Baxter's Boathouse — Restaurant in Barnstable

I’ve been going to Baxter‘s since I was a young child with my parents, and I have been bringing my daughters there for the last 40 years, and now I came alone this time. I have seen many changes with Baxters over the years, not their food or quality, but their business model. When I was a child, you could sit on the wharf and watch the eels eat the food that was thrown at them. Now that wharf turned into several disjointed wharf's, lots of lower docks for boats to park at, and not a clear view of the water much anymore. Aside from that, the business model now is to have you sit at a table, either on the wharf, or inside, and be served by a server. We used to be able to go in and order our food, stand and wait for it, and take it out on the wharf and eat it. But now their business model is to serve everyone with a server, with expensive prices for the food to begin with, and now you have to add a tip. Props to my server who was excellent, and everything else about Baxter‘s was positive, but I feel like corporate greed has overtaken their better judgment as to how to run the business. Also, my food came with plasticware instead of real silverware, paper plates instead of glass plates, and disposable cups for drinks. I would expect for $34 for a fish and chips dinner, that they could at least step up their game and provide better cutlery and dishes. I really just wanted to have the experience of going to a clam shack that they were similarly like years ago, and grab my food, and find a seat. While the food is excellent, the business...

My uncle has told me so much about this place so I just had to check it out for myself. I now understand what the hoopla was all about. I ordered Captain Baxter's seafood platter without any substitutions. Food tasted fresh and though deep fried had a great balance of fried and tasty. Some places ruin the food when frying but this place enhanced the food.The seafood was crispy and still had that snap to it no rubbery challenges. I was so into my platter I forgot to take a picture until it was an empty plate.So I took a picture of the steamers and after inhaling my food I had a Captain's punch that was so good I almost literally choked it down after I took a picture. The steamers were great with drawn butter. Service was good very polite and respectful. A lot for parking was available but it was so busy not many parking places were available. The experience and food were so good. I went back to baxters the very next afternoon and had the broiled seafood platter which is essentially the captain Baxter's platter just not fried. I went to take a picture of my plate and coincidentally my phone shuts off. After SMH I started my phone to see what's going because I had a decent amount of battery left. Anyway the food was just as good as the very first time. I will be back here and...

Atmosphere Harbor views:** The restaurant faces the harbor, providing a steady passage of boats in and out of the marina. Watching the activity add a dynamic backdrop to the meal. Sun exposure:** The south-facing orientation means plenty of sunshine, which contributed to a bright, cheerful dining environment.

Service Quality of service:** The staff were very good—inviting, friendly, and attentive. Speed:** Food delivery was prompt, which was appreciated during our business trip.

Food Shrimp cocktail appetizer:** The shrimp were notably large, making for an impressive start to the meal. Fried Fish Sandwich:** Portion size: Generous, a solid value. Bun quality: Fresh, with a good texture—one of the most important elements of a great sandwich. Fish: Clean white fish, perfectly fried. Fries:** The accompanying fries were simple chips and didn’t stand out, but complemented the main items without distraction.

Overall impression The experience aligned well with what we were seeking for our business trip to Hyannis: solid food, attentive service, and a pleasant harborside atmosphere. If you’re after a reliable, no-nonsense dining spot with nice harbor views and dependable service, Baxter’s Boathouse...