Have ordered from the window. Brought a cooler and enjoyed the sunset. Love Menemsha!

I really don't like to give a place one star but home port deserves it. It's a great location and could be a great place, but the food is miserable, like they aren't even trying to do a great job because people will always come here for the location. Do yourself a favor and skip this one. Try the place across the street if you can get in, or takeout from one of the two fish markets (Menemsha or Larsons) at the end of the side street just before you hit Home Port. I had the lobster roll and it tasted like they were using frozen lobster out of a can. No way to know if that's the case, but does it matter if that's what it tastes like? Had the iced tea which was loaded to the brim with ice and a little tea poured over the top. Wasn't bad tea at all, though, and it was enough to get me almost all the way through the lobster roll. I've been coming here for years and am usually only mildly disappointed, given that most places on the Vineyard do a really good job and this place is always well below par. This last visit was my last, though. Again, I don't like to bash places but it doesn't seem to me as if they are even trying to be good, so I think they deserve to be called out on it. There's no excuse for making a poor lobster roll at the height of the summer season when everyone around you is doing a fantastic job. Maybe if you're in Minnesota or something, but not a waterfront place in the Cape Islands. read more

Never again! After this restaurant being a must stop for years we will never return. The experience ended with us paying a kitchen appreciation tax. The owner said she couldn't pay their wages to keep them so she added this fee to our bill. The meals where already expensive to begin with. Prefix you pay 74.00 you pick appetizer main course and dessert. For example. Then there is a $15 charge for a recorking if you bring a bottle of wine in. The food was just like everywhere else nothing special. The only thing they went out of their way to do was find a really nice gluten-free dessert. Which was a nice surprise. I thank them for that. read more

my husband and I visited after walking around Menemsha while staying at the Menemsha Inn for a wedding. the food was great (Scallops seared with just enough char), service was fast and friendly, and the views were impeccable. Additionally, the manager, Max, offered us a ride back to the inn once it started raining. she went the extra mile and the meal was perfect. would recommend! read more

Well we had read a lot of recent reviews and decided to try it. I am glad we did. We have gone many times in the past and know they are new owners trying to figure it all out. I thought the food was quite good. We had some Menemsha Shearpoint oysters to start and they were excellent- came with a delicious mignonette sauce and also cocktail sauce. We had the chowder and mussels to start. Both delicious. For entrees we had the linguine with local clams which was flavorful and delicious and the steamed lobster with potatoes and coleslaw, also very good. For dessert, it was blueberry/ peach pie with fresh whipped cream and it was really nice. It was expensive for sure but at the end of the day, it's a three course meal plus oysters but it's a nice atmosphere and I thought it was worth it. read more

See all

Horrible dining experience! I was excited that the Homeport was reopening after years of being closed. I use to dine here every year and had many great memories of the place. Unfortunately after an unnecessary 3+ hour meal with subpar food and bad service I will not be coming back. It should NOT take over an hour to get appetizers. It should definitely NOT take 1.5 hours to get a bottle of coke. It should NOT take an additional 30 minutes after a steak is brought to the table for a steak knife to be delivered. It should also NOT by the job of the diner to ask for lobster cracker, wet wipes, a lobster bib and small fork for getting the meat out of the lobster and it should definitely NOT take an additional 30 minutes after the lobster was dropped off to get these items. For $75 a whole lobster should at least have the body cracked. This is very hard to do with a butter knife! Lastly, key lime pie should NOT be delivered frozen and $12 cornbread should NOT be delivered without butter and should not look like or taste like it's a jiffy box mix. This meal was literally laughable! As many of the other patrons were doing as well. Most of the tables around us bailed on dessert altogether or got it boxed to go as they were there even longer than 3 hours due to the slow service. It appeared that there was one busboy for the whole restaurant and at no time during the 3+ hours we were there did he clear off any of the dirty tables near us in the main dining room. He literally was hiding most of the night in the back of house and popping his head out every so often but not doing anything. None of the servers were clearing tables either and the manager was bringing new diners to dirty tables and then cleaning the table herself. We had to hunt for a wine bottle opener and corked our own bottle yet still were charged the $15 corkage fee. Wine glasses were delivered dirty as was most of the silverware. Tip: Don't rush a restaurant opening! Make sure you have enough staff who are properly trained, don't book more reservations than the staff can adequately manage, hire more busboys, and have better quality food if you plan to charge $75/person and $15 for a wine corkage fee. Also maybe don't hire a family member who has never worked in a restaurant as a server and who has no interest in being one. He was nice but also lacked any motivation or urgency to do his job. Save your money and go to Outermost Inn, Red Cat or Chilmark Tavern for an amazing meal with great service! read more

