Look, if we skip the played-out bistro chic, "coats encouraged" facade, the menu at Five Bays offers a number of well-executed dishes. Lobster mac loads cheesy cavatelli with standout chunks of claw meat, and the seared swordfish special (a large cut of the dense meat over chipotle cous cous and a shaved artichoke salad) absolutely nailed it - smoky, savory, crisp, bitter and not a touch overdone. The crab beggars purse ($16) started the meal off a bit too heavily, with almost too much lump meat filling out the fried shell. Glad we split it three ways, and I liked the presence of a cool, sweet jicama slaw to offset fiery habanero cream cheese. There was a nice pour backing my Old Fashioned, but not enough bitters and a heavy trigger finger on the soda turned it more to a spritzer than a cocktail. Minor hiccups aside, I'd definitely sidle up to the bar again. And you better believe I'll attack the complimentary bread basket as well. read more

While on vacation in Osterville, I went out to dinner here to mix it up instead of going back to Wimpys for the 4th time. Great location right downtown but I do no think I would go back for the prices. They have a full bar too but probably only 10 or so seats around it but it was nice to enjoy the local beers. Food-wise I was not overly impressed especially considering the prices. We started with crispy fried artichokes which were overpowered by the fried factor. They could have been enhanced with more of the lemon aioli. Also tried the calamari which was fresh, but the garlic flavor was odd in the combination. I did enjoy the heat from the hot sauce and banana peppers provided. For an entree I went with the Shrimp and Scallops. I really enjoyed the risotto as it was rich and super creamy and contrasted nicely with the lightness of the avocado salad. The actual scallops and shrimp were disappointing as they were over grilled. Way too much of a char flavor that dried out the natural juices. I was really looking forward to the key lime emulsion aspect but never found it on the plate. Oh well, this is just one tourists take on his experience. read more

Five Bays was chosen at the request of my sister for her birthday dinner. Downtown Osterville was all Chirstmassed up with little lights twinkling and snow still on the ground, very festive. We had a reservation for three at 8 pm, and were seated promptly. The dining room was pretty full, but it didn't seem noisy, and tables are far enough apart that we didn't feel crowded. We ordered a bottle of wine, which the waitress brought right out. She was very friendly, and more laid back than I would have expected from a place that may seem a bit pretentious. The specials sounded delicious, and I chose the pork, which was cooked to perfection, moist and flavorful. The birthday girl loved her Ginger & Pomegranate Braised Short Ribs. 5 Bays makes a good "special occasion" place for us. I have a feeling the atmosphere is much different during the summer, but my experience here for the first time was very enjoyable! read more

Good ingredients and good service are undercut by bad cooking. A spinach salad is a confused jumble of flavors, allowing the iceberg wedges score a rare upset with pleasing bacon bits. Halibut special is bland with dissonant textures in crunchy vegetables. Around the table, diners reach for the salt. Stick to the burgers and simpler fare, and you'll appreciate the visit more. read more

Nice atmosphere and good service. Unfortunately the "special" cod topped with lobster was poorly prepared. The cod was dry, the lobster resembled rubber. Any chef should have known that by just looking at the plate. The sides were also overdone. I didn't want to spoil dinner for the other guests so said nothing but I won't be back anytime soon. read more

Lobster Mac & Cheese. I really should not have to say more? This is where other restaurants need to come to learn how it is done. I imagine this is what heroin would be like. I have had it elsewhere, but none compare. We look forward to our all too infrequent visits in anticipation of an excellent martini ( thank you Arlene) and the best ribs or lobster mac & cheese. The atmosphere is pleasant, cozy and, despite being often crowded, is a wonderful place to drop in for dinner. The place is small and intimate. The crowed, as David C. points out, is certainly varied. That, however, is a good thing. Nice people, good wait staff and excellent food. What more does one want from a restaurant? Oh, and as to the 4 stars? This is my first review and being a newbie I was a bit timid in awarding 5. I am sure I will update this after my next visit. read more

Nice room. Although, I have to recommend that they remove the internal signage. It comes across as unnecessary. Service was attentive and friendly although could have been more knowledgable in terms of the food. The food was straight forward and promising but lacked in execution. Good, not great. Both courses solid but under seasoned. Had me reaching for the salt. Overall this place is pretty good for the Cape . Good foundation to aspire to more than satisfying the older locals. read more

Had a dinner reservation with friends tonight for an outdoor table. We got there on time and the hostess said that we called earlier to cancel our reservation for an outdoor table - we DID not call... After our friend said that she was upset about it - they told us we could have a table inside only (funny - there was an outdoor table open at the time which would have worked for us, but they insisted that "we canceled" the reservation). Very very uncool - why lie to people!!! Do not support this place!!! read more

My family dined here while we were in town for a wedding. It has a nice, classy Cape atmosphere that isn't presumptuous. By 7:30pm the place was full, including the bar. We noticed most of the clientele was families and older dinners, but then again, it was a Tuesday night after the fourth. Kate was our server. She was very attentive and helpful with menu questions. We really enjoyed the appetizers we shared: Kobe sliders, oysters, and especially the calamari with peppers (nice spice!). The main dishes weren't as strong. I had the scallops with corn rissoto, pickled red onions, and avocados. It just was sort of plain. It needed a drizzle of balsamic or something to brighten it up. On the other hand the salmon I tasted was delicious and my dad liked his pork chop. I'd recommend the spot, but I'm not dying to return. I'm looking forward to seeing what else the Cape has to offer. read more

