I first dined at the Sweet Life two summer ago and it was immediately my favorite restaurant on Martha's Vineyard. After going back several more times, this remains my opinion. The restaurant is so cozy, the service is always quick and friendly, they have an outstanding tequila selection and the food is tremendous. I went with a big group of girlfriends on Wednesday night so we were able to sample a plethora of dishes from the current menu and let me tell you, they all slapped. We had the taleggio agnolotti, rabbit pappardelle, sunchokes, foccacia, halibut, scallops, pork schnitzel and duck leg cassoulet. Truly all of the food was outstanding but my favorites were the cassoulet, rabbit pasta and the halibut. The pork was good but do note that it is a positively enormous amount of food! We were so full that we almost skipped dessert but we had to try just a couple of things so we ordered the Dubai chocolate ice cream and the sticky toffee pudding which were both great but the ice cream was the favorite. I love Sweet Life and wish I could transport it home with me to eat there year round! read more

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Vacation mode engaged. Walking down Circuit Ave, being a tourist, we got hungry and saw the Sweet Life. We sat outdoors in a cute patio and enjoyed the summer breeze. Ordered some drinks and relaxed. The Jasmine Blossom was refreshing and tasty. The old fashioned was your run of the mill old fashioned with essence of burnt butter taste to it. For apps, we had the half a dozen local oysters and the Hamachi Crudo. The oysters were tasty and fresh! I think the sauce was house made and I really wished I ordered a full dozen. The hamachi was fresh too! The honeydew was a bit underripe but all the other components were amazing. Oh we also got some focaccia bread. The bread is skippable, was not a fan. For our mains we had the gnocchi and scallops! The gnocchi came piping hot. Chunks of octopus spread throughout. Seasoned well, great texture. Gnocchi cooked just right. The real star was the scallops dish! Beautiful dish. Each scallop cooked in buttery goodness. Sitting on delicious sauce. The maitake mushrooms were cooked to perfection. Good crust and flavors. For dessert we shared the grapenut ice cream. Light essence of smoked maple flavor. Lots of crunch with the cereal. More crunch than ice cream. Service was a bit slow but very helpful and informative of dish options. Tasting menu available. read more

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The Sweet life was a nice dining experience. Romantic place for two. We sat outside. Nice music. Nice lighting and shrubbery. The staff were right on point. The drinks were great. For appetizers, we had the beet salad which was very flavorful. For our main course we selected octopus with gnocchi & pesto sauce & the halibut . The halibut was great . The gnocchi was average the pesto sauce over powered everything. read more

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One of our best meals on Martha's Vineyard. Such a charming space, it really is sweet! We sat on the covered outdoor patio, and it was absolutely lovely. Service was very friendly, and we also had some assistance with wine selection. The special peaches & tomato salad was incredible. What a flavor combination! The hamachi crudo was okay, but a little overwhelmed with so many ingredients. I realized I prefer a simpler preparation. My duck cassoulet was perfect! Everyone really enjoyed their main courses. A wonderful, grownup night out. Highly recommend. read more

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Our local friend took us to Sweet Life and what a beautiful evening. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the tourist season The wine and bar was full of options. By the glass or bottle. Speciality cocktails as well. The menu provides a number of options from red meat to fish and vegetarian. We all had something different and all three were a hit. My halibut had so much flavor and was perfectly seasoned. The pork chop and the scallops were also another my friends. The staff are so helpful and professional. Just led to a perfect evening. So worth planning a meal here if on the island. I heard that they do offer a Sunday brunch from time to time that is out of this world. Hmmm. French toast anyone?! read more

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A Sweet Life Indeed! What a great vibe this place is! From the moment I walked into Sweet Life in Oak Bluffs, I felt like I was in for something special--and they did not disappoint. The ambiance is cozy yet elegant, the kind of place that feels like a treat but still manages to feel like home. I had the local sea bass for dinner, and it was absolutely perfect--fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The cocktails were just as memorable. They're not shy with the quality here either--top-shelf tequila was the highlight of my evening sips! I came in expecting a lot, and they delivered on every level. Great food, impeccable drinks, warm service, and a vibe that makes you want to stay a little longer. Sweet Life is definitely a gem in Oak Bluffs, and I can't wait to come back. read more