We were so excited this place was reopened. Sadly, this was the most disappointing restaurant I've been in in a very long time. I wish I read the reviews. They are dead right! Hour long waits for way over priced and totally uninspired menu, that came out with cold fries, over cooked clams linguine, and the lobster side dishes were all over done or in the case of the corn on the cob looked like it was left over from yesterday. Abysmal waste of my hard earned money. Don't go! read more

What an absolutely terrible experience! We visited the restaurant in the past, but now under new owners and it is horrible. The prices are ridiculous for the quality and quantity. $78 for 5 baked scallops? No sides! The server was very nice but clearly overwhelmed. The table next to us never got their food and left. Bring a bottle of wine and get charged $18 for a bucket of ice. Kid's chicken fingers and fries are $20. Do yourself a favor and skip this place. read more

Home Port Restaurant - Overpriced underwhelmed - Seafood Near Me - Menemsha, Massachusetts

Overpriced and understaffed I will never go here again under the same ownership. Do yourself a favor and go somewhere else before you you regret what I just went through. read more

The service was slow and sloppy . Ask for water and they forgot had to remind them . They forgot to bring a bowls for our shells so the table was a mess.Ask for my check and you guessed it they forgot needed reminding when they did bring me my check it was someone else's . I notice a 3 % addition to our total that they said was to give the cooks additional income ?their tip suggestions start at 20% They are a dry town but a $15 corking fee i I will added if bring your own adult beverage . Even if your beverage has no cork . The food was good but the The portions were very small. I asked what had changed they said new management . It's all about making $$$$$ not making customers experience enjoyable read more

Waitress and staff were nice, but food took over 2 hours and was mediocre at best. We had to take our desserts to go because we got our entrees at 7:50 (we sat down at 6). You would think they were under staffed, but they had 20+ workers walking around. Honestly wish we just left. Outrageous prices ($79 per person) for the service and food. The sunset and view doesn't even make it worth it. And the cherry on top was that the bathrooms were out of toilet paper and paper towels and one (of two) stall doors wouldn't close or lock. On the way out we talked to a family who were waiting outside 30 minutes past their reservation time for their table. Stay away. This is not the Home Port everyone used to know and love. You are better off going to the fishing shack down the road. read more

Don't do by the menu shown here. It is now a prix fixe menu at $75 / person. We were surprised at that and the fact that certain items that we were looking forward to are no longer on the menu. And there is a 3% charge for the kitchen help on top of your tip. The food was delicious!!! I was also surprised that there was paper on the tables and paper napkins rather than cloth. The wait staff were in torn jeans and some with baseball caps. For that price, I expect more elegant dining. read more

This is not your grandmother's Home Port... along with the name, the location has stayed the same, with stunning views of Menemsha pond and Channel from inside, plus a spacious and very family-friendly outdoor seating area, all around the corner from the festive public beach by a dock full of fishing boats and luxury yachts. ...the food that so many remember nostalgically has changed. The little iceberg salad with a cherry tomato, a ring of red onion, and two cucumber slices. The mug of creamy chowder. The mini loaf of warm white bread. The frozen wedge of key lime pie. Oh, yeah -- with a lobster somewhere in the middle of all that... The menu has been updated and playfully embellished. Beautiful veggies and hot cornbread are a backdrop to showcase excellent local fish and seafood. We especially enjoyed the beautiful entree salad with seared sashimi-grade tuna perched on top. Catch of the day, a slab of tender and juicy swordfish, was wonderful too. And yes, there is still key-lime pie as an option for dessert. All delicious. There is a staffing crisis all over the island this summer, and Homeport seems to be doing the best it can. Host and servers were all kind and attentive. Our late-night order arrived quickly. With plans to revive "back-door" to-go offerings next summer, this new incarnation of an old favorite will hopefully last for a long time too. read more

