Preface: I love wine. Topper's at the Wauwinet is one of my favorite wine restaurants in America. Located about a 20 minute drive from downtown Nantucket, Topper's is a special occasion type place on the island. Good: the wine list is a tome. I drank a 2001 Gramona Cava overlooking the bay from oversized Adirondack chairs while the sun set. That sort of place. The wine list is deep and has some value, too. The head sommelier was beyond helpful in finding us some of these gems (2006 Cayuse Cailloux made me realize that being on their waitlist now for 8 years in a row is worth it). Average: service was a bit spottier than I'd expect from this sort of place (white table cloth, French/New American/fancy). It's a bit stuffy in overall atmosphere, actually. Most of the food is usually more in the average camp, which is a bit surprising. Bad: Some of the food has misfired on various visits. Poor execution on fish, some off flavor combinations, sometimes too-heavy handed with salt. When you're paying $$$$ for food, these things get magnified. Note: It's not in town, so you gotta fork over another $40-60+ on taxi/ubers to get there and back. Overall, it's a must-visit if you love wine and/or idyllic locations on the water (with wine). read more

For an over-the-top experience at Toppers, arrive by their free boat service from Nantucket Town. As of Summer '10, the boat departs from the White Elephant at 5 p.m. and returns from Toppers at 8 p.m. The voyage is just short of an hour each way, so you'll have roughly two hours for dinner between (plenty of time). The 5 p.m. boat has bar service; the 8 p.m. does not, but you can BYOB from Toppers. Just to be clear - you are power boating inside the Nantucket Harbor, not out in the open ocean. The harbor is very calm, so there should be no problem taking the boat - even for those prone to sea-sickness. Eating outside at Toppers is grand, but you must request this seating at the time of your reservation, otherwise you'll be sat inside by default. The menu changes constantly, but if Topper's is offering the Ceviche of Live Diver Scallop with Local Honey and Yuzu Vinaigrette when you visit, it is not to be missed. This main course is served as a sweet ceviche, rather than a citrus ceviche. Different, delicious. If you miss the return boat, the Wauwinet has a shuttle bus to drive you back to Nantucket Town (and a shuttle to pick you up if you miss the 5 p.m. boat). But don't miss the boat! The sunsets from the lawn at the Wauwinet (or from the end of the pier - where there is a bench made for two) are amazing and romantic. Enjoy! read more

Topper's - View coming in off the boat. - New American Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

Another restaurant week selection of the pricy level. Our server was so sweet and very enthusiastic about the food she served. She was also attentive and speedy, which I like. For restaurant week, Toppers offered a $25, three course prix menu. I neglected to take a photo of the menu itself so I can't pull out the descriptions readily. Started with a chilled pea soup that was okay. I added a side of braised greens to supplement and found that to be much more to my liking taste-wise. The entrée was a braised spare rib sandwich with a mountain of the best seasoned French fries I've had in a long time. Two thumbs up on that. Dessert was a bread pudding with caramel sauce that was hot and delicious. I was far to full to finish so I only managed half. I also imbibed with a drink called The Painkiller. No idea what was in it, but it tasted pretty delightful. I felt like it was a nice sized portion of food for the price. I'd come back and try a burger or a steak for a splurge meal. Definitely a pleasure. read more

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I've lived (seasonally) on Nantucket for 22 years. If you eat at Topper's you need to have your head examined - assuming you've read my review. Over the years, I've eaten there a few times. Always to "give it ONE MORE chance!" I've given up. The setting is wonderful but it is so freaking overpriced and the portions are so small you will no longer have to wonder what it feels like to be robbed without a gun! Yes, the food (what little there is) is okay.....just okay, but the price is what kills the entire experience. Don't say you haven't been warned! read more

What is there to say? We will first start with the best way to get there...The Wauwinet Lady - leave from town and cruise by boat to The Wauwinet dock, an enchanting way to see the harbor and take in the island. Now the restaurant. When it comes to putting it all together from the food to the wine to the service to the location you won't find a better place on island. You have to get the Truffled Rigatoni and Cheeses you are never going to want Mac & Cheese any other way! read more

