East meets West at Quick's Hole

By: Elise Hugus, August 4, 2011

Courtney Sheetz - Say it like a Cape Codder: wicked fresh and wicked good.

Before the days of GPS, sailors had a secret for getting from the booming industrial city of New Bedford to ports in Boston and beyond: rather than sail around the Elizabeth Island chain through the treacherous Woods Hole passage, they could traverse a faster strait between Nashawena Island and Pasque Island. This deep and narrow shortcut came to be called Quick’s Hole.

These days, it’s also a befitting name for a waiterless restaurant situated near the Martha’s Vineyard and Naushon ferry docks in Woods Hole. Beckoning travelers from near and far with their delectable burritos, salads, and refreshing drinks, Quick’s Hole combines its fast n' easy service with tastes that whisper the names of more exotic shores.

It all began in 2008, when LA talent manager and longtime Naushon Island summer resident Beth Colt contemplated bringing East and West coast style cuisine under one roof. Craving the fresher, lighter tastes of Baja California cooking, Colt saw her chance with a dilapidated 19th-century hotel building on the prime location corner of Water Street and Luscombe Avenue in Woods Hole.

So, she set to work renovating the building into what is now the boutique Woods Hole Inn on top and Quick’s Hole “wicked fresh” below.

Baja meets New England

“It’s Baja meets New England,” Colt said during a lull between the lunch rush and the next ferry departure.

Nothing captures the East-meets-West flavor more than the lobster taco, combining fresh lobster meat with the traditional Mexican fixin’s. Little did they know, that item would become a best-seller ($10 for one, $18 for two).

Before finalizing the menu, Colt sent her chef, Stephanie Mikolazyk on a field trip to southern California, where she was instructed to eat her way down the coast at all the famous surf shacks.

Mikolazyk clearly did her homework. From the zing of the fresh salsa bar to the sweet Baja shrimp, you can close your eyes in the August sunshine and just imagine you’re holding a surf board somewhere south of the border. Ahhh…

But Mikolazyk, a daughter of a Rhode Island artist-turned-fisherman (who did the horseshoe crab mural on the wall), isn’t trading in her New England roots.  Her innovative quahog “chowda” ($5.50) is based on a recipe handed down over the generations; crispy fried beer-batter cod can be stuffed into any burrito ($14), taco ($7), or Baja salad bowl ($12); and the ever-popular lobster roll ($25) features farm-fresh pea greens (Colt picks 'em up from the Falmouth Farmer's Market every week).

Local flavah

With a staunch belief in the “buy fresh, buy local” mantra, Quick’s Hole takes advantage of produce from nearby Coonamessett Farm. Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown makes a delivery every week, straight from the ferry. And the blackened fish sandwich ($16) changes depending on the seasonal catch.

Meat lovers will want to try out the marinated, slow-roasted pork as a stew ($5.50), on a taco ($6), or in a burrito or quesadilla ($11). A little lighter fare is available in the mojo marinated pulled chicken or sweet Baja shrimp options.

Vegetarians can fill up on delicious fire-roasted veggie tacos and burritos, or get a black bean Baja bowl (the burrito without the wrap). Gluten-conscious eaters will not go hungry here, either.

If you’re not up for a meal, Quick’s Hole is an excellent place for a refreshing beverage while you wait for the boat—or sunset. A range of organic wines, Mexican beers, and local microbrews offer the right pairing for pretty much any taste. A glass of sangria ($7) or fruit-infused agua fresca goes down real smooth with friends while you take in the sights and sounds of Woods Hole.

Entertainment galore

On that note, tiny Quick’s Hole has managed to become a musical hotspot in its own right, serving up a range of live bands from 5 to 8 PM, Friday through Saturday. Catch Silver Still Shines for a TGIF sunset party in the streets,  grab a bite after the beach on Saturday while the sounds of steel drum lighten up the dusk, and join the Rumrunners on Sunday for a rockin’ good time.

Kids are welcome, too. On Tuesdays, bring the little ones down for a ½ priced bite to eat (with the purchase of your meal too, of course) and enjoy a little time off while the kiddos watch movies and old-school cartoons. Oh yeah—you don’t have to be under 10 to enjoy this, either!

Wednesdays feature Trivia Night with the Enterprise/InsideOUT’s own Chris Kazarian from 7 to 9 PM. If you’re not a trivia fan, think again! With nightly themes and hilarious antics, Chris has aspecial talent for making you feel smarter (or dumber) than everyone!

Insider tip: If you’re a local or pass through Woods Hole often, be sure to ask for a “local’s card” at the counter. Order 5 burritos and get the 6^th one free.

Social media mavens: Check in to Quick’s Hole on Foursquare and you’ll get a free gazpacho shooter. Become a mayor and you’ll get a free drink!! Twitter and Facebook followers can also enjoy dailiy updates on life in the Hole.