Nautilus Restaurant Group
Nautilus Restaurant Group is a privately-held, founder-owned group operating two Asian-fusion shared-plate restaurants — Nautilus Nantucket (2014) and Nautilus Pier 4 Boston (2021) — serving affluent diners, tourists, and event bookers via dine-in, private events, and a branded gift shop.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersNantucket, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Nautilus Restaurant Group does
The Nautilus Restaurant Group is a privately-held, founder-owned restaurant group operating full-service Asian-influenced New England restaurants built around a shared-plate dining philosophy inspired by Japanese izakaya and Spanish tapas. The company was founded in 2014 by three industry veterans — Liam Mackey (Culinary Director), Clinton Terry (Bar Director), and Stephen Bowler (Director of Operations & Finance) — with the original Nautilus Nantucket, a sub-50-seat venue at 12 Cambridge Street. In 2019 the group expanded into live music with Gaslight Nantucket, and in 2021 it opened the larger 220-seat Nautilus Pier 4 in Boston's Seaport waterfront at 300 Pier 4 Boulevard. The portfolio also includes a Captain's Table premium reservation experience, an online gift card and branded apparel shop, private event hosting across multiple venue spaces, and Boston-only takeout. The Nautilus operates with no disclosed outside capital, no parent company, and no franchising structure.
The group's technology footprint is commodity hospitality SaaS: BentoBox powers the website, online gift cards, and e-commerce; OpenTable handles reservations at both locations; ToastTab runs Boston takeout orders. Marketing is concentrated in organic social (Facebook and Instagram for each location), an email newsletter ("Nauti News"), and PR-driven earned media. No proprietary software, AI/ML systems, or mobile applications are part of the stack. Awards — including OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America (2024), Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence (2023), Time Out Best New Restaurants in the World (2021), and multiple Boston Magazine regional bests — anchor brand positioning alongside a sommelier-certified wine program and a curated cocktail and sake offering.
Revenue mechanics are split across three streams: food and beverage service (dinner and limited lunch at Boston, dinner nightly and limited lunch at Nantucket), private events and buyouts (priced via F&B minimums up to $8,250 and full buyouts to 240 cocktail guests), and merchandise plus gift cards via the Nauti Gift Shop. Customer segments include affluent diners, Nantucket tourists and seasonal residents, Boston Seaport locals and visitors, and event planners. Distribution is entirely direct-to-consumer through physical restaurants and the owned e-commerce storefront, with no wholesale, third-party marketplace, or licensing channels disclosed.
Nautilus Restaurant Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Nautilus Restaurant Group
- Legal name
- Nautilus Restaurant Group
- Website
- https://thenautilus.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Nautilus Restaurant Group is a privately-held, founder-owned group operating two Asian-fusion shared-plate restaurants — Nautilus Nantucket (2014) and Nautilus Pier 4 Boston (2021) — serving affluent diners, tourists, and event bookers via dine-in, private events, and a branded gift shop.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Nautilus Restaurant Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Full-service restaurants
- NAICS
- Full-Service Restaurants (722511), Caterers (722320)
- SIC
- Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants (THAFACAG), All-Day Dining Restaurants (THAFACAJ), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)
Keywords
Where Nautilus Restaurant Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Nantucket
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Nautilus Restaurant Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Food and Beverage Sales: Primary revenue from dine-in restaurant service featuring Asian-influenced New England cuisine with extensive cocktail, wine, and sake programs. Both dinner and lunch service available at Boston location; dinner nightly and limited lunch at Nantucket.
- Private Events and Catering: Revenue from hosting private events including buyouts, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, weddings, and parties. Multiple venue options from intimate spaces to full restaurant buyouts.
- Merchandise and Gift Cards: Branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, crewnecks, hats sold through e-commerce. Gift cards available for both locations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Dinner menu items ranging from small plates to feast items |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Captain's Table dining experience |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift cards and merchandise |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Multi-year contract | Private event spaces at Boston location |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Nautilus Restaurant Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Nautilus Restaurant Group operates two full-service Asian-influenced New England restaurants — Nautilus Nantucket (12 Cambridge Street, opened 2014) and Nautilus Pier 4 in Boston's Seaport District (300 Pier 4 Boulevard, opened 2021) — built around a shared dining concept inspired by Japanese izakaya and Spanish tapas. Core offerings include seasonally rotating menus of Asian-fusion small plates, raw bar, large plates, and signature feasts (Peking Duck, Wagyu Ribeye), alongside an extensive cocktail, wine, and sake program led by certified sommeliers. The group also operates the Captain's Table premium dining experience, hosts private events and full buyouts, sells branded merchandise through an online gift shop, and offers takeout at the Boston location.
