Red Pheasant

This place has two listings, which I find odd, but I’ll post my review on both. My wife and I were both excited and hesitant to try this place. The menu had what seemed like an interesting variety but we had only heard mediocre reviews from friends. However, we decided that it seemed like the best option in the area that we were staying.
When we arrived, there was no one at the hostess stand and the waiters/​waitresses would pass by, look at us, and keep walking. About 10 minutes later, the hostess finally showed up and seated us. Our waitress took our drink order, came back to take our food order which we weren’t quite ready for — and then we didn’t see her for another 15 minutes. Keep in mind it was about 8:30pm on a Sunday and not very busy. When she finally came back, my wife had a question about how the special of linguini & clams was prepared — the waitress didn’t seem very knowledgable and just said, «it has lots of garlic.» My wife ended up ordering it anyway and I ordered the pork rib chop. When we received our food, we were pretty excited. The pork rib chop was a hearty size and my wife’s dish had a good serving of shelled clams. But the excitement stopped there. The first bite into my pork was so incredibly bland, I thought I had to be making it up. Without word, I had my wife try it and her feedback was exactly the same. The grits & swiss chard that accompanied my pork were also under seasoned. I’m not even sure that’s the proper word as everything seemed as if it hadn’t been seasoned at all. My wife’s linguini & clams, while it at least had been seasoned, had a funky week old seafood flavor and the clams were really gritty. Which, okay, I get happens, but every single one was full of sand.
All in all — shame on us for not listening to our friends. From service to food, this place just does not match up to the reviews. I’m guessing the great reviews are either from locals or people who aren’t very into the quality and execution of food.
P. S. They charge the same amount for a Shirley temple as they do for a cocktail. Yeah. What? Okay.

We have a tradition of dining at a fine restaurant on our anniversary, Gramercy Tavern NY, Tavern on the Green NY, a Ritz Carlton, the Excelsior Hotel Rome… But anniversary 44 found us on Cape Cod and it’s winter so limited choices or a very long drive.
Though not a world class restaurant, the Red Pheasant filled in nicely. The food was excellent, the scotch and wine list were adequate and the staff responsive (not a busy night). At one point I wanted to substitute an element of the meal and the server was hesitant to ask the chef (strike one for the server), but to her surprise and our delight the chef readily agreed (base hit) and the meal was great. The spices were a bit understated. The dessert (flourless chocolate tort) was fine but nothing to write home about, adding ice cream saved it.
One question: why are there two Red Pheasant restaurants on Unilocal,one the «Red Pheasant Inn» listed as $$$ and one is the «Red Pheasant» and listed as $$$$ both at the same address. The real Red Pheasant is $$$$. Also they need better lighting from the parking lot to the door.
Yes we will return but probably not for our 45^th

