It was a dark and stormy night…literally. We started out in a downpour of historic proportions and periodically throughout the evening the lightening threatened to put a serious damper on our dining adventure. But nothing could dampen our enthusiasm for a world class dining experience at the newly opened Fin in Dennis MA.
Now we have had some wonderful meals on Cape Cod, blessed as we are with a plethora of fine dining establishments, and a full complement of seafood offerings that range from the omnipresent clam shack to chef-owned bistros of some renown. But to say that our meal at Fin last night is hands down the most delectable in our 7+ year tenure here on Cape Cod barely begins to do it justice.
We started with an amusé served by our very talented waiter, Stephen, whom we have encountered before in this food-friendly peninsula. A perfectly poached morsel of succulent lobster bathed in chive cream and served on a lotus chip was as beautiful to look at as it was to taste. It was the perfect bite. Accompanied by a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, my appetite was sufficiently whetted for the courses yet to come.
Rich and I both opted for the house-made oyster chowder to start. Artfully served in simple white bowls, the creamy chowder was filled with sweet Dennis oysters from an oyster grant owned by the chef‘s husband, and were nicely balanced by smoky bacon, leeks and white truffle oil. Rich and satisfying, it was clear that this was no ordinary chowder.
For the entrée, again Rich and I chose the same dish. This time we went with the pan-seared day boat sea scallops that were served with oyster mushrooms, asparagus, pancetta, gaufrettes, and a chive béarnaise. The scallops were cooked to perfection, and the lemony béarnaise played nicely with the smoky pancetta. The gaufrettes were crisp and salty and offered a playful counterpoint to the richness of the dish.
Chef Martha Kane, formerly the executive chef at the Brewster Fish House, opened Fin earlier this year with her husband. Housed in a two-story antique home on Route 6A in Dennis, MA, the ambiance of the restaurant exudes casual comfort. Original wide pine flooring, large light-filled windows and whimsical art pieces in both the upstairs and downstairs dining rooms set the mood for an intimate dining experience.
We completed our meal with handcrafted desserts. Rich chose banana fritters with coconut ice cream and caramel sauce, and while I was tempted by the strawberry and rhubarb tart served with ginger ice cream, I was ultimately swayed by a rich chocolate and coffee mousse confection and have no regrets.
Fin is open for dinner nightly, except Sunday. Given its proximity to the Cape Cod Playhouse, I predict reservations will be tough to come by in the season. So plan ahead and bring a discerning palate. You won’t be disappointed.
