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Real Estate More and more visitors to Nantucket are choosing the relaxing vacation lifestyle that is best enjoyed in the quiet seclusion of a lovely private home or cottage. Despite the fact that Nantucket has strict building regulations, it has an active and extremely pricey real estate and new-construction market. In 2000, the average inventory was about 350 homes, which was considered low, but then builders weren't constructing as many speculation houses. The low end of the market is high here. A basic home or handyman's special can go for $250,000 or more, and new three-bedroom or four-bedroom homes can start at $700,000. That's understandable when you realize that the cost of land--which is limited on an island--is very high here. The price of most available lots is as much as most people would expect to pay for a house and lot elsewhere. If you can afford it, there are some great listings in the higher end of the market. You can get a classic antique in the heart of the historic district for anywhere from upwards of $1 to 8 million, and a waterfront estate may go for $10 million and up. Nantucket's land bank tax plays an integral role in the real estate scene, with 2 percent of the price from the sale of land or a building going into the fund, which is used to buy and retain land for preservation. Some of Nantucket's larger real estate offices have a rental department, in case the price of buying is out of the question or you're here strictly for R&R. The Nantucket Listing Service, which is comparable to MLS, is another resource for prospective buyers. The following agencies represent the best sources on the island for real estate purchases and rentals. Coffin Real Estate Open year-round, since 1963 this long-standing and experienced real estate office of nine brokers and agents offers seasonal and vacation rentals, and residential and commercial land sales. Congdon & Coleman Real Estate
Inc. Established in 1931, Congdon & Coleman is one of Nantucket's oldest firms. The full-service company offers sales, appraisals, year-round rentals, and summer rentals by month or season. The office is open year-round and has about 14 brokers. Denby Real Estate Inc. Established in 1967, Denby Real Estate, Inc. has been providing expert service to Nantucket for 33 years. With 10 brokers and sales representatives, their knowledge and experience can help you arrange a summer rental from a selection of over 800 homes. Rentals range from weekly rates of $1,500 per week to $125,000 for seasonal waterfront property. The office also does appraisals and subscribes to the Nantucket Listing Service. Island Properties Island Properties offers both sales and rentals (long- and short-term). Home sale prices range from $250,000 to several million dollars. The experienced rental agents here pride themselves on finding just what you are looking for. Rental rates will vary depending on location, size of the house, and proximity to the water. The 12-year-old firm has a staff of seven and is open year-round.
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The Maury People, Inc.,A Resort Quest Company Exclusive Affiliate of Sotheby's International One of the largest and most active real estate sales
and rental offices on Nantucket, The Maury People, a Resort Quest Company,
has extensive sales listings throughout the island and approximately 1,500
rental listings. Open daily year-round (the Sconset office is open June
through September), the Main Street office has 20 Realtors on staff and has
been doing business on Nantucket for 30 years. The specialties here are
historic and beach homes.
Rental properties represent a range of rates: beach cottage may rent for
$1,500 per week, an estate for $35,000 a week. The price of houses may range
from a $200,000 home to a $5 million estate. Importantly, their inventory is
constantly updated and their knowledgeable rental agents have a computerized
catalog of available homes at their fingertips.
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RestaurantsThe caliber of dining facilities on Nantucket makes this an island you wouldn't mind being stranded on. It could take all summer, or possibly longer, to sample all the great restaurants here, and there is plenty of variety. It is not, however, what you would call cheap. Dinner for two at some restaurants can easily cost $120. (At one place the inexpensive wine by the glass is $12.) But there are less expensive options. One idea: Go out for lunch instead of dinner at your favorite elegant restaurant. And look into more casual places for dinner, or restaurants that offer bistro or tavern menus in addition to full dinners. For a quick bite, duck into one of the two Main Street drugstores, Congdon's Pharmacy or Nantucket Pharmacy, which both have sit-down counters and friendly atmospheres. They're side by side, so if one counter is crowded (as is often the case) try the other. And you thought soda fountains had gone out of style! While we have given you a great head start on finding your own special place among Nantucket's long list of restaurants, consider yourself morally and gastronomically obliged to do your own research. Most of the places we have included are open year-round, but they may take a much-needed break sometime after New Year's; it's best to inquire about winter hours at any facility. As a general rule, you don't have to dress up for dinner here; we signal restaurants that require specific dress. Most restaurants accept major credit cards; we'll tell you the ones that do not.
