Cape Cod is known for gorgeous beaches and vintage lighthouses. But, it’s also a place where you can get incredible dishes that you’ll remember long after you leave the beach. Who wouldn’t want to eat a lobster that was caught three hours before your lunch reservation?
#SpoonTip: Because Cape Cod is a seasonal destination, restaurant hours are always subject to change. The hours provided here were based on the restaurant’s current summer hours.
1. Bacon and Scallop Pizza at Simply Divine
Photo courtesy of stephencooks.com
If you’ve been to Falmouth Main street before, you might recognize this restaurant as Stone Lovin’. As a Falmouth local, this restaurant is my go-to, and I strongly believe that it has the best pizza I’ll ever taste.
2. Lobster Roll at The Canteen
Photo courtesy of flickr.com
When you’re visiting the cape for a week, you have to check out P-town. I’ve heard that trying their lobster roll will change your life forever — in a good way, of course.
3. Apple Bear Claw at Pie and the Sky
Photo courtesy of foodspotting.com
This is the perfect breakfast spot when you only have a few minutes to catch your boat to the vineyard in Woods Whole. Even though this pastry is a little sweet for the 6 am ferry, you won’t regret it.
4. Nobska Light at Pickle Jar Kitchen
Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com
Even though this restaurant is only a few years old, it’s a great place on Main Street to get a delicious sandwich to go. Not only are their sandwiches something you are never going to forget, they’re named after Falmouth landmarks.
5. Irish Farmhouse Breakfast at Keltic Kitchen
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
Most of the time when you’re on vacation, you like to treat yourself to a feast of a breakfast. Keltic Kitchen is the place for you to live out those fantasies. And besides, who doesn’t just want to eat breakfast food all the time?
6. Barbone Meatballs at Pizza Barbone
Photo courtesy of pizzabarbone.com
There’s nothing better to prep you for eating some pizza than some meatballs and fresh baked bread. Even though their pizzas are amazing, nothing beats these meatballs.
7. Almond Croissant at Maison Villatte
Photo courtesy of tabelog.us
Whether you come to this bakery at 7 am or 3 pm, there’s going to be a crowd. But no matter how long the line is, it’s always worth it. There are hundreds of pastries, breads, and sandwiches to pick from, but you can’t go wrong with the almond croissant.
8. Red Velvet Cupcake at Relish
Photo courtesy of mapandmenu.com
These pastries are top notch. No place on the Cape serves a cupcake like this bakery, it’s the dankest of the dank.
9. Poutine at Bear in Boots Gastropub
Photo courtesy of examiner.com
The unique and amazing aspect of this restaurant is that everything is made in house, even their ketchup and mayonnaise. There aren’t many places in Cape Cod to get European dishes other than Bear in Boots. They also have live music on the weekends. How could you go wrong?
10. Mudslide at the Chart Room
Photo courtesy of chartroomcataumet.com
Sadly this restaurant is only open for the summer, but a perfect kickstart to your summer is having a Mudslide while watching the boats come in. You never know who you’ll see — Julia Stiles and A-Rod were there just two summers ago.
11. Pain D’Avignon Brioche French Toast at Cafe Chew
Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com
This is the perfect brunch spot for when you are visiting Sandwich. Yes, there’s a town called Sandwich, but nothing can beat this french toast.
12. French Fries at Artie’s Concessions at the Falmouth Commodores Games
Photo courtesy of businessweekly.com
The sad truth about french fries is that 90% of the time, you’re eating them from a bag, but not at Artie’s. Artie’s is one of the few concessions stands where you can actually eat real food. Nothing beats watching baseball in the summer while eating some real potato fries.
13. Cranberry Bog Ice Cream at Somerset Creamery
Photo courtesy of foodspotting.com
You can’t visit the cape without trying this ice cream. Where else are you going to get cranberry ice cream that is also homemade?
13. Linguica Breakfast Sandwich at Mary Ellen’s Portuguese Bakery
Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com
This past summer, the popular TV show Diners, Drive-ins, and Drives visited a few of Falmouth’s restaurants, and Guy made a big mistake not visiting this restaurant. If you want to experience the small community of Falmouth while also enjoying delicious food, look no further.
14. Tofu Wings at Jimmy’s Hideaway
Photo courtesy of vanityfair.com
When I first heard of these tofu wings, I was a little skeptical, but they’re something that you have to try. Saying you’ve had tofu buffalo wings is an undeniable conversation starter, especially when they’re this delicious.
15. Cinnamon Raisin Bagel with Apple Pie Cream Cheese at Cape Cod Bagel
Photo courtesy of countrycleaver.com
Finding a good bagel place on the cape is harder than finding an apartment in Burlington, believe me. This place will be your on-the-go breakfast place before you know it.
16. 7-Course Special at Ceraldi
Photo courtesy of ceraldicapecod.com
Ceraldi is a little different than most restaurants. You can’t go in and order fries and a burger. Instead, you are served a 7-course meal made with fresh and locally caught ingredients. This restaurant is the best way to get a taste of Cape Cod, and a major food baby.
