We went to eat on the later side, maybe around 7:30pm and were seated quickly. The staff was super friendly. Sadly, the food was underwhelming. We had clam chowder that was creamy and the calamari which was crispy and had rings and tentacle pieces (a plus to me). For main courses we had the fish pot and striped bass. Both lacked flavor. Overall, we were disappointed with the food but the staff was nice and there are things to do in the area with kids, which is a plus. read more

We've been coming here for the past couple of years for lunch or sunset dining. With four of us, we have never had a problem being seated outside across from the Harbor. The view is lovely at sunset! And there is live music inside which is nice. It does tend to become crowded for dinner, but we've never had to wait more than five minutes for a table. The setting is rustic but inviting. And now, down to the food: If you like raw oysters, this is the place! Sweet, plump with that perfect salty flavor! Their clam chowder and fried scallops are also recommended. The clams are tender and the stock has that thick consistency which for me is a hallmark of great chowder, and the flavor balance is excellent. The scallops are cooked perfectly - very tender! - with a very light coating. So, if you are in the mood for great oysters, scallops or chowder, and want to enjoy a beautiful waterfront setting, you couldn't do better than Bookstore and Restaurant! read more

Thankfully, we didn't have the same experience as the negative reviewers. We had the clam chowder, oysters and the fisherman's platter. The chowder was good, the oysters out of this world and the platter fantastic. The fish/shellfish had a light not greasy batter and was tender/melt in your mouth. It was a smaller plate than another restaurant we've been to but to us, it was the perfect serving size. Lemongrass ginger martini and ice tea were delicious too! read more

Bookstore & Restaurant - Yummy!! - Seafood Near Me - Wellfleet, Massachusetts

Don't let the high-ish prices make you think this is high-end food. It's not. Seared scallops with butternut squash risotto -- the scallops were OK, but 5 for $30? Really? And the risotto was mostly just rice with a LOT of cheese. The squash was nowhere to be found, probably overwhelmed by the cheese. Our other dish was shrimp Caesar salad, the shrimp was nicely butterflied but had little flavor. The salad was totally generic, just chopped romaine and shaved parmesan with a bland dressing. Once again essentially all of the flavor came from the cheese. Bottom line: mediocre food not worth the $$. read more

We love Bookstore! Service and view, 5 stars. Food 4 stars. Even at the height of the 4th of July holiday week, Bookstore managed to get us in without a reservation within about 20 minutes. And waiting is never a problem because you can walk across to Mayo Beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery and Bookstore will call your cell phone when your table is ready. Bookstore has lots of outdoor seating with great views of Wellfleet Harbor. The service was excellent - as it has been when we've been there previously. The staff is just generally really nice and attentive without being annoying. Finally, the little neck clams and scallop dishes were well flavored and perfectly cooked. The stuffed mushroom appetizer is flavorful but too cheesy and oily. When we've been here previously with our kids, they love the kids menu items. Overall this is a great place that we've been to many times over the years and will continue to go to in the future - with and without the kids. read more

Family of three, we got a chicken salad, kids pasta, Belgiun mussels and warm lobster roll entree. My child refused to eat the pasta, I didn't hate it, but all the same. The lobster was crunchy, dry, flavorless and somehow stained the plates it touched. The mussels were barely clean, the byssal thread was on many of them as well as breakage. The "Belgian" mussels should be avoided. Worst meal on cape cod. Also, my wife has had diarrhea since eating there. She had a salad. Tourist trap. read more

Yelp needs a negative star review. Minus 1 star for terrible service, I don't like to swear but the woman (she is NOT a lady) server with the short curly blonde hair is a real class-A b**ch. If you don't like your job, just quit or get fired, I'm a proponent for the latter really, and if you don't like your life, please don't take it out on me. I sympathise with all the hard-working people in the f&b industry who get a bad name because of you. And whoever has to live with you doesn't deserve my sympathy but definitely has my pity. Food was less than decent -- $80 for 2 people, I can definitely do better things with that money. Fruits of the sea was bland at best, Portuguese stew was dry and too spicy, fish pot is just unappetising. This place was recommended a couple of times while we were visiting Cape Cod so thanks for nothing guys! I've been told i have high standards, but this time it really isn't me, it's you. read more