My first time visiting this establishment was for their New Years Celebration. I made a 5pm reservation and when I arrived at 4:40pm I was asked to come back in about 15 minutes because they were not ready and they were still blowing up balloons. Keep in mind it was only 30 degrees outside so I had to retreat to my car and sit in there till 4:55pm with the engine running just to stay open. I asked to sit at the bar and they said I couldn’t. I entered again and was told I was still early but they would seat me anyway. I asked for a fire place seat when I first made my reservation and I was sat the farthest from it. This was corrected by one of the hostesses. Apparently even though their board says Happy Hour from 4:30 — 6:00, they were not doing it. I was advised the original hostess making the reservations was sick and they were scrambling to correct special requests that were not originally written down.
Our waiter was very nice and explained some of the dishes on the menu that day. I ordered the Torchon Of Domestic Foie Gras for my first course. The foie gras was still chilled so it was difficult to spread at first. The apple sauce and riesling gelee were overpowering and dulled the flavor of anything it was spread on. I had to stop using it because I couldn’t even taste the foie gras with the glee on it. The Brioche bread was ok and personally should have been replaced with crostini
My second course was Field Blend Salad & Vine Ripoened Tomato. It came with a single large tomato and then greens. Salad was good but very lightly dressed to the point where you almost couldn’t taste it. There was more dressing on the plate than on the greens.
My third course was the Roasted Rack Of Lamb Persillade. I asked for medium-​rare on the cook and one piece was medium-​rare and the other rare. Fortunately they were cooked so I didn’t mind as it was very tasty. The menu mentioned a Lamb Jus but I didn’t even notice it so they were very light when applying it. The swiss chard was flavorless with no seasoning. The single carrot was undercooked but tolerable. The au gratin potatoes consisted of 6 medium slices which I did not feel was proportionate to the rest of the place.
My final course was a Tiramisu which was very creamy and overpowered with cocoa. If you would sneeze into it the powder would get everywhere. A light dusting is all that is needed to add some chocolate flavor. The slice of strawberry and whip cream were not needed in this dessert because they added no contrasting flavors.
Overall they advertised a 5-​star dinner but I would only give it 2-​stars. The food was good but little seasoning and technical cooking errors prevent me from giving this place a 5-​star rating. The waiter’s customer service was the only reason why this place got the 3-​star because the dinner was a 2-​star.

I came in for my Mother’s birthday with my parents and boyfriend. One of the best duck entrees I’ve ever been served! I have only had escargot once before but thoroughly enjoyed it. Our desserts and wine were delightful as well. Our waiter was very professional, knowledgeable, and attentive. My only constructive criticism is that I wish the bread had came out as soon as our menus were taken away instead of 10 minutes later (about 40 minutes after sitting down) since we were pretty hungry after having driven almost 45 minutes to get there. We all enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back soon!

This is the 2^nd time in the past year I have been to the Red Pheasant and I will not be back.
I was here with my brother’s family and my mom to celebrate her birthday. Two of us had the lobster bisque which was inedible. The others had pâté which was quite good.
All but one of us had the venison which was served lukewarm, and one diner had the scallops, they brought him venison too. His scallops where good but nothing to rave about.
Their wine list was small and unimaginative, and they were out of the wine we ordered. Service was fair at best, slow and unattitive. For the prices that they charge, I expect much more. There is better to be had on the Cape.

The Red Pheasant is probably one of the best «nice» restaurants in this area of the Cape. We’ve eaten there many times, and our most recent dinner reinforced that feeling. I had the vegetarian selection, Swiss Chard, carrots & asparagus and a buttermilk corncake, which I enjoyed immensely. My husband had the halibut special. The fish was perfectly cooked, and it came with a small stuffed squash that was delicious. The ambiance is slightly rustic – it’s a very old building. If you can get seated on the porch, you will have a view of their lovely garden. In the main dining room, a fireplace roars in the colder months. They have a very small bar area. The drinks are good, and the bartender is happy to mix up a drink to your liking. It’s a bit pricey, but no more than any other nice restaurant on the Cape. My one complaint? They serve an herbed bread to start your meal. I have never liked it, but I also don’t like any herbed breads. I don’t eat a lot of bread, so when I dine out one of my treats is enjoying a good piece of a crusty French or other artisinal bread. I always miss that at the Pheasant.

I love this place in the winter because of the cozy bar and fireplace. Derek, the bartender is great. I met Steve, a felllow Unilocaler. It was a cold frosty night and I was starving. I started with a cup of tea and ordered the ahi tuna. I didn’t want the soba noodles so asked for more veggies. the tuna was served perfectly seared rare. There were two bites of bok choy. The Asian BBQ sauce did not blend well with the tuna in fact it really made the plate unappetizing. Steve liked his salmon scallop ceviche. The Joseph Carr Pinot Noir was perfect. Martha, the waitress in the dining room is a love. Just didn’t love my dinner but previous evenings, the food was spot on good.