17. Fried Dough at Provincetown Portuguese Bakery
Photo courtesy of seriouseats.com
This bakery has many choices of great pastries for you to try, both sweet and savory. But I’ll make the search a little easier for you, get the fried dough and add a little powdered sugar. You’ll finally understand love at first sight.
18. French Onion Soup at Bleu
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
Bleu is one of the best restaurants in Mashpee commons for a fancy date night. Just look at that soup — I wish I was eating it right now.
19. Black Beauty at Joon Bar + Kitchen
Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com
If you’re in Providence town, you have to go this bar and order the Black Beauty. Even though you’re in a little Cape Cod town, this drink makes P-Town seem like the NYC of the Cape. And it’ll make you feel pretty dope too.
20. Almond Encrusted Salmon at La Cucina Sul Mare
This is one of the most popular restaurants in Falmouth. Why? Nothing ever leaves their kitchen not smelling and tasting amazing. This dish is one of the best Italian plates you will get on the Cape.
21. Italian Sandwich at Woods Hole Market
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
If you want to get an ocean view without paying hundreds of dollars, this is the place you need to go. Not only is their food made with the highest quality ingredients, but you have the freedom to sit on their roof deck and watch the sunset on the harbor. It’s BYOB, so there’s no need to pay ten dollars for a glass of wine.
22. Raw Oysters at The Naked Oyster
Photo courtesy of nydailynews.com
I used to think that eating a raw oyster was the grossest thing you could possibly do, but these are amazing. You just need to drop a little hot sauce on it and take it like a shot.
23. Butter Poached Lobster and Wild White Shrimp at The Glass Onion
Photo courtesy of diningdetectives.com
This restaurant is on the fancier side, but that doesn’t matter. With dishes of lobster and shrimp paired with Wild Mushroom Risotto and Lemon Caper Butter Sauce, I’d say you’re probably ready to make your reservation for dinner tonight.
24. Caviar at the Brewster Fish House
Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.ca
This restaurant has been open for over 30 years and has some of the best seafood around. They also make their own bacon and it’s bomb.
25. Lobster Ice Cream at Ben and Bills Chocolate Emporium
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
A lot of people ask if there is actually lobster in this ice cream. The answer is yes, but don’t be alarmed, because it tastes like a Cape version of a mud pie.
26. Tiramisu at the Brazillian Grill
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
Whether or not you’re a fan of Brazilian food, this place is so dank you have to try out. If you’re not a fan, you can’t go wrong with their desserts.
27. Stuffed Quahog at Spanky’s Clam Shack and Seaside Saloon
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
Don’t let the name turn you away from trying a stuffed quahog. When people come to the cape, they look for lobster, but that’s where they’re going wrong. Quahogs are where it’s at.
28. Fried Oysters at Moby Dick’s Seafood Restaurant
Photo courtesy of twoyolks.org
Be prepared to stand in a line, because it’s always a long wait. But it’s better to have a line on the cape than an empty restaurant.
29. Pepperoni Pizza at Slice of Edgartown
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com
This pizza place is one of the hidden gems in the Vineyard. There are only two options — pepperoni and cheese pizza, and both are amazing.
30. Iced Mocha at Coffee Obsession
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
If you’re looking for a cute hipster coffee shop to check your email while also getting an organic cup of coffee, head to coffee O, as the locals call it.
31. Chicken Pot Pie at Pies à la Mode Café
Photo courtesy of piesalamode.com
These pies are perfect for when you don’t have time to cook dinner or if you just want to taste a delicious pie that you didn’t have to make yourself.
32. Fisherman’s Lunch at Dunbar House
Photo courtesy of dunbarrestaurant.com
Eating food and tea together works perfectly. At Dunbar, you can enjoy tea in a vintage carriage house while also enjoying great food.
33. Pomegranate Margarita at Anejo Mexican Bistro
Photo courtesy of foodspotting.com
If you’re looking for the most delicious way to enjoy your Thursday evening, Anejo is the only place on the Cape to go.
34. Red Vines at Wellfleet Cinema
Photo courtesy of capecodopi.com
Wellfleet Cinema is one of the only drive-in theaters on the Cape. You can enjoy your red vines laying on a mattress in the bed of a pick up while you watch your double feature.
35. Baileys Irish Cream Fudge at Provincetown Fudge Factory
Photo courtesy of yelp.com
In my opinion, the coolest part about this fudge factory is that you can see them making the fudge from P-Town main street. Also who wouldn’t want to try Irish creme fudge?
36. Shrimp Cocktail at C Salt Wine Bar & Grill
Photo courtesy of yankeemagazine.com
This restaurant is the biggest underdog in the Cape restaurant scene, but it is one of the best.
37. Barbecue on Washburn Island
Photo courtesy of tripmondo.com
Even though this place doesn’t have fancy service or sometimes even plates, it is the perfect way to enjoy a meal on the Cape. Just stop by the local grocery store and pick up your favorite things to grill.