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Sesame Seared Ahi Tuna - Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR, South Wellfleet, MA

Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR

4.8 (1706)
$31 to $50
Seafood
1019 State Highway Route 6, South Wellfleet, MA 02663

Make a booking

A photo of Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR restaurant

Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
Wellfleet

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 26 times today

About this restaurant

  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Good for special occasions
**Having trouble reserving a table online?**
Please call us directly at **508.349.2127** — we’re happy to assist!

Peter and Diane Hall, along with Chef Derek, proudly continue Van Rensselaer’s tradition of serving the freshest locally caught seafood, expertly prepared meats, flavorful poultry, and a wide variety of crisp salads. Our homemade sauces and desserts are guest favorites — especially Chef Derek’s renowned Bread Pudding, which earned him recognition as a top Hawaiian baking chef.

We offer two cozy open-air patios with heaters and umbrellas as needed, plus a screened-in porch with eight tables under a covered awning. Inside, our dining room features well-spaced tables dressed in elegant black linen. Our staff is known for its professionalism and warm hospitality.

We’re proud to be **Level 1 Green Certified**, and we invite you to enjoy our newly renovated bar — perfect for dinner or a relaxing drink.

Welcome to Van Rensselaer’s — we look forward to serving you!

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Vegetarian / Vegan, Shellfish
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon, Wed–Sun 16:00–20:30
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Derek Langlois

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR.

4.8

4.8
(1706)
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.6Ambience
  • 4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Diners' Choice Awards

  • Greater Boston

    Seafood

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Best Overall

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Best Food

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Best Service

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Best Value

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Healthy

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Seafood

  • Cape Cod and the Islands

    Most Booked

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Van Rensselaer's Restaurant & Raw Bar offers "exceptional service" and "delicious food" in a cozy Cape Cod atmosphere. Known for its "fresh seafood" and welcoming owners, it's a favorite among locals and visitors alike. Guests rave about the "great value" and "attentive staff," making it a must-visit destination.
1,706 Reviews
  1. Parker

    New York City3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious food and excellent service. A Cape Cod treasure.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Thomas Gold

    Fort Lauderdale8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always a wonderful experience - great food, pleasant servers!

    Is this helpful?

  3. Ellen Gold

    Connecticut38 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our family has been dining here since 1989 and we always have a delicious meal, with friendly, professional service and prices that reflect the economy . The menu offers enough variety that everyone will be happy! They offer options for children as well. We ate there twice this week so you know we really enjoy it.

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  4. Patricia Gold

    Greater Boston44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Delectable clams casino to start and a crispy, delicious and huge fish and chips and a delightful seared swordfish with white polenta , all served piping hot and with friendly smiles. Nothing better than a crème brûlée to close out a wonderful meal. You spoil us!! Always a treat to dine at VR’s and enjoy a warm welcome from everyone! 🥳🥰😃

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  5. james

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 15 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Been there a few times, never a bad experience. Had the seafood linguine which was excellent. Wait staff was excellent also.

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  6. Denis

    Greater Boston14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 10 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our Server was Dana; he was excellent and one of the best servers we’ve ever had. Great food, great service and we’ll be back

    Is this helpful?

  7. Ade Gold

    Greater Boston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 9 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food is always great at Van Rensselaer’s! We all had the prime rib, pasta, salmon and the VR mixed grill and everyone very much enjoyed their dish. A must go to place on the cape!

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  8. Mike

    San Francisco Bay Area13 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 9 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always great food, exceptional service. Splurged last night had the stuffed lobster. Well worth the price. Wife had the crusted salmon, as usual, as usual it too was great. Considering the ambiance, food and service, the prices are well worth it. Great value on some of their wines

    Is this helpful?

  9. Patty

    Greater Boston7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great as always. Great food great atmosphere and they always want to be sure everything was great. Love VR

    Is this helpful?

  10. Francis

    Greater Boston23 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on 4 October 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had friends from Florida down had to go to dinner here was wonderful all enjoyed our meals had a great time can’t wait to go back before they close for the season. ❤️

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Vegetarian / Vegan, Shellfish
  • Hours of Operation
    Dinner Mon, Wed–Sun 16:00–20:30
  • Phone number
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress Code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Derek Langlois

FAQs

Sunday mornings are a favorite, guests praise Van Rensselaer’s Sunday brunch and report pleasant weekend breakfast and brunch experiences.

Guests often describe portions as generous, and many entrées are offered in both small and regular sizes so you can choose how much you’d like.

Many guests describe Van Rensselaer’s as busy or “hopping” during peak visits, while other diners report a comfortable, quiet experience with low-to-moderate noise for a more relaxed meal.

Yes, Van Rensselaer’s is family-friendly: they offer kid meal options and staff regularly accommodate children, with families noting attentive servers, coloring pages/crayons, and kids who enjoyed their meals.

Van Rensselaer’s is a lovely spot for breakfast or Sunday brunch, guests specifically praise a Sunday 10:00 AM brunch and weekday/weekend mornings at the bar for relaxed, attentive service.

Casual dress, comfortable, neat clothes are appropriate; nothing formal is expected.

For families, yes, staff regularly expand tables for groups with children, provide kids’ activities like coloring pages, and the restaurant offers kids’ meal options.

Yes, if you need help booking or have special requests, call the restaurant directly at 508.349.2127; guests also note staff happily accommodated menu modifications when asked.

Yes, Van Rensselaer’s is a popular choice for special evenings, with guests returning for anniversaries and praising its warm, conversation-friendly atmosphere.

Yes, Van Rensselaer’s offers two cozy open-air patios and a screened-in porch (eight tables under a covered awning), and guests often enjoy dining on the covered deck or patio.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Greater Boston
  4. Cape Cod and the Islands
  5. Wellfleet

Make a booking

A photo of Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR restaurant

Van Rensselaer's RESTAURANT & RAW BAR

4.8
$31 to $50
Seafood
Wellfleet

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 26 times today
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