For most people, the turning of the calendar means turning over a new leaf and choosing healthier food options—at least every now and then. We fall into that camp, so we were eager to check out the Stonegrill menu at Jake Rooney’s in Harwich Port.

With the Stonegrill System, specially selected natural volcanic stones are heated to 752°F in a proprietary Stonegrill oven. Once you select your entrée from Jake’s Stonegrill menu, it is presented to you with your protein (meat, chicken, shrimp) laid out on the super-heated stone, which has been placed within a protective ceramic serving tray that also has two small compartments to hold your cooked vegetable and starch selections. As you enjoy your pre-dinner cocktail, your protein cooks right in front of you. This method of cooking uses no added fats or oils. Instead, the high heat sears in the natural juices of the food, enhancing its full flavor and tenderness and resulting in a healthier and tastier alternative to conventionally cooked entrées.

Because the stone retains a constant temperature, your meal is cooked evenly throughout. What’s more, you can cook your food to your preference—rare, medium rare, or well done. You can even cook it piece by piece so that each bite is hot and tasty. 

Jake Rooney’s added Stonegrill offerings to the menu nearly 20 years ago after Jake’s founder, Peter Klaus, experienced the cooking technique during a visit to New Zealand. Today his restaurant is the only one on the Cape licensed to provide this type of cooking.

According to Kate Lomask, the manager of the restaurant and Klaus’s daughter, the Stonegrill offerings have grown in popularity over the years, and every night she estimates the restaurant will get anywhere from five to a dozen Stonegrill orders. “People tell us they love the way the food tastes when it’s cooked on a stone, and they enjoy the ability to have control over their meal.”

During our visit to Jake’s in early January, we chose the New York strip steak and a surf-and-turf offering consisting of steak tips and shrimp. The food was delicious, and the act of cooking it ourselves at our table made the whole dining experience a fun adventure. We found ourselves lingering over our meal longer than we normally would, which made for a relaxing evening. The next time we go, we’ll have to try the chicken entrées.

On a final note, we want to wish Jake Rooney’s a Happy 30th Anniversary. Founded in 1994, the restaurant had a major renovation a few years back and has continued to be a place where you can get great food at a great price. We also love the nighttime entertainment they offer, especially karaoke on Fridays and dancing on Saturdays. If you’ve not yet been, we recommend that you check it out. We hope to see you there!