Finely J.p.'s Celebrates 16 Years By Building New Restaurant

A Dream Eatery Comes True with Wellfleet's First New Restaurant Project in Decades

Once one of the best-kept secrets on Cape Cod, Finely J.P.'s restaurant on Route 6 in Wellfleet, Mass., has been quietly drawing crowds since 1991. Chef/owner John (J.P.) Pontius is known for his creative American cuisine featuring the best local seafood. Using distinctive herb and spice accents, he crafts vibrant and straightforward flavors and his customers have long-praised the delicious simplicity of his menu. Over the years, locals and visitors alike have become the most devoted of clientele. That loyalty is going to pay off this June when J.P. opens the restaurant he's always dreamed of, a brand new Finely J.P.'s.

"We are finally creating the restaurant we've always wanted," says J.P., a Cape Cod resident for 22 years. "We're so fortunate to be able to keep the same great location and the same terrific staff, but this new space is an expression of what we truly thought the restaurant could be."

After 16 years of "making do" with a small kitchen and a wood-paneled box-style dining room, owners J.P. and his wife, Betsy, decided to raze the old restaurant to the ground and start from scratch. Drawing from the beach and ocean surroundings, the new space juxtaposes yellow beige walls with dark blue exposed steel beams to create a striking atmosphere.

A comfortable layout allows different dining experiences in diverse areas. On the right, as customers enter the restaurant, a cedar-walled lounge with bar stools and a couple of high-top tables create a perfect hang-out for the evening or while diners wait for a table. Two split-level dining rooms give the restaurant a cozy feel, respecting the quaint town character. The lower dining room has large windows looking onto a small courtyard lush with greenery and herbs, while the airy upper dining room has a vaulted ceiling and a cut-away floor exposing the lower dining room below. A bridge leads over the entryway and out onto a roof deck with a raw bar, providing a congenial atmosphere where guests can mingle.

The Pontius's drew from top local talent to undertake the first new restaurant construction project in Wellfleet in decades. Long-time customer Alan Dodge is the architect and Leif Johnson is the builder; this is the first restaurant project for Dodge. Wellfleet native Matt McPartland built the custom-made steel frame, while craftsman Derek Oliver created one-of-a-kind cast-concrete elements like the hostess stand, etched walls and, for the lounge, a dark blue bar in the shape of a fish. Such distinguishing characteristics make the space quite unique on the Cape.

"Not to worry," laughs J.P., "All of the menu favorites are here. We know that the consistency of our dishes and down-to-earth ingredients are what made people fall in love with the old place, and we're planning to keep that going in the new one."

Signature dishes include Baked Wellfleet Oysters Bienville; Blackened Beef with charred pepper relish; J.P.'s Lobster Cataplana with half a lobster in a spicy tomato sauce with Wellfleet littleneck clams and Cajun andouille sausage over rice; and Sautied Medallions of Pork with apples and goat cheese. A full menu follows. Reservations are not accepted, but there is a call-ahead waiting list at 508.349.7500. Finely J.P.'s is scheduled to reopen year-round in June 2006. Visit http://www.capecodchefs.com/clients/FinelyJ.P.s/ for more information.

Finely J.P.'s
Dinner Menu

Soups & Appetizers

New England Clam Chowder
a traditional favorite 4/6

Soup of the Day
made fresh daily 4/6

Wellfleet Oysters on the Half Shell
1/2 dozen served with cocktail sauce 10

Littlenecks on the Half Shell
1/2 dozen locally harvested clams served with cocktai