The Anchor House serves supper Tuesday and Thursday only
Two evenings, no exceptions
The Anchor House opens its dining room at half-past five on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from March through November. The proprietor, who also runs the kitchen, locks the street door at seven-fifteen whether the tables are full or empty. Walk-ins are welcome if seats remain, but the house takes no reservations by telephone.
The building stands three doors past the turning basin on Shipwright Lane, narrow brick with a painted anchor above the lintel. A chalkboard in the window lists the evening's single entrée—usually haddock, occasionally pork shoulder—and the price, which has held steady since the early 2000s. Side dishes arrive without discussion: boiled potatoes, coleslaw, rolls.
What the schedule means in practice
Arrive by six if you want a table without waiting. The dining room seats twenty-two across five tables, and parties are not split. If you arrive at six-forty-five on a Thursday in June, expect to stand in the lane. The kitchen closes promptly at seven-thirty, and the last seating is called no later than seven.
The Anchor House does not serve wine, beer, or spirits. Water comes in ceramic pitchers. Coffee is offered after the meal. Dessert, when available, is bread pudding.
Why locals tolerate the constraints
The haddock is impeccable. The pork shoulder, when it appears, has been brined for two days. The dining room is quiet, the floorboards are original, and the proprietor has never installed a credit card terminal. Payment is by cash or check, and the total is written on the back of a business card.
If you need a longer dinner hour or a more accommodating schedule, the Scrimshaw House runs four seatings on Fridays and accepts reservations. The Anchor House will not adjust for tourists, anniversary dinners, or late ferries. The two-night rhythm has held since 1987, and the current owner shows no interest in expansion.
Planning around the Anchor House
Check the day of the week before you book lodging. If you are staying at an inn without its own dining room, a Tuesday or Thursday arrival ensures at least one chance at the Anchor House kitchen. Do not assume the menu will repeat if you return on a second evening; the chalkboard changes with the catch and the season.
Bring exact bills if possible. The proprietor makes change, but the process is slow. Leave by eight if you hope to walk the harbor before dark.
The Anchor House does not maintain a website, post hours on social media, or confirm availability by email. The supper schedule has not changed in eighteen years, and there is no indication it will.