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    Whaleback Restaurant

    4.3 (172 reviews)
    ModerateBars, Seafood
    Closed 12:00 pm - 8:00 PM

    Whaleback Restaurant Photos

    WHALEBACK RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Divey
    Moderate noise
    Good for dancing
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Whaleback Restaurant

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    David K.

    One reason to come here is the cheap prices. For example, $9 fish&chips, which I read somewhere they haven't changed the price in 20 years! $22 for fried clam plate is cheap these days when up to $38 is not unheard of. Lobster rolls, $18, is also considered cheap. Another reason could be if you enjoy the ambience of an old-fashioned dive bar. The bar totally dominates the room, with just a few tiny tables squeezed against the walls on three sides, and a huge TV over the bar which was tuned to golf that day. It was pretty full when I arrived, with almost everybody sitting at the bar. I chose a table. There's also a large outdoor space with a few diners but it was too windy and bright for me. Order at the bar and they bring the food when it's ready. I ordered a fried clam plate and a ginger ale. The portion was certainly adequate for the price, the batter was light and crunchy, and the clams were fresh. However, the big flaw: the larger of the clams - they varied in size - were unpleasantly undercooked. Does anybody like them like that? Not me. I left a few of the largest ones uneaten. The fries were, no other way to put it, awful. Soggy and tasting of nothing but frying oil. No cole slaw served with this, though it's available as a side. On the positive side, the waitress / bartender was really nice and welcoming to me. Service was fast so you won't waste much of your day if you stop for quick lunch. And the prices, as I mentioned. So 2 stars for the food: the quality and lack of cole slaw. Are the friendliness, ambience, and prices enough to make up for this? Maybe? So I'm adding a star. It's doubtful I'd ever go back but if I do I hope I remember to request the clams cooked well-done. But in truth I might be growing tired of clams.

    Stuffed Scallop - $6
    Maria L.

    Food was excellent-- Fish was super fresh and moist. My server was friendly and accommodating. Ambiance is quaint and you can tell the establishment is well loved through loyal and continuing patronage. Would highly recommend.

    Front door of the whaleback.
    Joe K.

    Rated second best dive bar on the cape. Small but great seafood , drinks and bartender. Prices out of the 90's Ill be back

    Christmas cookie martini ! Mind blowing and great price

    I'm so happy to have this local place to go for a quick bite and cocktail after a long day at work . The fried scallop roll with its buttery toasted bun is my favorite go to and this Christmas cookie martini was epic and incredibly priced !

    Seafood platter w a few missing piece's

    Really quaint lively dive bar. Service was good and the food was even better. We had the seafood platter and was shocked at how much food was on it. Two people eating on it and still didn't eat it all. Visiting from out of state, so not familiar with the area but could tell it was almost all locals here. Really hoping to hit this place again before taking back off for home.

    LOBSTER ROLL!!! Nom nom nom
    Grace D.

    We were in town for a wedding and one of the souvenir shops in Onset told us we needed to check this place out if we were looking for lobster rolls. And when a local tells you to check a place out...you do it. And soooo glad we did! I LOVED THIS PLACE!!! It's this small establishment with the bar in the middle and surrounding bar tables along the walls. The bartender was...AWESOME!!! She was super attentive to every customer in that space and had the BEST personality! She was hilarious and just overall awesome! And fellow Buckeye! O-H! I-O! She enhanced our experience a great deal! The local souvenir shop lady was NOT KIDDING. These lobster rolls were AMAZING! The roll was buttery soft and the lobster was so plentiful for a really affordable price!!! I would have normally expected it to be a lot more expensive, but again...the local lady said..."you will NOT find another lobster roll at this price that is really good..." And she was right! The whole experience was so awesome...I HIGHLY recommend going to this place if you're in the area and are wanting to try some delicious lobster rolls. Thanks to the entire staff at Bob O'Malley's! You're place was FANTASTIC!

    $2.00 "takeout" charge for 2 plates

    Disappointed!! We've been here several times and always great ... until today. Called at 5:09 pm to order takeout, was told "just come in it'll only take 10 minutes". Arrived at 5.15 and placed order at 5:19. Waited, waited, waited .... at 5:50 asked about my "10 minute" order, was told it was next. Finally got my order at 5:57 (making me 20 minutes late for work). Paid $21 for 12 small clams?!?!?! And also a $2 takeout charge?? What was my favorite seafood place deeply disappointed us. Maybe we'll try again after Labor Day, maybe we'll find someplace better.

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    7 months ago

    Awesome everything ! Great prices. Want to taste everything on the menu. Love the bar. Nothing there not to love!

