My favorite restaurant on Martha's Vineyard for a number of years. Went last weekend and the portions have gotten smaller. Still great quality, but you need to make sure you get a first course or have dessert to leave satisfied. read more

Detente? More like Date-ente! Beautiful little jewel of a restaurant in the heart of Edgartown. We made a reservation and headed over with my husband, teen daughter,and my brother. We were welcomed, seated quickly, and ordered our meals after just the right amount of time to look at the menu while enjoying our drinks. Then came the food ~ and WOW. So delicious. Not huge amounts of food, but it's exquisite. The detail and food prep led us to share and savor each bite. We really enjoyed our time here. We didn't get dessert as the menu veered a bit away from our sweet tooth. Back to my first sentence....the romantic and quiet, yet interesting vibe of the space, far different from the equally wonderful L'etoile type restaurants, is something to explore, and make it a date night. read more

I go to Detente for dinner every year when I come to the Vineyard. It not only never disappoints, but has consistently remained outstanding year after year. Last night was no exception. Their amazing peach salad is worth the price, the sea bass special was wonderful, and their signature blueberry bread pudding was fabulous as always. Excellent service, quite, and just the best in Edgartown. read more

I really liked the atmosphere at Detente and the staff was friendly and helpful. The food was very good, but I had heard it was the best on the Island and I'm not sure if that was true for us. Certainly, you will get good food, but it may be a better experience if you do not think it will be "the best." read more

We had dinner here our first night in MV. It is a little hard to find since the restaurant is in the interior of a plaza so not on the street but we saw it after 2-3 minutes. We had a reservation for 4 and when we arrived they gave us the option to sit inside or outside, we chose to sit outside. The garden is very pretty.. We shared a variety of items: scallops, greens, cauliflower side, eggplant side, the short ribs and fluke. The complimentary potato bread is soft and delicious. I loved the scallops (in a coconut cilantro sauce), the greens were ok, nothing memorable. The short ribs were delicious and came with a costrata. The fluke was not my favorite dish either. I loved the cauliflower side which was prepared in an Asian style with peanuts. The eggplant side was not cooked (chewy/spongy eggplant) to my liking but others in our group enjoyed it. We had this amazing dessert (rhubarb crisp with home made fennel ginger ice cream) and a cheese plate. The wait for the bathroom was a little long (only 1 bathroom) and I had to wait behind 2-3 people. read more

Amazing. Did the tasting menu with wine pairings. My favorites were the panzanella and the scallops. I could have done an entire meal of them. Wine selections were excellent and service was friendly. Appreciated when our waiter went and found out more about a wine we wanted more info on. I'd recommend sitting outside. A beautiful evening and date night for me and my husband. read more

II'm not rating the food here but the Happy Hour. It says 5:30 and they nean 5:30. Not 5:35 or you will be turned away. We were turned away as were too late, but were offered a table for dinner. Bait and switch? read more

We did the chef tasting with wine paring. It's one of our favorite things to do. The food is always perfect. Make sure to book a reservation. Half price apps at the bar at 5 but limited space. Your. Be happy you had dinner here. read more

Appetizers - charred octopus, braised pork belly, peach salad. All were incredible but the octopus and the pork belly were some of the best we ever had. Dinner - ribeye steak with fois gras gravy atop a purple potato purée. Perfectly cooked and impeccably seasoned, it dint even need salt and pepper. Dessert - panna cotta and blueberry bread pudding. Again excellent and melted in your mouth. They also had some excellent oldies and Motown playing. So, great meal, great service, and great atmosphere. read more

Warm, cozy ambiance with phenomenal food, friendly professional (and HANDSOME!) servers. Wanted to try all different restaurants during the week in Martha's Vineyard, but this one called for a repeat visit during the week. read more

Detente is a pleasant experience, but the food on our visit fell short of expectations. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and the wait staff was friendly. The peach salad was delicious start to the meal, but the quality wasn't there on the main courses. The fish lacked flavor and the risotto was over salted. For the prices they charge, the quality of the meal should be more consistent. It may have just been an off night in the kitchen, and I would go back to try them again just based on the reviews from others. read more

A Friend has recommended it. And they were right! The place is tucked away in the corner of Nevin Square and parking is a big pain. But worth it. We sat upstairs - quite comfortable. They are not trying to squish as many tables as they can into the space. Yea. Not a large menu, but nicely varied. Started us with homemade potato bread with some lovely olive oil to dip. Delicious! Bread was so soft and tasty. 2 of us had the veal appetizer - excellent! The scallop app was delish and the endive salad hit the spot. 3 of use had the lamb duo for dinner and it was wonderful. Tasty and tender. The 4th person in our party had the white tuna - that was wonderful as well. Dessert - the blueberry bread pudding is to die for. Nutella crepe is good - and easy to fall for.....but the bread pudding - awesome! Service was good and nicely paced. We sat down at 6pm and left at 8:30....and were never rushed. read more

