Beachcomber in Wellfleet — Restaurant in Wellfleet

The end of an Era?

The Beachcomber has always been one of my favorite spots on the Cape. The scenery, beach bar, and overall vibe have been unmatched. However, I’m sad to say it seems to be going downhill.

I recently brought two friends visiting from Texas to experience the beach vibes, seafood, and late-night entertainment on a Saturday. Unfortunately, the food was a letdown. Growing up on Cape Cod, I know good seafood, and while the Beachcomber’s food has never been top-tier, it has never been this bad. To make matters worse, the prices have skyrocketed—nearly $50 for a mediocre lobster roll served on a paper plate. That’s just not okay.

The service, on the other hand, was outstanding. Our waitress was lovely, but everything else was disappointing. We were informed around 7:30 PM that the kitchen would be closing in 10 minutes, which felt rushed, especially on a Saturday night. I inquired about how late the bar would be open since the live music is a highlight. Our server told us they’d stay open until 11 PM or 12 AM, depending on the band, but that the restaurant would shut down for an hour, and re-entry would require a $20 cover charge. We’d spent $160 on food and asked if we could show our receipt to re-enter for the bar and music, but she informed us they no longer honor that policy—something they definitely used to do.

Overall, the experience left a bad taste in my mouth (literally) and really saddened me. I had raved to my friends about the good times and great seafood, but we all left disappointed. I hate to say it, but it feels like the end of an era for the Beachcomber. I sincerely hope new management can step in and turn things around because I’d hate to see it continue to decline season after season.

I’m leaving this review in hopes that ownership will see it and make the necessary changes. Otherwise, I fear the Beachcomber may not be around for...

Having been to this place many times decades ago, we had to revisit and see how the place has evolved. After reading about all the 5 star reviews we had to see if the place held its true spirit. First of all they are very selective about who they allow into the restaurant. When we arrived there was a boy guarding the gate at the front of a long driveway of a coastal residential area. It was not like this back in the day. We had to pay him $20. for parking in exchange for a coupon to use at the restaurant. Ok, so this was not bad but what was disappointing was that when we drove down the driveway and saw the place (it has changed believe me)we came upon a tiny parking lot we all but burst out laughing. The restaurant now is basically a fast food stand (and not very sanitary) with some seafood selections and mainly caters to a teen crowd, you know, the entitled type and think they own the place. There were some older people, maybe the parents boozing it up on the patio, couldn't blame them. We were afraid to eat there so we just used the coupon for a souvenir. Honestly, we were not impressed and if you have any disability this place is not for you. The walk to the beach is down a cliff, a steep sandy angle (no decking or walkways or railings) and the return is impossible, you may need to call a lifestar. So, the resulting review is: it's more of a teen dream. This was definitely a blast from the past when it was free to go walk on the beach and grab a burger, but seeing it now was sad it had turned into a private snobby little country club on the beach that is about 2X4. Not what it used...

The Beachcomber is a unique Cape Cod experience that is as close as you will get to a Florida Keys bar in New England. While the food is average, the raw bar is often excellent, and the actual bar is very unique - especially if you sit overlooking the beach. The best part of the Beachcomber is the setting right on the beach - so if you go, take the time to climb down to Cahoon Hallow Beach and enjoy a slice of the Cape Cod National Seashore.

I give my review two stars for a simple reason: you need to pay $30 to park. They do this for a simple reason: to discourage people looking for free parking for a beach. You will however be refunded your $30 on your bill, provided you actually get a table and eat. But you should know that the combination of the beach and bar make this one of the busiest restaurants on the Outer Cape. I've sometimes shown up and been seated immediately, and other times have waited 90+ minutes for a table - or been turned away because my party was too large. While I've heard you can ask for a refund on parking, from other reviews here it doesn't seem like that is really the case.

But as long as you go into it accepting the risk of losing your $30 and possibly not getting a table, the Beachcomber can be a fun experience.

Addendum: You can see the owner's response below. The restaurant he is telling me to go to instead of his is Macs on Commercial Street in Wellfleet. If you haven't been, it is a great option: good food, good service, and nice setting on marsh. Oh, and you don't have to pay $30 to find out if you can...