Dined at Topper’s several weeks ago with a group of friends. There were five of us and we all ordered the lobster roll that came with a side salad. Upon receiving our salads, we all noticed tiny green bugs, dead within the lettuce. One friend actually had bugs that were still alive, including a wiggly slug. I quietly informed the waiter and he apologized and went to grab a ‘manager’. As it turns out the ‘manager’ Luke came over and matter of factly let us know that bugs in the food at Topper’s was a completely normal occurrence due to the freshness of their produce. He doubled down on this information by offering to replace our bug-filled salads with more salad. He never once apologized and actually ended up making us wonder what had just happened at this well-known dining establishment in Nantucket. I think that if I’m going to pay almost $50 for a lobster roll, my salad could have at least been washed and prepared in a way that didn’t involve creatures crawling in it. Upon leaving I stopped by the front desk and asked for a manager to give me a call, leaving my name and phone number. I was informed that someone named Jennifer Hudson would be calling and that bugs in the food was unacceptable. Twice more, I called Topper’s and left a message and have still received no response. I even wrote an email describing our experience with no response.
To add insult to injury we also took the shuttle from town up to the Wauwinet so that we could have this lunch and the driver of our shuttle was actively using and watching his cell phone in the cupholder while he was driving us. I have video of him skipping commercials as I was sitting behind him in the van. I also mentioned this lack of safety and it has received no response.
Topper’s was the one bad experience that I had in Nantucket. What a disappointment and lack of accountability on their part.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
RP Lindeman
Best accessed by boat. First rate food and service. Cannot beat the location
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tiffany Romanello
The food here was good but let me tell you about this salad!
Don’t miss out on the best dish you’ll ever put in your mouth. The kale and cabbage salad! Despite the very unassuming name, it was the best salad I’ve ever had in my whole life and I would go back to Nantucket just for this (I wouldn’t split with my husband next time). Just trust me and get it! Still thinking about it days later.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jim Alford
Had a great meal. Shanice was our waitress and she was amazing. They have a great wine list, literally over a 1000 options. The food was great. The best part is that my wife has many allergies and when I made our reservation I made mention of these and they had them prepped, relayed them to us and were able to her modify dinner and did a great job the whole time making sure that we knew they were aware of the allergies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Natasha Mathias
Great place on a good day when the sunshine’s! Good cocktails, decent service. Sunday brunch in the closed patio with friends on a rainy day. Bacon was perfectly browned and crispy. The brunch entrees seemed terribly overpriced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Lady Like
Beautiful scenic venue but poor service n even worse food. We were a party of 8 celebrating a special occasion that almost got ruined because at the end of the night they could not bring us the bill (due tob PIS system failure!!) . We waited more than an hour after dinner while they did not even comp us or offer us coffee. They finally gave us our bill on a pink sticky note with just a total ($1567.00 to be exact). When we wanted to see the itemized bill the manager hand-wrote on napkins but they were full of erroneous over billing. They still did not comp us with ANYTHING! We corrected the bill , left 20% gratuities n politely left. Now the food was exorbitantly overpriced. Steaks were super dry ( med rare), fries were very salty. desserts were mediocre at best, all outrageously overpriced . The sommelier was very rude but our waitress Abbey was nice but could only. do so much. Overall we do not recommend this place. Go get a drink if you must go there, walk around the property by the water, take photos n have dinner elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
Daddy Cool Dallas
We took the 5:00 pm ride on the Wauvinet Lady from the White Elephant in town to the Wauvinet Hotel. We were told that this was the last ride of the season. The boat was fairly basic and small. We expected something with a little more character. We were a little packed in. Some folks had rain jackets on and that was the right call since during the ride there were a few times when we got splashed by salty water. The captain pulled a canopy in the front of the boat and that helped. I would not wear one's finest as my jacket got smudged at a few places while on the little boat.
