The Premium Life

I have been vacationing on Cape Cod as long as I can remember but a true dining tradition started when my parents built a home in Falmouth a few miles down the road from the quintessential dockside restaurant: The Chart Room.

This will be the 10^th summer that we have had a Friday night standing reservation…this is not unusual for locals to reserve their table for the entire season. Located in Kingman Yacht Center, the rustic shingled eatery that once was a barged railroad (with an attached covered patio) is surrounded by hundreds of boats of all sizes and standards. Driving through the large parking lot leads to you the surreal Red Brook Harbor…where sunsets rank supreme.

The wait can be long but patrons stay calm with cocktails served waters edge at the outdoor tables. The crowd is a mix of locals, tourists, salty dogs and the posh boat scene.

Although the food is as fresh as the scent of the ocean air, the Chart Room is anything but fancy. Paper table clothes with the map of Cape Cod cover the tattered wooden tables and the menus mimic an old fashion luncheonette. The cuisine is simple but high quality. Focused on seafood and fish there are of course a number of dishes for the carnivore.  A heaping plate of steamers, Haddock fish chowder, and the stuffed Quahog are some of the appetizer favorites.  The Swordfish with anchovy sauce is delicious…the grill marks add a nice flavor that compliments the salty and citrus taste of the sauce. Personally, I like to stick to the classic boiled lobster needing nothing but the basic melted butter and lemon wedges.

Along with the sunset views and refreshing cocktails, the Chart Room provides value. All entrees are served with a house salad, warm rolls, a baked potato (in foil) and the nightly veggie (often sautéed string beans and butternut squash).

When your reservation is finally called and you enter into the bar area the energy hits you. The conversations and buzz are constant and sometimes even slightly too loud on the weekends but the food and view is worth the noise. The Oreo cookie cake with warm hot fudge and whipped cream is a perfect ending to a summer meal.

Many people enjoy dining at lunchtime, feasting on the lobster roll served on Portuguese crispy bread and the juicy broiled burgers. The bar remains busy until closing especially with boaters who need only to stumble 20 yards to their docked vessels. Another charming characteristic about the Chart Room is the Piano bar, set in the middle of the main dining room. The local singers perform jazz and cabaret classics throughout the weekend nights and randomly a diner will be brave enough to get up and join in.

The owner clearly wants to keep the experience of the restaurant set around the summer and fall season as it is only open from Mid May to Mid October. So all of us loyal visitors treasure our final sunset over the harbor and last bite of New England caught lobster to only hibernate until the next summer season at the famous Chart Room.

For more information and reservations please call the Chart Room at (508) 563 5350. And to help plan your next experience feel free to visit the Premium team at www.premiumlg.com.

Eat well!