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We've included the following pricing codes as guidelines in helping you decide where to dine. The key is based on the average price of dinner for two, excluding appetizers, alcoholic beverages, dessert, tax, and tip. $ Less than $20
A popular, reasonably priced meeting place for working folk, families, and hungry tourists, Arno's serves a big breakfast (until 2 PM), lunch, and dinner. Get a window table and people-watch while you enjoy your food. We suggest you try the surf 'n' turf. Children have their own menu. Arno's is open year-round.
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The Atlantic
Cafe We find ourselves coming back to this casual,
congenial place time and again whenever we're on Nantucket because we know
we'll always get a great meal at a reasonable price. The waiters and
waitresses are super-friendly, and children are welcomed here with high
chairs and a children's menu. Popular menu items include seafood dishes such
as scallops, swordfish, and fried clams, and hearty appetizers such as
nachos and fried zucchini sticks. In operation since 1978, the cafe serves
lunch and dinner daily year-round; the full menu is available from
mid-morning to late night. The Boarding House In Nancy Thayer's novel Belonging, which is
set on Nantucket, the sophisticated, affluent heroine Joanna Jones dines
twice at The Boarding House. The lady, however fictional, knows her
restaurants. Chef-proprietor Seth Carter Raynor's innovative cuisine has
both Mediterranean and Asian influences; yellowfin tuna with wasabi aioli
and soy ginger glaze and grilled Szechwan quail are two examples of dishes
that appear on the ever-changing menu. Choose from a lighter bistro menu or
more formal fare, and sit in the The Brotherhood of Thieves Low, oak-beamed ceilings, wood paneling, and lots of
candlelight create a wonderfully warm and cozy atmosphere. The food is
terrific, and there's lots of it. The corkscrew fries served with burgers
and sandwiches are terrific, and the chowder is hard to beat. It is Caffe Bella Vita If the urge for authentic Italian food hits when you
are surrounded quite literally by seafood, stop in here for some linguini
alla carbonara or ziti con salsa. Or try the tonna griglia (grilled tuna) if
you feel obligated to have fresh fish while on Nantucket. The chef makes
delicious sauces! You'll love the outdoor patio, perfect for a candlelit
dinner or a relaxing lunch. The year-round cafe is just outside of town,
providing the perfect opportunity to work off dinner by walking. Cap'n Tobey's Chowder House This moderately priced tavern-style restaurant offers
a menu and prices that families can appreciate. The clam chowder is widely
and highly recommended. It is open daily for lunch and dinner in season, and
closes in October. The Chanticleer The Chanticleer has perhaps the best wine list on the
island, as Wine Spectator has duly and consistently noted, and the
classical French cuisine is legendary. Chef-proprietor Jean-Charles Berruet
has been at The Chanticleer for 27 years.
The restaurant's annual opening on Mother's Day is an anxiously
anticipated event; it closes in October. In June, when the roses are out and
hanging baskets of pink fuchsias are everywhere, go for lunch in the rose
garden--and don't plan anything for the rest of the afternoon.
Quintessential Nantucket! Unlike most other restaurants on the island, there
is a dress code here: Men must wear jackets. Cioppino's An intimate atmosphere adds to the dining experience
here, where you'll find a friendly maitre d' and sophisticated fare,
including the restaurant's signature dish, made with fresh local shellfish,
lobster, and shrimp over linguini. The menu, which changes seasonally, may
include hazelnut-crusted salmon or tournedos of beef and vegetarian pasta,
to name just a few compelling entrees. There's also a refreshing array of
salads and tempting desserts. Cioppino's is open for lunch and dinner from
May to December, and has a small bar as well. The Club Car Near the waterfront with a ringside seat on Main
Street, this well-regarded restaurant skillfully combines casual dining and
elegant eating. The menu is rich and varied--you may find anything from
rabbit to octopus--and the food is consistently excellent. If your budget is
tight, have lunch at the bar in season and look for dinner specials
off-season. If, however, rack of lamb is a favorite of yours, just remember
that you only live once.
The lounge is the last-known existing railroad car from the Nantucket
Railroad Company. For 23 years The Club Car has opened seasonally, from May
through the Christmas Stroll, serving lunch and dinner. DeMarco This restaurant has outstanding Northern Italian
food, an absolutely superb wine list (more than 100 Italian selections!) and
a wonderful atmosphere. We once dined at a window-side table where the moon
peeked in from above, adding to the romance. If the menu offers swordfish,
don't pass it up. Owner Don DeMarco has operated the restaurant for many
years. The menu changes regularly, and breads and desserts are made on the
premises. DeMarco is open from April to December. Reservations are advised. Espresso Cafe This is a favorite caffeine-refueling stop for us
when we've been cruising the shops for hours and can't walk another step.
