With the weather warming up and the Spring season officially here, it is time to start planning some trips to the Cape & Islands! Whether you’re traveling for a day trip, long weekend, or for a longer vacation, we have rounded up some of the best coastal restaurants that are must-visits for you to enjoy.
THE CAPE:
Mom & Pops Burgers | Chatham, MA
Mom & Pops Burgers has been awarded Cape Cod’s best burger – and for good reason! At Mom & Pops, their beef is butchered and ground in-house every day, ensuring that the burgers you eat are not only fresh, but also cooked to order. In addition to having a wide variety of options on the menu, including seasonal seafood items, veggie burgers, and homemade lumpia, Mom & Pops has a world class beer selection as well as a beer garden!
When visiting Mom & Pops, there are a few dishes that are an absolute must, including the Double Cheeseburger and the Hot Buttermilk Fried Chicken. The Double Cheeseburger is topped with American cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and Pop’s sauce, served on a toasted sesame brioche bun. Mom & Pops only serves Creekstone Farms Premium Beef, sourced through the country’s top beef purveyor, Pat LaFrieda. If you aren’t in the mood for a burger, their mouthwatering Hot Buttermilk Fried Chicken sandwich is served Nashville-style, with buttermilk fried chicken, pickles, as well as deviled egg mayo served on a toasted sesame brioche bun.
Mom & Pops Burgers | Chatham, MA
The Pearl | Wellfleet, MA
The Pearl is one of the most gorgeous waterfront dining destinations on the Cape! It is in Wellfleet Harbor and serves delicious fresh local seafood with absolutely stunning views. The Pearl is best known for its outstanding raw bar, located on their enclosed patio, and situated on the serene marshland. Not to mention, they have an abundance of outdoor dining, so it’s the perfect spot to head to on a gorgeous night to watch the sunset!
For seafood lovers, when visiting The Pearl, you will be blown away by the Tuna Sashimi as well as the Halibut. The Tuna Sashimi is served with crusted wasabi peas, Asian slaw, soy reduction, as well as a lemon beurre blanc sauce. This dish tastes fresh, citrusy, and has a nice kick to it! For a special fish entrée, the Halibut is pan-seared and comes with Mediterranean cous cous, as well as lemon oil arugula.
The Pearl also has outstanding cocktails that can be paired with your appetizers and entrees. They offer daily drink specials throughout the season, in addition to their extremely popular Oyster shooters! Some of their best-selling Oyster shooters include the Pearl Red Eye as well as the Oyster Ole. The Pearl Red Eye is mixed with jalapeno peppercorn infused vodka as well as Bloody Mary, while the Oyster Ole includes tequila, tabasco, as well as fresh lime with a spicy salt rim.
The Pearl | Wellfleet, MA
Ocean Terrace at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf club | Brewster, MA
Ocean Terrace at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club provides as refined dining experience on a gorgeous backdrop of Cape Cod Bay. While enjoying the beautiful views of the water’s horizon, you can enjoy elevated New England fare with family and friends, and in the evening, gather out on the terrace for some great conversation over fire bowls!
The menu at Ocean Terrace is a dream for anyone in the mood for some fresh, tasty seafood. Some of their most popular items to order include the Brewster Oysters, the Lobster Roll, the Crab Cake, as well as the Sword Tacos. The Brewster Oysters come with a half-dozen oysters with Mignonette, cocktail sauce, as well as lemon. These oysters are great to pair with the lobster roll, crab cake, or sword tacos (or all three!) The lobster roll is a brioche bun stuffed with fresh Maine lobster and basil aioli. The crab cake is served with charred pineapple, as well as a horseradish chipotle remoulade. And, the sword tacos are topped with chipotle mayo, pickled vegetables, as well as cotija cheese.
For beverages, be sure to check out the Bazyo Brew, Cape Cod Cranberry Mojito, or the Rum Punch. The Bayzo Brew is Ocean Edge’s very own pale ale that is brewed exclusively for them by Cape Cod beer. The Cape Cod Cranberry Mojito is mixed with Smirnoff cranberry mint, cranberries, as well as soda water. And, the Rum Punch is mixed with 20 boats spiced rum, real McCoy 5-year, pineapple, as well as lime.
