The Sweet Life Café — Restaurant in Oak Bluffs

10 years ago before Obama visited, this place was 5++ stars by previous owner/chef. Was the most memorable meal I ever had in a town not known for fancy restaurants (Oak bluffs is the casual, fun town). 10 years later, name remained the same but the owner/chef changed and now over-run by tourists due to Obama-effect -- we had the tasting menu, food was still pretty good but def not the same amazingness as back then. There were over-used themes recurring thru the dishes like smoked pepper sauce, pureed green sauce that doesn't do much to elevate the flavor, fatty bone marrow risotto with fatty wagyu steak does not help=fatty!; heavy handed on the salt (you do not ever need to salt scallops! it came from the sea already!) -- All that aside, the food was well-cooked and enjoyable but I no longer yearn to return like I did back then.

One final tip: if they have the potato gnocchi with duck confit -- get that! Probably the best well-flavored dish there is despite it sounding the most boring. The gnocchi was fluffy and the duck confit was actually not overly salty nor dry and the broth was excellent.

Drink Tip: the SHISO SOUR! Best thing ever -- Shiso is a slightly minty and citrusy herb in Japan that's usually served with sushi(aka seafood). Since a lot of their seafood dishes at Sweet Life lacked a citrus component, the shiso sour paired very well with any seafood dishes that they offer. So skip the wine, and order the shiso sour - $16, a hefty cocktail.

Atmosphere: AC minimal, ask for outdoor if plausible. Bathroom was a disgust for a white-handkerchief restaurant. They should be ashamed!

Attire: It's the Vineyard, casual is acceptable here despite being white-hankerchief.

Worth trying but be warned to not have high...

I have to second the sewage stench another reviewer mentioned!! It's absurd - it seems worse the closer to the bar you are on the patio. It wafts through whenever the back door opens which is constantly. Really disgusting. I was offended they sat me it what has to be known as the 'bathroom' seat and moved all the large parties to the far end where you're in the clear. Food-wise: I'm vegetarian and my waitress warned that the single option I had for entree would be less fulfilling than the meat courses for the same price. Not a good sign! If you are routinely getting feedback like that then do something about it; don't start dispensing 'beware' notices to guests before they eat. The sticky toffee pudding was served cold with a synthetic-tasting caramel. I asked for tea and they put such a small amount of water in the pot, it did not fill the tiny cup I was given and kept going cold. I had to repeatedly ask for more and could not leave the bag inside to brew since they kept having to replace it. It seemed like they didn't know...

This review is based on our experience having dinner in November 2023.

The Sweet Life was a truly surprise, an amazing hidden gem in Oak Bluffs, MV. The kitchen is audacious, their dishes show a genuine desire to take risks and whoever is in charge is delivering.

Portions are correct, enough. Every ingredient has a purpose, each one has its moment in the journey. The grilled octopus resembles an interpretation of the Spanish dish pulpo a la gallega. The ricotta cavatelli is like if you were eating pasta with a hint of key lime pie. The anchovies in the mafalde, shout here we are!, but just at the right moment. And then, at the very end, you think all is over, the chocolate budino blows your head off.

The service is attentive, simple, gracious. The ambiance, just like you'd expect from a place like this in MV. There's a disconnection with the 3-star menu and the rest of the place (not a complaint! is more like a compliment). You don't need the up-scale snobby set-up to deliver a...