Van Rensselaer’s Restaurant and Raw Bar

Emily Deanne

2023-09

Delicious meal! I had the salmon which was tasty. My sister had the shrimp scampi which she said was good. My mother enjoyed the scallops which she said were very good with a nice flavor. I also tried the clam chowder which had a fantastic flavor. Our serve was friendly and provides great service. Seems like there is often a long wait outside, so make sure to make a reservation.

byrd bonilla

2024-04

Embarrassed to say that it was my first time eating here. Have been coming up to Wellfleet since 2006 and was even married here. So can’t believe I had never been. Had a great dinner last sitting at the bar. Bonnie was very nice and helped me decide on the shrimp scampi after I asked a million questions on other choices. Great recommendation. Plus she also shucked the little neck clams that I started off with. Everything was amazing as was the absolute best bread pudding I’ve ever had. Overall great dinner. Looking forward to coming back and supporting this 40+ year old family business.

Alan Dagesse

2023-08

Solid spot for breakfast and lunch. Food won’t blow you away but will definitely satisfy. Prices are a tad high but that’s inflation these days. Only real negative was the waitress swipes your card on an iPad at the table and stares at you while you chose your tip amount, not too comforting of a process. Still worth a visit if you’re in need of a meal on the cape.Kid-friendliness: High chairs and booster seats available.

cleavroy T

2023-08

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Jessica Jolly

2023-09

My husband and I go here for breakfast every summer were in wellfleet and it never disappoints. Food is delicious, staff are friendly and welcoming, and seating both indoors and outdoors depending on preference. I got the special pancakes that day (banana and coconut), along with turkey sausage and a nutty fruit bowl, and my husband got an omlette, toast, and blueberry pancakes. Of course we each had to have a grand mimosa - delicious as always 😋

Iryn Cotteblanche

2021-05

Amazing food and great selection! We had an early dinner there outdoor dining. The oysters were so fresh. The hibiscus margarita is a must. The food was delicious. The owner came to the table and asked how the meal was. Super friendly staff. We would definitely go back.

wendy chin

2023-05

First time coming here. Came at 745pm and got seated in 15 minutes. Very friendly and attentive staff. Got half dozen Wellfleet oysters (wished we did the dozen!), very fresh, garlic bread, cup of chowder (had a lot of onions, couldn't really taste the clams), prime rib and small size grilled scallops.

John Budish

2023-07

Not your grandpa's Van Rensselaer's.I have been traveling to Cape Cod for 20 years, and VR's was always a quality restaurant, but had dated style and menu. The Prime Rib Special and all-you-can-eat salad bar was a thing of the 70's and 80's. VR's has gone through an upgrade. The quality has remained a VR staple, but the menu has been modernized, but not so much to alienate long time customers. I would give VR's 6 stars if I could. The service wa fantastic and the food was excellent.They have outside dining which is dog friendly.

Chelsea

2022-05

We ended up stopping here for breakfast and it was the best breakfast we've had on the cape. Ended up going back for dinner and it was also amazing. Very impressed with the food and drinks. Every waiter and waitress was very attentive to the guests. We will definitely be back next year. I highly reccomend trying this place out.

Bob Morris

2022-05

The food was great! Lobster was wonderful. Pasta w seafood was also very good. The specialty drinks were strong. The one thing you need to know is check your check. Mistakes are being made. There was diners who complained about added item on bill. Then it was corrected. So, I didn't say anything to my wife, but she found that we had items added to our. Then, it was reversed after the items were added to it. The bill was increased and billed. Then, it was corrected and there was other items added to it. Then, my wife caught it and we called over the owner. He didn't know this was happening. So, be careful. Check bill and charge even after saying okay to it! Food was excellent. What ashame to have to check bill three times. First ever for us!

Caroline Leinung

2023-08

We make a point to come to Van Rensselear's every year on our Cape vacation, and it never disappoints! Delicious food, elegant drinks, and fantastic service. Our server Caroline was friendly, knowledgable, and attentive, and made the experience extraordinary. I had clam chowder, crispy duck, and creme brulee and they were perfect - I get the brulee every year and it's always unbelievably good. Thanks to the kitchen and staff. Can't wait to come back next year!Vegetarian options: Good amountParking: Big lot next to the restaurant. Even when busy, we've always found a spot.Kid-friendliness: Simple kids menu and they are really good with kids as the service is always amazingWheelchair accessibility: All is accessible

Shiloh Williams

2023-05

Absolutely amazing. We happened to not have reservations and they still got us right in. Hands down the best raw oysters I have ever had. Also the best lobster I have ever had. Service was friendly and all the food was great.

Paul Canavan

2021-05

This is a perfect casual and or family restaurant. We have come many times for breakfast.... which it s always excellent. Arguably the best in the area. However we finally came in to try dinner. The menu is very diverse and definitely has something for everyone. Great selection of apps and lots of fresh seafood selections. It’s a fairly sizable menu. They offer indoor and outdoor seating and have done an excellent job distancing tables due to COVID. The couple who own the place are wonderful and obviously very hard working. You are always greeted with a smile and they make sure you are comfortable and are out on the floor supporting the servers to make sure you have everything you need for your meal. This is comfy food that you can’t go wrong with accompanied by great service!And they do a great burger !

