Well, did my annual trip to the CR to see if things have changed since my last horrible experience. Yes, a good friend talked me into it. Said the specials were great this year. We all know the CR is the place for sunsets and mudslides after a day of boating. Has been forever, but if you are charging $32 per plate for an entre, it better be damn good. Or one might think. I ordered a speacial, sounded great, Grilled swordfish with fried shrimp on top and a butter sauce over it. Now I know the CR does not have a frialator, so I was expecting it to come pan flash fried or sauted with a flour dredge. NOPE! It was literally Gorton's frozen shrimp or at least thats what I thought. Might be an insult to Gorton's. Whatever it was, it didnt even come shaped like a shrimp, was horribly freezer burned, and was still cold in its center. I spit out the first one it was so mushy and bad. Dont know why i think this place will go back to its old self. Oh well, the swordfish was good, and the drinks and sunset keep you coming back! :( Suggestion to the chef, stop trying to be fancy, your not...stick to the old simple classics. read more

Beautiful setting. Our server was very attentive. My wife asked if the lobster salad at $34 market price was mayonnaise or butter based. The waitress brought her a taste. Too much mayo for her liking so she got the clam chowder instead. I had the flounder au gratin. Very good. Good experience. A little disappointed that there wasn't a choice on the lobster roll. read more

I use to go to this restaurant every Saturday night for 15 years and then I stopped. I just went again and was reminded as to why I quit eating there. I had a 7:30 reservation and checked in ontime. I was told by the snippy hostess that she had no idea when my table would be ready. I proceeded to wait and give it a chance. By 8:30, I was still behind two other parties and just left. I will never return and wil not miss the experience of being rudely treated and taken for granted. Good luck and hope a hurricane washes it away. read more

Stuffed Quahogs in cardboard "shells" says all you need to know about the food. No competition in a prosperous seasonal location says all you need to know about the business model. Yes, the views are awesome and nostalgic. Do not expect change any time soon. read more

Another amazing sunset!! We had an amazing prime rib dinner. The atmosphere is great along with the service. Thank you Tina read more

Chart Room - Again another great dinner!! Had the prime rib totally awesome. Great service thanks Tina!!! - Seafood Near Me - Cataumet, Massachusetts

Come for the food stay for the piano man -- older guy who looked like a middle school music teacher was killing it with show tunes the night I was there last... seriously, he was excellent and I really enjoyed hearing him. No draft beer, but they make a good dark & stormy. read more

Did one take-out lobstaroll that easily could have fed three people!! Very tasty and very nice hostess! We'll be back next year!

LOVE everything about the Chart Room! I have been eating lobster my whole life and traveled extensively and there is no place else in the world where I will order a baked stuffed. This is the best baked stuffed lobster. In. The. World. read more

