oak Bluffs
www.oceanviewrestaurantmv.com
(508) 693-2207
ONLINE ORDERING!
