Get into The Nautilus Nantucket! ๐ฅ
The Nautilus Nantucket Reviews
The Nautilus - EXCELLENT Asian-flavors diner restaurant in Nantucket
Located in the quaint, picturesque Old Town section of Nantucket, The Nautilus is an EXCELLENT restaurant concentrating on a tasty variety of pan-Asian menu items. Nautilus is small, seating 42 people at any time (table seating for 24; bar seating for 18) and is very popular (Insiders tip: reservations are limited and can be difficult to obtain; bar seating is on a first come basis starting at 5:30 PM). We sampled a variety of foods and enjoyed everything that we tried: Cocktails (Sunburn Tequila cocktail; Momโs Maple bourbon drink) - both were excellent Scallion pancakes - very tasty Spicy tuna tartare with lettuce wraps - delicious! Spicy pork bao buns - MUST TRY YUM!! Crab fried rice - delicious! When visiting Nantucket, The Nautilus is MUST TRY delicious for diner! The food is delicious, and itโs a nice break from traditional Nantucket lobster dishes.
Can I give 0? Best restaurant in Nantucket ha ha ha.
Nope....scallion pancake/pork buns/crab rice not good. Ran out of all main entrees. Dan Dan noodles taste like ramen noodles drenched in soy sauce, $30+ for these is insane. Aftertaste is so bad, mouth so salty and can't taste anything but salt for the duration of my vacation. Wouldn't pay $5 for it. Don't recommend and highly don't recommend waiting for a resy go elsewhere. The way they time the food is outrageous. Apps after dinner wtf. They even added a kitchen service fee what is that? Figure it tf out nautilus
This place is pretty good.
It was a mix though because I had one of the best dishes I've ever had and also one of the worst of its kind. Start with the low point: the scallion pancake. It was dry, not flaky and more like chapati. It does not anywhere resemble scallion pancake. Stay away from this and you'll be fine. Now the best dish for me was the szechuan ribeye au poivre which we got as part of the table feast so you have to order early on since it takes awhile. It was possibly the best steak I've ever had!! It came with some fried potato strings which was so good and the steak itself was perfectly cooked and I love the crust on it. Some other standout dishes were the Xo clams, the tuna poke and crab fried rice. For the island this is a good place. It doesn't beat other Asian places for authenticity if this were in a big city per se. Still it's a good place and you definitely need to book in advance or it'll be hard to find a spot as they have limited seating. Music is kinda loud.
It was my sister's 70th birthday and we were so excited to
It was my sister's 70th birthday and we were so excited to get in without reservations. The food was delicious, but the chef in charge, Sarah Barlow, was very arrogant when I commented on the lack of cocoa powder on the pineapple tiramisu. She was very arrogant and flippant on the way it was prepared ...a take it our leave it attitude. Without the garnishment it tasted like baby food and by the way they don't give complimentary dessert to the birthday person.
GET IN LINE.
Wait for the bar. Eclectic vibe, warm inviting, a culinary experience - food quality is amazing! the bar company was fantastic, we met 2 lovely girls from London, designers who have their own store in Notting Hill. We also met 2 sisters who live on island periodically, lovely girls, met great people in line too. Great lively ambiance, craft cocktails. Worth the wait although we stood in line at 5PM to grab bar seats at 5:30p when they opened and it was worth it.
One of the few dining options available on the island
One of the few dining options available on the island during the off-season, so reservations are highly recommended. The restaurant itself is beautiful--thoughtfully designed, scenic, and well aligned with the charm of the town. We were greeted warmly and seated at a lovely window-side table, away from the hustle of the kitchen. Unfortunately, the service didn't live up to the setting. We did the roasted duck experience, which took about an hour to arrive after ordering. While the food was delicious, the pacing was frustrating. Mid-meal, we realized the bao buns weren't enough and requested more. It took another 20 minutes for them to arrive--by which point, we were nearly done eating. All in all, the ambiance and food were great, but the painfully slow service made the experience feel drawn out and exhausting.
Nautilus was hands down our favorite meal on the island.
The standout was the Peking duck -- priced at $155, it's definitely a splurge, but it could easily serve 2 to 4 people and was well worth it. We started with the shishito peppers, which were good but could have used a touch more salt. The scallion pancake wasn't quite what we were accustomed to/not a traditional Chinese scallion pancake -- it was more hard and crispy and wouldn't order again. We also had the poke, which was incredibly fresh and flavorful, definitely a top bite of the night! Overall, a memorable dining experience and a must-visit spot.
Overpriced & overspiced hodgepodge menu
Ughhh, trying way too hard to be unique with the dishes. Way too many flavor combinations. Overpriced and our server was disengaged. We ordered three items from the small plates and 2 of the large plates so we sampled a good amount. Seriously very disappointing meal.