Topper's - Island's #1 restaurant! - New American Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

We always visits Toppers at the Wauwinet once when we visit Nantucket. Taking the launch across the bay to have a wonderful lunch is great, but the last couple of times we have been there we were too early or too late in season and we ended up taking the shuttle. To die for lobster rolls, great cocktails, and usually an amazing Wagyu burger. This time, though, unfortunately the burger was so overdone it would have to be considered to be "charred" and probably should have been sent back and not eaten. Nevertheless, this is a place to visit. One fo these days when we want to truly just kick back, we will have to stay at the Wauwinet. read more

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Great service. Strawberry lemonade was excellent. Salad was dressed very nicely. Doughnuts were tasty. Soft shell crab was okay. Excellent for eating outside on a nice day but the seats were quite close together and I kept getting bumped into by people walking behind me. read more

We have dined at Toppers for many years, going back to the days when Chef Freeman was leading the kitchen. Last night's meal was subpar in comparison to any other experience at Toppers. Service was outstanding but unfortunately the food did not meet our expectations. The 2019 season is only days away from ending, maybe just a bad time of year. When you drop over 100 bucks a person, consistent food quality should be a reasonable expectation. Maybe next year??? read more

Easily a stunning location. The food is good - but I would avoid the tented patio as you succumb to a bad odor from the kitchen vents.

After 20 years of coming to Nantucket, we finally went out to see what the fuss was about. VERY impressed. Excellent meal ~ the cronuts & donut appetizer were top notch. Eggs Benedict very impressive. Great burrata. Reservations for the boat should be made way in advance. I was under the impression that the restaurant has a great view of the harbor ~ this isn't really true. You can only see a small slice of the harbor from the restaurant patio. But you can walk out to the lawn that over looks the water - awesome. $200 for 4 of us ~ on par for ACK read more

We had a 730 reservation for an outside seat. We specifically requested outside in the reservation, due to covid. But, when we checked in with the hostess took us to an inside table. We told her that we requested an outside table, she said she had no note of it, and that the outside was completely booked up. As we were walking out, my wife stopped to check her email and verify that she had reserved an outside table. As she was doing so the hostess caught up to us and said she may be able to seat us near the patio entrance. It wasn't part of the regular restaurant, but with covid, we are flexible. 10 minutes after our original reservation, they sat us at the table. Unfortunately, the because it wasn't part of the regular covered restaurant area, it was very cold. I was going to ask the waiter if they could bring a heater over, but after waiting for nearly 30 minutes, we neither waiter nor heater had found their way to our table. We were really looking forward to dinner at toppers. But, after 30 minutes of waiting for a waiter, we finally just gave up and left. Incredibly disappointing service and experience. read more

I really want to love this place but there's just too many flaws. We were here twice within a week. Once for breakfast, just my wife and I. And again for dinner with our four teenage children. This restaurant is located in the Wauwinet Hotel which is owned by the White Elephant Hotel group. It's located in a remote part of the island in a beautiful tranquil waterfront setting. The restaurant's menu is not as inspired as we would prefer, maybe because it tends to cater to an older crowd, 60+. The food is very good just not the type of menu where you wish you could order one of everything because they all sound so good. Service for both breakfast and dinner was friendly and polite but lacked professionalism. The staff is not experienced enough or properly trained for a restaurant with top-tier prices and an amazing setting. Too many missed details and mistakes to list here. For dinner we took the restaurant provided boat launch, which needs to be specifically reserved, from town that leaves at 5 PM for just under an hour harbor ride to the restaurant. The launch service both ways is included in your prix-fix menu that is required for those coming by water launch. You have two hours for dinner and the boat leaves for the return trip to town at 8 PM. There were a total of 17 guests on our launch to dinner, less on the return because some choose to not use the launch both ways. The prix-fix menu ensures they will get you out on time. Cocktails are offered on the boat ride to dinner that will be added to your restaurant dinner check. For the return trip you can purchase cocktails at the bar and bring them with you before you leave the restaurant. The selection of drinks on the launch is limited to beer, wine and champagne. They have a short list. They were out of several items and some they only had one or two glasses left. When the launch arrived in town with hotel guests disembarking no effort was made to restock the launch's bar service. Purchasing a bottle of champagne at the hotel bar for the return trip turned out to be a complicated process where they seemed to be doing us a favor by accommodating our request even though the launch captain explained at the onset of the trip that cocktails for the return trip should be purchased at the hotel bar. No one offers you the opportunity to purchase the drinks. When I went to the bar to order the bottle the bartender was very busy. No take-away unbreakable glasses were available. Drank our $100+ champagne from paper coffee cups that the bartender scrambled to find. The bottle had to be opened at the bar, sealed in a plastic bag and our restaurant dinner check which had already be paid had to be fetched, reprinted and attached to the bag. All per MA liquor law we were told which is fare enough but the process was awkward and time consuming and caused us to be late to the launch where everyone else was waiting. Food is good but uninspired and dated, service lacks professionalism and staff lacks training, the management of the launch service and restaurant in general requires immediate attention. Prix-fix menu is $96 per person plus many of the few menu items had supplement costs. The olive fed Wagyu beef was an additional $80 and it was indistinguishable from the non-Wagyu option. The truffle gnocchi was a $25 supplement and the lobster was a $12 supplement. There's only 5-6 appetizer choices and an equal number of entree choices. Dinner with one bottle of champagne for 6 was over $1k plus gratuity. read more

