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From Yesterday's Island, 2007
Arnos' and the 41 - Tempting New Offerings
In 1960, a restaurant called Arno’s opened on Nantucket’s cobblestoned thoroughfare. Now, nearly half a century later, the restaurant is still there and considered by many to be an island tradition.
For the 2006 season, this tradition has been redefined by new owner Chris Morris, who has revitalized this Main Street landmark eatery. Refreshed decor and the addition of a new Wine Bar has given this island grand dame a new feel—a retro-chic ambiance that is stylish and comfortable. Morris has done more than just give the place a face lift, he’s infused the entire staff with enthusiasm, and it shows in the prompt, attentive service and in the sensational food and many specials coming out of the kitchen.
Inside Arno’s, you can now take a seat at The 41, their stylish wine bar, and choose from 41 international wines by the glass that cover all major grape varietals. In addition, their wine list has grown to more than 100 bottles, a great representation with special cellar selections and a modest choice of half bottles. All the wines have been personally selected by owner Chris Morris, who considers them very food friendly and approachable. Morris has also designed two Wine Flights — one white, one red — that are just the ticket to learn more about wine. The “ABC” Flight (anything but Chardonnay) and The Sideways Flight (a trio of pinot noir) are self-guided tours that will lead you from a light and versatile table wine to one full-flavored and very memorable. The 41 is a place where beginners can expand their horizons and where wine connoisseurs and enjoy their favorites.
Morris adds even more fun to The 41 by offering a special Tasting Menu at the bar. Fruit and cheese boards as well as a dozen different tempting appetizers such as Main Street Clams Casino, Thai Chicken Satays, and Chicken & Cashew Spring Rolls are all offered with suggested wine pairings. For something more substantial, Wine Dinners are offered nightly in addition to the regular Arno’s menu. Both the United States Dinner and the International Dinner offer three courses, each with wine pairings, for $45.
The newly redecorated upstairs dining room at Arno’s seats 50, and is the perfect downtown location for private dinners, cocktail parties, celebrations, and business meetings. The room dresses up very nicely for weddings, receptions, and holiday events.
At Arno’s the day starts at 8 am, but if you’d rather sleep late, you can order breakfast on weekends till noon and weekdays till 2 pm. Their hearty omelets will last you through the day, and their Famous French Toast is a treat you don’t want to miss. Lunch starts at 11 am and continues till 5 pm, with New England classics, hot appetizers, hefty salads, more than a half-dozen sandwiches, hot entrees, and quesadillas (the Lobster Quesadilla is a house favorite). All items on the menu are available for takeout.
Arno’s extensive dinner menu starts at 5 p.m. with something to please every palate. Chris Brantley brings to the kitchen more than a decade of experience, and his creativity, combined with the skill and range of Chris Morris, means there is always something new to try. Hearty eaters will be pleased with the substantial portions, and light eaters can take home enough for another meal. Entree prices start at $16.95 ($14.95 if you count their Chicken Caesar as an entree, and by size alone it could be included) and most are in the low 20s. It’s hard to find a better value on Nantucket.
This spring, Arno’s has expanded it’s evening offerings to include three-course theme dinners for just $19.95: Tuesday is Asian Night, featuring specials that include stir fries, lo mein, and duck; Wednesday is Italian Night, showcasing veal piccata or marsala, seafood specialties, and hearty risottos; Thursday is Spanish Night, with paella, seafood tostadas, tacos or burritos.
Soups are made on the premises and are always a good choice on to start on a cool spring evening. The New England Clam Chowder is hearty and classic, and the Lobster Bisque rich and full of lobster, but if Brantley’s buttery Crab and Corn Chowder is offered as the soup du jour, that’s the one you want!
House-made Lobster Wontons are among our favorite appetizers. Delightfully crisp and not at all greasy, these tasty triangles are chock full of rich lobster filling.
We recommend that you share them ‘round the table so that you also have room to try...
...the Prosciutto Wrapped Sea Scallops. This appetizer takes an island classic one step higher. The prosciutto that envelopes the delicate shellfish is less smoky and less fatty but no less flavorful than the traditional bacon. And the honey dijon dipping sauce is sensational.
Sweet and Spicy Shrimp are sweet and spicy and irresistible. Don’t let the dusting of jerk spice put you off: the spice adds spark, but you can still savor the plump shrimp. The ginger plum dipping sauce adds a gentle sweetness that cuts the spice.
New to the menu and especially fun for sharing is the Sesame Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Be ready to get your fingers in your food, this appetizer requires assembly. Leaves of Boston lettuce and Napa cabbage are presented to fill with sliced grilled chicken breast, shredded carrot, warm rice noodles, and chilled cucumber salad. A duo of sauces is served alongside: sweet ginger plum sauce and slightly spicy Thai peanut. We actually liked this starter best when we wrapped the veggies and noodles in a packet doused with the ginger plum sauce and ate the chicken alongside dipped in the peanut sauce.
Steak lovers have three fabulous entree choices on Arno’s new menu. The Grilled Sirloin Steak, one of Chef Brantley’s specialties, is simple and succulent, served with house “41” sauce, baked potato, and grilled asparagus. The Bacon Wrapped Boursin Stuffed Tenderloin leans to the other extreme, with the cheese melting down indulgently over the fork-tender cut. The applewood smoked bacon adds a sensuous smokiness, and a roasted garlic demi-glace sends it over the top! Our favorite among the three, the Steak Santa Fe, (shown) lies somewhere in between. The marinated and grilled flank steak is wonderfully tender and the house-made chimichurri sauce (an Argentinian herb sauce of olive oil, vinegar, onion, garlic, and herbs) adds a crowning touch. We were also very pleased with the Southwest Rice — pilaf with Arno’s homemade salsa fresca stirred into it — and with the mixed vegetables, which were fresh and cooked tender-crisp.
If you like a little zip in your meal, then the Jerk Spiced Oven Roasted Half Chicken is the choice for you. The roasted chicken is astoundingly moist and the jerk marinade, sweet-and-spicy housemade bbq sauce, and the “jerk jus” overtop add more flavor than fire, so don’t be put off by the name. This entree is also matched with a special rice —Caribbean style with mango and red, yellow, and green pepper—that goes very well with the main event.
The Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna Steak is one of the best seared tuna dishes we’ve had in years. The tuna is rolled in sesame seeds and served with a stellar wasabi cream sauce drizzled with sweet soy reduction. The sauce flatters the freshness of the fish without adding the legendary heat of wasabi. Even the one member of our team who is not fond of fish dove back into this dish for seconds.
Arno’s serves half a dozen very tempting desserts. Who can say “no” to something called “Chocolate Decadence”? Our favorites are the Creme Brulee, (shown) classic vanilla with a perfectly caramelized brown sugar crust, and the French Toast Bananas Foster, an impressive construct of sliced bananas, caramel sauce, vanilla ice cream, and whipped cream all atop slices of Arno’s fabulous crunchy Portuguese sweet bread French Toast.
Go to Arno’s for the food, for the wine bar, for the fun, or for the value, but make sure you go to Arno’s!
Yesterday's Island website is yesterdaysisland.com
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