I have been here many times. This legendary place has massive pros, and massive cons. It is a thing unto itself, and there is almost no way to give it a fair across-the-board rating. Before I get into pros and cons, a kind of overview: - The Chart Room is a converted barge on one of the most expensive Marinas on the upper cape. Spectacular sunset views over Red Brook Harbor, plus outdoor bar with Adirondack chairs, plus the built-in crowd of yacht owners, means there is very little price-pressure. This is a special place, that is going to be packed all summer long, and they can charge whatever they want.. - It looks, feels, and sounds like something out of an old movie. Especially at night, when the white-haired crowd sings along to WWII-era standards played on piano and upright bass, and the hanging lights and dapper white people and the surrounding water and sailboats, it's the kind of place they don't make anymore. - There are no fryers (they cannot update the structure to accommodate the necessary fire-suppression and ventilation for modern safety codes). The core menu is either brutally or brilliantly retro. You order a main course, then select starch and vegetables from trays they bring around. It is like eating out in the Madmen era. Most of the best stuff is usually on the extensive list of daily specials. Onto pros and cons, cons first: - The staff is seasonal, and it shows, sometimes. Service can be VERY uneven, especially at crunch-time, and especially if you get a young, seasonal newbie. Other times, you get an old salt who handles things brilliantly. - The million-dollar views and timeless ambiance are offset by dimestore tableware, paper placemats, rickety tables, lawn-chair seating, barge-quality bathrooms, and very crowded, noisy dining areas. This is either half the fun and charm, or a bothersome annoyance, depending what kind of night you are in the mood for. - Waits can be VERY long, even with a reservation. Without a reservation, people arriving at 6pm can expect to be seated at around ~9pm in peak season. If you are in for a boozy night of drinking on the marina and eating free goldfish outdoors, you will have a great time. If you show up hungry and not interested in pre-game cocktails, you will be grouchy by the time you are actually seated. - No fryers, and mediocre sides. No french fries, no fried clams, generic house salad, choice of baked, rice, or mashed, and two steamed vegetables to choose from. - The cheaper end of the menu tends towards mediocrity. Example: the "Chart Room Surf & Turf" is a hot dog and a stuffed clam. Mediocre burgers, etc. Pros: - The expensive, old-school entrees are unbeatable for a taste of the cocktail-culture high-life. - Their baked-stuffed lobster is one of the few places left that actually stuffs the meat from one lobster, into another lobster. Lightly-breaded and baked until crispy, this is old-school high-life cuisine, and how baked-stuffed should be done. And not a bad deal at $35. - There is always at least one special with the death-defying Lobster newburg sauce. Usually a perfectly-baked, huge fillet of scrod, with devastatingly rich and mild newburg containing massive chunks of Lobster, usually around $30. This is food that nobody else serves anywhere, anymore. - Brilliant, faultless chowder. - Very well-prepared steaks, the perennial anchovy-buttered swordfish, and excellent, moderately-priced wine list (albeit served in bad glassware). - An authentic, un-pretentious, deeply old-school ambiance and environment that is hard to find outside of Europe or black-and-white movies. This is a million-dollar restaurant that emerged gradually and naturally, without the interference of million-dollar branding consultants or chi-chi celebrity chefs. It's an authentic throwback, the real deal, a personal vision, complete with live old-people music played on un-amplified piano and upright bass. They don't make them like this anymore: they can't afford to. The verdict: The Chart Room is a thing from a bygone era, a place to go when you are not keeping track of the time or the bill, and not making judgments based on "value" comparisons to other restaurants, or to other restaurants generally. The expensive side of the menu offers old-school New England cuisine that cannot be got elsewhere at any price. The cheaper side of the menu offers mediocre fare with few concessions to modern tastes. Expect to wait and to drink mudslides or vodka-tonics on the marina. Expect spectacular sunset views from an old barge with no air-conditioning. Expect difficult parking and a long pre-dinner cocktail hour on the marina. Plan on meeting lots of boozy, friendly, older white golfers and boaters in shorts and flip-flops. Plan on spending 3 hours and ~$80 per person after drinks and tip. Plan to order from the expensive side of the menu, and for the entree and drinks to make up for the mediocre accompaniments. Order the chowder. read more

I've been here about 10 times now from when I anchor out in the Harbor (no other rest's around?). From what I can tell they buy good quality seafood (Halibut and North Atlantic Sword). The problem is that they seem to cook everything okay, with a slant to over cooking at times (my Sword), but they just don't use any finesse? They use a very oily and salty minced Anchovy "oil" (in large amounts) for the Sword topping, when they should simply use and make a compound Anchovy butter, with garlic, minced chives, lemon juice and/or lemon pepper. Simple. Baked potatoes were old at the first seating of 5:30pm, like hanging around in a covered Bain Marie for 90 minutes wrapped in foil. No toppings were served except butter and sour cream Vegetables, a puree of sweet potato (really boring texture and taste) and pretty lame green beans, maybe canned. Portions are on the larger side. I didn't think my dinner was worth $100 bucks with a beer and overpriced white wine. My wife's Halibut special was a ginger rubbed Asian thing with a tropical fruit salsa, and of course you can never find any tropical fruits in there. I don't think they used fresh ginger, it was dry ginger and something else that was very hot. A perfect way to ruin fresh Halibut! I also had a fish chowder which was pretty lame. There is no pride per-se in cooking there, they just churn it out.......but maybe that's what Cape people want or have come to expect? They are not really that busy, and with their simplistic Cape cuisine they could do much better! The overall vibe was good with lots of drinkers and people waiting to eat. The nautical scene is addicting as well. As far as summer and touristy restaurants go it should be at least as good as a legal Seafood's?, but it is consistent....... Drinks are expensive I think for the Cape, and badly organized with all the outside guests waiting in line for drinks read more

