l'etoile

What l'etoile does

l'etoile is a chef-owned and operated fine dining restaurant located at 22 North Water Street in downtown Edgartown on Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. Founded in 1987 and currently in its thirty-eighth year of operation, the restaurant occupies a restored historic whaling captain's house and serves a single dinner service six nights per week (Thursday through Tuesday, 5:30pm–9:30pm), closed Wednesdays. The restaurant does not accept children under age 6 and caps regular reservations at parties of eight or fewer.

The core product is an inventive, seasonally-driven prix fixe menu built around native ingredients sourced from local farms, shellfish from surrounding waters, and fresh game birds, lamb, and other meats. The menu spans first courses (oysters, duck foie gras, chilled gazpacho), seconds (gnocchi, soft shell crab, braised short ribs), entrées (east coast halibut, Menemsha lobster étuvée, duck breast, Australian lamb chops, surf and turf, ribeye, filet mignon), and a standardized $18 dessert menu. The beverage program is a significant revenue driver: an extensive wine list anchored by trophy bottles (Dom Pérignon, Opus One, Krug), curated by-the-glass offerings ($13–$37), a signature cocktail program (Startini, 75 Franks, Whistle While You Work, Sydney Martini), and a dedicated bar l'étoile & lounge for pre/post-dinner and casual seating. Gift cards are sold digitally through SwipeIt.

The business model is direct-to-consumer fine dining. Revenue is generated one-time at each cover through food and beverage sales, with table-turn constrained by a 5:30–9:30pm service window. Distribution is through the physical venue only; bookings are taken via Resy or by phone. Private events require a full-restaurant buyout. A 24-hour cancellation policy carries a $35 per-person fee. The company is privately held by the chef-owner, with no disclosed investors, subsidiaries, or institutional capital; revenue is not publicly reported.

Name

l'etoile

Legal name

l'etoile

Website

https://letoile.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Short description

l'etoile is a chef-owned fine dining restaurant in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, serving a seasonally-driven menu of locally-sourced cuisine, an extensive wine and cocktail program, and private buyout events in a restored 19th-century whaling captain's house since 1987.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fine Dining Restaurant

NAICS

Full-Service Restaurants (722511)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm-to-Table & Contemporary American Restaurants (THAFACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fine Dining Restaurants (THAFACAA), Special Occasion & Destination Restaurants (THAFACAK)

Keywords

• Fine dining restaurant
• Seasonal local cuisine
• Wine and cocktails
• Private event buyout
• Chef-owned restaurant

Headquarters

HQ city

Edgartown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Dinner Service: Full-service dinner restaurant offering seasonal menu with multiple courses including firsts, seconds, entrées, and desserts. Revenue generated from food and beverage sales including cocktails, wine, and after-dinner drinks.
2. Beverage Program: Extensive wine list with by-the-glass options, champagne, spirits, after-dinner drinks, and specialty cocktails including the signature 'Startini'. Beer selection includes craft and Belgian options.
3. Gift Cards: Restaurant gift cards sold online, suitable for special occasions and holidays, delivered via email.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

l'étoile is a chef-owned and operated fine dining restaurant offering an inventive, fresh, seasonally-driven dinner menu utilizing native ingredients from local Martha's Vineyard farms and surrounding waters. The core offering is full-service dinner (Thursday–Tuesday, 5:30–9:30pm) featuring firsts, seconds, entrées, desserts, and an extensive beverage program of specialty cocktails, wine by the glass, and a comprehensive wine list, served across contemporary dining rooms, bar l'étoile & lounge, and a seasonal outdoor tented patio.

Product overview

l'étoile is a chef-owned and operated restaurant offering a single unified dining experience centered on an inventive, fresh, seasonally-driven menu. The restaurant features the main dinner service, an extensive beverage program including cocktails, wine by the glass, and a full wine list, a dessert menu, and gift cards. Guests can dine in contemporary dining rooms, the bar l'étoile & lounge, or on the outdoor tented patio. The restaurant operates as a single establishment with all offerings integrated into the overall dining experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Dinner Menu

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• Chez Panisse: Alice Waters' pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in Berkeley, CA. Shares the seasonal, locally-sourced, chef-driven philosophy that defines l'étoile's culinary identity.
• The French Laundry: Chef-owned destination fine dining restaurant in Yountville, CA, with a prix-fixe seasonally-driven menu and farm-supplier relationships. Highly comparable operating model and brand economics.
• Per Se: Thomas Keller's chef-owned fine dining destination in New York City with a seasonal prix-fixe menu. Comparable in pricing tier, service intensity, and brand prestige.
• The Inn at Little Washington: Chef-owned destination restaurant and inn in Washington, VA. Similar model of a single-location, chef-driven destination with seasonal tasting menus and luxury positioning.
• Blue Hill at Stone Barns: Chef-driven farm-to-table destination restaurant in Pocantico Hills, NY. Closely comparable in philosophy (native/seasonal sourcing), chef ownership, premium pricing, and destination-resort positioning.

Regional players

• The Atlantic (Martha's Vineyard): Chef-driven seafood-focused restaurant on Martha's Vineyard in Edgartown. Directly comparable on geography, island customer base, and premium locally-sourced positioning.
• State Road Restaurant: Farm-to-table restaurant in West Tisbury on Martha's Vineyard, sharing the same island market, locally-sourced cuisine philosophy, and seasonal tourist customer base.

Broad incumbents

• Gramercy Tavern: Danny Meyer's New York City tavern-style fine dining restaurant emphasizing seasonal American cuisine. Comparable on chef-influenced seasonal menus and upscale casual positioning.
• Le Bernardin: Long-established NYC fine dining institution. Comparable on premium positioning and reputation for excellence, though with a broader national brand and different cuisine focus.
• Eleven Madison Park: Iconic New York City fine dining restaurant with a multi-course seasonal tasting menu. Overlaps on destination fine dining and premium pricing, though at meaningfully higher scale and visibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about l'etoile