And they do it again! Best food on the Island hands down ,
And they do it again! Best food on the Island hands down , Tempura oysters are the best, Just couldn't get enough. Must try ! Make a reservation if you're going during a peak time. Great staff and atmosphere !
Great food, a little over hyped? We got a seasonal sashimi
Great food, a little over hyped? We got a seasonal sashimi which was lack luster but we of course loved the whole duck - the sauces were fabulous.
Cozy and Delicious
30 minute wait and worth every second. It is cozy to say the least and the chefs are cooking away right in front of you. We were tucked into a rabbit hole on the south side of the bar, but that is kind of what makes Nautilus. The servers really have to perform a balancing act and they do a really good job. Dinner was so good that I wanted to go back the next evening. This one has it all.
What is your favorite meal on Nantucket? The duck at
What is your favorite meal on Nantucket? The duck at Nautilus. (Dear Yelp, 85 characters are not necessary for this view.)
Cocktails were delicious (tequila mockingbird).
The appetizers (street corn, Scalia pancakes, pork bao buns) and entrees (Dan dan pork noodles, chicken) were delicious. Good wine selection by the glass. Staff were friendly and helpful. We had a hard time getting reservations so appreciated that the bar is first come first serve with a waiting list. An absolute must for dinner
Big pro tip as I'm not one to gatekeep: reservations open
Big pro tip as I'm not one to gatekeep: reservations open up 7 days out at *midnight,* NOT 10am as advertised on their website... we unfortunately learned this the hard way and had to settle with a 9:30pm dinner which wasn't ideal. But hey, at least we got a table. Some notable dishes included the tempura oyster tacos, calamari, indonesian chicken drumettes and the dandan noodles. Fried rice was a bit disappointing. We were very tempted to go for one of the table feasts and it was a hard decision to make but ultimately decided against it and tried a bunch of small plates instead. All were tasty and had no regrets. Service was a bit weird. Very dark ambiance with loud music so not ideal for talking/catching up with friends. Still would've preferred an earlier seating (would've been a bit brighter and less hangry) but they were so packed and unable to accommodate, even on a Thursday evening.
The Nautilus was the number one spot I wanted to try on
The Nautilus was the number one spot I wanted to try on Nantucket and I was ECSTATIC we got a table (would definitely recommend a reservation, but we didn't have one so lined up 30 minutes before opening). Our waitress was fantastic and the vibes were trendy. Here is what we tried and how I would rate: - Kermit the frog cocktail (8/10) - Blue crab fried rice (8/10) - Blistered shishito peppers (9/10) - Tempura east coast oyster tacos (9/10) - Peking duck (10/10) A tip: Right when we sat down, we mentioned we wanted to order the Peking duck - highly recommend doing this right away if you want to try the duck because there is a limited quantity they serve. It was so delicious so highly recommend!! If I'm ever back on Nantucket, I'm coming back here no questions. :)
Great Nantucket Vibe
This restaurant had a friendly server and a nice lunch vibe. The tuna poke was spicy and delicious. Based on that, we would have given it 4 stars. However, the soft shell crab sandwich was a real disappointment. It was smothered with so much sauce that overpowered the crab. Definitely ask for the sauce on the side.
As advertised
Food was good but not worth the cost. Drinks were great but was very crowded and loud. Gets four stars because it wasnโt bud but not my kind of place.
Great menu and terrific staff! The food and drinks are
Great menu and terrific staff! The food and drinks are loaded with flavor. Don't miss the Crab rice and the steam bun duck! There is a line for reservations for a reason. We always try to go as early as possible and beat the crowd.
Truly just a fabulous spot! I was in Nantucket for the
Truly just a fabulous spot! I was in Nantucket for the first time over the summer and the Nautilus truly stunned.
This is notorious for being one of the hardest to come by
This is notorious for being one of the hardest to come by reservations on the island and we were able to snag one! Only down side is that the restaurant is pretty small so the table for 2 that we were going to sit at was squished in between two other tables - I mean literally could hardly fit between the two and I'm a small sized person. Fortunately, we asked to go to the bar and they were happy to accommodate so I was grateful for that! We ordered the pork belly buns, Szechuan style Dan Dan noodles and the blue crab fried rice. The buns had excellent flavor - the slightly sweet sauce with the tangy pickled veg and then the bun was perfectly textured. The noodles were also pretty delicious - not too spicy, and very soft and chewy. The crab fried rice is very well known and the truth is, it actually wasn't my favorite. There are large chunks of crab which is nice but the rice was mushy and the whole thing was a little too salty. Overall, it was a good restaurant and yummy with good presentation and flavor. Is it worth the impossible reservation? I don't think so, but I'm glad I got to try it.
If heaven had better food, God wouldn't have standing six
If heaven had better food, God wouldn't have standing six o'clock reservations on Thursdays.
