Cape Cod Restaurant Suggestions

[Jollyjo]

We just booked a place in S. Chatham for vacation in August. We will be celebrating our anniversary while there, and are looking for some recommendations for a special restaurant on the Cape. Any ideas?

And, how about other suggestions for other restaurants that don't have to be special, but great places to eat at?

TIA!

[cangoss]

We spent two weeks in Chatham this summer. My husband's family has a house there so we go every year.

For our "date night" dinner this year, we dined at the Brewster Fish House and I definitely recommend it. They don't take reservations though. The best strategy is to be there at 5:00 when they open. We got there at 6:45 and got one of the last spots on the waiting list and were told it would be a two hour wait. We stuck it out and got in after about an hour because a couple of people ahead of us were not there when their name was called.

Other recommendations:
- Fried clams at Arnold's in Eastham - be prepared for a long line and a long wait if you go at peak times.

- Kream n Kone in Chatham is usually pretty good as fried stuff goes but we didn't have the best meal there this year. I think it was just an off night.

- New England Pizza in Chatham is our favorite pizza spot.

- The Bookstore in Wellfleet - reasonably priced and very good, especially the littlenecks that they're known for

- Mac's on the pier in Wellfleet - definitely the best view for fried seafood and it's very good.

- the Chatham Squire is always a must for us. Their chowder is my favorite on the Cape. I usually end up ordering Mussels Marinara. We usually eat on the bar side rather than the restaurant side to avoid the wait.

- Lobsters from Nickerson's - call early in the day to reserve. They steam them for you and sell everything else you'd need for a lobster dinner.

hope this helps!

[tippy7]

I don't have any recommendations for any nice places, but I just have to reiterate Cangoss's recs of Arnold's in Eastham and The Squire. The line at Arnold's is always long but it always moves faster than I expect (go during the week if you can). They have such good onion rings! The Squire is great because it's right in the center of Chatham so you can walk around and window shop before or after dinner. And since you will be in Chatham, you must stop at The Candy Manor, my favorite candy store!

[springsgourmet9]

http://www.chow.com

Try this website, sign on and go to boards, New England. You can ask the same question and you will get lots of great referrals.

[LittleBrownCat]

For our "date night" dinner this year, we dined at the Brewster Fish House and I definitely recommend it.

The Bookstore in Wellfleet - reasonably priced and very good, especially the littlenecks that they're known for

I second both the Fish House and the Bookstore. We've eaten at the Fish House two times now, and the food (fish) has always been fresh and wonderful. We've been to the Bookstore once, on the recommendation of our innkeeper. We sat upstairs and had a nice view of the water. And, BTW, there is an actual bookstore (the entrance is on the side of the building). Lots of used books, magazines, etc. I bought a copy of Henry Beston's "Outermost House" as a "souvenir" (it's about his year living on the dunes of Cape Cod).

We had an anniversary dinner once at the Red Pheasant Inn in Dennis. The building is a 200 year old barn, and the food (and the atmosphere) is very gourmet but not "stuffy" (www.redpheasantinn.com)

[Gracie]

DD and I ate at The Bookstore a few years ago and loved it. We especially loved the actual bookstore. Tons of wonderful used books.

The mentions of The Squire brought a smile to my face. I remember going there hundreds of years ago when I was young and single - it was a huge meat market and not in the food way! I have never thought of it as a restaurant - I don't even think it dawned on me they served food. I should probably eat there sometime for old times' sake.

Also my very favorite pizza on the planet is Spiritus in Provincetown. P-town is a short drive to the end of the Cape. Cangoss' New England Pizza can't possibly compare!

Loren

[HejazSunKat]

We just booked a place in S. Chatham for vacation in August. We will be celebrating our anniversary while there, and are looking for some recommendations for a special restaurant on the Cape. Any ideas?

And, how about other suggestions for other restaurants that don't have to be special, but great places to eat at?

TIA!

Chatham's a lovely, quaint town. You will enjoy it. For your special anniversary dinner there's the Chatham Bars Inn

http://www.lhw.com/property.aspx?pro...FRI7ZQodGA530w

I have not eaten there personally but looking at the link, how bad could it be if it's listed in Leading Hotels of the World?