Topper's - New American Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

Had Halibut and a salad here at a wedding. The waiter asked for allergy preferences and then proceeded to ignore/forget some of the requests and also delivered the wrong plate to someone else with an allergy. The fish did not have a whole lot of flavor. The waiters got the mains orders wrong for just about everyone at the table the first time around. Can't say I was impressed by the restaurant. read more

This was a real disappointment and it's sad because it used to be an annual visit. Aside from the wonderful outdoor seating, the menu is unimaginative and limited. The food is okay. The drink and dessert are mediocre.time for a new chef read more

Service is excellent, view is excellent, but food flavor is just mediocre. The area is fantastic though.

I had dinner last week during resturant week. The food was awesome, I had the pasta dish,,,it was some kind on veggie pasta was a pesto sauce. I was able to take some home and it was just as good the next day. What was the best part of the place was the location and service. It is a testimony for great leadership. World class food and service done on a seasonal basis with many foreign works, I was beyond impressed! BTW I had a lemon tart for dessert...that alone was worth it! read more

Tepid. Both in the food and the service. Time for a serious recharge. We've been on the island for 10 days and dined several evenings. Of the finer dining this was the least impressive. The sommelier who took our bottle of wine with him after the first pour with our entree didn't come back until we finished our entree. The water glasses were not refilled. No bread was offered to us while other tables were served. Our servers were all focused on the table of 12 and not our deuce. Now for the food, the potatoe leek ravioli were good but just good. Was that lobster bisque they used for the accompanying sauce? The lobster crayfish cavatelli didn't even come close to the lobster dishes at the Galley or the Pearl and was more expensive than either. This was a pasta dish not a lobster dish. On the truly bright side was the soufflé. It was a delightful treat. And we sat inside in a lovely dining room. To add further to the arrogance we overheard the hostess telling a caller that they had no room and were "committed weeks in advance" while 3 tables in the dining room and a few others in the tent on this rainy evening sat empty for our whole meal. The time for resting on laurels of days past is most definitely over. Time for a bow to stern recharge. Just sayin. read more

Lovely surroundings and excellent service. Absolutely delicious onion soup with gruyere and croutons. The truffled rigatoni melted like butter, and while the gouda, pouligny fondue and gruyère started to weigh heavily, the taste was divine. There was no room or interest in dessert, but a fantastic bottle of Chevalier Montrachet provided an exquisite backdrop to a restful and sexy evening. With the sound of wind and waves now caressing my senses, I say bring on the rain. read more