So after many months of wondering «What would Ann P write?», we finally got together.
I had never been to the Red Pheasant and was totally intrigued by the menu and specials. They have embraced the idea of seasonal items and a limited number of offerings. This allows them to source high quality ingredients that are transformed into amazing dishes.
I arrived first and admired the character of this place — an older home that has been converted into a fine eatery. Upon entering, I was warmly greeted and headed to the bar area. A central fireplace was a welcome sight on a chilly New England evening. The décor is inviting and the bar area would be a great place to catch up with old friends. Our culinary and libation guide, Derek, was superb at helping us navigate the menu. During the middle of the meal we went off on a bit of a «let’s taste every red they have to find the perfect pairing» and he indulged our game.
As for the food, she went with the Ahi dish paired with soba noodles and bok choi. Since we’re both avoiding those complex carbs, she skipped the noodles. The Ahi was prepared with great skill and had amazing flavor. It was paired with a Asian BBQ sauce that had back tones of cumin and curry. Our conclusion was that it was probably better served with a more robust protein like pork. It was a bit over powering for the subtle flavors of the tuna. I went with a Cerviche of scallops and salmon. The dish is a great offering of local flavors and was well done. I may have preferred to have it cure a bit more before being served, but overall a carefully prepared dish.
Overall, a great night of food, drink and fun. Great for couples or a romantic night!

We really wanted to like it more. Pretty good all around but for those prices they need to step it up in every aspect.
Great to see some game on the menu! Just wish the preparation was tastier. Duck confit salad was very good.
Service was good enough but not up to par for the price.
3.5 stars

Let me explain that this review will be thorough and a bit critical. This is because the Red Pheasant is a little precious and very expensive. Therefor, I think it needs to be the best at what it does. Restaurants should deliver what it promises and not underestimate its guests.
As an example, the very busy and well known restaurant Gina’s By The Sea knows what it is and gives you the goods. It doesn’t try to be the high end, upscale establishment for special occasions that the Red Pheasant (RP) projects to be.
So expect a lot when I go to the Red Pheasant.
I have been to the RP many times and it is always surprising with the décor, prices and food options that it isn’t a WOW.
It is more like an okay. I expect a lot from this place because it is impressive: beautiful room and pricey menu.
This visit started off disappointing just because of a story my mother in law told me. It was my in laws 45^th wedding anniversary and they were taking their family out– all 12 of us. My mother in law stated that when they made they reservation she was told they could not accommodate 12 and would have to seat us separately at 2 6 tops. Can you imagine? I could not understand why they would agree to eat there.
Happily we got there and there was lovely 12 top waiting for us– but get this: in the back of the restaurant by the men’s bathroom and the noisy kitchen. I would have complained immediately. But my in laws were gracious and thankful we would all be together. The place was empty– it was 6:00pm on a Sunday. This table should have been set up somewhere beautiful– they had the space for it! I observed all night that the place had mostly 2 and 4 tops, was never filled and by far our table had the largest bill of the night– well over $ 1,000.00 easily. And we were by the kitchen. Classy.
Now for the meal.
What was good:
The margarita was excellent but in the WRONG glass (it was narrow and tall). Annoying.
Oysters: cold, on ice & very fresh.
Service: solid, caring, cordial and on top of it.
Coffee: amazing
Dessert: profiterol– I am torn here– it tasted good but it was obnoxiously huge and the pastry was meh. Not elegant for a lady to order and it looked silly on the plate. Presentation matters.
What was just ok:
I ordered the lamb chops and they were huge– impossible to cut with the enormous steak knife they gave me. Also, it wasn’t the rib cut, it was the loin chop– for $ 28.00! Are you kidding me? For that price I expected the better cut of meat.
In the end, it tasted good but you look like a truck driver while trying to cut it because the «T bone» makes it impossible to cut. You sort of have to pick it up and eat it like a caveman.
The side dishes were so so and warm at best.
My husband loved his Tuna and everyone was happy with their food.
For a good meal, the RP delivers. But for a special occasion it is superficial. FWIW, there was not a host or hostess there to greet us or say goodnight– another touch that means a lot when you’re spending a fortune. This restaurant is phoning it in. Go to Gina’s, spend the same amount of money for a much better experience and a respectful business that appreciates your hard earned money.