Overpriced, underwhelming. The old Home Port was terrific. The new ownership serves overpriced uninspired entrees with very little choice. The dinners no longer include a cup of chowder, small salad or choice of potato or veggies. Service was good, but for entrees between $38-$54, at least you could expect better food or at least ambiance. This place has neither. Unattractive 1960s interior is the same as ever without the food quality of past iterations. read more

We called at 8:15 pm to see if they were busy no one answered so we arrived at 8:35. They were not supposed to close until 10 pm. We were told they would seat us but after waiting 10 mins they came back and told us they were overwhelmed and were not able to seat us. Even though the place only had a few tables of customers. We left and called Chilmark Tavern at 8:45 and they were supposed to close at 9:30 and they took us in and we had an exceptional meal. We used to love the Homeport under the old management and had gone for years but now would never go back. My husband is an islander. So disappointing. read more

Never had a bad experience here and this past week was no different !! Every single thing we've ever tried is great and the service is superb. Fast efficient friendly. Will always be back !! read more

The service was good and the location is wonderful. That simply isn't enough to justify the extremely high prices you pay for very average food. The menu is price fixe. This Includes entree, appetizer and desert. Anyway that you split it up, the value isn't there. If you don't want desert or an appetizer, you are spending 65.00 for pasta and clams. If you wanted to split an entree, there is an extra 30.00 added to the tab. Now you're paying 95.00 for one plate of pasta and clams. I usually write reviews only if the experience was very good. Not the case this time. read more

We had an amazing time at Home Port for a delicious sunset meal. We were worried after reading some reviews about how long it took to get food, but we had no issues at all! We got amazing raw bar food very shortly after we sat down, then had a fabulous three course meal - I had great steamers, the lobster was perfect and came with fantastic sides, and the dessert was decadent and delicious. Everything was cooked perfectly and came out on time, paced well. Our server (shoutout to Jess!) was great - friendly, helpful, even brought us bug spray after the sun went down. The service, food, and atmosphere can't be beat. Apparently whatever service issues they had at the beginning of summer based on previous reviews are all worked out now that they've had some more experience. It was great. We will go back and we're so glad Home Port is open again! read more

Home Port Restaurant - Sunset view from our table on the patio! - Seafood Near Me - Menemsha, Massachusetts

We have been going to the Homeport since the 80s through its many iterations. We went on the spur of the moment and knew we'd have to eat outside. No issue except: The order g computer didn't work due to sun Ordering inside-staff could not get right Pick up of food was disorganized Will wait for another owner/manager before venturing back! read more

Always a special meal, take to the beach or eat in, your sure to be pleased. Get the steak frites you won't regret it!

Our family had a beautiful evening at the Homeport tonight. Great food, kind and thoughtful service, the perfect MV atmosphere. The new menu is creatively designed. read more

Welcome to the new Home Port! They have done a great job revamping this island staple. Great outdoor spot to watch the sunrise and try their brand new menu filled with some old classics and some new favorites. New ownership, new staff, new management, new menu. This is my new upisland jam! read more

Lunch lunch lunch if you want the perfect order - was told by the waitress we got all the staples Order of preference- quahog, steamers, local calamari, fried oysters, fish tacos BYOB a rose Eat outside save room for ice cream next door read more

Home Port Restaurant - Yum - Seafood Near Me - Menemsha, Massachusetts

Had a really magical evening at Home Port last night. Definitely ignore the prior bad Yelp reviews. They're just wrong! The service was prompt and excellent. Our local oysters came quickly and were superb. Our meal was terrific. Jess, our server, was one of the friendliest and most attentive on the island. We 'll be going back again. read more

Home Port honestly had the best lobster I've ever had in Massachusetts. We stopped by during a trip in May 2010 because it had been recommended in the Frommers' guidebook. While watching the sunset from our window, we ordered their three-course meal, which was a fairly good deal for MV (it was around $30-$40 if I remember correctly). We ordered the stuffed quahog as an appetizer, a single steamed lobster with red bliss potatoes, and a dessert that I can't remember. The stuffed quahog was unusual and delicious, but it was the lobster that really stole the show. It wasn't particularly big, but it was distinctively fresh, moist, and flavorful, with a salty goodness that tasted as if it had just been plucked from the sea moments before it went in to the steamer. In comparison, the lobster I've had before at chain restaurants like Legal Sea Foods tastes relatively bland. The service was relatively efficient and it's a big restaurant with plenty of seating and nice views. read more

