- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Bubala's by the Bay
Category: Restaurants American (New) American (New) [Edit]
183 Commercial StProvincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-0773
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
111 reviews for Bubala's by the Bay
Review Highlights
-
"P-town was a fun place to walk around for a couple of hours." In 17 reviews -
"For lunch, I had the hot buttered lobster roll with fries." In 6 reviews -
"Fish and chips here is the best deal in town." In 9 reviews
Loading...
110 reviews in English
-
Review from Florina K.
ALLSTON, MA
Pretty good food good attmosphere!
-
Review from Alyson G.
After a morning of lounging and shopping we decided to pick a place to meet up with our friends for lunch. Bubala's had a large patio and good ratings on Yelp (of course we checked) so we decided to find a spot on the patio. We were with a large group that split up but slowly more people decided they wanted to join us, and the servers were really good about accommodating us and our growing table. I split the fish tacos with a friend and they were good. The best part about this place has to be that the patio is right on the main street. We got to wave to the queen all dressed up on a bicycle multiple times and promised we'd check out the show later.
-
Review from April D.
Everytime we are in the area, this place is on our to do list. And there is one reason why...the Filet Bourbon Blues. Its only on the dinner menu so time your visit wisely. Delicious steak with yummy mashed potatoes and veggies...but the demiglace they use on the steak is orgasmic, its like pancake syrup for steak. They need to sell this stuff in the sex shop!
The staff and atmosphere is nice. Outside seating is great for people watching. Drinks are alright. I've had the lobster, and clam chowder here before and both are good. But I'll always go back to the almighty Filet. -
Review from Steve B.
Bubala's has something going for it that in my 2 visits to P-town, I have learned is like gold...PARKING! Thats right. Free parking for customers. If there was ever a reason to add a star, that is it in P-town, because you may as well be trying to park a motorhome on E. 8th St. in Southie if youre trying to find reasonably cheap parking close to Commercial St. in the village at the tip of the Cape!
Anyways, the princess and I make an annual trip to P-town every year just to have lunch and walk around and stick out heads in the cool little stores and galleries, and basically just hang out together. This past weekend was the 2nd annual trip, and our 2nd annual trip to Bubala's too!
We were quickly seated on the patio, which has umbrellas to shield you from the sun (or in our case, intermittent showers). The patio is very dog-friendly (as most businesses in town are). The service was quick. We each had a glass of wine (I had the Truro Chardonnay and she had the Lehmann Shiraz)...I really like that they carry Truro wines, cool so see one small Cape Cod business supporting another!
For lunch, I had the hot buttered lobster roll with fries. For around $18, its about right. Theres plenty of lobster and you definitely wont leave hungry. Could I have handled a few more ounces, sure, but Im not complaining. I thought it was priced pretty fairly. I had never had a hot lobster roll before, but it was pretty good, well cooked and without the "fillers" of a cold lobster roll (celery, mayo, etc).
She had the tuna burger with wasabi mayo (her favorite from our last visit) and loved it again.
While we were eating, a line had formed for patio seating, but it definitely seemed to move right along. Food comes out fast and tables turn over quickly, so dont be discouraged if you see a line!Listed in: Summertiiiiiiime and the…
-
Review from Crys S.
JACKSON HTS, NY
I got the special that night of scallops over a type of garlic sauce reduction over pasta. OMG...two bites and I felt sick. The dish had no flavor to speak of and whatever they made the sauce with, was horrific.
I will say they were very apologetic and removed my uneaten meal from our check though. Food is a 1 star, service is a 4. -
Review from Anne W.
Somehow we ended up here twice over the weekend because I was told it had delicious lobster rolls with butter. The first time we went there, it was at night... we sat down and promptly told that they only had the lobster roll with mayo. We were dissapointed and was surprised they couldn't make accomodations for us. We ordered drinks.. and probably two entrees to share. I could not believe how high the bill was... they really rip you off on drinks. About $11 for one... that's like city club prices!
The second day we came for lunch.. the waiter was pleasant except he dissapeared for about 40 minutes. We had to chase down the hostess to get our bill and get going.
I am not a fan of this place except it has free parking for while you dine. -
Review from Linda M.
