Dan’l Webster Inn Gourmet Cape Cod Dinner
This article is Dan’l Webster Inn Gourmet Cape Cod Dinner. It is a review of my wife and my experience dining at the legendary Dan’l Webster Inn in Sandwich, Cape Cod.
The article is part of my wife and my New England Road Trip.
Dan’l Webster Inn Gourmet Cape Cod Dinner Background
I was connected with the Dan’l Webster Inn thanks to Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce.
The Dan’l Webster Inn reached out to me and offered a complimentary dinner experience and tour of the property on our trip to Cape Cod. While the dinner was generously provided by the hotel, the views expressed in this article are my own.
You can read more about the Dan’l Webster Inn and restaurant on TripAdvisor where you can find other guest reviews and photos.
Restaurant
The Dan’l Webster Inn is recognized as a Distinguished Restaurant of North America, placing it in the top 1% of restaurants in the country.
Four lovely dining rooms offer a choice of settings; candle-lit rooms, fireside dining in the Music or Webster Rooms garden-side dining in the sun or moonlit Conservatory, cozy dining in the tavern or au natural dining outside on the patio (seasonal).
Guests are welcomed in all the dining rooms dressed from casual to their Sunday best.
A cozy bar is also available near the casual tavern room.
Traditional favorites such as the most tender prime rib and filet mignon, are served alongside creative, contemporary entrees and seasonal dishes from our rotating Chef’s Special Menu.
Wine is offered from a connoisseur’s wine cellar. The wine connoisseurs was the recipient of The Wine Spectator’s prestigious Award of Excellence.
A gourmet pastry chef prepares the luscious confections for dessert.
Arrival
My wife and I arrived at the Dan’l Webster Inn for dinner and was greeted by the host who escorted us to a table.
We were seated in the Conservatory room near the waterfall by the window, which offered a beautiful view.
The server greeted us promptly and menus were provided as well as a wine list.
He suggested cocktails or wine to go with dinner. The cordial server recommended cocktails after asking for our preferences.
My wife ordered a blueberry one and I ordered a local craft beer after being provided a tasting.
The server and a manager reviewed the menu with us and they provided information about the chef and the pastry chef.
Recommendations from each part of the menu were given.
The server suggested we order an appetizer and then place the entrée order later for a more leisurely meal. We accepted and selected calamari and the ramen duck bowl.
The cocktails were served promptly, and they were both excellent.
The beer was served very cold which enhanced the flavor of the stout.
Appetizers
The appetizers were served about 10 minutes after we ordered.
Calamari
The Calamari was served in a large decorative dish.
The calamari were hot, and they were breaded lightly and cooked well. The breading had a tangy flavor.
The calamari were fresh, and it was light in flavor. The dish was served with a mild tomato sauce that further enhanced the taste.
We savored each bite and it just might be the best calamari that we have ever tasted based on how it was prepared.
Ramen Duck Bowl
The Ramen Duck Bowl was served hot in a decorative dish.
The ramen was cooked well, and the noodles were al-dente and were seasoned in a flavorful beef broth with vegetables.
The duck was crispy, and it was sliced into small pieces. The duck had an excellent flavor and was cooked perfectly.
Chopsticks were served with the dish so that we could enjoy it in the traditional ramen style.
The appetizer was bold in flavor and all the ingredients were paired well in the broth.
The broth itself was so good we had some of it using a spoon after we finished the noodles.
The server checked back with us shortly after the appetizers were served and again later while we were enjoying them.
The server maintained the table and he removed dishes when we were finished, and he cleaned off the table and provided new flatware for each course.
Entrée ordering
After we finished the appetizers at the Dan’l Webster Inn Gourmet Cape Cod Dinner, the server suggested we order entrees.
He recommended the seafood risotto and the sirloin or ribeye steak, and he described out each was prepared and served.
My wife ordered the risotto and I ordered the mushroom au gratin sirloin and he confirmed how I wanted the steak prepared.
The server also suggested that we share a salad before the entrees were served. We accepted and ordered the blue cheese one.
A few minutes later, the sommelier arrived at the table and he recommended that we share a bottle of wine for the table. He learned what entrees we ordered, and he recommended one that would go well with the steak and the seafood.
The wine was served a few minutes later. The sommelier opened the bottle at the table after presenting the bottle for our approval. After the approval was obtained a small tasting was offered before pouring the other glass.
The wine was a Spanish Rioja variety and it was excellent.
The sommelier checked in with us a few minutes later and returned later to top off our glasses.
Salad
The salad was served tableside and the server offered to serve it individually to each of us. We accepted, and he split it evenly between two plates and presented them neatly to the two of us.
The salad was made with fresh lettuce with a house-made blue cheese dressing.
The lettuce was excellent, and the dressing was bold in flavor and it was a great transition between the appetizers and entrée course.
The server checked in with us to confirm we were enjoying it and then again when we finished, and he offered to remove the plates.
A manager checked in with our table to ensure we were enjoying the meal.
The entrees were served a few minutes after the salad plates were cleared.
Seafood Risotto
The Seafood Risotto was presented neatly, and it was served hot.
The Seafood Risotto was loaded with tons of fresh seafood including lobster, scallops, and shrimp. Chorizo sausage and green peas were also cooked with the rice. The dish was creamy and had an incredible flavor.
The risotto rice was cooked perfectly, and it had a nice crisp taste that provided contrast to the creaminess of the dish.
Risotto is difficult to turn out well. The Dan’l Webster Inn went above and beyond and created an incredible seafood rendition. It was the best seafood risotto we’ve ever sampled.
Mushroom Au Gratin Sirloin
The sirloin was cooked as ordered and it was served hot.
The steak was plated on top of a bed whipped potatoes and asparagus. The sirloin was topped with a creamy wild mushroom and aged parmesan cheese topping. The potatoes and asparagus were fresh and flavorful.
The Grilled Certified Angus Beef top sirloin was tender and easy to cut, and it was bold in flavor.
The dish was served with a Cabernet demi-glace that further enhanced the taste of the entrée.
The server checked back with us sever times during the entrée course.
When we were finished with the course, he cleared the table and removed the crumbs from the table.
Dessert Course
The server presented dessert menus at the Dan’l Webster Inn Gourmet Cape Cod Dinner and he talked about the new items from the menu that the pastry chef made in house.
I asked for a recommendation and the server suggested the key lime pie or the cheesecake as both were excellent.
We ordered the key lime pie to share.
The server provided new flatware and he served the key lime pie a few minutes later.
Key Lime Pie
The key lime pie was presented neatly on a plate and it appeared fresh and appetizing.
We took one bite of it and it reminded me of the best key lime pie I’ve ever had before from Key West.
The pie was creamy, and it had just the right amount of key lime flavor to go alone with the cream.
The pie was excellent, and it was a perfect end to the meal.
Coffee or tea was offered with the pie.
Departure
After we finished the dessert, the server asked if we wanted anything else.
After we declined, the server cleared the table and he thanked us sincerely for dining at the restaurant.
The hotel generously covered our meal during this experience. The value was approximately $225.
The server thanked us as we departed. A manager also acknowledged us when we were leaving, and they thanked us sincerely and wished us a pleasant evening.
Overall
Our dinner experience at the Dan’l Webster Inn was incredible. It was gourmet fine dining in a beautiful environment. All the staff that we encountered were wonderful and the experience was top notch.
I was watching the other tables during the visit and noticed that everyone was treated in the same fashion and it was not an isolated experience based on our special dinner.
Each course was flavorful, and we savored every bite from the appetizer to the key lime pie.