Our dinner was at 6:00 pm. We requested to be seated under the awnings where the heaters kept us warm. We chose to have the following appetizers- The day boat scallops - 5/5 Probably one of the best scallops we have had. Well prepared, plopped on a decadent corn bisque, and topped with miso sauce. Absolutely delicious. The asparagus ravioli - 4/5 Looked great. Taste was good too. But expected it to lean more towards the asparagus, where was the dish was actually leaning more towards ricotta ravioli. For the entrees we had - Lobster - 3/5 Good but not great Sea bass - 5/5. Very well done. Crispy skin, with soft flesh. The bean minestrone (more like a brodo) was wonderful. For desert we had - Peach pavlova - 5/5 very delicious Chocolate desert - 3/5 Good, but not great
Most of the food not only tasted well, the way they were presented would rival the looks of dishes at restaurants that posses 2-3 Michelin stars.
Dennis, the Somm, helped us select a lesser known bottle of white wine from the basque region which was lovely. David the manager was very nice and attentive. Our server was lovely as well.
Once the sun set, the sky was ablaze in a sockeye salmon red. We left our table a few times to take pictures by the water with that amazing sky in the background.Overall, we had an amazing experience. We eschewed the return boat ride and just took a ride back to town. During our next visit to the island we will definitely dine here, but perhaps skip the boat ride.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Wolfram Radke
Topper's (both the main restaurant and the deck) are Nantucket fixtures and not without reason. The location is simply second to none, as is the service. The food is definitely above average but, perhaps, not quite spectacular. The wine list, and the support by the sommelier, however, are. As with many restaurants (and hotels) the service level depends on sound leadership and teamwork. At the Wauwinet, the management is clearly at the top of their game and this shows.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Michael Sher
The best restaurant on Nantucket. Wonderful wine list. Great service. Seafood and fish are fresh, local, and expertly prepared. Do not miss cocktails on the lawn before dinner. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bob Kelley
Food was good but not great. The service was incredible. Our lead server, Adam, and his crew could not have been more attentive. The facilities and the grounds are beautiful. Perfect sunset on the harbor on a chilly August evening. If you are seated inside it’s a fixed three-course menu. If you are seated outside on the porch they offer an alternative more casual deck menu. The cellular service in the area is spotty at best so plan ahead if you use Uber.
If you’re coming to Nantucket expecting an unforgettable culinary experience at one of its so-called “best restaurants,” Topper’s will leave you disappointed—and lighter in the wallet. It’s a perfect example of how prestige and a beautiful setting can mask what’s essentially a flavorless, overpriced meal. A Negroni came to the table with no mention that it included Monkey 47, jacking the price up to $31—without so much as a heads-up. That’s not luxury; that’s a sneaky upsell. A basic courtesy like disclosing top-shelf swaps? Nonexistent. Dish after dish came out looking the part—plated beautifully, sure—but with zero depth of flavor. Seasoning? Missing. Acidity? Nonexistent. Texture? Flat. For a place flaunting Relais & Châteaux status, it’s baffling how bland and uninspired every bite felt. You keep waiting for something to pop, to challenge your palate, to even register on your tongue—and it never does. At this price point, you expect a meal that will either elevate your palate or at least feel like it justifies the cost. This did neither. You’re not paying for a culinary experience—you’re paying for a fancy table with a water view and a name that sounds important. If you’re under 60 or actually care about flavor, energy, or connection, the vibe here feels stale and performative. Polished service, sure—but robotic. No warmth, no spark. Just formality without feeling. Whether you’re a chef, a foodie, or just someone who wants flavor and authenticity, Topper’s fails to deliver on every level that matters. It’s not just disappointing—it’s insulting to pay these prices for food this flat. If Nantucket’s culinary scene wants to live up to its rep, it needs to stop coasting on legacy names and actually serve food with soul.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
N.
