n EW O n n A nt UCKEt

This spring welcomes a few new spots to wine and dine in downtown Nantucket. Ever the expanding scene, the new options respond directly to the crowd’s desire for a healthy mix of the elevated with the casual and family-friendly and most of all the expedient.

Surfside

From the owners behind Millie’s, the Strip will see the opening of Surfside in the former Easy Street Cantina space on the corner. The eatery will be open seven days a week and offer fast informal fare with a Baja-casual style. They will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner—and even cocktails and beer—until 10 p.m. Owner Bo Blair remarks that there will be healthy options with a lot of seafood and salads, but most importantly it will be expedient. Blair’s company, Georgetown Events, also obtained the lease at the Rotary (formerly Lola Burger) and will operate Millie’s Food Truck from the parking lot while they develop a new concept for summer 2024.

Straight Wharf Fish Market

The plan from local chefs and restaurant operators Gabriel Frasca and Kevin Burleson appeals to those who remember the former fish market and Stars Ice Cream spot on Straight Wharf, and that’s exactly what they want to bring back. The multi-use space, set to open in June, will offer a full-service seafood market, a casual clam-shack-style restaurant with a takeout menu, and soft-serve ice cream. The all-day Atlantic-centered menu is rooted in fresh seafood classics, all made in a scratch kitchen. The beer list will feature New England craft beers and a range of wines. There will be 42 seats indoors and roughly 14 out on the deck. The vibe is decidedly casual, and the full menu is available to go with online ordering through the fish store. Though the restaurant’s announcement has been met with some resistance from neighbors on the North Wharf, the intention is for the restaurant to serve walk-ins only and apply an online waitlist system to discourage crowding. As Frasca says, “No reservations, no bar and hopefully no waiting. This is a casual, walk-inwith-your-sandy-feet joint, set off by beautiful, spare design.”

Ethos Wine Bar

From the ladies behind Pocomo Wine Company, who we showcased last issue, comes a brandnew boutique wine bar highlighting wines from around the world, plus classic cocktails turned on their heads and a farm-to-table small plates menu. Open six days a week in the evenings in the subterranean space on Broad Street where they housed their original wine dinners, the space is meant to encourage a community of curious aficionados of good food and wine. The women, along with third partner Zac Hotter, will be on hand to welcome and share their passion and knowledge of wine, cocktails and fresh farm-grown food with their guests. LEARN MORE