We had lunch at Bubala's and it was our best meal on the Cape. I had the yummy fish tacos ($2 extra for broiled instead of fried a bit lame). The only thing that would have improved it was fresh guac instead of the prepackaged kind. Washed them down with a pretty good bloody, nicely spicy and plenty strong. I like the tomato juice a little thicker.
Mr. M really enjoyed a big meal of shrimp soup, oysters and an ahi tuna sandwich accompanied by a local beer. Growing boy had the adult fish and chips...a mountain of food that he couldn't come close to finishing. He thought they were middle of the road.
Server was friendly. We went during the week and were able to nab a table overlooking the water. Nice! P-town was a fun place to walk around for a couple of hours.Listed in: Boston and the Cape
-
Review from Ken M.
We got to P-town a couple of hours before the condo was ready and since neither of us had eaten since lunch the day before, we decided to eat here. We sat outside on the patio and the weather was perfect. The tables turned over pretty quick. This seating also gave a perfect view of all the people streaming into town on Saturday.
The service was relatively pleasant if not a bit awkward. The prices were okay for what it was. I had a beet and goat cheese croquet salad and Andy had a burger. The food was very tasty. Andy's raspberry margarita was very smooth and refreshing. -
Review from Lisa S.
We visited Bubala's by the Bay on a recent trip to Provincetown that included our two Labradors. Another restaurant with high Yelp ratings suggested we eat at Bubala's because it has a dog friendly patio. My sons, pups and I were seated right next to the sidewalk and were able to tie the pups to the railing next to us (the host was a bit gruff, but mostly pleasant).
We waited about 15 minutes for our server to greet us, but once she arrived, she did a great job getting our drink and appetizer order. My preteen son loves calamari, but not spicy food, so they were able to make their fried Cajun calamari, without the Cajun spices. It was a bit bland, but that was how he wanted it. We really enjoyed the bread basket, served with a bulb of roasted garlic and olive oil (good thing hubby was away on a business trip or we would have had trouble later on)!
For dinner, I had the seared sea scallops, which were to die for (see photo)! I couldn't believe how large each scallop was AND how many there were! The sauce was absolutely delicious and the linguine was cooked perfected. The dish was about as good as it gets!
My oldest ordered the fresh fish and chips (filleted on site, that day), it was very tasty and he ate the whole meal. My preteen had the, wait for it, Angus burger. The chef did a good job of making it a perfect medium-rare and he enjoyed almost the whole burger (it was big)! He didn't care much for the fries - but our Labradors loved them!
Speaking of the Labradors, they enjoyed their visit at Bubala's too! The attention they got from the passerby's made their night! Oh, and they really appreciated the bowl of water they were given!
Bottom line: If you are looking for a nice restaurant to enjoy with your friends, kids and/or dogs, check out Bubala's! As with any restaurant in Provincetown, it was pricey, but our meal was great so we had no complaints! Note: this is Provincetown, so be aware that sitting by the sidewalk will make for interesting and entertaining people watching! We love the theatrics, but if you are more reserved and don't have pups with you, you may want to eat in the dining room, which has ocean views! -
Review from Susan S.
Lynn, MA
This place is outstanding. We had a party of nine and every single dish from waffles to fish tacos was fantastic. Service was friendly, the waitress knowledgeable and had perfect timing. We sat outside where we could have to dogs with us. Water bowls for the dogs provided without having to ask.
They also have free parking. -
Review from Andy W.
Palm Springs, CA
I love the steamers at Bubala's by the bay. I think they have a fair price and even though they are listed as an appetizer, I have had them 5 times this week as my meal.
My only comment about this place is some of the wait staff is not from the US and do not seem to have the skill for dropping by your table to make sure things are going well. They take the order, bring you drinks, bring the mean and maybe a refill, after that you will only see them when they deliver the bill. This is a management problem that needs to be fixed. I have some simple requirements of my water glass or ice tea never making it to the bottom of the glass. Its not hard if you stop by the table once after the meal is delivered. -
Review from Bob S.
Philadelphia, PA
Save your money and go to Stop and Shop and get a better meal there. This place is just another over priced lousy restaurant in Provincetown.