If you work for your money you may want to choose to go somewhere else. Second time we've been to Topper's in the last two weeks. Spent over $1200 combined in those two meals - once was just two people ($400+) and once was with five people ($800+). Both times, food was good and service was TERRIBLE! Fool me twice, shame on me, I suppose.
First visit, waiter was slow and highly inattentive - acted as if it the restaurant was somehow doing us a favor to allow us to be there while we were the ones paying to eat there.
Second visit (the $800+ dinner), service was again slow, but his time (sarcasm coming) at least they cleared our table before we were finished with our evening - all we did was get up to go take a family sunset photo (like nearly every other table around us had previously done without having their table cleared)! Granted, we'd finished our food, but we still had glasses on the table containing the overpriced sparkling water we'd ordered. Also, we had not even asked for the check yet, and when we came back to discover our table was completely cleared and being set for the next guests our check wasn't even there!!!
I suppose we could have just dined and dashed at that point (sure didn't seem as if the waiter cared if we were even there anymore), but being reasonable, we stopped our waiter and asked for our check. Then, the FIVE of us had to stand in front of the whole restaurant (because we no longer had a table at which to sit!!!) waiting for our waiter to return with our check. We still tipped him more than 20+%, so maybe he can remember what it feels like to get his last tip ever from guests who appreciate great service, DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE that great service, and felt sorry for their waiter because he didn't seem to know any better than an amateur country club summer server how to treat patrons paying a small fortune to eat at his restaurant!
I guarantee that will be the last dollar he or Topper's ever gets from us! I work for my money and don't piss away over $1200 across two meals to stand for some snooty, arrogant, overpriced place to act as if they're somehow doing me a favor by allowing my family and I to eat in their restaurant!
Topper's quickly sank to the BOTTOM of our Nantucket restaurant list!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
Sue Zibelli
A very pleasant dining experience from the moment you arrive. The open-air setting adds a relaxed yet elegant vibe, while the attention from the staff makes you feel welcomed and cared for right away. A memorable evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Diane
Amazing .. food service and staff. Dave is wonderful always very accommodating. Whether you’re eating inside or on the deck it’s just a beautiful spot to be.
Dined at Topper’s several weeks ago with a group of friends. There were five of us and we all ordered the lobster roll that came with a side salad. Upon receiving our salads, we all noticed tiny green bugs, dead within the lettuce. One friend actually had bugs that were still alive, including a wiggly slug. I quietly informed the waiter and he apologized and went to grab a ‘manager’. As it turns out the ‘manager’ Luke came over and matter of factly let us know that bugs in the food at Topper’s was a completely normal occurrence due to the freshness of their produce. He doubled down on this information by offering to replace our bug-filled salads with more salad. He never once apologized and actually ended up making us wonder what had just happened at this well-known dining establishment in Nantucket.
I think that if I’m going to pay almost $50 for a lobster roll, my salad could have at least been washed and prepared in a way that didn’t involve creatures crawling in it.
Upon leaving I stopped by the front desk and asked for a manager to give me a call, leaving my name and phone number. I was informed that someone named Jennifer Hudson would be calling and that bugs in the food was unacceptable. Twice more, I called Topper’s and left a message and have still received no response. I even wrote an email describing our experience with no response.
To add insult to injury we also took the shuttle from town up to the Wauwinet so that we could have this lunch and the driver of our shuttle was actively using and watching his cell phone in the cupholder while he was driving us. I have video of him skipping commercials as I was sitting behind him in the van. I also mentioned this lack of safety and it has received no response.
Topper’s was the one bad experience that I had in Nantucket. What a disappointment and lack of accountability on their part.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Best accessed by boat. First rate food and service. Cannot beat the location
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food here was good but let me tell you about this salad!