Worst streak ever - the Ribeye au Poivre. For $38 you get a minimally peppered chunk of tendon and gristle. I don't even think it was a real ribeye since it was skinny and looked more like a strip streak of some sort. Not really edible and I didn't finish it. We mentioned it to the waitress but she didn't offer to do anything about it. For an expensive upscale place, I was very disappointed. Oh well.... read more

I have been going to Five Bays Bistro for 14 years, this restaurant has exceptional food, decor and the staff is amazing each any every one. The menu changes with each season and it's always exciting when the new menu is released. The fried calamari is outstanding, as well as the chicken risotto, lobster macaroni and that's just apps, the entrees and daily special are mouthwatering and leave room for the Toll House Cookie desert right out of the oven with vanilla ice cream!! The team at Five Bays make each visit a lasting experience. Thank you Jaime and Tim for always giving back to the community and having such an outstanding restaurant in our Village. Warmly, Nanette read more

Awful! My last meal there was such a turnoff. My husband and I both got the halibut. It came on top of fried rice which looked like something a Chinese restaurant would throw out. The halibut was slimey and it smelled. I sent it back, asking to have it cooked a bit more. This did not help. The restaurant itself is very loud - the sounds just magnify throughout and bounce from wall to wall due to no insulation in the ceilings. We shared a kale salad - it was very good. The drinks we had were acceptable. I was so turned off by the fish. Halibut is my favorite. This was a special but clearly it was frozen fish. I figure they put it on special trying to get rid of it. Not worth the risk to try again, in my opinion. I've been there off season - maybe they just can't handle summer volume. read more

Five Bays is probably my favorite restaurant on Cape Cod. The atmosphere of this bistro is what I love the most about this place. I've been coming here for years and I try to make it a point to come here when I'm back on the Cape visiting my folks. The food here has always been pretty good but the atmosphere and the service is what really draws me here. During my last visit I was stunned to find out Mark (Soupy) and James, both bartenders here back in the day, had passed away since they were a great duo and I loved chatting them up when I came here. This place is a lot of fun at night but I prefer it as a chill place to grab a nice cocktail after a long day at work. read more

This place had a good reputation for several years but is living on borrowed time. We arrived at 5:00 because we missed lunch. We waited 15 minutes to just get our drinks. Once we ordered, it didn't get any better. Our appetizers came and my clam chowder was hot and my wife's lobster bisque was warm at best. For $14.00 you'd think they could at least deliver a hot bowl? Not! Our next course came and her's was fine but my hangar steak was tough and almost too difficult to eat. Chewing took forever. Sorry, but $120.00 later I said not worth half that. The only redeeming thing I can say is Kerry our server was pleasant. Save your money. read more

We just had a wonderful dinner at Five Bays Bistro. Besides the buffalo cauliflower, the lobster Mac & cheese was another must have appetizer. We tried the seafood special as recommended by our sever and it was excellent! The scallops, mussels and shrimps were cooked to perfection, clearly showed that the chef has mastered the cooking time. The grilled ribeye steak is juicy and tasty. The white chocolate raspberry cream brulee and passion friut cream puff are excellent, fill us up and complete the dinner perfectly. We enjoyed the delicious food and the attentive service. The owner Jamie even stopped to chat with us and to make sure we were taken care of. Definitely one of the best restaurant on the Cape! Make sure you check this cozy little place out when you're in the area. read more

Just ordered take out from five bays. They delivered it to my car in the pouring rain. Food is awesome and the service is top shelf. Can't wait to dine in. The best. read more

Five Bays has had great service, great wine, and great food each time I have been here. Had the filet mignon last time I was there and it was excellent. I am very picky about my steak. This one was good quality, tender, and tasty! The lobster sliders are also amazing! A great go-to restaurant where a lot of locals seem to go. read more

Very average food that is very bland and very expensive! I will not go back! Service was fairly good and hostess was nice! Save your money read more

Tim, everything amazing! Appetizing and delicious cuisine, superb staff from the top down, posh decor, definitely World Class

Loud. Full of cougars and realtors. contractors and preppies. Food is diffident. Drinks are the draw.

