Despite the 90+ degree heat, we ambled (ok, drove with the A/C blasting) into Provincetown yesterday, having promised the boys a trip to the Penny Patch and Puzzle Me This. The allure for us was the chance to try out the new upscale burger spot at 186 Commercial Street, Local 186. It’s a new venture owned by Eric Jansen and Guillermo Yingling. Eric co-owns the superb restaurant Blackfish in Truro, where many a summer night you can find us at the bar. Anyway, the burgers, fries, and onion strings were tasty, but the real surprise was the decor. It is crisp but homey and very pulled together. I haven’t had a chance to connect with anyone to find out who’s responsible, but I did take a bunch of photos for you.
ADDITION: This morning I heard back from GM Jennifer White (thank you!), who provided me with many, many details, which I used to caption the images. She says, “It was a collective local effort. Every piece is all made by local artists with reclaimed woods and other vintage materials, all collected from old Provincetown properties.” They goal was for it to look new and different, eclectic, layered, and collected, but not over the top. It’s right on.
Susie Neilsen, graphic designer and owner of Farm Gallery in Wellfleet helped with the overall design concept and layout. She also designed the logo, menu, and website.
The murals are by artist Kris Smith, owner of Coastline Tattoo, in town.
Mat Millett, owner of Helltown Gallery, with the help of Tom Magar (the bartender and an off-season carpenter), made the custom tables in the back dining room and the vintage tin-covered bar back.
The onion strings, served in a shiny metal tin, were extra salty and delicious.
Another shot of the back dining room banquette table.
All the dining chairs are covered with vintage feed and flour sacks that Jennifer White found on eBay and other sites.
All the designs are different.
A local craftsman named Michael made the barn wood coffee tables in the lounge (above) and hostess podium, as well as the copper artwork and reclaimed ductwork.
One of the coffee tables in the lounge has a built-in Ouija board.
Bartender Edwige. Industrial lighting over the bar came from a warehouse in Yarmouth.
A niche in the entry that looks through to the bar is filled with cocktail paraphernalia.
Waiting area.
My lunch: The Old-Fashioned—8 oz. Painted Hills burger, Nueske’s bacon, Grafton Reserve cheddar, $14.
Co-owner Gui Yingling arranged a collection of vintage knives over the fireplace in the back dining room.
There are a couple of different vintage animal sculptures,from yard sales ,flea markets, and auctions are mounted on the walls.
Bar-style seating on the front patio.
Architect Steven McGovern designed the new covered porch, in keeping with the design of the original Victorian building. Local craftsman and master carpenter John Badam and his team built it. You can’t see them in this photograph, but there are flying saucer style lamps that co-owner John Yingling had stored in his garage for over 20 years, knowing they’d come in handy someday.
The view—Cape Cod Bay—from the covered porch. It’s visible from some of the tables inside too.
Boring. Looks like another ‘wanna-be-posh-NYC-let’s-sell-a-bland-burger-with-greasy-fries-and-charge-$19-for-it’. Not the right thing for Provincetown. And of course, probably one thing (if even that) on the menu for vegetarians like a boring over processed and high sodium veggie burger with goat cheese. Yawn.
There is a delicious tuna tartare burger on the menu and a veggie burger that I believe may be homemade.
we do make our own veggie burgers and they really are delicious.sweet potatoes, corn , millet, carrots , black beans , harrisa spices, all made fresh daily. you can also build your own so you can add organic cheeses,mushrooms,avocados,sauteed onions etc to it . you should try it Linus !