Food good! service pretentious and condescending. We stopped by to check out the menus available for "deck dining" in late morning and made a rez. Reasonably priced light fare and a prix fixe ($80 for x courses). Nikolai "served" us. Nikolai presented us only with the prix fixe menu. When we asked for the menu we saw 6 hours earlier, he reluctantly brought us what he called the "fast food menu." He was totally condescending in his tone and subsequent attitude. After that, we had to summon others to get help. And then when a party of 12 came in, we knew we'd have to beg to get service. and we did. totally atrocious experience!! if not for the food, I would've given it a zero due to the pretentious, unequal treatment of those that are only spending $200 for dinner. What the &*&^, Wauwinet! read more

Just had one of the worst "upscale"dining experiences...ever. I, much like other yelpers, I was very excited to dine at Topper's for my Birthday, but was very disappointed. Here is my experience: Service was half excellent and half condescendingly snobby. My waitress was attentive, knowledgable, and warm. She is why they get three instead of 1 star. All other waiters as well as the hostesses were just rude. Also, they never gave me the a la cate menu, even though I asked for it, twice. My starter was the sea scallop. It came with a potato pure, ox tail ragu, and a nice helping of white truffle shavings. The scallop was tasteless, as were all the other parts of this terribly mismatched dish. Oh and I have never had truffles that taste like thinly clicked cardboard. I followed my unfortunate first with the lobster main. It was slightly more flavorful than the first dish, but nothing to write home about. It was well plated, mostly tasteless, misuse of ingredients. It seems this place is much more into presentation than making sure the food is flavorful enough to justify its price tag. For desert I had the cheese plate. I can make a much better one by picking up a few cheeses from my local food store. The highlight of the meal was a nickel sized honey comb that came with the cheese plate. Overall, if not for my waitress, I would have had a terrible time, but she kept bringing me their brown bread and making sure I was well taken care of. read more

"Can I get the salad with chicken or fish on top?" "No, we can't do that." "Okay, then can I have the fish gluten and dairy-free?" "Sure, no problem." Meal arrives on top gluten with yogurt sauce. Sent back. Replaced with a salad and the fish on top. Really? 2 stars because it's beautiful here. Food was not very good (after all that!) Pretty poor service with no apologies or willingness to accommodate my dietary issues or those of the people I dined with. Fail. read more

On our trip to Nantucket this past weekend we wanted one special dining experience and we chose Toppers. The restaurant is rated very highly, but it was really the overall experience that sold it for us. It started with a really nice boat cruise across the bay, in the company of about 20 other people who were also eagerly anticipating dinner. The drinks are definitely overpriced, but it's not often you are in this situation so you say why not. We were greeted on arrival at the dock by the hostess, and seated right away at the outside table we had requested. The view of the water isn't quite as good as we had expected, but it was nice all the same. Contrary to some other reviews, we found the service to be top notch and quite friendly. We knew coming in what the menu prices would be, but I could imagine someone stumbling into this place could go into immediate sticker shock. We opted for the three course prix fixe, mostly because the chef's tasting menu looked like too much food. My wife and I have a policy of always ordering something different from the other, so we make our own little tasting menu. She opted for the lobster with sea urchin infused risotto and I chose the striped bass as our entrees. Presentation of both was perfect, pretty much works of art. Very flavorful and the portions were a bit larger than expected. With this kind of meal I prefer to taste each part individually to get the full effect, and in this case that was a good strategy. Desserts were really good as well, and we were quite full afterwards, probably because they were so rich. The shot of hot chocolate will wake you right up. We didn't have any wine, but the wine list is huge and a bit intimidating. After dinner we went and sat on these big cushy lounge chairs on lawn and watched a fantastic sunset. You can bring your drinks over if you'd like which makes it even more relaxing. Finally it was time to head back on the boat. I highly suggest bringing a sweater if you are the type that gets chilled easily. They do put up the top on the boat but there is limited space underneath. Overall it was a great experience, but definitely not something I would (or could) do on a regular basis. read more

Got the burger it was damn good, as were the fries. They accommodate gluten-free. They bring little savory treats and Boston brown bread before your dinner and they are all great. The hamachi pizza, oysters and lobster roll were highlights. My sister did not like her appetizer (the duck egg, I liked it because I love eating poached eggs for the choline) nor did she like her dinner (poached lobster). Some dishes were amazing and some were not good at all. read more

