I think it's important that I start out by saying this... Do not let the word Tavern, deter you from stopping at this dining staple, that has long been apart of the Hyannis restaurant industry... Yes there is a huge bar as you walk in, but!!! Even though there were quite a few gentlemen, (I'm willing to bet, they are locals, that come there for a cold beer and some awesome food. ) they weren't the loud, slapping the bar for another type. I didn't even hear a loud conversation coming from their direction as we waited for our table to be put together... You don't have to worry about bringing the whole famil either. Even grandma and her hearing aids, because you don't sit near the bar, In fact, they bring you to a dining room. I mention this, because my mom (71), her sister (63, who just had her last dose of chemo, a week ago) thier cousin (71, with a hearing problem) and my daughter (typical 8 yr old girl) are picky and were sceptical, but it didn't last...

Im starting here because, this is where they lost it and had no control, their senses took over and instead of keeping thier noses in the air like snobs, their nose was the first to take over, then their eyes and then finally their taste...

Ohhh my God, the chowder is amazing... Which by the way is one of our traditions when we come to the Cape, we try to find the best chowder, The Portside Tavern is #1 on my list. (They don't skimp on the bacon, I got some in every bite) I can't just tell you either, you have to see for yourself!!!!

I also had the Mac and cheese with lobster. Talk about comfort food, it's made with lots of local cheese and even the lobster (which you feel like you know the cook and got a hook up, because they give you some much lobster ) were the big sweet claws, that weren't baked to a crisp either and overcooked dry and hard, like you typically get served when you order this as a meal from other restaurants.

My mom got the haddock, my Aunt got the steak and their cousin got the potato skins, which they loved and by the way... My daughter (who is 8 and was exausted from the drive in from NY) was the only one who complained because, she ordered the pasta and sauce. She wasn't used to eating that thick of a pasta and I felt bad sending it back, because I even tasted it and there was nothing wrong with it...

She ended up getting the steak though and shr loved it. (I tried it and I can't wait to turn her left over's into a sald, if she let's me,lol) It's definitely aged, so it falls apart easily, has that amazing taste and it's huge.

Just one more thing about the food... When we ordered our chowder, Candy (our perfect waitress) brought us some bread and butter, but, before you think, "boring"... The bread was fresh soft and it's not just "butter"... There is some special ingredients, that Jason ended up sharing with us. (But I'll never tell, lol) We almost ate the whole platter of it, before I finally bugged him enough into divulging the secret recipe. Which by the way, I bet you can't guess, unless you have a seriously sophisticated palate.

Speaking of Candy and Jason... Candy was our waitress who I didn't even have to ask for a refill by the way, because as soon as it got to that point, (you know what I mean) she brought me out a fresh, soda. Jason was our Host (I'm guessing also management/maybe even owner) They couldn't have been more attentive and genuinely showed a interest in our dining experience. There was another gentleman that came over a couple of times but, unfortunately I didn't catch his name.

So I took the time to write this to help you make that important, sometimes even expensive decision about where to go to eat. We couldn't have been happier, with everything, the food the service and atmosphere was perfect. Since I ate too at much for dinner, I ordered my dessert to go, all this talking has me starving so I'm going to have it for breakfast with my coffee, but I found feel guilty by ending this by not urging you to go see for yourself... Enjoy my friends xo...