A tasteful restaurant tucked away in Nevins Square in Edgartown, Detente is lovely. Intimate seating (6 tables), simple, elegant decor with wooden chairs, tables, candles. Generous selection of wines, delicious potato bread came before the meal. Entrees were delicious and well designed and the staff was polite and discrete. Very reasonable for this quality of experience. read more

My wife and I dined here for our first time and had a wonderful meal. The server Pam was experienced and knowledgeable. We had the tasting menu which was phenomenal. We dined on the small patio that was very quaint with beautiful flowers growing all along their fence. read more

Best restaurant on Martha's vineyard! Simply amazing! Everything was beyond expectations. Difficult to find but worth searching for. Delicious and delightful! read more

The 'GoTo' restaurant we were planning to try was closed on Mondays. We asked our concierge at the HobKnob about another place... So glad!!! We arrived at the appointed time and were seated in the intimate dining room and saw that there was chef's tasting menu. We asked for wine pairings and the staff put their heads together and came up with some awesome choices. Seven menu items and seven 1/2 glasses of wine for each and WOW! The wine pairings were spot on and the seafood dishes were outstanding. Detente is a must do on the Vineyard for any occasion. read more

To our palate cuisine is always divine - dining in September is that much better - without the crowd and long waits - reduced staff dictated multitasking for the waitstaff-who couldn't do enough for us. Each menu items' mouth watering description won't disappoint, though the use of truffle oil was a bit heavy-handed. One of the island's best. read more

We had an amazing night here! The service was friendly and attentive, and the food was exceptional. Its tucked away in Nevin Sq as a nice respite from the crowded streets of Edgartown with an outdoor patio and two floors of indoor dining and a bar. If you are looking to get away from the more typical seafood fare around town and have a creative culinary experience then come here. Everything we ate was mind blowing! They not only support local farmers by using island grown meats and veggies and fresh caught seafood, but they create beautifully plated dishes with a seamless blend between spanish, french and local cooking, such as their delicious lamb belly and milanese with harissa and hummus, olive oil poached squid, peach salad with baby arugula, duck with parsnip puree and Octopus confit. It was a truly wonderful evening for all the senses! read more

See all

Make a reservation and go! Lovely setting - both inside & outside - tucked back in a corner of Nevin Square. Excellent food. The Peach & Arugula Salad special is fantastic. Entrees equally as wonderful. Polite, professional staff. Go! Enjoy! read more

Detente opened just a few years ago, and further upped the elegance quota on the small island of Martha's Vineyard. It is true that Edgartown is known to be home to old money and many august establishments... but the sort of attention to detail and quality and freshness of ingredients is only found in a few eateries in this town as well as the island at large. It's a tiny, elegant French inspired restaurant which greats you with a delightful wine bar right as you walk in the door. The staff is unfailingly professional yet friendly and deeply knowledgeable about the food they serve. The chef is young and extremely talented (and pretty good looking as far as i can tell). They've got a great wine list and their bartender and servers are as well versed in this area as they are in the food. If they have bay scallops on the menu in *any* form, order them! Desserts are the only weak link. Opt for their wonderful artisanal cheeses and a dessert wine instead. read more

I tasted a bunch of plates: the peach, cheese, arugula salad special was pretty yummy. The tuna tartare was also very good. But the pork belly was tough! And the black ink squid appetizer was almost inedible - the flavors were weird and not well matched. The entree, the pork, was a little dry. The best part of the meal were desserts: the chocolate cake was good, as was the panna cotta and bread pudding (the bread pudding was the best). My vegetarian friend said the veggie plate they served her as an appetizer was just OK. It looked like a bunch of veggies on a plate - not very exciting. Overall, I was pretty disappointed. It seems like the chef is trying too hard and missing the mark. When I spend that much on a meal, I expect as least one dish to be stellar. It didn't help that our waiter was odd (he said he had a few drinks before he came to work, and I'm sure he meant it as a joke, but it did seem like he was tipsy). read more

The food is amazingly good!! The service is top notch too. We sat at the bar for dinner and the bartender Matt was friendly, knowledgable and talented mixologist. The peach salad, rabbit empanadas and veal Milanese were all spectacular. It's a small place and not easy to get a reservation during the summer, but we walked right in without a reservation in September. read more

Pricey, but excellent restaurant. They run a special sometimes too on apps if you sit at the bar when they first open. The only time I wouldn't suggest to go is during restaurant week. Pick another time when they aren't highlighting a special menu. Great food, extensive wine list read more

This place was packed on a Sunday night. Wish we knew there was parking in the back before I struggled my way into a tight parallel parking spot on the street. The restaurant is in the Nevin Square shopping complex. Both indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for indoors to avoid mosquitoes. We could tell the meal was going to be delicious based on the fluffy homemade bread served before the meal. We shared a bottle of the Angerer Gruner Veltliner which was like a whiff of fragrant lilies before each sip of the refreshing white wine with a clean finish. The tuna tartare appetizer was to die for, fresh, tender, seasoned with spicy Japanese togarashi and tart yuzu made for an interestingly delicious combination and topped with microgreens. The seared scallop appetizer was good too and a nice savory complement to the tartare. Main entrees we had the softshell crab with pork belly and opa fish on top of lobster, gnocchi, lima beans. I was kinda full by now from eating so much of the delicious bread so I wasn't enjoying the entree as much as I would have otherwise. Dessert was excellent, we shared the almond cake with frozen chocolate terrine, raspberries, peaches and homemade whipped cream. The terrine was like a solid chocolate mousse that became softer with every bite as it defrosted. Very cool. read more

Most amazing seafood meal after two weeks in the Vineyard. A must! Fantastic service and wine selection as well.