Hands down one of the top 5 meals of my life!!! Decided to go there because its a preferred restaurant of American Express. Did not know I was walking into a seven course pre set tasting menu. You are seated by the hostess and the wine list is via IPAD! so cool and if you have any questions the sommelier is more than accommodating. Started out the night with $185 ounce of Golden Osetra caviar. Simply Amazing!! Waiter brought out free shots of premium vodka to pair with the caviar. The seven courses were amazing: Scallop Carpaccio, Foie Gras, Truffle Gnocchi, Poached Lobester were my favorite. Service was amazing and over the top, waiter (Dave) took extraordinary care of our table. Desserts were amazing also, the sorbets are all fresh and made in house, to die for. Dont expect to eat here if your on a beer budget. We were a party of four the bill came out to $960 with tip. Granted that was with two bottles of wine, the caviar, 3 out of the 4 of us had the three course tasting menu and I had the seven course. Chef actually gave me a signed menu after dinner thanking me for spending my evening with them. It was raining outside when we left and they actually gave us two umbrellas from the hotel (which they knew we were not staying at.) read more

Highly RECOMMEND the boat ride over..... its an amazing experience. They have a great bar selection on the boat..The food is good but very SMALL portions.The desert though is not worth it..... i was still hungry after dinner and by the time i got back into town i was starving Dont know why but the staff has always been RUDE and SNOTTY.....Worst attitude.... They should be happy working at such a beautiful place.... Indoor or outdoor if not for the boat ride, I would say never go and spend your money at the Galley. But it is an amazing experience, especially if its your first time on the island. read more

Wow. This place is simply awesome. Situated way out on the tip of Nantucket, this classic-styled location has some of the greatest views of the Nantucket Harbor possible. Get there for sunset, get a cocktail and a seat in the back, then enjoy an amazing meal inside. This will be a memory that you'll have for years. Can't wait to return. read more

View and setting are not to be missed. But waaaaaaaay over priced. And they annoyingly try to up sell supplements on top of insane prices. Worst of all the food was just so so. read more

Very disappointed, Nantucket has a lot of wonderful restaurants, I'd not waste my time eating dinner here. However, the wine was delicious and the oysters were amazing but the main courses were hardly edible, beautiful ambiance- if only the food could compare... One star is generous read more

Food is always good! Kids menu for lunch on the deck! I like the French fries and chicken! The lemonade is also cool and refreshing! I will ask my family to bring us again! read more

It only took me 27 years to make it out here but boy was it worth it. One of my best friends was flying in to town so I thought it'd be nice to get out on the water for the complimentary cruise over to Toppers at the Wauwinet. The boat launch from the White Elephant at 11 was convenient and the boat ride was just under an hour. The weather was marvelous and the seas were calm which made for such an enjoyable journey out. It was an awesome bonus to be able to sightsee some of the seaside mansions that can only be seen by boat. Upon arrival we ordered some brunch bevvies, I ordered the Topper's Benedict with truffle hollandaise and my friend had the lobster and crab cakes. We also shared an order of the hand cut fries with old bay salt and comeback sauce that I couldn't stop reaching for. A chef I knew was working and he was kind enough to come out to chat and comp a round of our drinks. After seeing an order of the brioche donuts brought to a table my friend was at, she convinced us to order them despite how full we felt. She convinced us to get them and it was a nice (and boujee) end to our meal complete with gold dusting. Overall, this was one of my most memorable dining experiences on island between the boat ride and brunch fare and gorgeous sights. The only negative thing to mention was that our server didn't realize we were on the boat shuttle back. We ended up having to track her down for the check so we wouldn't miss our ride home and then we had to rush down to the dock. That didn't take away from the overall enjoyment though :) read more

Topper's - Brioche Doughnuts with edible gold - New American Near Me - Nantucket, Massachusetts

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I really enjoyed my meal at this restaurant. Great service. I started off with Martha's Vineyard oysters with caviar which were delicious!!! I then had baked lobster tail which was very good. The dessert looked pretty but was blah and the sorbet quickly melted in the sun. This was my favorite meal during my stay on the island. You can catch their boat to the restuarant or take a van or drive yourself. Scenic spot!!! Worth the money! read more