It is with sadness I write this. I have loved the Chart Room for years. I agree with many who say it is like going to a nursing home, surprisingly (to me anyway) that I am one of those who may be classified that way. I have been going here since my tween years and have always love it. David and Fuzzy were always welcoming, and the food was great. The wait staff changed for the most part yearly but the kids were part of the fun. I remember the 'old folks' singing at the piano bar with Bob Chambers leading the crowd in sing alongs. Last year because of a surgery, we did not get there. Last week we went there as a good bye dinner for a friend who had been living in the area since April. We raved about it and considered it one of our favorite places. What a let down. We went for a late lunch, realizing that it would just be sandwiches. The chicken salad came on stale bread, with lots of coarsely chopped chicken, some pieces large enough to need to be sliced, yup fork and knife. Our friend had a hot pastrami, she rated it a 4 on a scale of one to ten. and I had a hot dog. I know, I know, but I love their hot dogs, or at least I used to. It came stuck in the middle of and extra long roll. The problem is it was a small hot dog. Two bites on each end before you hit the meat. Really? I think why I'm sad about this is that it just seem so careless. Like the chicken which was not even spread to the edges of the stale bread it shows that no one cares, and that is sad. Today, or at least that day, Fuzzy and David would be upset. We'll stick with the Quarter Deck for now. read more

The lemmings love the Chart Room because they are taught to love it from a young age. Simply stated, the food is awful and very expensive. Tourists like it because of the view. A-hole locals like it because it makes them feel like they are in a Vineyard Vines catalog. PS. The mudslides and fresh squeezed drinks are good. read more

This was the absolutely worst place to eat on many levels. Food selection was bad at best, i think the menu was printed in 1950 and some of the food was probably prepared and frozen then To think an establishment on Cape Cod could serve every single piece of fish as mushy as a nursing home is beyond me. This place mails it on based on its reputation. If they had a single bit of competition around them the only thing in the dining area would be tumbleweeds and crickets. If any person comes out of this dump saying the seafood was good is either a person who thinks tuna in a can is seafood or has been banned from the caf at their nursing home for giving them bad reviews on yelp. I honestly have not been to such a bad restaurant in 20 years, avoid this place like OJ avoids the truth. read more

This place has awful food and they get away with it because EVERYONE that comes here is a tourist (everyone except the bonehead locals that convinced themselves it would be fun to check it out). You'll pay over $100 for food you could easily make at home for $15, but at home you'd avoid having to bump into a bunch of rude, snobby tourists. Seriously, the food is not good. Come for one beer, watch the sunset, then go somewhere else to eat. read more

Best spot on Cape Cod - great view, great drinks, interesting crowd

Great location. Ends there. Staff beyond rude. Parking is a joke... Better management and this would be a sensational destination. Tried it again. Terrible. Can we have no stars? read more

I don't understand the negative reviews. The lobster-stuffed tomato is pricy, yes, but I'm a good eater and always count on two meals from it. The chowder is well above-average and the setting is just right. The servers are young but always pleasant. Try it. You'll like it. read more