Delicious. The mulled cider with a shot was fabulous. The patio outside was awesome and we enjoyed a Saturday there during game time. Packed because of the oyster festival but I would go back again. read more

Been dying to try this place, but Joe has some weird aversion to driving toward the outer cape. A half hour to Hyannis for dinner? No problem. A half hour to Wellfleet? Hell no. But eventually I shanghai'd a friend to go with me (also named Joe, so that's convenient!) Beautiful drive, beautiful location. I wish we had been able to sit in the upper deck, since I bet you could see more water. As it was, we were out on the lower deck, with a delicious breeze and a slight view of the water past the parking lot. Service was alright. Girl was very nice and fun, but there were definite lulls in attention. Also, the bookstore doesn't keep the same hours as the restaurant. It closes at 5. I know... obvious. But they supposedly have comic books there so I was bummed I missed it. Wish the hours were clearer on the website. Food.... meh. Please don't hate on me for being a vegetarian and rating an obvious seafood restaurant! We ate enough that I think my review is valid. First up: the caprese salad and spinach/artichoke dip. The salad was delicious. I'm a whore for burrata mozzarella, so that was a treat. The tomatoes were delicious and fresh. My biggest criticism would be that there was a lot of arugula and not a lot of basil. Still, the salad was the best thing we ate, IMO. The spinach/artichoke dip was also very good. Super cheesy and obviously freshly made. But this is where we noticed the first big problem with the food here. No flavor. There wasn't any seasoning, and the whole dip was just kind of bland. That carried into my entree, which was a butternut squash ravioli. Didn't taste squashy at all. The sauce had a wonderful, silky texture, but it was just like a basic cream sauce. I added about a tablespoon of pepper and even some salt! Also it came with black beans in the sauce. Yummy, but isn't that kind of a weird addition to a ravioli dish? My friend got the breaded cod. See?! someone who ate fish!!! He said it was well prepared, but commented that it would have been better without the fancy aioli they dumped all over it. (Which was totally in the menu description, so it's his own damn fault for not ordering it on the side, says I.) Also, the first bite of his vegetable side dish was lukewarm, the second was nuclear hot. That usually spells: microwaaaaave. We rounded out the meal with a creme brulee and drinks. Again, the dessert was tasty, but not special. And my drink was downright weird. It couldn't decide if it wanted to taste like hard liquor, tropical fruitiness, or an herbal concoction. Also, it was the color of mud and served in a diner-style juice glass. Now, despite what seems like a lukewarm review, I would have still been inclined to do 4 stars. After all, everything was fine, just not superlative. And the setting was so wonderful; you just can't help getting that Outer Cape high, especially after surviving the winter we had on this god-forsaken peninsula. HOWEVER, a salad, an app, two entrees, two drinks, and one dessert came to $100. All of a sudden, I expect that food to be goddamned life-changing. They must have to jack up their prices to pay for all the salt and pepper guests have to use to give the food flavor. In fact, I would have dropped to 2 stars, but the bizarro musical act singing Bad Leroy Brown in a lounge style (with keyboard) kind of made up for it. read more

Good local restaurant right on Mayo Beach. Great view of the bay if you can get a spot on the upstairs deck or on the patio on a nice day. Nice bar with a decent beer selection and good mixed drinks. The food is good - my favorites include the Oyster Po-boy, the Belgian Mussels, oyster stew, and the stuffed shrimp but I think their lunch offerings are better than their dinner offerings. Many of the dinner entrees are served with steamed veggies which is pretty old fashioned, and you can't really expect anything too fancy. All in all it's a nice place for a good meal. read more

We have been to the bookstore about three times now--the first two were good experiences--the view of the water and the food were both winners. This last time however, has killed it for us. We will never go back. It has really gone down hill. For starters, we ordered oysters which were warm and sandy. We often have oysters from our local supermarket--those are far fresher and tastier than the ones we had. Secondly, the pound and a half lobster was more like a pound. What's more , waiter had no clue as to whether it was steamed or boiled. 'Isn't it the same thing?" No, it isnt. The iced tea was clearly instant. My tuna was overcooked and overcrusted with heavy spices. I could barely taste the fish at all. For a lot less money, you can go to Moby Dick's--not much on atmosphere, but at least the food is honestly prepared and tasty. Do not bother, unless the view is all you care about. read more