Jaime Moller

2022-05

We had a splendid time at this restaurant and definitely made some wonderful memories here. The food was very good and well described by our waitress. Our waitress was wonderful on multiple levels and so personable. I had fun with my dessert (pictured) and enjoyed everything start to finish.It's a fancier atmosphere, so coming in right off the beach is probably not ideal. However, there was definitely a range of dress present.Great experience right on Route 6 by Marconi Beach. I definitely recommend it.

Mike Reid

2023-09

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Alicia White

2019-05

Very small portions for a lot of money. It said 'casual attire' but it definitely seemed like they were trying to be fancy in there. We felt overdressed. The wait staff was nice. There was a lady walking around who saw that my fiancé needed more water and said she would get it for him but then stopped at the table next to us and talked to them for about half an hour. We noticed a lot of restaurants in the area weren't that great and were charging a TON of money for seafood. I'd rather go to Rockland Maine where you get huge portions with a smile for a fair price...ahhh Maine.The homemade Indian pudding was actually outstanding and so was the grasshopper pie. I wish we just got dessert, lol!

Lynn Vannorman

2023-09

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Jay White

2021-05

We sat in the outdoor seating enclosed in an awning that was nice and were seated quickly. Breakfast options were good and they had some nice cocktails too. I got the lobster cakes benedict, which was fantastic, and my wife got the egg combo (also good). They were careful with COVID precautions too. This was a great breakfast experience I would recommend to others.

Hunter Hunter

2023-08

Love this place!The food here is excellent, the prices are slightly lower than many places on the Cape.I appreciate the fact that they offer smaller portions on the menu, I don’t like to bring a bunch of food home.We had a party of eight this time and there were no delays in service. The staff is always friendly and the service is good. There are a number of seating options; inside the house, on the screen porch or out on the small patio (there are no spectacular views here). From the look of the outside I thought the indoor seating area might be warehouse-like but it’s cozy.Eight meals, four appetizer, six desserts and no complaints. A large party, in the summer, on the Cape, that is an impressive win!Vegetarian options: There were plenty of vegetarian options.

Michael Currie

2021-05

What an amazing dinner we had! We went on a recommendation and our party of 6 had a wonderful meal. We had the famous Wellfleet oysters, a lot of them. The way the menu is arranged is awesome... pick your market fish and match it to a cooking style. I had sea scallops cooked by 'special presentation' method. Our server Gretchen was sooooo nice and very helpful.

David Bear

2023-05

Terrific seafood dishes with a variety of preparations. Friendly/ excellent service. Linguine seafood pasta and seafood specials were great.

William Sharlow

2022-05

Service was both prompt and attentive. We ate "outside" and they had heaters by each table so no one got chilly. We each ordered small plates, leaving room for dessert. Food was great, so glad we had dinner at this restaurant!

Shane O'Connor

2022-05

Fantastic service. Wonderful, cozy atmosphere. Really like the new patio. The food was amazing, and the cocktails and draught beer (Two Juicy!) were tasty. Go to VR's, you'll be happy you did!

Roshni Biswas

2021-05

Excellent sea food! We had made a reservation in advance via OpenTable. Ordered the Seafood Linguini Platter, Clam Chowder and Crispy Calamari. The Cape Cod Mule cocktail was very refreshing! Creme Brulee to die for. Veg dishes were not so good and burned an absolute hole in the pocket. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, we were comfortable sitting outside and only stepped in to use the restroom, although they were doing a pretty good job of distancing and santizing. The location is very close to the beach, the staff also recommended a good spot to go star-gazing after! It's on the pricier side, but would come here again on a special occasion.

Robert Daffin

2023-11

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Laura croson

2023-07

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Adrianna DiNobile

2023-09

Staff is very accommodating. We didn’t get a chance to make a reservation and they were able to make it work for us which was really nice. Dinner service was excellent too, very attentive wait staff, especially Chris. He was an excellent waiter. Food was good, I enjoyed their potato crusted bluefish special. Dessert, Kahlua Toffee chocolate mousse good too!

Michelle Swanson

2023-09

Had a good meal here with friends. The cocktails/martinis were delicious! The food was pretty good. Had the cauliflower appetizer which lacked a little flavor but was still decent. The bruschetta salad was pretty tasty but could have used a larger portion of mixed greens as it is sold as an entree salad. Would skip the garlic bread if I did it again. Overall the staff was very friendly and the food and drinks were good. Would definitely return!

KyungHyun Cho

2022-05

random stopover on my way back from provincetown, and this place turned to be the gem of this trip. loved nittleneck clams and especially oysters with their cocktail sauce. highly recommended!

Todd Jamieson

2023-09

I sat at the bar. Got the clams casino app.... perfect variation on the starchy classic.Ordered local wild caught Stripper (cause if I can't have the pleasure of catching it myself I at least get the pleasure of eating it) it was perfectly cooked and paired with charred greens and presented beautifully.The fish was amazing!! Fresh as could be and cooked with just the right amount of flair.My wine selection paired wonderfully. A white Bordeaux appellation.The side of wilted spinach was a perfect accompaniment. So delicious and refreshing.I was joined at the bar by a local couple looking for an open seat . They made the whole night. Yeah, the caliber of local clientele you attract says something about an establishment.This place is a can't miss next time I'm on the outer Cape!!