Ocean Terrace at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf club | Brewster, MA
THE ISLANDS:
Garde East | Vineyard Haven, MA
Garde East is truly Vineyard Haven’s best kept secret! Garde East is an award-winning, waterfront dining establishment located on the grounds of Vineyard Haven Marina. The restaurant features elegant seafood and spectacular interior and exterior ocean views. The restaurant has been recognized for their extensive wine list, as they are the winner of the 2021 Wine Spectacular Best of Award, boasting over 500 fine wines. Garde East and the marina grounds are a great place to spend a day savoring wine or cocktails with a picnic on the beach, exploring the harbor on a kayak or paddleboard, enjoying a delectable meal, and so much more!
When visiting Garde East, there are a few food and wine pairings that you should consider. First off, the simple bread and cheese plate as well as Flowers Rosé is the perfect pairing for a picnic on the beach – cheese and wine on the beach, what could be better?! Or, if you’re in the mood for some lighter seafood, the lobster salad as well as the oysters pair very well with Dosnon & Lepage, Henri Dosnon Brut Blanc Champagne. For some heavier seafood dishes, order the scallops and monk fish, paired with Alphonse Mellot, Edmond Sancerre. Garde East has something for everyone on the menu, along with breathtaking views!
Garde East | Vineyard Haven, MA
Lola 41 | Nantucket, MA
Lola 41 is a vibrant restaurant that is located on Nantucket Island and specializes in cuisines from the 41st parallel, with LoLa standing for longitude latitude and the number 41 representing the specific parallel that LoLa resides on. Everything about the restaurant, from the décor and atmosphere to their cuisine and bar, is inspired by countries and regions that the 41st parallel crosses through. Lola 41 has something for everyone on the menu, whether you’re looking for seafood, steak, sushi, or a classic dish like mac & cheese! They also have a large drink, wine, and sake menu to complement your meal.
Some of Lola 41’s most delectable dishes include the Korean Beef Bulgogi over Egg Noodles, the Miso Yuzo Cod, and the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio. For beef options, the Korean Beef Bulgogi is served over egg noodles and topped with Chinese broccoli, chilies, as well as fried garlic. And, the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio is made with Dashi citrus, Serrano sesame soy, avocado, truffle aioli, as well as wild puffed rice. For seafood, the Miso Yuzo Cod is black cod (charred to perfection!) served with Togarashi dusted Chinese broccoli.
If you enjoy fruity cocktails, try the Cosmonaut Martini, made with Tito’s vodka, watermelon hibiscus, raspberry, and lemon prosecco. Or you can try the classic Lola Spritz, mixed with Yuzu Liqueur, Aperol, elderflower, and prosecco. Both cocktails have the perfect amount of flavor and fizz!
Lola 41 | Nantucket, MA | Photo Credit: Ovi Mustea
Bar Yoshi | Nantucket, MA
Bar Yoshi is located on the waterfront at the historic Old South Wharf, Nantucket, Massachusetts. The restaurant offers innovative Japanese cuisine including sushi, noodles, and dumplings, as well as raw bar offerings like poke, ceviche, and larger “Bar Yoshi Plates.” Their beverage program features beer, sake, and wine offerings, in addition to creative cocktails that you can’t find elsewhere, featuring several Japanese whiskey options!
The award-winning restaurant offers its original, intimate indoor dining space with direct views of the kitchen from limited tables. The sushi bar seating, the newer, open-air featuring full bar seating and all the tables and banquettes provide direct waterfront views of the marina. The restaurant also features a larger outdoor seating area. If you’re in the mood for takeout, you can enjoy Bar Yoshi on the boat, or for a picnic on the beach! You can visit Bar Yoshi during the Spring, Summer, and Fall seasons.
Bar Yoshi | Nantucket, MA