Home Port Restaurant - Steamed lobster - Seafood Near Me - Menemsha, Massachusetts

See all

It pains me to write this as I have been to the Home Port many times through the years, and have many fond memories, but this is not that place anymore. New owners, new format. Prix Fixed menu - $75 for app, main and dessert. Write out your table's order on the checklist provided and pay in advance, including the tip (optional) which starts at 20%. So you pay for service prior to any delivery and after self service ordering. And the service amounts to cafeteria delivery style (ever been to Sesuit Harbor Cafe?) The food was OK but very pricey for what was delivered - my clams and linguini had 6 clams. And they force you to order app, main and dessert - fixed price at $75 per. My wife loved her Salmon, the fried fluke was ok, lobster was fine (1.5 lbs) but I thought the clams in my linguine and clams were a little light. Especially when i was at Jimmy Seas the next night and my neighbor had linguine and clams with at least 15 clams... BYOB helps but I just felt the value was lacking given the experience and pricing. Room and view are still beautiful, and to be fair they just reopened under new ownership, but for $100 per person, all in, there are so many better dining experiences on the Island. I hope management revisits this format, moves to a la carte ordering and considers incorporating more local seafood on the menu. I want the Home Port to be there forever. read more

Great atmosphere, great food and service. Love the new updated look!! Just enough of the old favorites and great new menu plus... the freshest Fluke!! read more

Had a nice meal while watching the sun set. It's bright in the dining room, but a great view of the bay. The service was very good and everyone enjoyed their meal. This place fills up at 7 pm so get their earlier or make a reservation. Started with the oysters. All very good, fresh and tender. My hope was to have oysters from the island, but everything was from the mainland or Canada. The waitress explained the bay was closed so they could not use local oysters. Just a little note if you done eat corn or wheat: they were accommodating with the menu. I ordered the pan seared scallops and asked for the asparagus instead of the corn succotash. Turned out to be a great combination. read more

Home Port Restaurant - Oysters - Seafood Near Me - Menemsha, Massachusetts

We had high hopes for this place, but walked away feeling ripped off. The service was incredibly slow. And when I say slow, I mean turtle slow. It took an hour just to get our appetizers. It took an hour and a half just to get a Diet Coke. The corn bread was something I could have made with Jiffy cornbread mix at home. It didn't come with any butter and we had to ask for it three times. This venue clearly isn't ready for prime time. We opted for the lobster and, again, were utterly disappointed. The lobster came uncracked, and it took 15 minutes just to get a shellfish cracker. I literally had to pull the meat out with my butter knife. Two of our desserts were frozen (they shouldn't have been). We ended up spending way too much money on an experience that was pretty horrendous. Save your money and your time and check out the Chilmark Tavern. This place clearly doesn't have it's act together. read more

Completely disagree with the 2.5 star average here. One of the most popular restaurants in Menemsha - great place to sit outside and watch the sun set. I've been eating here for years - have always appreciated the staff's attentiveness. Go for the lobster bisque, warm bread and fish every which way - and it's fresh caught. Super-bummed that they are closed for the season due to COVID-19. Can't wait to see them back open next year. Eat there and support a great local business. read more

