Waterfront Dining on Martha’s Vineyard Just Hits Different

I am currently enjoying my first experience on Martha’s Vineyard, and so far, the island is living up to the hype. As soon as the ferry docked and I was settled into Room 4 at the Nobnocket Boutique Inn, I was dying for some local cuisine, so the Fun 107 crew and I beelined it to Garde East and the experience was one for the books.

I was surprised to learn that there is a small selection of restaurants on the island with waterfront dining, and Garde East has the perfect, unobstructed view of the harbor. It was like having a front-row seat for your favorite band, but instead of music, it was the gentle waves and the cooing of birds.

Garde East offers inside dining, but for this time of year, their patio is the place to be. The smells of French-inspired cuisine floating from the kitchen assured me that we were about to enjoy a true, fine-dining experience, so we buckled up for the waterfront family-style menu.

It consisted of an array of starters like a decadent charcuterie board, bluefish pate, and pickled shrimp. The main course was an impressive seafood boil, filled with local seafood caught off the coast that day, paired with a whole roasted fish, and a barbeque half-chicken.

We finished the night off with a mouth-watering, frozen Key Lime pie as we watched a stunning sunset. I would have licked the plate if it wasn’t frowned upon.

If you are looking for a refined experience, Garde East will satisfy your craving for a truly special setting. And for the wine lovers, the restaurant boasts over 500 wine labels, being one of the most extensive wine programs on the island. Thank you to Stefan, our attentive waiter, and the talented head chef, Will Weaver, for giving me and the Fun 107 team an incredible, one-of-a-kind experience.