We really tried to like this place. Was recommended by lots of people . That said, everyone can have an off night. First the good: Lovely atmosphere. Beautiful indoor and outdoor dining areas that are decorated well. Service : we were waited on by a bartender who was extremely busy making cocktails. (we had a reservation and were seated in the main dining area ? It's Not like we were worked in late or were sitting in a cocktail lounge area) The server ( bartender) was a still good server and gave us good service but just didn't have the time to give us great service. ( I would expect great service at this price point) Food: everyone in our party had at least 1 issue with their dinner. Not sure if it was execution or just strange flavor combos. The chickory salad had some old wilty greens? And Not enough other things to balance it out. The tagliatelle had strange curry notes from the cauliflower that made the whole dish seem "off" ( again not sure if this was a creative decision or an execution problem ) The squid pasta was ok but hard to distinguish between the individual ingredients and lacked some finesse. Was one dimensional and muddy. Over all not terrible, everyone still ate and it was a good-ish ( but not great) meal/experience. Would give them another shot since I've heard so many good things ! read more

Perfect spot for a couple of drinks! Went here for a bachelorette outing which was perfect because it had very cute floral garden vibes. I got the Don Elote which was very different. Service was great for our large party of 10 people! read more

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We ordered the 6 course tasting menu. Didn't post all pix because lighting was very low and pix didn't come out well. Although service was very friendly I just feel that the waitress didn't really listen to the answer when they asked us question, quite superficial. Wine pairing is okay, this place may need to "up" their pairing to match the dishes. The most obvious was the dessert pairing, they served blueberry wine. Although it had the port "flavor" but the overall tone was tart, not sweet. Pretty disappointed. Considering everything else was pretty good. read more

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Loved the oyster and the carrots! The oysters are east coast from Chilmarkz Great service, cute spot read more

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If you're looking for a place on the Vineyard that has it all: a beautiful setting; warm, welcoming atmosphere; cosmopolitan but unpretentious vibe; impeccably fresh, inventive cuisine using locally sourced ingredients; and service that is top notch, The Sweet Life should be top of your list. Whatever your choice of food or drink, you can't go wrong at this place. EVERYTHING--from small plates to the tasting menu, mocktails to classic cocktails and vintage wines-- is prepared with meticulous care, with an eye to excellence. The owners, Erin and Hal Ryerson have clearly put their hearts and souls into this enterprise, and it shows. My husband and I have celebrated our last two wedding anniversaries at the Sweet Life, and take off island visitors to dinner there whenever we can. Dinner at this place makes any day a celebration. Five stars!! read more

Top notch restaurant, easily the best restaurant in Oak Bluffs, serving delicious food in a fantastic atmosphere, try to sit outside if you can. Truly, a wonderful spot on the main drag in downtown Oak Bluffs! Some people say it's the best restaurant in the touristy areas of Martha's Vineyard, including nearby Edgartown. You really can't go wrong coming here, you'll love the place and the beautiful atmosphere. This may be one of those rare places where you ask to be seated outside because of the beautiful job they do with all the lights , as long as the weather is cooperating. The food is fantastic, my halibut over artichoke was about as good as I could hope for. Everyone loved all the dishes! They actually have someone here that hand makes desserts, not to be missed, if you're staying in Edgartown, this would be a restaurant that you would travel to. You could easily walk the main drag of Oak Bluffs either before or after you eat, and do some shopping and walk down to the waterfront and make an afternoon or evening out of it. Unless of course you're already staying in Oak Bluffs. Definitely add it to your list of restaurants to eat at when visiting! Highly recommended! read more

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Always great and I appreciate a year round island restaurant of Sweet Life's quality. The Gnocchi was awesome!

We sat outside in the tented area and it was perfect. Space heaters made it extra toasty and they were able to seat our slightly larger party of 6. The service was spectacular and very speedy. The food was delicious. There were only a few minor notes we had that led to four stars rather than five. They don't have a classic scrambled eggs with potatoes and protein which should be a given. The closest thing is eggs with mushroom but the mushroom is just a giant hunk of mushroom on the side of the plate. This is maitake mushroom which is such a fantastic and hard to find mushroom but there is zero seasoning on it and at best it was steam cooked. The potatoes are stunning although for the price, I believe we should get three pieces of potato instead of two. The bacon was way too crispy and I did specify that I didn't want my bacon crispy. There also should have been more sauce on the duck hash because the sauce had all the seasoning and it was gone pretty quickly. The short rib was fantastic and cooked perfectly! The French toast was a classic and the shakshuka was very unique and tasty and piping hot! The grits were the star of the show and worth every single calorie. Cheesy and creamy and delicious! I loved their selection of tea and how they presented it. The atmosphere was really nice as well. I would good back for sure and try some other things on their menu. read more

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Here's a fine, fancy eatery that even an old curmudgeon can enjoy...casual ambiance...a little background jazz...terrific wait staff...and great food...even if some of the descriptions on the menu revealed foodstuffs that are essentially foreign to me...no matter...it all tasted fabulous...treat yourself to a wonderful dinner if you're anywhere near Oak Bluffs! read more

