Nantucket's premier power table — the White Elephant's veranda steak-and-seafood anchor, where harbour views and Wine Spectator credentials command respect.
The Full Picture
The White Elephant has anchored Nantucket Harbor since 1923, and Brant Point Grill — its principal dining room — plays the role of island boardroom during the summer season. Executive Chef Joseph Hsu presides over a kitchen whose remit is deliberately focused: US prime steaks grilled to precisely the right temperature, native lobster delivered from the wharf each morning, a daily raw bar that sets the island's standard, and a wine programme that has been decorated by Wine Spectator for its depth and coherence. None of this is fashionable. All of it is the point.
The room itself rewards close attention. The heated Harborview Terrace is the seat to request — a covered, weather-proof extension with the harbour arranged like a postcard directly in front of you. Inside, the dining room is all navy blue, nautical art, white tablecloths, and the considered service that Nantucket's summer regulars expect as a matter of course. The bar, populated by hotel guests, club members, and the occasional boat owner in from the mooring field, is an easy place to begin an evening.
Signatures include the Lobster Bloody Mary — a drink and an appetiser in a single glass — an oversized lobster roll that should be ordered at lunch and admired at dinner, crab-stuffed Dover sole, and dry-aged bone-in ribeyes that the kitchen treats with the reverence they deserve. The Sunday Jazz Brunch is one of the island's most enduring institutions, and during summer the Brant Point Grille's raw-bar pavilion on the harbour lawn is where Nantucket's dealmakers conduct their afternoons.
Reservations for Brant Point Grill are essential at peak and recommended throughout the season. Smart, resort-appropriate attire is expected. Parking is available via valet at the hotel. The restaurant is open daily from breakfast through dinner during its season, typically April through late October.
Why Brant Point Grill Is Perfect for Closing a Deal
Some restaurants are great for dates. Others are great for celebrations. Brant Point Grill is great for business — the rare kind of restaurant that signals seriousness without stiffness and rewards the client, the investor, or the partner you have brought for the steak and the view. The Harborview Terrace is built for two-hour conversations that you do not want to end. The wine list provides cover for any budget and any palate. The service is polished enough to disappear when you want it to and alert enough to return the second you need it. Request the terrace in advance; the interior window tables are the next-best option. The bar alone is a capable pre-dinner venue if the deal requires a looser first act.