<p>The Oak Bluffs restaurant scene will see a shift next spring with a change in ownership and menu at Down Island, the popular farm-to-table restaurant.</p>
The Oak Bluffs restaurant scene will see a shift next spring with a change in ownership and menu at Down Island, the popular farm-to-table restaurant that has operated under chef Scott Cummings for the past two summers.
Ben deForest, owner of the Red Cat, will buy the business and the equipment but not the building, Down Island owners confirmed. The sale price has not been disclosed. The change in ownership is pending approval of licenses by the town and state.
The new restaurant will be called The Cardboard Box, Mr. deForest told the Gazette by phone this week. While he is still developing his vision for the restaurant, the longtime Island chef said it will have elements of a steakhouse culture but will not strictly be a steakhouse.
He said he wants to create an establishment where everyone feels comfortable.
“We’re really going to take what I’m best at, which is farm to table and sea to table aspects of dining, and fusing that with some very classic traditions,” Mr. deForest said. “It will be true New England fare.” He continued:
“I want it to be a place where the guy walking down the street in July or August with a T-shirt over his shoulder and an ice cream in his hand can walk in and have a great bowl of chowder, and a draft beer, as well as a place that the discerning foodie will be able to come, and the place that the guy who may not be a foodie but has something to celebrate feels like coming out and having the best steak on Martha’s Vineyard, and a martini or a nice bottle of wine, or some of the traditional things that go along with that experience.”
He said the restaurant will feature a late night scene.
He will continue to operate the Red Cat, across Kennebec avenue from the entrance to the new venture.
Down Island was opened in 2016 by the Celestial Group, which also operates the nearby 20byNine whiskey bar and restaurant.
“Despite the fact that due to the crazy talent of our chef and staff we were collecting accolades, as a group we decided to step back from managing that concept and space to focus on 20byNine for now, and other concepts we have planned for Oak Bluffs in the future,” said Adam Jaime, a principle in the restaurant ownership group, which also includes Doug Abdelnour, Steve Ansara and David Gaffey.
“We had an incredible clientele and couldn’t have done so well without our local base. It really was an incredible two years of Down Island.”
Comments
Lets hope Scott turns up
Bob EdgartownLets hope Scott turns up somewhere else his food was awesome. Or are they going to change up 20x9 in a big way with the food.
Yay for Ben and Erica!! Very
FAN VHYay for Ben and Erica!! Very excited to see what the Cardboard Box will be all about!
Hope it all works for him.
Mr. B ChilmarkHope it all works for him. Don't get over extended!
Ben’s resturant is overpriced
Mick C. EdgartownBen’s resturant is overpriced. I hope he offers discounts to Islanders like the defunct Island Card.
Hi. My current restaurant is
Benjamin deForest Oak BluffsHi. My current restaurant is competitively priced and I will gladly admit that it costs a lot to go out to eat on Martha’s Vineyard. I paid $39 for a fish entree this evening here in December. You are naned as Mick C, if you’d like to come to the Red Cat sometime and identify yourself or sit and talk with me about profit margins in the restaurant business here on the island, I’d be happy to make the time. I’d like to understand your point of view and I’d like to break down what it actually costs to stay in business, it’s not a coincidence that most restaurants fail in the first three years. Thank you for taking the time to leave your comment. Best. Ben
Ben,
Mike C. EdgartownBen,
Thank you. However you don’t have valet parking like the Atlantic in Edgartown and if you look at the menu offerings in Edgartown you will see the difference and, I might add - they have all been open longer than 3 years. We need to keep our businesses in tune with year round residents and not just the flash of the Summer Crowd.
The Island Club card is alive
Islander MVThe Island Club card is alive and well and it is well worth the minimal cost of membership when you buy gasoline, propane, dine in restaurants, buy food, shop in stores and use services that accept the card. If you can't afford it or are a senior citizen, you can get it at a discounted cost or sometimes at no charge at all. One of the supermarkets that was instrumental in helping start the 12 or 13 year old club card has decided to do their own discount policy, based on something people can't quite understand, and many people thought that this store's abandonment would be the end of Island Club... but not so! Great deals still abound with Island Club. And there are better, less expensive places to buy food that still accept the Island Club Card than the store that stopped accepting it.