If you like wasting your money and want to experience mediocre food and lousy service then go here.
Take a pass on this place and go elsewhere... -
Review from Rick R.
Atlanta, GA
Stopped in for lunch during a visit to Ptown in September. Boyfriend is lactose intolerant and wanted to swap a few things (already on the menu). Server said flat out "NO." So we left and went to a great place for lunch. That's my last visit to Bubala's!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
7/31/2011
Lunch spot this year. I had the lobster salad and boyfriend had the asian chicken salad, both very… Read more »
-
7/31/2011
-
Review from Daniela R.
Hudson, OH
I'm shocked at all the good reviews , maybe Today was an off day. I give it one star for the bloody Mary which was the only thing I enjoyed. The food was bland , absolutely no flavor. I seriously couldn't shake the salt shaker enough to get my fish soup to taste like something. Very disappointing. And the hostess ... Let's talk about her for a minute.... Talk about rude! She couldn't pause for two seconds to find out that I wanted to sit inside by the window. When She finally listened she said there were no seats available as she has just sat people by the window and it would be a while. So we sat in the patio, I went to use the lady's room and noticed that a couple sitting by the window had just paid the bill and were leaving. LIAR! But I guess after seeing the inside I didn't miss much. This place is a dump!
Our waiter quickly brought our food - which leads me to believe that it was microwaved - and he never came back. We had to flag someone else down to get our bill. We paid fifty dollars for a virgin bloody Mary, one beer, an order of fish tacos and my lousy fish soup. Will absolutely never go back. This place is dirty -
Review from Lisa N.
Provincetown, MA
I rarely go for atmosphere over food... BUT, a table on the patio overlooking Commercial St. on a summer's day goes a long way. Stay with the simple stuff (burgers, fish&chips, salads, veggie springs rolls), a glass of a crisp Sauvignon Blanc... add an affected accent (foreign or affluent Suburban or NYC) and I'm a happy laughing girl.
-
Review from Cara C.
Belmont, MA
This place hit the spot, including a parking space with two kids in the backseat on a very rainy-pouring P-Town day. Fish tacos were great and although my kids didn't touch the chicken finger/fries order I got them for lunch, they ate it up at dinner when I took it to go :)
Service was good, wait for food a bit long but I know a large party had sat down before us and probably held up the orders a bit...I will definitely hit that spot again when we are back~
Thanks for LUNCH! -
Review from Beth E.
Medford, MA
This review is for drinks only. I can't decide if I want to go 2 stars or 3 on this one. We were in Ptown for a day trip, and after much walking, decided to take a load off and have a drink. We had a pretty large group, and were honest that our intention was drinks.
They sat us, on the patio, but gave us a bunch of attitude about it. Our waitress was great, handled all our drinks and a couple appetizers that were ordered. Unfortunately, the hostess continued to give us the evil eye and made us feel completely unwelcome. Sure we sat down for a drink, but eventually would have likely ordered food. Instead we drank quickly and wanted to get out, who wants to spend money somewhere where they make you feel bad?
Like I said, we were a pretty large group. We left, went down the street, met up with the rest of our friends, and dropped a good amount of money on a bunch of food and a lot of drinks at a place that was welcoming and good-humored.
I'm going with 3 since our waitress was awesome, they sat our large party almost immediately on the patio on a gorgeous day, and the drinks were really strong. But, after our experience, I don't know that I'll ever be going back. -
Review from Daniel M.
While our waitress was very nice and accommodating to us I didn't appreciate the attitude from the hostess and especially didn't appreciate hearing her behind us asking our server "are they going to order anything ELSE?"
No bitch, we're not. Actually, we went down the street with our whole party and dropped a couple hundred bucks where everyone was welcoming and there was no bitch hostess attempting to ruin our afternoon.
Listen, I understand that you don't want to tie up your patio with people that are "just drinking" despite the fact that you probably would have made more money off of our liquor and the food that inevitably leads to but we never got that opportunity. For reals though...don't want us on your patio, don't seat us there. Ta-dah! Problem solved.
Despite the fact that I won't come back here the waitress was really sweet to us while dealing with that so + 1 star. -
Review from Erwin F.
