The Covington, the name of the tugboat that hit the Port Hunter back in 1918, resulting in a well known shipwreck off East Chop, is also the name of the new sister restaurant to The Port Hunter in Edgartown. The Covington opened with great fanfare earlier this summer, and has been jammed ever since.
The two restaurants are not only tied together by names and the same owners, but they happen to be across Main Street from each other as well. However, that’s where the similarities end. Well, I should add that the both spaces are hip and fun, but still very different.
The Covington is smaller, more intimate, less loud. Also, there’s more outdoor seating in the front of the restaurant and on the left hand side. The decor is simple, yet clearly things were placed with a lot of intention. The lighting is great, the openness is great. The whole space is just welcoming and chic at the same time.
There’s bar seating, table seating, booth seating, and as mentioned outdoor seating. The kitchen is open, and you can catch well known chef Chris Fischer, winner of the James Beard 2016 award for his cookbook The Beetlebung Farm Cookbook, making magic in the kitchen. Note the adorable hats that add whimsy and a nod to cooks from the past.
To Quench Your Thirst
There’s a good beer and wine menu (including three Offshore Ale beers), and some great craft cocktails. I know this might seem silly to some, but I love that The Covington features the Pineapple Express, a drink for two. Served in a stunning and weighty copper pineapple, the Pineapple Express is a great way to sprinkle a little more fun into your event.
When we were there, my hubby, his dad and wife, we decided one had to be ordered. Dan and Carolyn got it. Similar to a Mai Tai, it was fruity and refreshing and all around fun to share.
There happened to be a special cocktail, gin with local honey and lavender, all three of which I find appealing and all together quite delicious.
Sharing Is Better
So, the menu at Covington is not huge, but has been carefully curated to reflect Chris’ style of cooking — what’s seasonal, and what quality ingredients are available. The menu is divided into four categories, Raw and Cured, Salads and Vegetables, Pasta, Meat and Fish.
Each section had things that sounded amazing, and when you have Honeysuckle Oysters on the menu, I like to get them. Love these Katama Bay gems. Covington offers theirs pickled, on crostini. I have never had pickled oysters, but found out that this preparation is pretty amazing, and the bread was perfect too. Highly recommend.
Also from the Raw and Cured, the Ceviche with Citrus and Cilantro. Chef’s choice was Menemsha fluke for the night. It too was delicious. Light, flavorful, a nice balance of crisp (cucumber) and smoothness with the beautiful fluke.
Portions are not the largest you’ve seen, but each item was carefully plated and tasted amazing. With this in mind, we decided to order the bread as well. Fresh baked and served with butter. It was a good addition to our montage of food.
My husband ordered the Short ribs — honey glazed, served with house-made rice grits and salsa verde. The short ribs were so tender, falling apart at just a touch! The grits were so creamy and delicious! Such a good dish.
I got the Buttered Poached Lobster, Scallops, & Celery Root Puree. The plate was so beautiful and it was so good – the lobster, the scallops cooked perfectly, a great combination.
However our dinner dates definitely ordered a home run. The 32 ounce Porterhouse Steak for Two with Garlic Butter, with Potatoes Roasted in Duck Fat & Carrots stole the show. Though I was a little doubtful of the whole thing at first, and with an $80 price tag, but I was blown away by this dish.
Only savoring a few bites, since it was not mine, the steak was perfect, the garlic butter melting in your mouth with each bite of the steak, and those potatoes cooked in duck fat were out of this world. Amazing! If you are a meat eater, get this dish! I will be back Chris Fischer for this!
Dinner was followed with coffee (Chilmark Coffee of course) and a slice of Honey Pie. The pie was tasty, but I like a thicker Honey Pie. Not that I am an expert, this is only my second one.
Thank you Courtney brothers for making The Convington happen, and all in less than a year. Pretty amazing what these brothers can do and how they’re changing the restaurant scene in Edgartown.
Author’s Note: I had heard that the Covington was modeled after a restaurant in Brooklyn. However, after seeing how the building used to look long before it was the Edgartown Deli, it is more a nod to the building’s history on the exterior. With that said, The Covington truly is a beautiful addition to the Martha’s Vineyard restaurant scene.
You can learn more about The Covington on Facebook. They also take reservations — including online. Open every day except Tuesday, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. The is open until 12:30 a.m. And don’t forget to “Like” Point B Realty on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter, Linked In, Google+, Pinterest and Youtube.