Fall For The Port Hunter – Great Beers & Comfort Food In Edgartown

I remember when I had first heard that Patrick and Ted Courtney were going to turn 55 Main Street, Edgartown into a restaurant, The Port Hunter.  I felt like doing a back flip.  Something good was going to go into that awesome brick building.  Finally Into the Woods was actually gone after five years of “closing.”

Love This Space

Hmmm what would they do with that open space with the high ceilings and great brick walls?  I walked by week after week during construction, and when they opened in July, I was not disappointed.  The space is what I would call industrial/nautical cool.  It still feels open, has a great big bar, a cozy lounge area (who doesn’t love scoring that little area) and a shuffle board table (actually from the brothers’ garage).  Also, the fact that there is outdoor seating is a serious bonus.

When I asked the brothers about how they came up with the design for the inside of the restaurant, they both said that the building sort of dictated the direction.  I see what they mean, and I’m glad that it has a bit of an industrial feel to it.  The brick kind of warrants that.

Aside from the awesome space, The Port Hunter has to have the coolest tables in all of Edgartown.  The tables are made from reclaimed wood the brothers got from Island fixture, Steve Ewing.  So you guessed right – the wood is from an old dock in Edgartown.  They’re stylish and green with a bit of local history.

If You Like Beer….

I have to admit the space just feels cool.  The big windows allow for plenty of people watching, and we all know we like to people watch in Edgartown.  The bar is big and great for hanging out at.  Also, there are eight beers on tap including Spaten Oktober, and a great selection of bottled beers, probably the best on Martha’s Vineyard.

From Oskar Blue Mama Yella to Sam Smith Oatmeal Stout to Offshore Ale’s Menemsha Creek Pale Ale, there are a number of seriously great beers available in that big cooler behind the bar.  If you want to know what James, the bartender’s favorite, it’s the Blue Point Toasted Lager, and if you want to know Patrick’s current fav, it’s the Spaten Oktober.  I imagine now, like me, you’re ready to belly up to bar and have a couple bevys.  I should mention that for all you non-beer drinkers, don’t worry, there’s a full bar.

Inspired by Fall

So after a bit of time at the bar, it’s time to grab a bite to eat.  Welcome to the culinary delights of Chef Jeremy Davis.  Some of you may know him from his days at the Vineyard Golf Club.  Here at The Port Hunter, Chef likes to cook with as many fresh and local ingredients as he can, and because of that, you might have noticed that the menu is relatively small, but with a good variety.  What’s available dictates what’s being cooked, and what the daily specials include.

Now that it’s Fall, there are a couple comfort food additions to the menu.  Including an amazing pork chop served with homemade cinnamon applesauce and home-style  mashed potatoes and seasonal veggie, and a vegetable lasagna that will knock your socks off.

The veggies used are local and the ricotta is fresh from Morning Glory Farm.  Could it get any better?  Yes, the pasta is freshly made and hand rolled. Pair it with a brown ale or perhaps an IPA and you’ll be warm and fully satisfied on these chilly Fall evenings.

There is no big walk-in freezer at The Port Hunter.  So that means that everything you’ll be eating is fresh.  So not only are you getting super fresh food, but they also make all their bread, cookies and even ice cream — which means you should definitely end your meal with a “Make Your Own Ice Cream Sandwich.”

Haven’t tried The Port Hunter yet?  You may want to soon.  The Courtney Brothers are closing up for the season sometime in October.  Need more of a reason to stop by, there’s music on the weekends.  With a great first season under their belts, it should be very interesting to see what The Port Hunter brings us next year.

What’s In a Name?

If you’re wondering about the name, the Port Hunter was actually a ship that was sunk in 1918 about three miles off the shores of Vineyard Haven.  The ship carried a bounty of things, supplies that were being brought to U.S. forces in France.  There were boots, soap, vests, candles and more.  These things never made it to France, but sure came in useful here.

For more info, check out The 1918 Wreck of the Port Hunter, by Stan Lair.  It’s pretty interesting stuff, and really makes you like the name the Courtney Brothers chose for their great, new restaurant.

Thanks for reading On Point – I hope you enjoyed it.  You can find The Port Hunter on Facebook.  And speaking of social media, don’t forget to  “Like” us on Facebook, on follow us on Twitter, Linked In, Pinterest and YouTube.