The Canteen

We’ve been coming here since they opened and can’t imagine ptown without them! The food is incredible, service is outstanding, and the ambiance is fun! No matter what you order you will be pleased! It’s a cool, eclectic menu that makes you want to order one of everything, so you can try it all! The owners, and staff put their heart and soul into everything they do here and it’s obvious! The only complaint we have is they are closed January-​April.
Can’t wait for spring!

L’endroit idéal pour un lunch à midi comme je souhaiterais voir plus souvent en Europe. Mais qu’est-ce qui fait que cet endroit ait autant de succès et presque toute la journée? Eh bien simplement un concept du tonnerre. Une sorte de cabanon en pleine rue avec un banc sur le devant au cas où vous souhaiteriez manger dehors, une façade aux tons un peu bariolés avec drapeaux, objets marins et guirlande de saison. Jusque-​là rien de très extraordinaire.
L’intérieur plait immédiatement car né ressemble pas vraiment à un restaurant et encore moins à une cantine comme le nom le laisserait supposer. Une seule et unique pièce avec une incroyable ambiance presque familiale avec ces tables et bancs communautaires. On s’assied où il y a de la place, on demande aimablement aux voisins «si c’est libre… «et le tour est jouée. Bön enfant, sans chichi et extrêmement convivial.
Des décorations un peu partout avec des objets glanés ci et là, on se sentirait presque arrivé chez des particuliers et c’est sans doute le comptoir qui nous rappelle que nous sommes dans un lieu public.
Un comptoir avec derrière une grande ardoise où sont inscrits les plats du jour et c’est plutôt l’étonnement car tout est assez original et inattendu. Une cuisine un peu folle avec des mets rapides tels que sandwichs mais aussi des salades, des tacos, des crustacés et des plats végétariens.
Ce qui est aussi étonnant c’est ce côté festif avec par exemple une pyramide de bouteilles de vin pétillant où alors cette caisse d’huitres ouvertes au dernier moment. Un côté snack chic si l’on devait classer l’établissement.
En arrière salle, cela né chôme pas et l’on s’aperçoit que l’affaire est rondement menée.
On vient ici en sachant que l’on risqué d’attendre un peu pour être servi où s’asseoir. Vente à l’emporter également.
Le choix des boissons est plutôt varié et de qualité avec une sélection de flacons mais aussi des bières des micro-​brasseries des environs.
Et cela sera avec plaisir que nous prendrons une bouteille de ce vin pétillant Veuve Elise qui est de qualité acceptable et qui accompagnera ce lunch.
Quelques huitres locales tout à fait plaisantes pour démarrer ce lunch rapidement servie sur un plateau de glacé avec citron et vinaigre.
Mais la spécialité du coin comme dans un certain nombre d’endroits de Cape Cod est le «Lobster Roll «et sans aucune hésitation, celui-​ci est excellent. Il s’agit d’une sorte de pain ou de brioche rapidement grillée dans laquelle copieusement on ajoute du homard dans une sauce à base de mayonnaise mais plutôt légère et d’un peu de ciboulette sur le dessus. C’est servi avec du cole slaw et un concombre. Ici il est absolument délicieusement préparé avec un homard de qualité.
La bière locale brassée sur Cape Cod est excellente. Une «porter «plutôt douce et une qui porte l’amusant nom de «Berry Merry «qui normalement correspond à du maquillage et qui restera probablement une énigme.
Le sandwich au poisson pané est également un délice avec son pain frais toasté et étonnement tomate et salade ayant du goût.
Le «Clam Chowder «est plutôt fin avec un fin goût citronné, des poireaux, bacon, et herbes fraiches.
En cette période de fête, un marché attenant est même ouvert où l’on peut acheter des produits locaux et même se restaurer mais plutôt des snacks. Une jolie petite fête derrière la maison ou tous les habitués se retrouvent.
A «The Canteen «, on y vient et on y revient. Le service est enjoué et toute la salle se délecte de ces petits plats dans la bonne humeur. Un super endroit de Ptown où tout est simplement parfait.

There’s not much to say other than… Wow. If you don’t have enough time for a full sit down dinner but want exceptional comfort food… Come here! From the pulled pork sandwich to the grilled PB & J to the Banhmi this place is exceptional.
Don’t be fooled by some of the crappy places on Commercial Street (there are many). If you need a place to grab some grub make it a point to come here. You won’t be disappointed.

Get the lobster roll. Hot, cold, doesn’t matter, just do it! Just an adorable spot that is quaint yet always crowded. There’s even a grassy area in the back that you can sit and look at the ocean. The tables are first come, first serve so try to get there during off hours to sit and enjoy your delicious sandwich. The menu is big with a lot of fresh seafood options, and non seafood options, so you’re sure to find something for everyone!
Weird note: the bathroom is through the kitchen which is kind of odd. You have to pass the chefs on your way. Seems a little intrusive!

If there’s one place you visit while in Provincetown, it’s the Canteen! Seriously, GO HERE! Based on Unilocal reviews, we ordered the Hot Lobster Roll ($ 19) and the Fried Brussel Sprouts ($ 8). It was to die for! It’s a bit pricey, but I’m telling you, it’s WORTH every penny! We also bought a side of hand cut fries which didn’t blow me away as much as the other 2 items. The salads also looked tasty. They offer beer and wine as well as some housemade cocktails.
This place is a MUST if you’re in the area. It was extremely busy even during the off season.