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Best Fish and Chips around. Nice light batter. No better price anywhere. Great local clientele

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    11 months ago

    Locals place with few tables and subpar food... there is no reason to go out of your way to try this place.

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Portion are excellent and food is delicious fast service . Hometown feel great cocktail and outside seating very cozy

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    1 year ago

    Fish and chips $9 wonderful meal. First time there. Will definitely go again!!!Scallops next time or seafood plate.

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    Closed on weekends?!?!

    Was closed for renovation but open now at noon 7 days a week.

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    Seafood Sam's - Jumbo hot lobster roll

    Seafood Sam's

    3.9(420 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I have eaten here for decades. Food is always fresh,…read moreexcellent fry , not greasy, oily. Scallops fresh as eating out of sea daily . Onions rings nice fry , crunch. Cole slaw perfect creamy moist. Popcorn shrimp tender fresh... Draft beers nice selection, The owners update the restaurant annually to a keep it clean, updated decorative atmosphere. I consider this seafood some of best I ever eat at many New England clams, restaurants from Connecticut to Maine .... I eat regularly when in the area at the Sandwich or Falmouth locations. Sandwich located directly on the Canal with great scenic views and fresh air.

    I stopped at Sam's Seafood after seeing on their website that they're famous for their lobster…read morebisque, but overall the experience was pretty mediocre. The lobster bisque was disappointing and quite bland, especially given the hype. We also ordered a cup of clam chowder and it barely had any clams in it and was also very bland. I ordered a lobster roll and a separate order of onion rings as well. The lobster roll was just okay , the lobster itself was cooked well, but there wasn't a lot of meat for the price, so it didn't feel like a great value. The onion rings were fine but nothing special. The setup is more of a quick-service style: you order at the counter, get a buzzer, sit down, and then go pick up your food when it's ready. It's convenient enough if you're looking for something fast and casual, but between the bland bisque and chowder and the average lobster roll, it's not a place I'd go out of my way to visit again. I probably wouldn't stop here next time.

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    Outside

    Fishermen's View Seafood Market

    Fishermen's View Seafood Market

    4.1(59 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    showed up around 6 got told it would be a 35 minute wait, we got a text 15 minutes in that our…read moretable was ready. absolutely stunning patio with a stunning crew. everyone was smiling and enjoying the music. the food was delicious and fresh. our cake was "late" and they comped it even though they definitely did not need to. 10/10 will be returning and recommending to anyone that will listen.

    Absolutely unacceptable experience…read more We were forced to wait for an hour and a half, only to be told that we were no longer on the waiting list when we checked back. This is completely unacceptable and reflects extremely poor organization. When I asked the hostess to speak with the manager, she arrogantly replied, "I am the manager." Her attitude was rude, dismissive, and completely unprofessional. They insisted they had sent me a text message, but I never received one. I even showed them my phone to prove there was no message, and their response was, "That's not our problem." Instead of trying to resolve the issue, they chose to blame the customer and showed absolutely no concern. The level of disrespect we experienced was shocking. The staff clearly have no regard for customer service or basic courtesy. Being treated this way after waiting 90 minutes is unacceptable. I will never return, and I would strongly discourage anyone from supporting a business that treats its customers with such disrespect

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    Fishermen's View Seafood Market - Grilled cheese picnic box

    Grilled cheese picnic box

    Fishermen's View Seafood Market - Potato salad by the pound

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    Tree House Brewing - The pours start here

    Tree House Brewing

    3.8(152 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$
    Free WiFi
    Outdoor seating

    Great location but a bit disorganized. The weather is gorgeous today but only 1 of the 3 bars is…read moreopen so everyone's upstairs waiting in line. Perhaps they only open the other bars on weekends.

    Fantastic location right on the water at Cape Cod Bay. Main building is two levels with a bar on…read moreeach level. Big beer menu list if you love IPAs. I don't so not a lot left. They DID have one porter that was only served at the lower bar, which was closed. Really? 8 IPAs upstairs and you choose to put the porter downstairs? Whatever. No ambers, no reds. No N/A sodas or other drinks except Treehouse products which included a few seltzers. Food is set up in out buildings off the patio. Pizza was by the slice only and is really good if you like New Haven style. My wife thought it tasted like Tombstone so to each their own on that. They also had lobstah rolls available with their "treehouse style" butter dip that had a spicy flavor. No other food except bags of kettle chips. Outdoor seating is great if the weather cooperates. Canopies provide some shade. Plenty of seating indoors especially when the patio gets full. Overall we found the location and setting to be stellar, the food to be limited, and the beer variety anemic. Still worth a stop if in the area. Parking is very limited but they have a remote lot with a shuttle bus.

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    Lobstah Roll

    Whaleback Restaurant - bars - Updated July 2026

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