Nantucket restaurant updates

[Erika]

Spent the long weekend in Nantucket this weekend, with good luck, chow-wise.

First, the Stop & Shop and A & P are well-stocked, though the asparagus was $5 a pound. Yikes. There's also a place on Union Street called Fahey & Fromagerie with fancy ingredients. Nantucket Gourment and a Cook's Wares, both in town, also have fancy condiments, pates, and cheese.

Five of us had dinner at American Seasons, which is procey but wonderful, and not stuffy like 21 Federal. I had the foie gras creme brulee with rhubarb giger compote to start. Brilliant, creamy, foie to the max! And the crust was truly brulee'd. I also had the artichoke and over dried tomato tart (quiche-like)with lemon-pepper ricotta on top, with asparagus and other veggies on the side. Everything was wonderful and the tart shell was incredible, light and flaky and tender. The fire roasted tomato and red pepper bisque and the diver scallops were also great, as was the lamb entree. Most of our group had the swordfish special, which was served on a brandade cake in a cilantro cream sauce, and they all loved it. The wine list was great, with some wines we'd never seen in a restaurant before. I had the carrot cake for dessert, and the cream cheese frosting was perfect-- not too sweet, with lots of butter.

We had breakfast another morning at The Hen House, which is a B-L-D place, informal and inexpensive for B & L, and not too bad for dinner. Great eggs benedict florentine, with just the right amount of lemon in the hollandaise. It's busy, though, so don't plan on sitting all morning.

We had pizza from Foood For Here and There, and were very pleased. They do deliver. It's thin-crust pizza with the standard ingredients, but it was well done and not greasy. I think we had the spring special, which is garlic and tomato slices and cheese, no sauce. We also had a sausage pizza, which was also great-- good sausage, not too much fennel.

Lunched once at Cap'n Tobeys on Straight Wharf. It is a tourist trap of a sort, but their lobster roll was generous, the hot dog roll butter-grilled, and their dinner fries perfectly cooked.

Our last night, we had dinner at Queequegs. I had the yellow curried mussels to start-- brothy, with lots of veggies in the lemongrass and yellow-curry broth. The broth had nice heat, but wasn't too spicy. The mussels were huge, and there were at least a dozen. My husband had the tuna tartare to start and nearly ordered another. My mother in law loved the chowder, which was rich but not greasy. I had the strip steak and mashed potatoes for my entree, with sugar snap peas for the veg, and little can be said except that everything was cooked exactly as it should have been. The potatoes are very light, with only milk in them-- there's no added butter, which I happen to like, since I prefer to regulate the amount of salt myself. Everyone else liked their meal as well. The creme brulee for dessert was good, though not burnt enough for my taste.

We didn't make it to Black Eyed Susan's on India Street, which is my favorite place on the whole island, but friends who ate with us there before said it's as good as ever. Their breakfast is the best, but I've never tried them for dinner.

Arno's at 41 Main Street was busy every time we went by, and I liked their brunch the last few times I was there, but it is a bit pricy. I'd try the Even Keel Cafe across the street instead, or get an ice cream soda from the drugstore next door, with its still-operating ice cream fountain.

[Northender]

Hen House and Queequegs are new names on the Island. Can you tell me where they are (or what used to be there so I can get my bearings). Btw, have had dinner at 21 Federal Street a number of times and did not find it stuffy so hope they can get straightened out. Thanks for the info.

[Erika]

The Hen House is at 1 Chin's Way, a left off of Orange Street, right past the Stop and Shop. Breakfast was $21 for three of us. Foood for Here and There is on the opposite end of the same lot. You don't need a car to get there, but it's a bit of a walk from town. We had a car, though, and drove there, since we were staying out near Madaket.

Queequegs is on Center Street? If you walk down South Water Street toward the Steamship Ferry on Broad Street, it's on the left just a few blocks before. It's a tiny place, entrees $18-25.

We went to 21 Federal three years ago. It was so stuffy and snobby that we were forever put off-- I was celebrating the end of law school with my husband, and we were the youngest people in there, and were treated with disdain by the entire staff. We were ignored the entire time, and our waiter never showed his face until it was time to drop off the check. The food was good, but I've had other friends who've gone more recently confirm that they suffered the same.

If you're older than 30, maybe they'll treat you well. I'd say that American Seasons' food was as good or better, with the relaxed but excellent service I prefer.

[rodgerbraniff]

I'm older than 30 and 21 Federal's mantra is to be rude and snotty. I almost went back but the reservations lady was amazingly rude. Not worth the prices or attitude.