When we got to town, there was a festival happening and nowhere to park near the fish markets, so we decided to go to the Home Port. We had a large party (9), 4 little kids under 10 and 5 adults, one elderly. We had no reservations, and it was about 7:00 pm. The restaurant was not full so we thought we'd inquire if there was any possibility for one or even two tables. The hostess was extremely arrogant and rude. She said, "Can I ask you something? I'm trying to wrap my head around this. Do you often go out to dinner with nine people and no reservation?" Instead of just leaving I explained how we ended up there and hoped she could accommodate, since it was not crowded. She said, "Well, here is a menu, so you know what you're dealing with," implying that maybe we couldn't afford to dine there. I was so frustrated, because I knew full well the meal would likely be over $500, if they're charging $30 for kids and $75 for adults. Why they would have a price fix menu is beyond me, but it's clearly a money grab for a great view. As we were discussing whether to give the place our business on my last night (likely ever) on the Vineyard, she approached and suggested the ice cream stand down the street. We did eat at the clam shack, but really wish we could have chosen the Home Port as an option had the hostess been more inviting. The raw bar looked delicious and the kids working it were very sweet. Never got to try it though, as I refused to dine there after being treated like we were idiots for daring to ask if there might possibly be a way for them to fit us in. Hopefully they don't treat everyone this way, but from the reviews it sounds like we missed terrible service and a mediocre meal at best. read more

I have been waiting for this restaurant to re-open for a few years and it was worth the wait. The view cannot be beat. The vibe is perfect New England cool. The food is very good. Everything from Lobster, to Fried Fluke and steak. There is a raw bar with oysters, shrimp and clams. The management clearly loves the tradition of the Homeport but has upgraded the decor, the menu and the vibe. What a wonderful place to hang for a few hours with family and friends. There are young local kids doing the serving and shucking. I love that the owners have given these local kids the opportunity. I don't care one bit if my food is a few minutes delayed. Just look at the view! Enjoy your time in paradise! read more

We ate there last night as a party of 9. We had an amazing view. Food took time, but was a hit with the entire table. The price fix was costly, but worth it in my opinion. You pay for ambiance, good food and parking spot for sunset. BYOB makes it even more affordable if you have friends like me . Also shout out to the staff. They were very friendly and helpful. read more

First, Will definitely return... Get: lobster sliders, roasted veggies... See: Everette, sharp server, quick wit, cool dude... Go: sunset, make reservation, Nemensha sunsets are legendary... Well off the beaten track but worth trip down island... Tip: parking can be a challenge, arrive early, get turnover spots... The manager is cool too...I have a practice of giving servers an unjustified hard time (yeah it's my "fun" and I'm always foiled by the Wife!), and he offered "compensation" anyway! Lol... Tip: real fair MP on the crazy fresh lobster in peak season... read more

The Yelp reviews made us needlessly wary -- Home Port is delightful. Delicious food. Wonderfully friendly and attentive service. Yes the kitchen is slow but who cares -- their deck is a great place to linger. Only complaint: a slight odor, likely from the septic system. Not bad enough to keep us from going back eagerly read more

Absolutely wonderful outdoor dining (they have indoor too) with a gorgeous sunset. Yes, service was a bit slow but as long as you are prepared for that it's fine. Food was incredibly fresh and delicious. I've been going here since the 1970's and I'm so glad it reopened. It's a real treasure. read more

They are working really hard to address the start up problems. Wonderful meal on the deck. Food was excellent (oysters, fried oysters, steamers, salmon, steak and lobster). They have someone watching parking lot so you can park. Staff really trying to address issues and our service was great. Manager checked on us multiple times. We will be back. read more

Wow. Fiasco. Never a fan of the food of the old Homeport. Homeport 2.0 has better food for sure. But the service? Simply the worst on the island. Took an hour to get our apps. The waiter was clearly out of his depth. Another 30 mins to get the entrees (and they got two of them wrong). All this for a 75 dollar price fixe? And when you complain (being sensitive to the staffing issues endemic to the island as a whole), the response from both the harried waited and the manager? "The kitchen is slammed!" Really? Then perhaps you need to take on less reservations if your kitchen cannot handle a restaurant not even at capacity. Tis a pity because as I said: the grub is very good. But we won't ever go back again. Life isn't long enough to wait two hours even for a decent lobster. read more

This was incredible! We ate inside but went out after our meal for the gorgeous sunset! The manager sat us and stayed to talk to us for a bit. Very friendly and accommodating (we had a energetic toddler). The food was amazing! The crab cakes and half chicken were my favorite. Also, the salads all looked great. I will have to come back for lunch to try the salads. I don't know why there are so many low reviews we loved it!! read more

We love this restaurant to watch sunsets in Menemsha. Great food. Especially for kids. And great atmosphere. Grab a table outside and order the fried clams or lobster roll. Get ice cream at The Galley afterwards. read more