Walpole, MA
Good service, terrific location, and GREAT FOOD!
I got the Cajun Calamari and the Jamaican Jerk Chicken sandwich. The calamari had a good flavor to it (though I'd have liked it a bit spicier).
The Jamaican Jerk Chicken sandwich couldn't have been better. The chicken was juicy and had a great ailoi (lime cilantro aioli).
I haven't ever been to Provincetown, but I really liked the location of the restaurant. There was a lot of foot traffic and other stores/boutiques in the area. I'll have to come back again. -
Review from Chas K.
Bubala's has long been a personal favorite in P'Town, a place with surprisingly few good restaurants and many overpriced, lousy places to eat. In my experience, Bubala's has always served creative, flavorful, fairly-priced dishes. This wasn't the case last night.
Some of what I like about B's is still there: Service (Karr) was attentive and friendly and the selection of wines by the glass (ranged from $7 - $10) was wide. Some things I didn't like: New for 2010...much higher prices and bland food. What little flavor there was in my seared scallops with asparagus, sun dried tomatoes, and asparagus tossed w/ bourbon cream sauce over pasta ($24.95) was unbalanced; a poorly conceived and executed dish. At least the kitchen wasn't stingy w/ the scallops. The only saving grace of my wife's seafood cassoulet ($23.95) was sweet, plump cod. My son said his salmon tartare appetizer ($14.95) lacked seasoning. Otherwise, it was fine. I think it was way overpriced for the portion.
Bubala's, please get back to basics. You've fallen into the "grab all the money you can while putting out a mediocre product" mindset of so many other Cape restaurants. You're better than that.
BTW, I factor tip into my Price Range ratings. Our bill was $105 w/ a 20% tip. Very unsatisfying.
If you think my review is "useful," "funny" or "cool," I'd appreciate you clicking the button below the review. I'm trying to get on the Elite squad. They haven't noticed me so far. :( -
Review from Jim P.
Boston, MA
One of my favorite stops for good quality food and people watching along Commercial Street. I enjoy the tuna sashimi appetizer very much and can't go wrong with any of the salad options. Bubala's is also great for families with young children as their kids' menu is reasonably priced and filling. We went with. Party of 12 earlier this week and the server was excellent - very attentive and didn't miss a beat. Hard to do with a group that size. Worth stopping in for casual food with flair.
-
Review from Dina V.
My friends brought the dog along for the vacation wich meant doggie style dining for all. Maybe I would have been more generous with starage had I gone willingly but as it were.... there was a storm coming and service was slow and nowhere to be found. On my walk to the bathroom I noticed that the interior was drab and refrigerated instead of air-conditioned. The food was o.k.
-
Review from Steve D.
Washington, DC
The halibut sandwich is simple and amazingly delicious.
-
Review from Marc C.
Boston, MA
This is a great place if you like sitting n a patio on commercial street and people watching. The prices on some things either lacked consistency or just didn't make sense. The waiter was nice and all but the service was just about the slowest I have ever experienced in Provincetown.
*please note* I cannot in all fairness to the server and the restaurant hold the speed of the service against them in this one instance. I will not subtract any stars for it and I will explain why. The day we went it was raining, then would get sunny and then start raining again without warning in a vicious cycle. After working in the restaurant/bar industry for years and overhearing conversations, they were doing their best to keep going. They would have to take tables inside, then reset the patio with people complaining wanting to sit outside, then it would rain, back inside with everyone, reset... all a vicious circle. This one time I blame the clientele for the lack of service.
Food was basic, fries were great and crispy. If you just want some decent food and people watch, I can say try this place.
Heck, you get a meal and get to watch all the interesting people for less money than catching a bad show in town... -
Review from Erin S.
Bubala's by the Bay was a pretty sweet mid-priced breakfast joint. They weren't crazy crowded and outdoor seating was widely available, which is something that I can't say for many other P-town eateries.
My party and I ordered a couple omelets, the Lizwich, and the bagel + lox. My veggie omelet was damn good, and it came with french fries! For breakfast! I thought that was great. Like, why mess around with home fries or hash browns? It's all the same thing and this made the breakfast feel more special. There was also pesto in my omelet and I'm now a egg + pesto convert. It was miraculous.