The Red Pheasant in Dennis was quite a contrast of opinions between my wife and I. I had lamb and thought it perfect in every way, as I did the restaurant in general, and I’ll leave it at that. I control the rating so I’ll lower it by one star to accommodate my wife. What’s interesting is what my wife found wanting. Key is the food. She had a roasted boneless Long Island Duckling with braised Swiss chard, gratin potatoes, and a dried cranberry and port wine sauce. The portions were large, especially the duck, and the meal was served piping hot. She likes her duck cooked so the thick skin is a crispy exterior, free of grease, and eatable. The skin was soft, leaking grease and could not be eaten. I had the leftover for lunch the next day and, incredibly, there was no sauce. I asked her about it and she said indeed there was a tiny puddle of sauce adjacent to the duck, which she consumed with the first two bites of meat. A sweet sauce over duck is the real reason for her choosing that meal when we are out so she was very disappointed at the meager portion of sauce. She always likes a nicely done orange or wine sauce with duck. The heating system is forced hot air from a ceiling duck, which ran right overhead of our table. A vent was above where she sat. Clearly the heat was not on. It was the coldest night of the year so far this winter with the temperatures in the teens. Heat was supplied by a wood-​burning fireplace, which I thought was lovely and adequate. My wife however had to eat with her coat on, not a comfortable way to have dinner. The aroma from the fire caused her nose to drip and she began coughing and sneezing from the smell of the fire. She thought the bread was dry and flavorless and on this we agreed. She thought the waitress was inattentive but I felt, had we wanted her for anything, she would have responded efficiently. I would return in a heartbeat. She would not care to return. Men-​women-​different. It was an unusual experience for us because we always agree on the pluses and minuses of restaurants, their meals, service, and cost. Not this time.

This is my favorite high end restaurant on Cape Cod. I love the ambiance. They use quite a few local products, always a good thing. The local oysters are always wonderful. My daughter loves the sole meuniere. I like just about everything. The death by chocolate desserts are splendid. The wine list has a variety of prices. I always buy a full bottle because the wine by the glass is a small glass indeed, and you can take the rest of the bottle home.

«Duck» like in really duck. The duck was so highly praised, that four of us did the remarkable-​we all ordered duck. Mistake does not begin to describe that action. The skin was flabby in all cases-​not us the duck– not crisp as one might expect (and desire).
On the plus side, ambiance was very good and the appetizers, particularly a risotto with mushrooms were also quite good. Wine by the glass was reasonably priced and also of high-​quality.

This place was pretty good. I will admit, as a 22 year old I dont think this place is intended for people like my girlfriend and I. Most of the people in there were an older crowd (much older as in retirement age and above).
They first served tiny puffed cheesed biscuits which were somewhat bland. The texture was good but there was only a mild taste of the cheese. As a cheese lover, I wish there was more.
The bread was a rosmary bread I beleive which was warm. Olive oil was set on the table for dipping. I wish our server had brought over fresh cracked pepper as well. We were forced to use table pepper which I don’t think did the trick.
We ordered chowder … chowda (sorry forgot i was at the cape) which was a little this but had a lot of taste. The bottom of the cup was just loaded with clam, moreso than most chowders are. If it was a little thicker the clams would have been mixed in better though.
I got the duck. it was a huge duck breast and was basically marinated in heaven. It tasted amazing and was served with potatoes gratin which where delicious.
My GF got quail which was very tiny and was served with an overly buttered grain/​rice side. (she thought her dish was okay), btu definitely preferred mine.
Downside was our server brough out the wrong dish and had to take it back. When I am paying top dollar for a meal I don’t like to see that happen. He did the same thing at the table next to us as well.
All in all this place captures the essence of cape cod. Its very pricey, but a good alternative if you want to get away from having seafood every day.