Don't get the oysters!!!! Sick a a dog after eating half a dozen! Bacteria in oysters is a known problem in Wellfleet. Great care must be taken in serving these. That was not the case here. I should add that my wife was spared food poisoning because she ordered the "jumbo" shrimp - $3 a shrimp; shrimp most people would consider less than half the size of an actual jumbo shrimp. The spot and casual vibe were nice, though. If it wasn't for the whole food poisoning thing, it would have been an okay visit. read more

3.5 stars This restaurant is cool, but I must have missed the bookstore part. I guess it's not open in the winter? Anyway, we came here for lunch and the service was a little odd. Friendly enough, but odd. We must have ben the youngest people here by about 30 years and the beer selection was so-so. I had oysters Rockefeller (good, but very rich)and some clam chowder. I can't get over how varying the chowder is in this town. I must have had it at 4 places and they were all distinctly different. The chowder here is more like a whipped cream, light and fluffy with a decent amount of clams. I'd love to come back in the summer and try again because I do think that seasonal places are at their best during peak season! read more

Bookstore is a good restaurant in Wellfleet. We have had few bad experiences but overall the food is average and the location is great.

The people who work are exceptionally friendly! Plus, they have good food that's well-priced, given that the portion sizes are immense. I like the second-hand bookstore in the back of the restaurant--it adds a unique vibe to the place. Outside of the restaurant, they have extra seating with beautiful views of the harbor, and the only real downside is that it is very popular, so be prepared for a wait. read more

Place was highly recommended for great local food. Far from great! Small portions with huge price tags. Nothing to rave about. Food tasted ordinary. For $30 a plate one would expect to come out full and happy. Not the case here. Soggy small plates of sea food with a ton of pasta. Most expensive pasta ever. Service slow and not very helpful. read more

I had high hopes for Bookstore & Restaurant. We had eaten here about 15 years ago when we were staying with some friends in the area and had fond memories. They are overlooking the water and claim to have their own oyster beds. It is all for naught. We have tried a large amount of NE Clam chowders in the past several weeks and have not made a determination on the thick/thin debate but the clam chowder here is like wallpaper paste with all the attendant taste. The Wedge salad was acceptable, it is pretty tough to screw that one up. But screw up the oysters they did. I don't know how they can serve a dozen oysters without any ice. When I asked for mignonette sauce, which they didn't have, they quickly chopped some onions and but them in white vinegar?? The only saving grace was the half bottle of Sancerre they had on the menu. read more

OMG.... best thing here is the drinks. I get it we are in a pandemic, BUT... if you are a local you are golden and get your food before we (only 2 of us) even get our appetizers. If you sit in the bar area the service is exhausting-ly slow and the waitress never checks on the table. I would not recommend this place, even to my enemies! One high note, the bartender was on his game and was bringing us drinks because the waitress was lost! read more

For fresh seafood, simply prepared, it's hard to beat The Bookstore. Since it's located in Wellfleet, you'd expect the oysters to be superb, and they are. For main courses, I always stick with either the fish pot or the Portuguese stew. The upstairs dining room is bland but has a nice view of the bay. The bar is small, but lively, and sometimes has live music. Last time we went, we were seated on the porch and had a great view of the town fireworks as we dined--just a coincidence, but a memorable one. read more

After a long hike at duck pond we stumbled in here. The place was packed and the wait was 20 minutes. But it was well worth it! Food was fresh, sizable portions and delicious. Highly recommend. read more

A-maxing seafood, great drink list, kid friendly. A++. The raw bar is incredibly fresh. Shrimp are best I've had, oysters as well. The fish pot will leave you wanting more! read more