Everyone else was happy with their food choices too. Our breakfasts all came with toast though and they brought us the crap of the jelly world. Smuckers "Mixed Fruit" jelly shouldn't even exist because it's so bad. It's just gelatin, sugar, and probably some food coloring -- no recognizable fruit flavor. We asked for another type and they said they were out. Wamp wamp, wrong answer, Bubala's! If you're down to only the crappy jellies in your kitchen, obviously you should order more or maybe order a different kind next time.
This inadequacy was only made worse by the fact that we had some way scrumptious homemade blackberry jelly across the street at Enzo's for breakfast a day or two later. And the jelly wasn't the only thing that was better. Sorry to say it, Bubala's, but now that Enzo's has Noreen doing their breakfasts, your omelets are bummers by comparison. I had a comparable dish there, a pesto scramble with breakfast potatoes. It was comparable in price (if not cheaper) and significantly yummier. Even the potatoes were better, and I had been such a big fan of the fries!
It pains me to do this to a business, but if Yelp is truly about giving others good advice then my advice would be this: cross the street and eat your breakfast at Enzo's. You won't be sorry. But hey, if it happens to be Wednesday, Noreen and Enzo's takes the day off from breakfast, and Bubala's is a close second. -
Review from cortney n.
Dedham, MA
We came here because it was dog friendly, as are most of the places we dine when we're "vacationing" somewhere.
The food was pretty good. Jess had the Huevos Rancheros, which was a very Americanized version, but apparently tasted pretty good. I had the lobster omelette, which was huge, but disproportionate. When I say that I had the cheese oozing out of one side and the asparagus on the other side. I am just so particular about those things. -
Review from Heather S.
Portland, OR
This is a fun and casual American-food place to sit down while people-watching. Good seafood, not cheap, though. They say the burgers are good, but I don't eat those. Not many veggie options. They do take credit cards. The service is friendly.
Three stars: 1 for outdoor seating, and 1 for people-watching, and 1 for the food.
This is not, however, a place for introverts or HSP's (Highly Sensitive People) who like quiet. It's bustling and busy and loud. Quite the ticket for the extrovert or group of extroverts out and about before a lounge at the beach. ;)Listed in: Provincetown
-
Review from Dharia M.
South Waltham, MA
my friends said this was THE place for morning-after brunching. This is clear when you see the long line of people waiting out front on any weekend morning. so we went there on a sunny sunday morning.
The best thing about Bubala's was the HUGE outdoor patio. It is great for people watching, and probably a good place to "see-and-be-seen" if you're into that. The food, however, was solidly average. Everyone at our table ate their food, said it was ok, but nobody raved about it. The service was adequate, but not great. The prices for breakfast were a bit much. and $2.50 for a refill on iced coffee? no thanks. Our server auto tacked on %18 gratuity for a party of five, but i'm willing to forgive that since it is a resort town with lots of tourists from different countries.
i enjoyed eating there because the atmosphere was nice, but next time i'm in p-town i will find somewhere else to go for brunch. -
Review from CeeCee R.
Boston, MA
We have been to Bubala's once before and had a great time. So, we decided to go back again yesterday since we had a great experience. They have been pretty consistent in terms of food and service.
My husband had a cup of Clam Chowder that he enjoyed with the Halibut Sandwich. I had the Salmon Burger that was also highly recommended by the server and it was good. The fries that came with the burger was also great.
In general, aside from their good food, the outdoor patio have been good, especially if you bring your canine companion along.
It is definitely recommended to get in line on the earlier side, the line could get really long here if you don't get there by noon for lunch. -
Review from Marcus C.
Boston, MA
What a grand beginning to a summer Ptown weekend! Brunch on the patio was very entertaining, not only because of our chipper server, but also because the conversations of neighboring tables were quite ... colorful.
I had a lovely lobster omelet (I was in Provincetown, after all!) but when I next return, I will need to check out the burger, which looked pretty amazing. -
Review from Joel S.