Cute place off the main drag in Provincetown. Since we were looking for lobster rolls, and it was highly rated, we gave it a try.
I got a hot lobster roll (nothing but butter, lobster, and brioche), and my boyfriend got a cold lobster roll (the classic style that everyone knows). Since this was my first lobster roll, I thought the hot one would be better, but it was just a little too buttery for me. That’s saying a lot for me, but honestly — butter dripping out with every bite. Ouch, my arteries! Still yummy, though. My boyfriend’s cold lobster roll was better.
Price was about what you’d expect for a good lobster roll — $ 19. With 2 of those and a couple of craft beers, you can expect to drop $ 60 on lunch.
Cute décor and lots of good tunes playing (oldies). The rest of the menu looked really good, so perhaps we’d try something else in addition to splitting a cold lobster roll next time.

Probably closer to a 4 ½, but we don’t have that option.
Went strictly upon other Unilocalers reviews and I went for the favs. Buttery lobster roll and fried Brussel sprouts with fish sauce. Both were hands down ⁵⁄₅. Amazing. Highly and unconditionally recommend.
Bf opted for famous wings and Mexican corn. Wings were good, but dry. Corn was slightly disappointing compared to Brazilian corn that we’ve had.
Definitely not an inexpensive meal, but I loved mine and he thought that his was good.
Thanks Unilocal community.

Even though I read all the rave reviews about Canteen, I was still skeptical to find a 5-​star spot right on touristy Commercial Street, so I went with low expectations, but came out with a new confidence in Unilocal and it’s reviewers. They were right — this is a restaurant worthy of 5-​stars, albeit a casual place.
Menu was filled with many interesting options, many I unfortunately didn’t get to try. I did, however, get to try the lobster roll, clam chowder and fried pickles, and they didn’t disappoint.
In the constant battle for the title of «Best Lobster Roll in (insert town or state)», it seems like 95% of lobster shacks and restaurants put out the same old product — lobster meat on a cold hot dog bun, sometimes it’s mixed with mayo (Maine-​style), sometimes it’s warm and just plain with drawn butter (Connecticut-​style). But they’re all usually just ok, with some slightly better than others. Even a bad lobster roll is still ok, as it’s hard to mess something up that doesn’t require many ingredients or preparation. But to take it to the next level is pretty hard to do.
I’ve had lobster rolls all up and down the East Coast:
Maine (Bar Harbor, MDI, Kennebunkport, Wiscasset, Brunswick, Portland)
New Hampshire (Portsmouth)
Massachusetts (Provincetown, Hyannis, Eastham, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket)
Rhode Island (Newport, Warwick)
Connecticut (New London, Stamford, New Canaan)
New York (NYC and all over the Hamptons)
And believe that the 6 Best Lobster Rolls, in my opinion, were in:
New York, NY (Pearl Oyster Bar)
Martha’s Vineyard, MA (Grace Church)
Provincetown, MA (Canteen)
Brunswick, Maine (Libby’s)
Boston, MA (Neptune Oyster)
Portland, Maine (Eventide)
Now, it might sound crazy that Maine, home of the lobster, isn’t at the very top of my list, but it just isn’t. I think traditionalism and a non-​willingness to change, along with towns living off their past reputation has set in, and everyone is churning out the same basic product, that’s is ok to good, but most aren’t the absolute best. If you don’t agree with me, you’re probably a traditionalist that doesn’t like change and likes to keep things the way they’ve always been, and there’s nothing wrong with that, except that sometimes someone can come along and take a basic product and improve it ten-​fold.
Anyway, my point is that Canteen is one of those places that is putting out what some call a «Designer Lobster Roll» (like Eventide in Portland) but that doesn’t mean it’s not excellent. The overly buttered thick toast was amazing, leaving room to taste the pure flavor of the lobster meat inside. Other places drown the lobster in butter, this place butters the bread, then toasts it so the butter becomes part of the bread. The end result is an excellent, non-​traditional lobster roll.
We had a traditional lobster roll at Red Shack down the road that was said to be the «Best in Town» and frankly it was just 2-​stars and sucked compared to Canteen. Also had one in Eastham at Arnold’s Lobster, which was 4-​stars, but still liked Canteen better. But remember, it’s not a traditional lobster roll, so keep that in mind.
Also, the clam chowder had an excellent flavor, and was very good, but could use more clams. But nonetheless, I highly recommend it. The cole slaw that came with the lobster roll was outstanding as well as it was a vinegar-​based as opposed to mayo based slaw. And the fried pickles were just ok in my opinion, as they were long spears of pickles rather than thinly sliced «chips», so I’d pass on those.
I saw a ton of people ordering the roasted brussel sprouts, as well as the Mexican corn and the Linguica sausage, all of which looked amazing and wish I could’ve tried it, but was too full at the time.
Lastly, being able to enjoy your food with either the view of Commercial Street with all of its great people watching, or the view of the harbor, makes it that much more fun to come here.
So, if there’s one place you should go to when you’re in Provincetown, it should be Canteen. You will not be disappointed.

A cute little spot with a unique patio in the back overlooking the water. I had an amazing lobster roll. My wife however ordered a salad and the lettuce was all browned around the edges. Like very noticeably so. Very disappointing as it is a little pricey for a food counter setup.
We’d give it another shot, but the first impression was a bit of a let-​down.