I read on google that this restaurant was a must go on a trip to cape cod. Even with a reservation on a weekday there was a 15 minute wait. I and the people I was with ordered mussels and claim chowder to start. The mussels were very good. The chowder was good too but being as you're in Massachusetts you can get better cups of chowder. I ordered the lobster bake. I only ate the tail because I didn't like the seasoning they put on the rest of the lobster. The people I was with ordered a hamburger and a hotdog. Neither was finished. Overall, the highlight of the visit was watching the sunset over the marina in front of the restaurant. read more

It's amazing how low this place has sunk! I grew up here and it was the gem of the lower Cape. Now it's just BAD service and even worse food. Goodbye Chart Room. It was nice while it lasted... read more

Only go for the bar. Do. Not. Eat. Here. (My father in law was buying me dinner, so I didn't say anything to the restaurant, out of respect for him.) Dinner reservations were for 8:30 (the earliest we could get on Saturday), but we didn't get a table until after 9. Sadly, they state on their website that even if you make a reservation, you may still wait up to 45 minutes... (Wait a minute, what?!) The area outside is huge and crowded with a 100+ sunburned and drunk people. (Oh that's how you get away with making people wait 30 minutes for their reservation - booze.) Then the food. Appetizer - Clams casino was good Dinner- Schrod was chewy and tasteless with soggy bread crumbs on one side, (baked potato or rice?) baked potato was just warm enough to half melt the already soft butter, green beans boiled until they were brown, chopped carrots soft but dry from sitting out or under heat lamp. No seasoning on anything. None. NOT a $28 dinner!!! My father in law got the scallops with rice(dried out). He ate half the scallops. Also, no ac but no ceiling fans anywhere either. It was an 75 degree night with high humidity. Felt like 90 in the restaurant. The servers were trying to be nice, but they were clearly miserable. I don't blame them. Working a 6 hour nonstop shift, serving bland, crappy food to drunk people(I think our person hesitated in surprise when I said yes to the green beans she offered.) is one of the worst jobs in the world. And in what seems like a throwback to the old days, the servers were all women, the bussers were mostly young men which I thought was weird. There was an owner/manager hustling around micro managing. If you just want to drink, go for it. The bartenders are heavy handed and there is a bar window if you don't want to go into the bar. They have some heavy duty blenders that were churning out mudslides by the dozen. Almost more seating outside on the lawn for the bar goers than there is inside the restaurant. To the owner/managers: do not contact me, I will not delete or improve this post for the promise of a credit or an apology. You clearly know what you're doing. read more

Lobster salad is delicious and very generous. Seating with water view is lovely.

Food was excellent! Staff was great and i would highly recommend lobster bisque ** Also scallops and house salad dressing was the bomb!! read more

Try the swordfish..........so yummy. This is a fun place. The crowd is of mixed ages all having a great time. It is one of those places that you know you will wait at least 30 mins. after your reservations. However they do not rush you through your dinner. College students make up many of the wait staff and they bust their butts to do a great job. I love the Chart Room. Many happy times spent eating there. The harbor is gorgeous too! read more

"If your waitress shows up to work she will take your order" Who says that? Great food awesome , though smaller than i remember, mudslides. I dont think our waitress ever showed up for work. read more

Terrible service. Hefty waitress was rude and chatting with other staff instead of waiting on her tables. Menu was misleading and expensive for low quality food that was served. read more

Mudslides are the best around! Waterfront outdoor seating. Dog friendly. You can drive or take a boat there. The food is small in portion, mediocre in taste and overpriced. You definitely don't come here to eat. read more

We make it a point to visit the Chart Room more than once when we our out visiting family in Buzzards Bay. I have been coming here since I was a kid and the quality of the food has remained consistent. Don't pass up ordering the best thick Clam Chowda. Seafood is always fresh, great place to grab a cocktail and fantastic views of Kingman marina. read more