Always a great experience and it may be one of the best restaurants on the cape. The menu has a nice variety which ranges from a beggar's purse to sliders. Also the staff provides above average service. read more

One word - OVERRATED! Staff are terrible, food is average at best - poor value for the price! We were seated at 630PM at the last table in the back room on the left. Initially thought room temperature was warm but expected AC to kick in. We had a thermostat on the wall next to us - 72 degrees at dinner time. In short order the temperature rose to 76 degrees. We mentioned it to our waitress who seemed confused that we it may be an issue for us. Food came - average at best. Steak, salmon, scallops - nothing special - you are paying for better dishes than you get. Temperature continues to rise - 81 degrees at our table. I go the hostess - explain the problem as it was now unbearable - seemed annoyed that we raised the issue. She said she would stop by - never did. Another waitress stopped by, looked at the temp and said the AC was working and walked away. 83 degrees - we asked for the bill. Paid and left. This is one of those places that may have had a good run at one point - the attention goes to their head AND THEY LOSE FOCUS ON THE CUSTOMER - resulting in a decline in service, quality and value. One word - OVERRATED! read more

Just had the best combination dinner cocktail...Yuletide mule cocktail (cranberry vodka, ginger beer, etc), organic baby kale salad(omega 3 power salad), and the Tuna Tetaki. Sooo yummy!!! The staff are very attentive, professional, and personable! . I will definitely be coming back for more of this relaxing atmosphere! read more

My favorite restaurant in Osterville! They are always helpful when trying to fit you in for a reservation even when they're totally booked. Great service an amazing food. read more

Recently had dinner and was looking forward to, what has always been in the past, a good meal. First, the bread came out and was stale and inedible. Brussel sprouts and calamari were very good and hot. None of the entrees were hot...I had to send mine back...by the time I got it..everyone else had finished their dinners so I had it boxed to go home. My husband's fish tacos were bland. Our guest had the fish special that was good but not hot. I wrote a nice email to the restaurant to tell them about our experience. No reply..if someone takes the time to comment about an experience...it warrants a response. Not going to Five Bays again anytime soon. read more

Five Bays Bistro is excellent. Although not as good as the restaurant there before it, you can still enjoy yourself at Five Bays. The wait staff are very professional and the food is simply delicious. Make sure you can afford everything though, good food is pricey, but I'm sure you already knew that. The decor is nice as well as the location in the middle of Osterville. read more

I've never had a bad meal or bad experience at Five Bays. The menu is interesting, the food is expertly prepared, and the service is on pointe. They have terrific cocktails too. read more

sun, beach and 5BB 5BB was the perfect end to a great day in Osterville. Cool decor. Service was really good. We had oysters as an app and they rocked. I had the filet. High yum factor. A little pricey but wicked good restaurant. Go. read more

Very disappointed. The drinks were good but meal terrible the Spicy shrimp was over cooked and had no flavor. My pasta also dry and the pancetta was burnt. No need to return. read more

Great food and setting. The artichoke and calamari are great. Menu is always fresh.

I've spent the last 10 summers on the Cape, and I'm telling you this is the best restaurant. The ambience is great (try to reserve a seat in the front portion of the dining room), the service was excellent, the food is delicious! Our party of five each ordered a different entree, and every single one was excellent. They have a bar too if you want to get your feet wet first. If you want fried food and tap beer, go across the street. read more

We are on Cape every weekend during the summer and occasionally during the winter. We have been coming to Five Bays for years I will tell you the food and the service is consistently great. With that said I will tell you we always sit at the bar to eat. It may take a few minutes to get a spot just check in with the bartender. Bartenders are very friendly very professional it really adds to the dining experience. I've tried everything on the menu from the Kobe hamburger to the tuna steak and the food has always been consistently good. Do yourself a favor and have the warm cookie for dessert. If you like to sit at a table definitely call for reservation read more

Great atmosphere Blair and the entire staff are great. Would recommend to anyone in the area. One of the best on the cape.

Always consistent food and drinks. Cozy, great staff, excellent value for high quality food. Highly recommend and make sure you call ahead to reserve a table as it fills up quickly. I prefer just hanging at the bar as the bartenders have great personalities. read more

This is the first winter I've spent here in Osterville in ten years. I'm so grateful that Five Bays is such a warm, cozy and friendly place! The food is excellent, the menu changes are always smart and timely but the best part of Five Bays is the people who work there. Deb, in particular is such a professional and if you walk in by yourself on nights when she's managing the bar, you will never feel alone. Thanks for warming up my winter nights! Bravo Five Bays! read more

Five Bays is the best restaurant in Osterville, which is not to say that it's the only restaurant in Osterville, but it is as Osterville is a sleepy little Cape Cod town that doesn't care about the tourist trade. However the food is very good, the service friendly and attentive and the bar usually has a lively crowd of locals watching the Red Sox or a Pats game. read more

We had an amazing time at Five Bays Bistro! The food is delicious, the staff is very friendly, the ambience very cozy! I highly recommend!

Wonderful cozy restaurant with amazing food and a full bar. I highly recommend this place their steak and truffle French fries are beyond delish. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. read more

Somewhat disappointing. The scallops were rubbery; the filet mignon was sent back and taken off the bill as it tasted strange; and the rib-eye had way too much fat. And the salt level on the rib-eye was gag-worthy - not sure the thought process was on that. The Lobster Mac N Cheese was very good as was the Sole Francaise. Nice little restaurant, cozy, and a very nice waitress. Just not worth the cost. read more

We had a wonderful meal here on New Year's Day. We started with a dozen oysters which were super fresh and had a lovely mignonette accompaniment. We had the cod and the scallops for our mains and both were perfectly executed. The macchiato creme brûlée was the perfect end to the meal. And our server was very attentive. What more could you want? We'll be back. read more