 Intro
Located
on narrow, residential, Fair Street, the Woodbox, a quaint
old Nantucket home, blends perfectly with the neighborhood.
A longtime inn, it serves both breakfast and dinner to
the public as well. Three small dining rooms create an
early American atmosphere with four or five tables in
each room. Attractive wooden tables and caned chairs
are in two of the rooms with a more casual air to the
third. The menu includes the Inn's speciality, classic
Beef Wellington, several seafood choices, as well as
the traditional chicken. This is the second season for
the husband and wife chef team of David and Teresa Going.
Ambiance: 
The Woodbox creates a quiet and restful mood. The highly
polished wood tables are set with blue accents, place
mats, candles in hurricane lamps and china. Caned chairs,
reminiscent of formal dining of the past, are placed
at each table. An attractive corner hutch and a number
of paintings and flowers on each table complete the charm
of the main dining room. Each of the other two dining
rooms is reached by passing through this original one.
We
arrived on one of the hottest evenings of the summer
and wondered about the lack of air conditioning. Every
window was open and small fans situated around the room,
kept our room delightfully cool. The owner seems to know
many of the diners who have clearly come here for years.
People are dressed casually and it was interesting to
observe several guests who left the room numerous times
during dinner. The Nantucket "No Smoking" ordinance
is in full effect making this an obvious solution on
this fine evening but less pleasant on wet or frosty
nights.
Food: 
A delicious slice of smoked salmon served with fennel
caperberries and lemon vinaigrette was one perfect
 appetizer. The cold honeydew puree served with prosciutto
was also excellent. Fluke was prepared with roasted
artichoke hearts and a celery puree reduction, an
unusual but great choice. Seared Sea scallops with
a crispy rice cake were also wonderful. However,
the accompanying centrally placed Napa cabbage with
scallions served in a spicy lemon garlic sauce was
much too dominant, detracting from the flavor of
the scallops. Desserts are not to be missed; the
blueberry fruit crisp served with pistachio shortbread
and lemon tart with raspberry sauce were both incredible!
Other Observations:
Our waitress was extremely pleasant, but not without
flaw. While serving the first course, she tipped
the soup bowl, letting some slurp over the edge and
on to the floor. Noticing our suprise, she quickly
wiped the edge of the plate and presented the "sponged
dish", commenting" I hope I didn't splash
you." She also mixed up our entrees when these
were served. Perhaps her concentration was lost as
she realized she had forgotten to replenish the soup
with a "dollop."
Don't miss slipping into the tiny restroom hidden under
the staircase. It is unique and the most creatively
arranged "facilities" that we have seen!
Finally, sale of this Nantucket landmark restaurant
has been rumored for several years, so better make
your reservations.
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