Choose from cappuccinos, cafe lattes, or just plain old fresh-brewed coffee,
served in large white mugs. Try one of their desserts or croissants, or for
a more substantial meal, soups, chili, sandwiches, or pizza. It's a good
place for a quick breakfast or lunch, and you can eat inside, beneath a
lovely old tin ceiling or outside in the tree-shaded courtyard. Espresso
Cafe is open from morning to late night during the summer; hours are shorter
in the off-season. Le Languedoc This family-owned restaurant is known and loved by an
appreciative following for its warm, intimate, and comfortable atmosphere;
excellent service; and wonderful wine--it's one of the few places you can
get superior wines by the glass. You can choose between a more elaborate and
pricey menu upstairs and a more casual and affordable but equally fine cafe
menu downstairs or on the outdoor terrace in summer. The restaurant is open
for dinner daily in season. Lunch and dinner are available in the fall from
September through Christmas Stroll (the first weekend in December; see the
Annual Events chapter), and then it closes until April. Provisions This year-round gourmet deli is a popular place among
both locals and visitors, who come for hearty soups, salads, and terrific
sandwiches. Or you can opt for pโt้s or cheeses with French bread, and
treat yourself to a cappuccino. In fine weather the benches outside are
filled with people enjoying lunch. Provisions is open for breakfast, too,
and they'll pack picnic lunches for you to take along. RopeWalk Nantucket is surrounded by water, yet this is one of
the few eating places with a water view. Situated near the wharves, RopeWalk
is a convenient place to eat lunch or dinner before or after your ferry
ride. You'll find ample indoor seating or you can eat outdoors at the raw
bar. It's very casual, the food is good (especially the crab cakes) and some
say the calamari is the best on the island. RopeWalk, which is open
seasonally from mid-May through Columbus Day, is run by the same people who
run The Club Car (see listing, above). The SeaGrille Restaurant The creative and well-prepared seafood, especially
the lobster bisque, served with a dill pastry crust topping makes The
SeaGrille popular with locals, but you can find most any other kind of entr้e
here too. In fact, they specialize in local and regional fresh seafood,
prepared both traditionally and creatively, as well as the standards--filet
mignon, grilled tenderloin of baby lamb, and chicken Proven็al. The
SeaGrille wine list has earned the prestigious Wine Spectator award
of excellence three years in a row. And, the handpainted murals set a
nautical tone. A reasonably priced array of seasonal specials are also
offered and include bouillabaisse and quesadilla salad (which challenges
even big eaters). The SeaGrille serves dinner nightly and lunch Monday
through Saturday year-round. Something Natural This is a great place to stop on your way out to
Madaket. Pack one of their incredible, healthy sandwiches in your bike pack
and you'll have something to look forward to when you stop--if you can wait
that long. You might just want to stay and eat at one of the shaded picnic
tables, where you're likely to see a number of locals filling up on their
lunch break. The homemade breads alone are wonderful, and if you really want
to indulge, try one of their fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies. It's open
from April to October. The Summer House Restaurant Set on an ocean bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean
with a dark green interior and white wicker furniture, The Summer House
conjures up the very image of, well, summer. One of the loveliest
restaurants on the island (and one of the few that is actually on the
water), this is a place people come to for special occasions as well as for
the excellent food. The Summer House Restaurant is open from the Nantucket
Wine Festival Weekend in May (see the Annual Events section in this chapter)
to Columbus Day Weekend from 6 PM to 10:30 PM, though the bar stays open
until 1 AM. Reservations are recommended. The casual Oceanside Restaurant,
on the grounds, is open from late June until Labor Day serving lunch from
noon until 3:30 PM in a comfortable beachfront Caribbean atmosphere just
feet from the Atlantic Ocean. 21 Federal With polished wood, linen, and candlelight, this
place is quietly sophisticated--and the food has the same quality. Entrees
such as braised lamb shank and sauteed breast of duck are simply and
elegantly prepared, and first courses include some unusual appetizers such
as tuna tartare. Do not skip dessert, which might be hazelnut and raspberry
Dacquoise with coffee butter cream, or warm berry compote. They are open for
lunch and dinner April to December. Vincent's This bright, friendly little restaurant has been
serving up generous helpings of Italian dishes since 1954, including seafood
specialties and all sorts of pastas, at great prices. Open from May to late
fall, serving lunch, dinner, and a late-night menu, Vincent's is housed in
the only surviving Humane Society building on Nantucket, one of the houses
of refuge that preceded the U.S. Lifesaving Service. Now it's a lifesaver
for hungry visitors and residents.
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