Trabuco, CA
We dropped by for brunch at noon, having walked the length of commercial looking for an eatery that wasn't overly-touristy. We failed in this endeavor and settled for Bubala's with its large outdoor eating area. My wife ordered the perennially overpriced waffle (I have never understood the pricing of these versus cheaper and more ample pancakes in most establishments) and I the lobster omelet.
The omelet was thick and the egg portion a bit on the heavy side. The lobster--asparagus--cheese filling, however, was generous and tasty. The dish came, oddly, with fries.
Some have written of the wonderful view here, but we were on the street side of the outdoor eating area and did not see it. -
Review from Emily Y.
WHAT? This is the perfect place for brunch/breakfast in Cape Cod...there is no other like it...plus they serve COSTA RICAN COFFEE !!!!
Is that not enough of a reason? I mean yeah, the waffles are amazing, the omelettes are great, and the bread basket is awesome!!! Sun, Sea and Bubala's!!! You can't ask for anything more! -
Review from Mats K.
Cambridge, MA
This is a nice, but not fancy restaurant.
The menu had a number of different seafood offerings and judging from the experience of the people in our group all of them were tasty.
I enjoyed the cheese plate as an appetizer as well.
The only thing missing here I feel is a good beer selection. They have the standard domestics, and a few standard imports, but nothing that really excited me. -
Review from Tenley W.
Boston, MA
I love Bubala's by the Bay and go every time I am in Provincetown. The patio seating is great for watching to world go by.
Try the goat cheese salad! You will not be disappointed. -
Review from Evan G.
GINORMOUS restaurant with sizeable front patio.
It was fun to be here - we ate at the bar because the wait for a table outside was far too long. But the bartender was great - she took great care of us.
Good seafood selection. My guy had parchment-wrapped cod (really, really good) and I ditched my seafood ways and had the half-chicken with oyster cranberry stuffing and spinach. It was huge - took home 2/3 of it.
Highlight: Handing my phone number to a cute guy across the bar who was getting picked up by Carson Kressley and his bf and meeting up with him 20 mins. later. *ha*
Highlight #2: Going into the completely dark bathroom with two sexy Brazilian guys (the power had gone out - oops). -
Review from Beth M.
Great outdoor dining! My husband and I really enjoyed our dinner on the patio here, watching the Ptown foot traffic go by. There is a chill friendly vibe here-- our waitress was really cute and lovely, even when there was some confusion about the bottle of wine we ordered.
The duck quesadillas were delicious, and the seafood pasta dishes we tried were light and really flavorful. Good portions-- not huge, but not 3 bites of linguini either. Overall we had a nice dining experience and will surely stop by when we're on the Cape again next summer. -
Review from Michael E.
Washingtonville, NY
The food was excellent and the outdoor seating was perfect for people watching.
-
Review from Jenn J.
Somerville, MA
I don't take a trip to Ptown without dining at Bubala's.
The food is usually delicious, drinks are usually served quickly, and the wait staff is typically friendly.
This is one of the best spots for people watching on the patio especially for an early dinner (between 5 and 7) when you get to see people stumbling down the street from a t-dance at the Boatslip. Always entertaining.
The service can be pretty slow at times. It would be great if they had more staff on during busier times or used their clearers to refill drinks and place orders for additional drinks at the bar.
Definitely worth checking out next time you are in Ptown! -
Review from Storm L.
Conway, NH
generally a good place with decent outside seating. Inside some views of bay. I've liked eating there but find the quality of food and service variable although I've not had any bad experiences there in either department. Varied menu with lunch being a decent price for less than common fare.
http://www.bubalas.com/ -
Review from T A.
Providence, RI
Over the years, I've eaten here several times. I've never thought it was all that good...but somehow get sucked in for convenience to starving tourist friends. It was an OK lunch. Is it possible for waiters in Ptown to drop the attitude EVER? This time, she was nice, perhaps I don't understand the humor out there. If you want lunch that is OK and priced fairly, go here. You may not get the best food or service, but the location in Ptown is hard to beat for people watching. I just have yet to leave satisfied....and for whatever reason, the waitstaff's attitude is ALWAYS a little "somethin-somethin". Understandable when it is crowded, just annoying when it's not. After many years of visiting, I think I've finally had enough of trying this place....even for starving tourist friends.