Don’t miss out on the best dish you’ll ever put in your mouth. The kale and cabbage salad! Despite the very unassuming name, it was the best salad I’ve ever had in my whole life and I would go back to Nantucket just for this (I wouldn’t split with my husband next time). Just trust me and get it! Still thinking about it days later.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a great meal. Shanice was our waitress and she was amazing. They have a great wine list, literally over a 1000 options. The food was great. The best part is that my wife has many allergies and when I made our reservation I made mention of these and they had them prepped, relayed them to us and were able to her modify dinner and did a great job the whole time making sure that we knew they were aware of the allergies.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place on a good day when the sunshine’s! Good cocktails, decent service. Sunday brunch in the closed patio with friends on a rainy day. Bacon was perfectly browned and crispy. The brunch entrees seemed terribly overpriced.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Beautiful scenic venue but poor service n even worse food. We were a party of 8 celebrating a special occasion that almost got ruined because at the end of the night they could not bring us the bill (due tob PIS system failure!!) . We waited more than an hour after dinner while they did not even comp us or offer us coffee. They finally gave us our bill on a pink sticky note with just a total ($1567.00 to be exact). When we wanted to see the itemized bill the manager hand-wrote on napkins but they were full of erroneous over billing. They still did not comp us with ANYTHING! We corrected the bill , left 20% gratuities n politely left. Now the food was exorbitantly overpriced. Steaks were super dry ( med rare), fries were very salty. desserts were mediocre at best, all outrageously overpriced . The sommelier was very rude but our waitress Abbey was nice but could only. do so much. Overall we do not recommend this place. Go get a drink if you must go there, walk around the property by the water, take photos n have dinner elsewhere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 2
We took the 5:00 pm ride on the Wauvinet Lady from the White Elephant in town to the Wauvinet Hotel. We were told that this was the last ride of the season. The boat was fairly basic and small. We expected something with a little more character. We were a little packed in. Some folks had rain jackets on and that was the right call since during the ride there were a few times when we got splashed by salty water. The captain pulled a canopy in the front of the boat and that helped. I would not wear one's finest as my jacket got smudged at a few places while on the little boat.
Our dinner was at 6:00 pm. We requested to be seated under the awnings where the heaters kept us warm. We chose to have the following appetizers-
The day boat scallops - 5/5 Probably one of the best scallops we have had. Well prepared, plopped on a decadent corn bisque, and topped with miso sauce. Absolutely delicious.
The asparagus ravioli - 4/5 Looked great. Taste was good too. But expected it to lean more towards the asparagus, where was the dish was actually leaning more towards ricotta ravioli.
For the entrees we had -
Lobster - 3/5 Good but not great
Sea bass - 5/5. Very well done. Crispy skin, with soft flesh. The bean minestrone (more like a brodo) was wonderful.
For desert we had -
Peach pavlova - 5/5 very delicious
Chocolate desert - 3/5 Good, but not great
Most of the food not only tasted well, the way they were presented would rival the looks of dishes at restaurants that posses 2-3 Michelin stars.
Dennis, the Somm, helped us select a lesser known bottle of white wine from the basque region which was lovely. David the manager was very nice and attentive. Our server was lovely as well.
Once the sun set, the sky was ablaze in a sockeye salmon red. We left our table a few times to take pictures by the water with that amazing sky in the background.Overall, we had an amazing experience. We eschewed the return boat ride and just took a ride back to town. During our next visit to the island we will definitely dine here, but perhaps skip the boat ride.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Topper's (both the main restaurant and the deck) are Nantucket fixtures and not without reason. The location is simply second to none, as is the service. The food is definitely above average but, perhaps, not quite spectacular. The wine list, and the support by the sommelier, however, are. As with many restaurants (and hotels) the service level depends on sound leadership and teamwork. At the Wauwinet, the management is clearly at the top of their game and this shows.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
The best restaurant on Nantucket. Wonderful wine list. Great service. Seafood and fish are fresh, local, and expertly prepared. Do not miss cocktails on the lawn before dinner. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was good but not great. The service was incredible. Our lead server, Adam, and his crew could not have been more attentive. The facilities and the grounds are beautiful. Perfect sunset on the harbor on a chilly August evening. If you are seated inside it’s a fixed three-course menu. If you are seated outside on the porch they offer an alternative more casual deck menu. The cellular service in the area is spotty at best so plan ahead if you use Uber.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
If you’re coming to Nantucket expecting an unforgettable culinary experience at one of its so-called “best restaurants,” Topper’s will leave you disappointed—and lighter in the wallet. It’s a perfect example of how prestige and a beautiful setting can mask what’s essentially a flavorless, overpriced meal. A Negroni came to the table with no mention that it included Monkey 47, jacking the price up to $31—without so much as a heads-up. That’s not luxury; that’s a sneaky upsell. A basic courtesy like disclosing top-shelf swaps? Nonexistent. Dish after dish came out looking the part—plated beautifully, sure—but with zero depth of flavor. Seasoning? Missing. Acidity? Nonexistent. Texture? Flat. For a place flaunting Relais & Châteaux status, it’s baffling how bland and uninspired every bite felt.
