Cocktails, Burgers, Sushi, Seafood: You can get it all, plus salt air and sand, at this sure-fire crowd-pleaser
by Alexandra Bassett
Known as the island’s only beach bar and restaurant, the Sandbar & Grille wears many hats. Dockside, it’s one-part family-friendly restaurant, one-part sports bar, sharing a surf-theme that includes a spacious outdoor (manmade) beach patio and peninsula-style bar. Inside, it’s a sushi bar with a tucked away speakeasy vibe that lures crowds far and wide with its fresh and inventive sushi.
And that’s not all. As you catch the sun setting over the harbor from your cozy armchair or hiback stool, the Sandbar turns into a sexy nightclub with dance club music or live bands playing, so you don’t have to leave after dinner to find entertainment. The signature cocktails run the gamut from a high-brow Cucumber Ginger Cooler made with Hendrick’s Gin, to the heavy-hitting Menemsha Sunset, a rum drinker’s delight made from a mix of light and dark rums. You can even get a frosty, thirst-quenching Rum Chata Colatta to really get the island vibe flowing.
To add to the Sandbar’s multi-faceted offerings, the menu is an eclectic mix of classic New England (think Lobster Rolls and Clam Chowder), a burger and sandwich lover’s paradise (imagine juicy toppings or pulled pork BBQ), and Caribbean or Tex-Mex infused offerings (try the jerk shrimp salad or fish tacos). You can even get a health-conscious Apple Walnut Salad.
Plus, every night from 10-12pm, it’s “Sushi Happy Hour” where most items on the sushi menu are half-price, so you’ll want to order extra and order big. Locals and visitors alike rave about the Chef ’s Special Makis that include the Incredible Roll (an oversized roll great for sharing made with spicy tuna and salmon, topped with mango, tempura flakes and eel sauce) and the Baked Dynamite Roll (a California Roll served hot and topped with scallops, spicy mayo, tempura flakes and scallions), amongst others.
So, whether you’re single and ready to mingle, on a hot date, or have the whole family in tow, there’s a little bit of everything here to keep the good times rolling. The Sandbar & Grille is fun-loving spot you can return to again and again with anyone and everyone.
