I thought with this new “reality” TV show focusing so much on the Black Dog that I had to do a post on the Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven. The Black Dog’s owners are making themselves quite the little empire here on The Vineyard. Have you seen this show ? It’s basically an hour Black Dog Commercial. It’s filled with hot chicks and buff dudes. You can totally pick out the island drunks and pot heads on it in about three seconds. And that’s the reality of it. Arrive on Martha’s Vineyard and it may as be called Black Dog Island. Everywhere you look on this island you see some type of black dog something. Whether it’s an actual black dog, one on a shirt, one on a sign, a boat, a bag, a frisbee, a keychain and any other silly item you can stick a logo on, when you come to Martha’s Vineyard pretty good chance it’s gonna be Black Dog overkill from the get-go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not against capitalism. If people would buy $30 mvfoodguy.com tee-shirts and underwear from me I’d have some kids in sweatshops sewing them til their fingers fall off. It’s just a little overkill seeing Black Dog this and Black Dog that.

The video below is the Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven near the SteamShip Authority. There is the Black Dog (with the train) on State Road, and there is the Black Dog Bakery on Water Street also near the SteamShip Authority. Believe it or not, my rating for all of the black dog food serving establishments is good. The coffee isn’t the best, but the food is good.

I ventured out with a buddy of mine to the Tavern the other morning for breakfast. There is always a pleasant staff made up of Islander’s and summer help. All of the Black Dogs are open year round. The state road substation has more parking but doesn’t have table service. They have a counter where you go up and order and find a seat if you are lucky enough. The Bakery is take out only. The Tavern is sit down. These dogs have all the bases covered. They have stores in Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs, and Edgartown so don’t forget to purchase your fancy tee shirt and prance around your hometown in so everyone knows you vacation the same place at that presidents and celebrities vacation.

The Black Dog Tavern in Vineyard Haven serves Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. I would highly recommend breakfast. Breakfast is 5 out of 5 stars. Lunch is 4 out of 5 stars and I wouldn’t recommend the dinner. Maybe 2 and half stars on Dinner. But the breakfast is good and it’s reasonable for the Island. The seating is nice. Has a a nice water view of Tisbury Harbor and the SteamShip Ferry coming in and of course of another part of the enterprise, the Black Dog dock and gigantic sail boats in the outer harbor. The Tavern also has a new outdoor seating area with a roof above in case of rain.

My go-to meal here is a short stack of pancakes with blueberries and white chocolate chips on top. I know you are saying the food guy can crush more than a short stack. Well, let me tell you something these pancakes are probably the most filling pancakes I have had. They are fluffy and delicious. I usually get the sausage patties they have there also. They are freshly made in house. The links are probably frozen. My boy had some type of egg, bacon and pancake combo. Looked good and he wasn’t disappointed. I was however, disappointed in the half ass picture he took of it. Mine, centered, colorful, looks like an Ansel Adams. His not even close to being centered, blurry, very amateur. Food guy gonna have to teach this cat how take pics.

Everything on the menu there is good. It’s breakfast. You normally don’t have to wait a two hours for breakfast like the “famous” place down the street. It’s reasonably priced. The service is good. Only downfall is parking can be tight on that little dead end street. (21 Beach Street Extension)

Although “The Vineyard” series could possibly be the worst show on television at least we know the food at the Black Dog is still good.

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