After dining out 9 evenings on the Island we landed on Detente. What a find. Hidden off the beaten path, again not a surprise that POTUS dined here. We sat in the small outdoor garden on a beautiful summer night. The staff, food, wine and atmosphere were wonderful. It is a small spot but don't be deterred, the food was worthy of the best on Island as is the wine list. Unique hard to find limited bottles from small vineyards. The service was so friendly and welcoming, not over the top but pleasant. And the food!!! Wow. If you go, don't miss the scallop appetizer currently on the menu. The coconut lime sauce was exceptional. We had the tuna tartare app as well, which was delicious. Entrees included the pork chop and local bass. The menu really had something for everyone. Putting this place higher on the list than many other on the island. Don't miss it. read more

This place is great. The ambience is fantastic, inside and out. That's not the reason why it gets 5 stars. I had the chefs tasting with wine and all I can say was it was FANTASTIC. Service, wine, and best of all the food. The scallops were I think my fave, fresh cilantro with leeks, coconut milk and some spicy sauce you can add as you please. Although its really hard to say that was the best cuz everything was delicious. Hats off to the chef, will be back again. Need to try if you're in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth it. read more

One of the best restaurants in Edgartown! The quality of the food here is high. Many items on the menu are locally sourced, and the dishes are creative and nicely presented. The service is excellent; I have never encountered anyone working at Detente who is not very polite and friendly. Additionally, the outdoor garden is beautiful! Highly recommended. read more

BEST PLACE EVER! i just made a yelp account to review this, great service (VERY nice). Only 5 entrees but lots of appetizer options and sides! got the ribeye with potato roll, others got the sole and LOVED it! Would recommend EVERYTHING on the menu and definitely going back! DELICOUS FOOD, JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FOOD AND IT WAS FABULOUS, GO FOR IT. It is expensive, however the money is ABSOLUETLY worth it, fabulous restaurant and extremely pleased. KUDOS to the cook, you are a great great cook!!!!!! read more

One of our favorite MV restaurants remains on the top of our list. Started with their special "peach" salad and tuna tartare. The ribeye with caramelized onion was delicious and the dense chocolate cake was a great finish. We will definitely come again. read more

Absolutely loved our meal. We had the chefs tasting menu with wine pairings. This was our second time here and will be returning next year. Our waiter was so nice and he actually remembered us from last year. read more

Had the best salad of the summer here. Peaches with tallegio. Can't stop talking about it. A wonderful eating experience!

Our favorite restaurant on the island! Unassuming location in a pseudo-strip mall but once inside or in their outdoor area it is nothing but cool. Food is always an "experience" with so many sophisticated flavors that come across as the output of someone with passion in their food. No trip to the island is complete without a visit. Even if it is only for a drink and appetizers. read more

The octopus appetizer was so delicious. I would come back just for that alone. We also had the tuna tartare which was good. The potato roll was very different and tasty. Quiet and comfortable atmosphere with outdoor seating. A definite recommendation. read more

I can't say enough good things about Detente. The food is amazing and the staff is exceptional. We were planning a very small and quick wedding. We were running into problems finding a dinner location for 15 people. After a long and frustrating day of dealing with another restaurant, we went into Detente for a meal and a drink. We ran into Angela, the manager, and it was fate. Angela transformed the patio into a beautiful cocktail location, arranged an incredible meal in the upstairs dining room, and even helped us to find a babysitter for my nephew when ours fell through! Our guests are still talking about how good the food was. We had the most lovely dinner and that is because of the kind and hardworking staff of Detente. It's a real gem. read more

Our best meal in Edgartown. Detente is a bit off the beaten path but thankfully Yelp reviews sent us here our last night of vacation. We both had the tasting menu and my husband did the wine pairing. They were able to swap out the scallops for him, due to a mild allergy, so he had the lamb ribs instead. Each course was beautifully presented and layered with flavor and fresh ingredients. The servings were small but we left satisfied. The tuna tartare was nice though not our favorite. The panzanella featured tasty cornbread croutons, creamy burrata and local tomatoes - I could have eaten 2 more and been quite happy. My scallop was delicious with lovely accompaniments. The cod was a major standout as was the beef tenderloin which was cooked to perfection. We finished with the blueberry bread pudding - not too rich or too sweet - a nice final dish. Overall the tasting was a good value and the meal was well paced. Service was friendly and attentive. We would definitely return. read more

truly exceptional meal and service. couldn't be happier. you should definitely try next time you're in edgartown.