This has always been one of our favorite places to go.
I'm not sure if it's under new ownership but quality has deteriorated significantly of late. Our food was under seasoned and took 45 minutes to come. The drinks lacked flavor and service was very inconsistent. I will try again next year and it lives up to our previous meals.
Food is excellent, mixed report on the vibe.
We had a 9:30 Rez on Friday night. Seated late, rushed to order, and generally a staff that was indifferent - in a " you are lucky you are here" way. But beware - small, jammed in and a room with six major speakers and a large sub woofer cranked such that you can not hear the folks you went to dine with. Clocked in at 95-120 db. Maybe the staff is indifferent because they are suffering from cumulative hearing loss. And hoping for an OSHA visit . How much better this would all be if you could enjoy the excellent food and the company you are with?
The Asian-inspired menu is excellent.
Best food on the island I think. The service is efficient and friendly and the cocktails are excellent. There's a great buzz in the restaurant too, so it's a fun atmosphere.
Poor customer service; we didn't have dinner here.
I usually disregard reviews where people don't even eat at the place but how this place treats customers is so bad it merits a review. They gave us a 2 hour wait time - not a big deal - we said we would walk around. Hostess said nope you have to wait here. Excuse me?!! No way - there's no space to sit or even stand. The bar was full and we had a baby. There is zero reason why they can't put our name down and call us when our table is ready. Or if they don't want to bother with calling people - then if we don't happen to be around then they could move to the next party on the list. (we would have come back and checked on our place in line multiple times) Their complete disregard for customer's time or comfort is outrageous. I don't care how good their food is - I'm sure it isn't that good - we won't be coming back.
The most creative small plates on Nantucket.
It is the best of creative small plates. Terrific and diverse menu. Every offering is beautifully presented and delicious in every way. The fried oyster tacos, the Vietnamese salad, the carrots, the prawns ala plancha, so many wonderful dishes. Go hungry and order as many items as you can handle. Great bar and wine list. What fun!
Another excellent time at The Nautilus! Reservations are
Another excellent time at The Nautilus! Reservations are always tough, so we got there early to sit at the bar. Fortunately, we were served by Rachael, whom had great drink and food recommendations. Blue Crab fried rice and Old Southern made a nice dinner experience. Atmosphere is lively and you won't regret dining at the bar. Just get in line and hope you get served by the talented and experienced Bartender Rachael!
Great meal, great service and wonderful venue! Elizabetta
Great meal, great service and wonderful venue! Elizabetta our server was terrific and welcoming. She did a tremendous job answering our questions regarding the menu. Each plate that was served was terrific...seasoned and cooked to perfection...from the shishito peppers to the tuna poke, oyster tacos, crab tacos and skirt steak w duck fat potatoes, everything was amazing. Highly recommend!
Incredible must have meal in Nantucket.
Crab fried rice I still dream aboutWorth the wait, worth the crazy Resy searching. Awesome cocktails too.
Oyster tacos and blue crab fried rice are amazing!! Service
Oyster tacos and blue crab fried rice are amazing!! Service and ambiance are both good as well
Delicious....but
Had a dinner here to celebrate my friends 50th birthday. It was delicious but similar flavors across dishes... The oyster tacos were a revelation and we ordered more. Was a little bit of heaven...so why 4 stars....much too noisy so appreciation of the foos was a solo effort
So nice we ate there twice!
I honestly have no words. I'm not an adventurous foodie, I'm often referred to as "Picky". We were visiting Nantucket from CA and this place blew my socks off. Everything we tried was amazing! We did not have reservations, it was a Tuesday night and our wait was maybe 20 min at the chefs bar. Cool spot, you can almost see all of the food prep while enjoying a glass of wine off their diverse wine list. We had the Shishito's, pork belly buns, pork riblets and Dan-Dan noodles. I'm 100% serious when I say amazing! Outstanding! We were walking out and I'm telling my husband we are coming back tomorrow to try the items we didn't try tonight. Sorry no pics - all that was left was empty plates
Can't go wrong at The Nautilus! Wish I could eat there
Can't go wrong at The Nautilus! Wish I could eat there every week. Food is awesome with tasty choices, drinks are super chill and service is always great.
Connect with users posting reservations for The Nautilus Nantucket
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If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to The Nautilus Nantucket at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the The Nautilus Nantucket page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $5.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $5.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* MaternalRecord73, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's bid.
* MaternalRecord73 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to MaternalRecord73 for any questions Peter may have as MaternalRecord73 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* MaternalRecord73 now uses their connections at The Nautilus Nantucket to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If MaternalRecord73 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, MaternalRecord73 receives the $5 reward which is credited to MaternalRecord73's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at The Nautilus Nantucket!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