You keep waiting for something to pop, to challenge your palate, to even register on your tongue—and it never does. At this price point, you expect a meal that will either elevate your palate or at least feel like it justifies the cost. This did neither. You’re not paying for a culinary experience—you’re paying for a fancy table with a water view and a name that sounds important. If you’re under 60 or actually care about flavor, energy, or connection, the vibe here feels stale and performative. Polished service, sure—but robotic. No warmth, no spark. Just formality without feeling. Whether you’re a chef, a foodie, or just someone who wants flavor and authenticity, Topper’s fails to deliver on every level that matters. It’s not just disappointing—it’s insulting to pay these prices for food this flat.
If Nantucket’s culinary scene wants to live up to its rep, it needs to stop coasting on legacy names and actually serve food with soul.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
If you work for your money you may want to choose to go somewhere else. Second time we've been to Topper's in the last two weeks. Spent over $1200 combined in those two meals - once was just two people ($400+) and once was with five people ($800+). Both times, food was good and service was TERRIBLE! Fool me twice, shame on me, I suppose.
First visit, waiter was slow and highly inattentive - acted as if it the restaurant was somehow doing us a favor to allow us to be there while we were the ones paying to eat there.
Second visit (the $800+ dinner), service was again slow, but his time (sarcasm coming) at least they cleared our table before we were finished with our evening - all we did was get up to go take a family sunset photo (like nearly every other table around us had previously done without having their table cleared)! Granted, we'd finished our food, but we still had glasses on the table containing the overpriced sparkling water we'd ordered. Also, we had not even asked for the check yet, and when we came back to discover our table was completely cleared and being set for the next guests our check wasn't even there!!!
I suppose we could have just dined and dashed at that point (sure didn't seem as if the waiter cared if we were even there anymore), but being reasonable, we stopped our waiter and asked for our check. Then, the FIVE of us had to stand in front of the whole restaurant (because we no longer had a table at which to sit!!!) waiting for our waiter to return with our check. We still tipped him more than 20+%, so maybe he can remember what it feels like to get his last tip ever from guests who appreciate great service, DIDN'T EVEN RECEIVE that great service, and felt sorry for their waiter because he didn't seem to know any better than an amateur country club summer server how to treat patrons paying a small fortune to eat at his restaurant!
I guarantee that will be the last dollar he or Topper's ever gets from us! I work for my money and don't piss away over $1200 across two meals to stand for some snooty, arrogant, overpriced place to act as if they're somehow doing me a favor by allowing my family and I to eat in their restaurant!
Topper's quickly sank to the BOTTOM of our Nantucket restaurant list!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 1
A very pleasant dining experience from the moment you arrive. The open-air setting adds a relaxed yet elegant vibe, while the attention from the staff makes you feel welcomed and cared for right away. A memorable evening.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing .. food service and staff. Dave is wonderful always very accommodating. Whether you’re eating inside or on the deck it’s just a beautiful spot to be.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely loved this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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