Product overview
Nautilus Restaurant Group operates two Asian-fusion restaurant locations — The Nautilus Nantucket (opened 2014) and The Nautilus Boston/Pier 4 (opened 2021) — built around a shared social dining philosophy inspired by Japanese izakaya and Spanish tapas concepts. The portfolio includes full-service restaurants with craft cocktail programs and award-winning wine selections, the Captain's Table premium dining experience, a branded merchandise gift shop, private event and catering services, and takeout options. Menus rotate seasonally featuring coastal/seafood dishes with bold Asian flavors and influences from Latin America and the Mediterranean.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- The Nautilus Boston (Pier 4) Full-service waterfront restaurant in Boston's Seaport District featuring Asian-inspired cuisine with a coastal/seafood base, craft cocktails, and an award-winning wine selection. Offers 160 indoor seats and 60 outdoor seats with harbor views, plus multiple private dining options including Chef's Room, Main Deck, Captain's Quarters, and patio.
- The Nautilus Nantucket Original Nautilus restaurant at 12 Cambridge Street, Nantucket — a hole-in-the-wall dining room with fewer than 50 seats featuring Asian-fusion tapas-style dining, craft cocktails, and an extensive wine program. Includes the Captain's Table dining experience and private event hosting for up to 80 guests.
- Captain's Table Premium dining experience at Nautilus Nantucket featuring a live edge wood dining table with two extended time slots (Sunsetter 5:30-8:15pm and All Nighter 8:30pm onwards), reservations one month in advance, and variable food & beverage minimums from $800 to $2,500 depending on season. Requires a 25% deposit plus 7% state tax, 3% kitchen fee, and 20% gratuity.
- Nauti Gift Shop Online merchandise store selling Nautilus-branded apparel including T-shirts ($32), long sleeves ($42-$45), crewnecks ($63), hoodies ($69), hats ($32), and tie-dye items featuring Nautilus diver logo and nautilus creature designs. Gift cards are also available for both locations in variable amounts.
- Private Events & Buyouts Event hosting services at both locations. Boston offers five distinct spaces: Captain's Quarters (up to 40 seated, $1,900-$8,250), Chef's Bar (up to 28 seated, $1,400-$6,500), Main Deck (up to 34 seated, $1,750-$7,250), Patio Bar ($1,000), Patio Lounge ($500), plus full buyout for up to 125 seated / 240 cocktail guests. Nantucket accommodates seated diners up to 48 and cocktail parties up to 80. Services include rehearsal dinners, weddings, holiday parties, and corporate events.
- Boston Takeout Curated takeout menu for Nautilus Boston featuring select dishes designed to travel well. Orders are placed through the Toast Tab online platform. The Nantucket location does not currently offer food to go.
Companies that use Nautilus Restaurant Group
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Nautilus Restaurant Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature1 record
Nautilus Restaurant Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Cafco Construction ManagementcoreServed as the general contractor for building the Boston Nautilus Pier 4 restaurant. Joined the project early in September 2018 and was a resource throughout due diligence, design phase, and construction. Extremely flexible, worked through pandemic challenges, and maintained involvement as a resource after construction completion. Team included owner Adam Amontea, VP Matt Tripp, project manager Nick Braga, and superintendent Theron Blank.
- Workshop APDcoreArchitecture team for Boston Pier 4 location. Principal Andrew Kotchen Nantucket resident and fan of the restaurants. Conducted site visits including walking into the building under construction before presenting. Lead designer Brook Quach and interior designer Deana Della Ciopcha delivered exceptional full-service design.
- Troutman Pepper Locke LLPcoreLegal team representing Nautilus since late 2013, helping get original Nantucket location off the ground. Allison O'Neil and team have been invaluable partners with personal friendships developed alongside professional relationship.
- Jude Senese, Hell HorsecoreGraphic design and branding partner since late 2019. Transformed branding with new logo, secondary logos, font packages, and company colors. Applied branding to merchandise, business cards, website, menus, interior signage including neon sign, vestibule, bathroom signs, floor graphics, and outdoor lantern signs.
- Dennis & Associates CPA'scoreAccounting team serving Nautilus since 2014 opening. Team in Quincy with accounts on Nantucket, recommended when first opening. Dave Dennis's team led by Jennifer Amate has been extremely valuable to continued success.
- Faraway NantucketminorPartner hotel for The Nautilus Escape sweepstakes prize package. Winner receives two-night stay at Faraway Nantucket as part of the BOS-to-ACK culinary escape experience celebrating Nautilus Pier 4's fifth anniversary.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Nautilus Restaurant Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Tatte Bakery & Cafe: Multi-unit Boston bakery-cafe concept with strong beverage program, multiple Sydnie Loboda-affiliated locations, and Boston Magazine Best of Boston recognition. Regional multi-unit peer demonstrating the Boston specialty-F&B scaling playbook (though at a more accessible price point).
