Company description
Lively waterfront restaurant and bar. Outside deck and lower beach patio and beach bar. Private event space for weddings and social gatherings. Check website for live entertainment listings.
More details
- Editorial Text 1
- It was a foggy Saturday evening and the Red Sox were playing the Yankees and I decided to take my in-laws to a popular spot during the off season. The setting was great, even on a dreary day, the views could not be beat. All the tables were around the edge to capture the views, but the bar was in the middle and very loud, making it hard to enjoy the serenity. Once the game was over, it did quiet down to the usual crowd noise. When I ordered my Cape Cod Red Draft beer, I was told they were all out (Saturday night at 6pm...not a good time to run out), so my server suggested the Lobster Ale. To her credit, it was very good and something I probably wouldn't have ventured for on my own. Unfortunately from there, it didn't get any better. My father-in-law ordered the New England clam chowder that was very watered down and lacked taste and creaminess. I ordered a half portion caeser salad and added shrimp for $5.00 more (total $12.95) to share with my daughter. There were 5 small shrimp, and 2 croutons mixed in. I was a bit disappointed. On the other hand, my husband ordered their cod nuggets, which were simple and a different touch to the usual appetizer menu. For entrees, my mother-in-law enjoyed her lobster mac & cheese, my father-in-law stuck with the safe choice of a bacon cheeseburger. My husband had the surf & turf which had an unusal combination of steak and lobster ravioli. He was not in favor of the raviolis, they were dry and not flavorful at all. To my chagrin, I had ordered the grilled tropical shrimp for $19.95. I had asked my server how many shrimp came in my order, she said there were 6 large shrimp, but then had come back to say they were out of the large shrimp and was it ok to substitute the smaller ones and double the amount. I said ok, but asked what else came with it. I was told a vegetable medley which turned out to be broccolini only, and rice pilaf. I figured it was light, healthy but instead my poor small shrimp were drowning in a sea of thick sweet and sour sauce with a few unidentified berries to jazz it up a bit. And to boot, my 5 year old daughter's order of macaroni & cheese was obviously forgotten and the poor thing had to wait while everyone else was eating. The cardinal rule in serving families is make sure to take care of the kids, and we all tried to distract her while they quickly microwaved some easymac and threw it in a bowl. Now, in fairness to Hemisphere, we were a party of 8 which included a 1 year old who was busy spilling her peas and cheerios all around her, and we had many things to keep track of. That being said, I had made a reservation ahead of time, and requested the high chair, so they were prepared for us. Our server was very nice and attentive to us, it wasn't very busy as it is still technically off season. I wasn't totally turned off, just wouldn't go back for food. I'm happy to recommend it to people looking for a beachfront spot to get some before or after dinner drinks...but I'd not spend the money to eat there again.
- Editorial Text 2
- Hemisphere in Sandwich a letdown By LAURIE HIGGINS Cape Cod Times June 26, 2008 3:25 PM Every so often my husband and I feel the need to escape our full house. While a weekend away would be nice, even dinner for two is like a mini-vacation. That was our intent when we headed for Hemisphere in Sandwich. This beachfront restaurant is at the junction of the canal and Cape Cod Bay. The dining room is on the second floor to maximize the view, with a nice deck for outdoor dining or after-dinner drinks. The menu offers Cape ingredients with a tropical flair, with most dinner entrees running $18.95 to $22.95. I was leaning toward the grilled swordfish kabobs ($18.95) before our server came over and read the specials list, which included a pasta dish of "beggar's purses" filled with mushrooms and cheese in a white wine and pesto sauce. Intriguing, and best of all only $14.95, allowing me to also sample the soup of the day, grilled chicken and corn chowder ($4). The hubby decided to try the oysters casino appetizer ($9.95) and the Tuscan chicken sandwich ($9.95). The soup was hearty and had a nice flavor, but the five oysters covered with slabs of bacon were shriveled to a tiny size. My husband ate one and passed the plate over, telling me they tasted off. One sniff and there was no way I was even going to give it a try. Our server was excellent and came over quickly to check on us. She removed the oysters and asked if my husband wanted something else. He opted for a cup of chowder, which came promptly along with an order of calamari on the house. The chowder had a sour taste, but the calamari was delicious. Sweet, very tender rings of lightly breaded and fried squid were combined with rings of hot and sweet banana peppers, also breaded and fried, so every bite was a tasty surprise. My entree looked great on the plate. The filling in the "little purses" was a bit Pablum in texture for my taste, but the dark porcini mushroom flavor was nice. The dish had sautxE9ed mushrooms and onions on a center of wilted greens. I love every single kind of green leafy vegetable there is, but this one took me by surprise because, first of all, I had trouble identifying its murky flavor and second, I didn't like it. It took several bites to figure out it was cooked romaine lettuce. Spinach or chard would have added much more depth to the dish. The Tuscan chicken sandwich was large, but very messy, due to a generous amount of pesto mayo on an untoasted roll. Heating the roll might have added a little crunch to a sandwich that proved impossible to eat without a knife and fork. We weren't charged for the offending oysters, the replacement clam chowder or the calamari, and our server was working so hard to make us happy that we felt we had to fake enthusiasm for her sake. Bottom line: The kitchen let both her and us down.
- Restaurant Features
- Booster Seats / High Chairs, Children's Menu, Live Entertainment, Ocean, Online Menu, Private Room Available, Takeout Available, Terrace/Deck, View
- Payment Accepted
- Traveler's Check, American Express, Cash, MasterCard, Visa, American Express, Cash, MasterCard, Visa
- Features
- Bar, Kid-Friendly, Outdoor Dining, Private Parties, Prixe-Fixe Menu, Take Out
- Usertags
- after work,bar,beachfront,cocktails,dining,drinks,restaurant,sunset
- Location
- Rte. 6A to Tupper Rd.; 1/2 mile to Town Neck Rd
- Cuisine
- American, American (Regional), New England
- Rating
- 62% of 27 people liked it on Urbanspoon
- Reservations Policy
- Only Taken for Large Groups
- Email
- [email protected]
- Meals Served
- Dinner, Lunch
- Cross Streets
- Freeman Ave.
- Ambiance
- Great Views
- View
- Waterfront
- Entertainment
- Live Music
- Neighborhood
- Sandwich
- Dress Code
- Casual
- Year Opened
- 2006
- Web Site
- http://hemispherecapecod.com/