Came here to set up for a renewal of vows and had some extra time so we got a drink and something to eat. Drinks were great! Had the painkiller and a friend had the green pony. Food was....okay. The tartar which a friend had was great, but another person had the short rib flatbread which had a lot of mushrooms on it which she said were not done nice. I just nibbled on fries and chips which were great. read more

Lovely atmosphere, excellent service, and a varietal menu. I had the three course of seasonal veggies, lobster and dessert. Although I forgot the meh dessert already, the chef's treats were all excellent. An expansive wine list and personable sommelier made pairings a pleasure. Would highly recommend giving Topper's another whirl if you've been away for a bit, or if you're new to it. read more

It is a little far away from downtown Nantucket. There is not much food option on the menu. However, I ate the lobster roll and it was good. The lobster was fresh and the bread was crunchy which I think is important for a lobster roll. What I like more about the restaurant was the view. It is walking distance from the beach and if you want to be romantic you can take the wine and seat on the beach. read more

What a ripoff. Tonight we attempted to patronize this establishment and were sorely disappointed. We sat outside and waited 30 min before a served approached who only stood behind us requiring us to crane our necks to engage her. She was quite impolite. We ordered drinks and asked for a menu. She said getting a menu would take awhile and wouldn't bring one before she delivered our drinks. 15 min later our drinks arrived, sans menu. I asked if we could order something. She walked to the next table who asked for a burger. I asked could we order the same. This was 30 min after we arrived. Cheeseburger not hamburger arrived. No silverware , no napkin, no table wipe down which was filthy. Two drinks and 2 burgers cost almost $200. It was t even packed. It wasn't even crowded. This place is so understaffed it's embarrassing. I get it. It's Covid but three tables around me all complained about the service to me and all acknowledging it was management based. This waitress was so overwhelmed. I live full time on island. Won't head back again. I'm no Karen. I work hard for an evening out. I serve ppl all week long. Toppers plz get it together. You won't last like this. read more

Fell flat. Sad to see them lose a step. Service was slow. The food was mediocre. Expect s higher standard from relais chateaux. Bright points were the fries, sommelier and shrimp and grits. Have been there a number of times over last 10 years. We were there for lunch. Arrived by boat and it took 100 minutes for lunch. Longer than expected read more

Beautiful setting, quiet, very well maintained, extremely well trained and attentive but unobtrusive staff. The prices are high but deservedly so; everyone dining here knows ahead of time to pay for a great evening. read more

Best meal we had while on vacation. Service gets 5 stars along with the food. Was also impressed at the portion size. Nothing disappointed. It even started to rain and we were quickly offered a table inside. read more

We were very disappointed with our experience . This has been challenging for all- but the Wauwinet / Toppers need to re evaluate their dining experience . We had some of the worse food we have had in years at Topper's last night. We would have liked to express our concern but our waitress was overwhelmed, didn't know menu and never returned to ask if it was a nice meal . I did reach out to Toppers to express my concern , but no such luck having anyone return my message. read more

I cannot say enough about Topper's, and the incredibly gracious and accommodating staff. My husband and I were married in a small ceremony on the island and our group of seven made reservations at Topper's for our wedding night dinner. Six of us enjoyed the phenomenal family-style lobster bake, and we couldn't have been happier with our choice. The presentation and pace was perfection, as was the champagne accompaniment (and the fact that our glasses were never empty!) The amount of food served was incredible, and the freshness of the oysters, lobster, steamers and sides was luxurious. My father-in-law raved about his lobster and crabcake meal, as well. Above all, the staff made our night one to remember. Leon, our server, was unobtrusive, but with a sense of humor that had our table in stitches; our Sommelier (whose name escapes me - apologies!) was knowledgeable and very helpful with our champagne choices, and everyone else that approached the table (to clear, to order cabs, to refill waters) was pleasant. Special shout out to Leon taking the time to wash our Waterford Crystal flutes in lemon and water personally - so very thoughtful! Topper's truly was the perfect end to a perfect day, and my husband and I are already looking forward to returning for our one year anniversary next year! read more