Arrrr!……There Be Pirates on Martha’s Vineyard

Opening this weekend is the highly anticipated Pirate Jack’s Burger Shack.  Ed Charter and his son Soeth are moving full-speed ahead with this pirate themed burger shack where the ole Captain’s Table used to be on Oak Bluffs Ave.  Interestingly, the building actually looks like a ship, and when the Charter boys are done, it will be even more ship like.

When you walk through the door, you are immediately greeted by Pirate Jack.  He’s a statue of good size and definitely sets the tone for what you’re about to experience.  There are pirate accessories behind the point of sale, and soon there will be pirate flags too — plenty of booty for kids young and old.  You can’t help but feel like saying words like matey and ahoy.

Ed’s friend and consultant Bill Engler is responsible for a lot of the fun we’ll find there. Another cool thing at Pirate Jack’s, they are using iPads as a way to take orders and pay for orders, something I have only seen on TV.  You can actually get a text of your receipt for your records.  All us iPad junkies are going to like that!

The restaurant itself has been been repainted and soon will have lots of fun pirate inspired decor.  Pirate Jack’s now has lots of great bar stool seating, most of which is facing the water and the carousel. It’s a much better use of space than the limited number of tables that used to occupy the space.

Afterall, the view of the water is pretty amazing and people watching in the Summer in OB is a blast.  Also, the kitchen is all new, and there are some seriously cool appliances like a machine that flame-broils their burgers and a bun toaster!

The finishing touches are being made on the menu this week.  What a menu it will be, including Belgian Fries, fries that are cooked then cooled, then cooked again.  I had never heard of these fries, but let me just tell you, that they are yummy.  There will be 20 different dipping sauce options for dipping those golden fries (served in cool paper cones) such as wasabi mayo, kickin bourbon, Irish Curry (curry powder is actually imported from Ireland), sweet mango chutney, and war sauce (Belgian mayo with peanut satay and raw onion).

If you save room and don’t eat too many fries, you have to have a burger.  Pirate Jack’s burgers are not too thin and not to thick but just right.  Last weekend, Ed invited me to help sample different burgers to see which one I preferred.  I had never been to a taste test for a restaurant.  It was really fun.

All I can tell you is that the burger “B” that I had was amazing!!  I hope he chooses that one.  Pirate Jack’s is committed to the having the freshest meat, and after sampling burgers side by side, you really can taste a difference in hamburger meat from the Island.  I also have to say that a flame-broiled burger is pretty darn tasty.  It is cooked perfectly, and you can really taste the burger meat.  Topped with a bun that’s also toasted perfectly, and you have a winning combination.

Pirate Jack’s will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night.  Aside from the delicious burgers and fries, Pirate Jack’s is also going to have crispy, delicious, fried chicken which is Ed’s secret recipe and promises to be the best on the Island.

They’ll also feature an exclusive breakfast item, the OB Po Boy, which is a bun layered first with fries, than an omelette, then the sauce of your choice, and you can even add a breakfast meat.  The OB Po Boy is inspired by Ed’s love of all things New Orleans.  I have to say that I see this menu item being pretty popular with the late night crowd.

So, all you landlubbers better be ready to get your pirate on at Pirate Jack’s Burger Shack.  Opening Memorial Day weekend, just in time for Summer.  I think Pirate Jack’s is going to be a much needed, fun addition to Martha’s Vineyard for little and big kids. After all, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to wear an eye patch or talk like a pirate every now and then.

An important side note: Pirate Jack’s is still in the process of getting its liquor license.  The town has given approval, and they’re just waiting for the state’s approval which will be soon.

If you want to learn a little background about Pirate Jack’s Burger Shack, be sure to check out my earlier On Point Blog post, Ahoy Matey, Pirate Jack is Coming to Oak Bluffs.

Let me know what you think about Pirate Jack’s Burger Shack, and while you’re checking out the On Point blog, please feel free to Like Us on FB as well. You can also follow us on Twitter and Pinterest.