Bookstore & Restaurant - Welfleets. - Seafood Near Me - Wellfleet, Massachusetts

I had been to The Bookstore a few times before, and always found the customer service and the food to be....just....ok. After my last visit however, I will NEVER go back! Just like some of the other people commented, I would rather spend my money at the other great Wellfleet restaurants like Mac's Shack, and The Pearl. I was actually offended at the meal I received during my last visit! I ordered the Swordfish, which was on special. When it arrived the very first thing I noticed was that the side of "vegetables" that came with it was CANNED PEAS! How do I know they were canned as opposed to fresh or frozen? Well, if you have ever eaten canned peas, then you just know! They were yellowish-green, with that mushy texture you can only get from canned vegetables. I was already thoroughly disgusted and upset that I was paying for a nice meal and got canned peas, but I decided to try the swordfish to see if it could possibly save this dish. One bite was enough for me! It was dried out, and had a very unpleasant flavor. I sent the meal back and ordered nothing in exchange as I didn't want a meal full of spit. Save your time and money, and go somewhere else!!! read more

Early dinner to see sunset and we were not disappointed. The littlenecks are the freshest I've had. Great fried clams and fried oysters. The best on the Cape. read more

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Always been good but on latest visit got a combo of fried clams and scallops. Don't expect nor want a heaping plate but this was ridiculous. There was about six clams and six scallops (small sea scallops). Not exaggerating, it was a remarkably small portion. read more

Nice views and decent service. The veggie burger was the best I have had. Value ok but on the pricey side. Went on others recommendations and was not as enthusiastic as they were. read more

Wonderful afternoon sitting out on the deck eating fried oysters in buffalo sauce! Everyone very much enjoyed your meals and we will definitely be back! read more

What a splendid find this place was for us on our recent visit to the cape. This understated little place is so amazing, hubby and I went three times - all three visits were wonderful. The first visit was simply for the raw bar. WE weren't disappointed. All oysters and clams we at optimum freshness (YUMMY). The secod visit was for lunch - I had a seafood rueben and hubby engulfed the lobster roll (Wow). The third visit rounded out our trifecta - I had the fish pot and hubby enjoyed the Portuguesse stew. My fish pot was wonderfully delicous with a great broth. Our service all three times was friendly, helpful, and prompt. read more

Im so glad they modernized this place and gave it a fresh look. The food is always good and the view is beautiful. Its a really happy place in the evening and after a great meal you can cross the street and go sit by the water, thats a beautiful experience! read more

We wanted one last lunch of oysters before heading home after a few days in Wellfleet. The Bookstore was recommended for its fresh oysters and view. The view was lovely but that is the only positive. It took a half an hour to get water and place our drink orders. We ordered 2 drinks and a dozen oysters and steamers. The oysters arrived after another half hour dry and on a plate of half melted ice. We thought we would try to salvage the lunch with another round of drinks and an order of little necks. The drinks arrived and we sent them back because they where undrinkable. There are amazing places in Wellfleet and Wellfleet oysters are an amazing experience when fresh. Go some where else or be prepared to say "can you find me server" often. read more

Went there with young kids (3) from a local's recommendation. Was told it was on the water and local neglected to say there was a parking lot between us and the water and the water was a ways away. There is a view that is fine it's just not, 'on the water'. Too late now we are here. We had a seat on the second level outside watching the sun come down late in the afternoon. The service was fine. Nothing special. The food was OK. Nothing special. (We never had the oysters) The kids had Fish and Chips and I had a Wedge Salad made, if you can believe this, from a small head of Boston lettuce. Did not think to ask. Too late now to re-order. Bill came. Not a bargain for what we got. Sorry to say that. Do not get me wrong the Bookstore was fine/OK it was just the one time we eat out on this vacation and was hoping for something more. Might look around a bit more next time in town. Of note we were there in mid October pretty late in the season. read more

This restaurant actually began as a bookstore, then they started serving coffee, and over the years -- as everything else that happens in Cape Cod -- it grew and expanded. The bookstore is still there in the back end of the building with very old magazines, from the 30s and 40s, and lots of interesting books that are probably all out of print. It's a great place to browse after lunch on a clowdy day. The restaurant now covers two floors. They serve the best oysters (after all, this is Wellfleet!) and good pub food. Sit upstairs, outside, for a gorgeous water view. read more

This is an unpretentious and totally Cape Cod restaurant. Their Fish Rueben is wonderful - lightly battered, fried without being heavy. We love this place. P.S. We're locals and this is one of our most favored spots. You'll be happy to have found them. read more

Great food and amazing service, especially on a busy oysterfest weekend. Fish pot is to die for!