About us
Our story
The Shanty opened on June 1st, 2012. It had been a dream of longtime friends Jon Dempster & Mike Doyle, originally from Rockport, MA, to own and operate their own restaurant. When Jon’s boat ended up in Cape Charles completely by mistake, the local harbor master, Smitty Dize, talked him into finally pursuing this dream - right here in this spot. Jon called Mike and who jumped on the next plane. The Shanty was born with a commitment to being a sustainable seafood house, prioritizing this community, and building the best restaurant possible. A lot has changed since, but the values remain the same. We strive for great hospitality, to serve local seafood whenever possible, and to give back to the community that made our dream come true.