Had the most amazing meal, and experience, at this lovey, delicious restaurant! Seriously the best I've had in ages, and that includes NYC, LA, and Toronto. Incredibly attentive staff, a cozy setting (both indoors and outdoor with covered/heated patio dining). The appetizers were extraordinary (don't miss the Hamachi crudo). For mains, the dry aged pork chop and the ravioli were so delicious -- steak also got rave reviews. And don't miss their house-made desserts, including and especially the Ricotta ice cream (with home made honeycomb!). read more

The Sweet Life Cafe is in my humble opinion the one must visit restaurant on the Island. Yes, there are other good restaurants on MV but there is something very special about The Sweet Life that no other place can boast, it's just all around good. Good food, good experience, good ambience and good staff. The food at this place is different, different than most restaurants, even if you're from a big city like me. It's well executed, it's seasonal, it's fresh, it will surprise you and it's just plain good. As you can tell, I love this place, and of course, the icing on the cake is the team behind it. Lovely people. read more

The Sweet Life - Lovely Restaurant - New American Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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Nice cute place with outdoor patio seating and tent seating, they also have a dining room. The service here was great but the food was a little on the salty side for us. We had oysters and it was very fresh. Our waiter forgot our bread so we canceled the order. The duck dish was very interesting, sour bead of beans and salty crispy duck leg on top. The scallops however is cooked just right but a little heavy on the salt read more

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This review is based on our experience having dinner in November 2023. The Sweet Life was a truly surprise, an amazing hidden gem in Oak Bluffs, MV. The kitchen is audacious, their dishes show a genuine desire to take risks and whoever is in charge is delivering. Portions are correct, enough. Every ingredient has a purpose, each one has its moment in the journey. The grilled octopus resembles an interpretation of the Spanish dish pulpo a la gallega. The ricotta cavatelli is like if you were eating pasta with a hint of key lime pie. The anchovies in the mafalde, shout here we are!, but just at the right moment. And then, at the very end, you think all is over, the chocolate budino blows your head off. The service is attentive, simple, gracious. The ambiance, just like you'd expect from a place like this in MV. There's a disconnection with the 3-star menu and the rest of the place (not a complaint! is more like a compliment). You don't need the up-scale snobby set-up to deliver a fantastic experience. read more

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If you're looking for unique and high quality The Sweet Life is it. It's high on the wallet but unlike most restaurants this one delivers. From our oysters, scallop crudo and fried pork belly to the Skate wing and short rib tagliatelle every bite was savored read more

Fantastic food and drinks! Service was great. Ambiance on the patio was special with lovely lighting.

Perfect food and service! Alessandra was incredible and so kind ! I couldn't be happier with my experience

I'm mystified as to why this place isn't rated better in Yelp. My wife and I had an excellent meal there, perhaps the best of our recent trip to Martha's Vineyard. Every dish we tried was excellent -- the grilled octopus, the scallops, the sunchokes, etc. The service was gracious and helpful without be obtrusive. Unlike most of the other restaurants we went to on our trip, we could actually have a conversation and hear one another which I value! Eager to go back for more! read more

The sweet life is a really cute, beautifully decorated restaurant. It is in a little house in Oak Bluffs. The dinner menu was very sophisticated and nice. Many types of pasta and seafood. The portions were a little small and it was more of an upscale type of vibe(you couldn't order a burger and fries). Servers were super friendly. Also a lot of outdoor seating. Overall, it was good. read more

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the most perfect garden vibe. the pappardelle special was delish, and I loved the parmesan on top. the waitress did say it was an appetizer serving size and not entree, but despite her warning I was still shocked at how small it was. I guess it was the perfect size though because my gluten intolerant self didn't have any issues afterwards! Though I did need a second dinner that night. The piñarita was perfect! read more

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What a FABULOUS restaurant!!! The food is incredible and made with such creativity by Hal....and Erin is such a wonderful hostess....what a great team! The atmosphere is gorgeous, esp. with all the hanging white lights in the outside tented area where we enjoyed great cocktails and food....(I highly recommend the scallops and the halibut!!) I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant and can't wait to go back again!!! read more

Sat outside and the setting was very nicely done. Service and wine were good. Food was amazing. read more

The Sweet Life - Braised shortrib - New American Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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Romantic spot and yummy food. Don't forget to get the absolutely fabulous cocktails! Had the scallops and they were perfectly cooked. Delish! read more

The food is delicious, with interesting, unusual, fresh dishes. The drinks were very good, plus a great wine list. The service is excellent-friendly but not in any way obtrusive. The setting is lovely-we sat outside in a charming setting. Really delightful experience!!! read more

