We have recently popped into RooBar after more then a year's absence - it's close by, and yet we rarely choose this restaurant, possibly because I am always worried about crowds and noise. RooBar always appears to be packed at night, with loud music and much revelry spilling out of its doors.We made reservations and upon arrival, the hostess attempted to guide us to the worst table in the restaurant (right by the kitchen entrance), even though there was a very nice booth open. My husband and brother in law immediately unleashed all charm they could master, and after some protestations that the coveted booth was reserved for "mafia", we found ourselves seated at booth by the window and sending a glass of wine as a "thank you" to our hostess.
After this inaspiciuous arrival, we got our menus and a wine list and cracked down to the hard task of choosing. RooBar is a very different type of Cape Cod restaurant - the slant here is urban fusion, with choices such as tuna tartare or mussells provencal, instead of the more typical Cape Cod fare. I remembered stuffed quahogs as being excellent from prior visit and we got a couple of orders of these. They were truly heavenly.
Tuna tartare salad and mussells were a hit. The salmon I ordered was perfectly acceptable, but somewhat on the meh side. I do recall that they make excellent pizzas - the lamb pizza was very good.
I was disappointed in the wine list - I recall more imaginative choices from prior visits, but it would appear that RooBar in Hyannis decided to go the safe route and only stock wines from very large producers (Mondavi, Gallo, etc). The Louis Latour Pinot Noir my sister ordered was adequate but no more then that.
So the food ranged from ok to very good (those quahogs!), the ambience while not subdued, not rowdy either - there was some music and an active bar. After 10 pm, the dining area is cleared out and there's live music and dancing - I think that's why we always see it packed on Saturday nights!