Fantastic duck! Best duck I have had in my life. If I remember correctly, my dish was ok and forgettable. My boyfriend and I had a fantastic anniversary dinner here and concluded you go there for the duck. The restaurant itself is super quaint and cute. Next time I am going to request to sit in the room where there are more windows – seemed to have a more romantic vibe and you also get a view of the garden. The service was wonderful.

We’ve been to the Red Pheasant three times recently and have really enjoyed our meals. Our most recent visit in February was great. There was a real fire in the fireplace, the snow on the garden outside glistened. Mr. had the tasty chowder, we both had salads that were excellent — where did they find tasty tomatoes in Feb?- and then he had sushi grade tuna done perfectly, and I had sole with a wonderful sauce. We finished with a terrific cheese plate — my absolutely favorite dessert. Service has always been extremely professional.

Probably 4 ½.
The venue itself has the Cape Cod charm you expect having watched to many romantic comedies. Simply said it is wonderful and quaint. The hostess is the female half of thirty years of ownership, her husband cooking in the kitchen.
Chowder was thin, too thin.
The salmon ceviche was excellent, the toast unique and perfectly crisp, the sauce refreshing and creamy, the pickled onions extraordinary. I could leave the capers off, but simply a personal preference.
My entrée was the buffalo, the flavor of the meat was good. A bit under seasoned. The potatoes, kale, and mushrooms were a nice compliment.
The gf had the salmon entrée. Perfect. The corn and lump crab meat gave the touch of sweetness desired with salmon.
Service was average for the cost, but no major complaints, though no compliments either.
The valet parking is hysterical. You will hand your keys to a valet who will drive the car all of 20 feet.
Nice place and the value was in line with expectations.

I had dined here while visiting my parents a few years ago and had a wonderful experience. This most recent time unfortunately was not so good.
We started with several appetizers, which include the Maryland crab cake, which was excellent, the salmon gravlox that was also very good and the fish chowder that I assume was outstanding as it was gone before I got a chance to sample.
The entrees did not fair so well. My salmon and my mother’s scallops were both overcook… there’s no excuse for such simple dishes to not be properly done. The bright spot was the sole, which was done perfectly.
The wine selection was small but decent. I had a Bored Doe, Goats do Roam (yeah, silly name) from South Africa that wasn’t half bad.
The interior is what you would expect from the cape… old with a rustic, inviting charm. The cuisine is mostly of French influences with pâté, gravlox and heavy meat/​fish dishes.
It was disappointing as I thought this was a bright spot on the cape but looks like it has gone downhill. Now where am I going to dine with my parents?

I used to love this restaurant. We actually had our rehearsal dinner for 50 people here. 7 months ago I became a vegan, which makes it difficult eating out at restaurants around here on Cape Cod. My father-​in-​law loves to go here when he visits so I called ahead to make a reservation and see if they could make something (anything) vegan, since it is all meat and fish on the menu.
The person who answered the phone, (I am nearly certain it was Bill, the owner and chef) was so RUDE about it. He said, «well, what do you want? What do you eat? I know what you don’t eat, but then what will you eat? I mean we have salads. I guess I could BOIL YOU SOME VEGETABLES» That is what the chef of this gourmet well-​reviewed restaurant said. I was blown away. I can’t think of anything less appetizing sounding, besides maybe a rare steak.
I’ve called ahead and asked many other restaurants if they have anything vegan on the menu and if not could they make something, and everyone has been awesome and so accommodating, but not here at The Red Pheasant.
They need to catch up with the times and realize that not everyone wants to eat meat. Sure, you can say to not go there, but everyone else in our party wanted to.
Needless to say we didn’t end up going and they lost out on a $ 200 + dinner bill. Something Im guessing in March on the Cape during a recession might have been welcome.