Everything about this place is fantastic. The food is amazing and not just for MV. This place would be well reviewed in any major city. Service was excellent. We brought our 1 year old daughter and they were super accommodating. We had the peaches and sunchokes for appetizers. Hard to pick a favorite, but the sunchokes were one of the best dishes I've had in a while read more

Although I just reviewed with a 5 star a year ago.... We just had another fine dinner under the tent last night. The atmosphere is inviting- which starts with the owner - Erin together with her husband have taken a long time eatery in MV up a notch The service was friendly and efficient, good list of drinks and the food was nicely prepared. The star was the mushroom small plate - but our other plates were equally great. read more

We had a reservation for a very busy summer weeknight. Service was attentive and great. We started with Lambrusco which I love seeing on the by the glass menu. Had the focaccia appetizer which was nice. The main entrees we ordered were scallops and the strip steak. Scallops were delicious and highly recommend. Steak was disappointing, it was a tough chew and the potatoes on the plate were the most enjoyable part. For north of $50 you expect a nice entree, I would not recommend the steak. read more

Wow! Every bite at this place was fantastic!! We were sent here by a local. Went on Thurs for live jazz. Eric Johnson on guitar was great!! Ate octopus, carrots (the best!), halibut (perfection), and pork chop. Both ice creams were dreamy. Great went & cocktails. A sure bet!!! Well done! read more

Spur of the moment dinner at The Sweet Life didn't disappoint. It was a wonderful meal thanks to the staff and chef! The sweetbreads app was absolutely superb. I kept cutting each bite smaller and smaller so that it would last longer. The gnocchi with mussels, pancetta and peppers was delicious. Don't make the mistake of ordering the appetizer portion as you will be disappointed you didn't get enough. The portion is not overly generous so go for the full amount. The lemon panna cotta was a nice way to finish off my meal. read more

The Sweet Life - Cocktails - New American Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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The atmosphere was lovely and romantic, and the service was great. The food was tasty, but I was so disappointed in the portion sizes. $44 for a pasta dish with about 5 noodles. I'm always happy to spend the money at high quality places, but appreciate when they provide portions worth what you're paying. There are so many great places on the island, so this one is definitely not my favorite. read more

The homemade pappardelle with lamb sugo was hands down the best pasta dish I've ever had and Benny C is an iconic island bartender. Thank you for a fabulous night! read more

Presentation, atmosphere, taste all superb . Service was a little slow but we were happy to be seated without a reservation. Location is downtown oak bluffs but right on outskirts and the decor is good vibes. Food was great and the octopus appetizer and mussel linguini were our favorites. read more

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My wife and I had our anniversary dinner there this past Sunday (9/8/2024). My wife was reading some of others reviews (some loved it, some really hammered them) and asked if we might want to try another place. Very glad we didn't. Upon arrival we were seated at a nice table and they had alreay had some champagne glasses there and brought us complimentary prosecco drinks, very nice touch. We split a grilled octopus app, that was outstanding. We like to pick two meals and then we share them. My wife suggested this approach a while back and I love it. We each get to try two dishes and with good portions the splits were really nice. We had the Braised Short Rib with Polenta, super tender and tasty. And the Pappardelle pasta, a lamb bolognese with a velvet homemade pasta. Flavor explosion for both dishes. Portions were generous. Service great. We enjoyed a nice Albe Barolo with the meal, Desert we split a Panna Cotta-bluberry compote, also excellent. Others around us had great looking dishes, East Coast Halibut (were going to go for this but did the short ribs instead) really looked good, as did the sea scallops They hadt spacious indoor seating as well as a very nice outdoor seating area. It was very windy that day so we wanted inside seating. Pasta dish came with a large and small order size we went big since we were splitting. Keep in mind, you are on Martha's Vineyard in September, still prime time. Some commented on it being expensive, but $40 dollar range for each meal and $18 for the app, are reasonable for a good resturatnt on MV. Our first time, and we will come back again. read more

The scallops dish lacked salt and had a sandy taste. We ordered a braised short ribs pasta. No where on the menu did it say the sauce was curry. We do not like curry. The restaurant did nothing for us. You would think curry would be stated on the menu. Very disappointed. read more

Had a terrific birthday dinner at The Sweet Life. Beautiful atmosphere, attentive service without being too much, and such friendly staff. The sausage stuffed quail was melt in your mouth delicious, and the ribeye was just perfect. Followed by a scrummy chocolate torte - can't wait to go back! read more

The Sweet Life - Roasted quail with sausage stuffing - New American Near Me - Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts

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