Wow. His food is outrageously
Nancy BrownWow. His food is outrageously good (and we have eaten in a lot of the world’s best restaurants). Last week he served short ribs that made my husband weep with joy. He said he has never, ever had a dish with the same flavor profile and sheer perfection in creating it. We would have paid double what Ben charged. We love Redcat Kitchen more than anywhere else on the island.
Down Island was an awesome
Dusty SternadellDown Island was an awesome restaurant. I had a phenomenal meal there in June. Good luck to the new team, and the old team.
We have really enjoyed our
Alan F ChappyWe have really enjoyed our food at Red Cat and look forward to Carboard Box. Thank you Ben for adding to the culinarily culture of the Vineyard!
Ben. You say you want to
Albaby West tisburyBen. You say you want to create an establishment where everyone feels comfortable. Great to hear
May I make a plea to take into account ambient noise. I can’t go into the Red Cat because I can’t hear myself think. So many restaurants on this island are focused on food and ignore the issue of sound deadening. It’s not rocket science and yet so important for the older population that can afford to eat out but stay away from noisy places like State Road and Red Cat
Ben, Please give this consideration.
Hello, I hear you and it’s
Benjamin deForest Oak BluffsHello, I hear you and it’s always a constant battle. I invested 100k there abouts in a sound dampening system in Balance at the end of Circuit Ave all those years ago, it’s an important issue to be sure. The new venture will have an outside dining area for the warm weather, it is protected from the rain and please feel free to request it when calling. I will do all I am able to provide you with a peaceful place to eat and the porch at my current establishment is available by request too. Thank you for taking the time to express your concerns and a Happy Holiday to you and yours. Best. Ben
I agree...turn it down a bit
Ron Chilmark- N.Y.I agree...turn it down a bit a nice restaurant but way to loud If I want to go to a concert or a loud movie fine. But I want to dine in a nice quite setting...
A bit pricey for most I like to see all out restaurants do well!
Had food at ritz was great!
Congrats Ben and good luck!
Marge Oak BluffsCongrats Ben and good luck! My wish is to have more FAMILY restaurants such as The Wharf and The Barn where we can go and have family meals even though they do cost more than off island but that is to be expected. At least at those restaurants you can order food for kids that is not astronomical in cost. I know we will never have an Olive Garden or Applebees and so be it but we do need more family restaurants--just my thought.
These are both among our
Cathi Waban and W TisburyThese are both among our Vineyard favorites, and we wish everyone continued good fortune.
Please don’t forget vegetarians and pescatarians in your new place, Ben— I come to Red Cat for your vegetarian showdown!!
Hi, Fear not as we will have
Benjamin deForest Oak BluffsHi, Fear not as we will have many fish offerings and will be highlighting the best from many gardens in New England and certainly locally. You will not be forgotten :)
I am a retired chef from a
Doug Settana Edgartown- Glastonbury CtI am a retired chef from a exclusive restaurant in N.Y. City for over 30 years..... I saw a change coming with todays chefs and culinary staff and I choice to go out on a high note......I have been to almost every restaurants on the Island. The restaurant business is extremely difficult, and more so in a resort community. I feel the Island restaurants are away over priced and not well managed. That being said the owners-chefs of today have become pre madonnas look at me over hear attitude ..... after all its just cooking..... have fun and just cook!
Great news. I will have a
Chris Klein EdgartownGreat news. I will have a tough time deciding which restaurant to dine in. Love the music at Red Cat! Can I make a reservation now?:)
Good luck with the new spot.
Christopher Sanders OB and NYCGood luck with the new spot.
Down Island has been the best
Ned Block New YorkDown Island has been the best restaurant on the island for two years running. It is bad news that it won't be back.
Chef Scott Cummings your food
Heather Arnet Pittsburgh, PAChef Scott Cummings your food was brilliant and one of the highlights of our summers the last two years. We hope you find a new way to connect with Vineyard diners soon! In the meantime, In the off season we live in Pittsburgh - a budding foodie town w/ exciting opportunity. You can read about it online and find my contact info pretty easily online too (I run a non-profit wgfpa.org based in pgh). Happy to make intros for you because we’d love to have your talent in Pittsburgh. Your a genius and we wish you the best wherever you go!
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