Direct peers
- Eastern Standard: Iconic Kenmore Square brasserie known for award-winning bar program, raw bar, and high-volume dinner service with Boston Magazine recognition. Comparable Boston upscale restaurant with similarly deep beverage program and Sydnie Loboda (Nautilus's Asst. Director of Operations) previously served as Multi-Unit GM during reopening.
- Galley Beach: Beachfront destination restaurant on Nantucket serving upscale coastal cuisine with waterfront sunset views. Direct geographic peer sharing the Nantucket seasonal destination-restaurant positioning, premium pricing, and event/wedding business mix.
- O Ya: Boston-based Japanese fine dining destination offering omakase/tasting menu experiences with premium pricing. The most directly comparable Boston Asian-fusion peer sharing a similar high-end seafood/Asian program, intimate experience format, and Wine Spectator/Boston Magazine recognition profile.
- Republique: Los Angeles French-influenced fine dining destination led by Walter and Margarita Manzke, awarded best restaurant LA during Tim Wallace's tenure as AGM. Comparable upscale destination-restaurant with sommelier-driven beverage program and similar chef-driven positioning.
- Cru Oyster Bar: Nantucket seafood and raw-bar destination restaurant with a vibrant bar program. Direct geographic peer sharing the Nantucket seasonal seafood positioning, raw-bar menu, and cocktail-program emphasis.
Broad incumbents
- Momofuku: David Chang's Asian-influenced restaurant group spanning Ssäm Bar, Momofuku Noodle Bar, and other concepts with shared-plate Asian menus and award-winning programs. Broader incumbent validating the Asian-influenced shared-dining concept at scale and serving as a comparable multi-location Asian-fusion operator.
- Zuma: International Japanese izakaya-style restaurant group operating across global gateway cities with waterfront locations, premium sake/cocktail programs, and shared-plates Asian menus. Directly comparable Asian izakaya-inspired concept at scale, validating the izakaya-plus-waterwaterfront template.
Emerging players
- Pagu: Cambridge Japanese-Spanish fusion restaurant from chef Tracy Chang focused on creative Asian-influenced small plates. Emerging peer with comparable Asian-fusion shared-plates concept and Boston-area media recognition, intersecting with Nautilus's Japanese izakaya + Spanish tapas positioning.
Others
- Boarding House Nantucket: Former employer of co-founders Liam Mackey, Clinton Terry, and Stephen Bowler — a Nantucket upscale dining institution. Historical peer sharing founder lineage and Nantucket fine-dining market context; relevant for understanding the local competitive landscape.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights3 records
Customer concentration
Nautilus Restaurant Group social profiles
Digital presenceNautilus Restaurant Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Nautilus Restaurant Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Nautilus Restaurant Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Nautilus Restaurant Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Nautilus Restaurant Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Nautilus Restaurant Group
What does Nautilus Restaurant Group do?
The Nautilus Restaurant Group operates two full-service Asian-influenced New England restaurants — Nautilus Nantucket (12 Cambridge Street, opened 2014) and Nautilus Pier 4 in Boston's Seaport District (300 Pier 4 Boulevard, opened 2021) — built around a shared dining concept inspired by Japanese izakaya and Spanish tapas. Core offerings include seasonally rotating menus of Asian-fusion small plates, raw bar, large plates, and signature feasts (Peking Duck, Wagyu Ribeye), alongside an extensive cocktail, wine, and sake program led by certified sommeliers. The group also operates the Captain's Table premium dining experience, hosts private events and full buyouts, sells branded merchandise through an online gift shop, and offers takeout at the Boston location.
Is Nautilus Restaurant Group a public or private company?
Nautilus Restaurant Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Nautilus Restaurant Group founded?
Nautilus Restaurant Group was founded in 2014.
Where is Nautilus Restaurant Group based?
Nautilus Restaurant Group is headquartered in Nantucket, United States, in the North America region.
How does Nautilus Restaurant Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Food and Beverage Sales are the primary driver. The others are private Events and Catering and merchandise and Gift Cards.
Who are Nautilus Restaurant Group's main competitors?
Tatte Bakery & Cafe is listed as a regional player. Direct peers are Eastern Standard, Galley Beach, O Ya, Republique and Cru Oyster Bar. Broad incumbents are Momofuku and Zuma. Pagu is listed as an emerging player. Boarding House Nantucket is listed as an others.
Does Nautilus Restaurant Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Nautilus Restaurant Group.
What industry is Nautilus Restaurant Group in?
Nautilus Restaurant Group's product category is Full-service restaurants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAFACAA, Fine Dining Restaurants, with a secondary code of THAFACAG, Chef’s Table & Tasting Menu Restaurants. Its NAICS code is 722511 and its SIC code is 5810.