This place would only get one star based on food. I actually felt badly for the fish and lobster that gave their lives for my "meal." And yet, this place is always packed (read: you'll probably have to wait). A decent selection of "adult" beverages helps, certainly. It's the charm you'll enjoy. A nautical, Cape Cod charm - located in a marina and they even have a grand piano and live music over dinner. Sit outside on the screened in porch unless you prefer not to converse with you tablemates. If you want good seafood, go somewhere else. If you want the experience, take this place for what it is and you won't feel as though you've wasted time. With the prices you may, however, feel that you've wasted money. read more

We have been going to the chart room for years. It has been a yearly tradition. We've had our boat at the marina and many evenings we would go over enjoy the establishment have a fabulous dinner and enjoy the entertainment till late in the evening. The past two summers including this one have been extremely disappointing. The food prices have gone up and the food and service are not what they used to be. The quality of the food was at one point something they took pride in. I recently got the swordfish special which was $40 and came very thin and very dry it was sent back the replacement was not much better My guest had the halibut over rice. It was all mushy and all you tasted was rice. Since the former owners have passed away and new owners have taken over, the food is nowhere near what it once was. Parking is always a problem. When the bartenders make a drink and pour it into the glass in order to fill it to the top they add more ice instead of more booze... Really for $12-$14. ? The drinks have become loaded with ice. There are many other local restaurants to enjoy with water views. I do not recommend the chat room we will not be back. read more

I live in the area and I enjoy cocktails here on Sunday afternoon. I don't eat fish, so I got a steak. Apparently, they went to the bland steak store, because there was zero flavor. My wife enjoyed her scrod though and I had a bite and thought it was good as well. Ordered a milk for my daughter and it was warm. Really? Warm milk? Afternoon cocktails is all this place has top post sure too location. read more

Two stars because they have a good bar! Restaurant us a bit broken down and ill maintained, but busy because it is on the water. Not many options in this area so it is popular. Vegetables were canned! Who does that anymore? Fish was good, but lots of food appears to be "off he truck". read more

Went there after Labor Day, so there was no wait for a table. The lobster roll was pretty tasty. The clam chowder had a bit too much thickener, though was loaded with juicy clams. Nice view of the marina. read more

We have been coming here for many years. The swordfish, clam chowdah and lobster roll have always been the best. The service has always been hit or miss, but pleasant. The location might be top ten on the east coast. Well, its still a great location!! The chowdah was a cup of potatoes. Not a clam to be found. The swordfish was over cooked and thus dry. The lobster roll was half the size, and yes we asked for the full size and confirmed with our server. Our server's excuse for everything was "I am new" Poor food and untrained staff, what a recipe for success. read more

We love the setting. Good steamers and mussels. Wonderful setting, and if a wait, great place to hang out.

Another great dinner. Always a good choice to eat at the bar when the wait is long. Baked stuffed lobsters were the best we've had. Creamy chowder was tasty. Great seating out on the wharf where you can wait for your table. Order drinks and watch the sunset. read more

I've literally been going here since I was a child and it hasn't changed. It's basic Cape food at high prices. Last night my meal was actually decent (steamers, salad, schrod) but the service was atrocious. The waitress brought our entrees while we were still eating our appetizers, never asked if we wanted more drinks or even water, and was generally invisible. There are many better options in the area. read more

Perfect place for drinks on the water watching a beautiful new England sunset. Decent new england themed menu of stramers, clam chowder, stuffed clams etc. Don't miss out on a frozen mudslide! read more

This Cape Cod landmark has become a victim of its own success. The huge crowds that materialize just before the dinner hour have created a chaotic situation in which everyone is shouting and pushing to gain territory and capture the attention of wait staff. The bartenders are arrogant and treat customers at best indifferently. None of the staff appear to have the slightest regard for the patron/suckers. Food is average at best ambiance is non existent the place is so noisy you have to shout to be heard by the people at your own table. There are many better places to eat in the area without the hassles. read more

Amazing Scallops with bread and a sizzle to it. My 1st grade teacher works here so go and meat her. Warning!You will get kicked out for goofing off read more

This really should be a two, but I'm a sucker for NE seaside atmosphere. It gets me every time.