DH and I are fond of The Roadhouse Cafe in Hyannis

http://www.roadhousecafe.com/

We had an idiot of a waitress when we were there in early June but that wouldn't stop me from going back.

Hope you have a wonderful trip.

[Meg O'C]

We had a great dinner at Buca's Tuscan Roadhouse (http://www.bucasroadhouse.com/) in Harwich (just a few miles from S. Chatham) in June. Very good date night place. It was recommended to us by our waiter at The Squire (where we enjoyed two dinners). He also recommended The Wequassett Inn (http://www.wequassett.com/). We never made it there though so I can't say whether it was a yay or nay.

I am envious of your upcoming vacation!

Editing to add that I loved The Candy Manor! I seriously wanted to ask if they would take me in as an apprectice and teach me how to make their delicious candies! DH didn't like that idea so much.

[Meg O'C]

Chatham's a lovely, quaint town. You will enjoy it. For your special anniversary dinner there's the Chatham Bars Inn

http://www.lhw.com/property.aspx?pro...FRI7ZQodGA530w

I have not eaten there personally but looking at the link, how bad could it be if it's listed in Leading Hotels of the World?

Everyone told us to go there for a drink ($$$) on the veranda. We had lousy weather almost all week and never made it there. Overcast and in the 50's when you have packed for the 70's is not good for enjoying a cocktail on the veranda!

[cangoss]

We can see the Chatham Bars Inn from our house and pass by it five times a day but I've never eaten there The only time I've been inside was to buy a gift certificate for my parents' 35th anniversary dinner. My parents have dined at fine restaurants all over (and even used to be members of the pretentious ribbon-wearing dining group featured in Top Chef last week...) and my mom said that it was one of the best meals of her life, and definitely the best service she's ever experienced, from the time they got out of the car to the moment they left. So if it fits your budget, then I'd say that would be a great choice.

[Meg O'C]

We can see the Chatham Bars Inn from our house and pass by it five times a day but I've never eaten there The only time I've been inside was to buy a gift certificate for my parents' 35th anniversary dinner. My parents have dined at fine restaurants all over (and even used to be members of the pretentious ribbon-wearing dining group featured in Top Chef last week...) and my mom said that it was one of the best meals of her life, and definitely the best service she's ever experienced, from the time they got out of the car to the moment they left. So if it fits your budget, then I'd say that would be a great choice.

Wow! With a review like that I will tell DH we have to try it when we go back someday!

[Lauren]

I'm not up on chatham restaurants, but definately stop here.

http://store.chathampottery.com/

Have a great vacation!!!

[jomomcooks]

We visited the cape for the first time last month! The Chatham Bars Inn was recommended to us on our last day there and we could not make reservations that late but we drove by it and it is quite lovely. Also if you go to Yarmouth, the The Yarmouth House is very very nice; upscale, wonderful food and they have lots of specials (website yarmouthhouse.com). Reservations are recommended but don't know if always necessary. Was one of the best meals we had at the cape. When we were in Chatham, on the main street with all the shops and restaurants, there was a pub/restaurant that we ate in that had the best lobster bisque I ever had. It was the only pub/type rest that I remember seeing so shouldn't be too hard to find. Not recommending it as the Special Meal, but certainly was really good food and had lots of people there and it was slightly before the tourist season was starting which is why we picked it! Assumed there were a lot of locals (and there were) and that's always a good sign. Have Fun!

[Jollyjo]

Back to report on our trip. We ended up having two date nights, since we couldn't get reservations at our top pick on our anniversary! Both were excellent - The Red Pheasant Inn in Dennis, and Ocean House in DennisportThe Red Pheasant was a more quaint setting, but the Ocean House views can't be beat. The food was outstanding at both. We rolled out of each of those places!

We had lobster and clams from Nickerson's - best clams we've ever had.

We had pizza three times - and the winner was from The Box Office Cafe in S. Chatham. Next was Spiritus, and New England Pizza brought up the rear.

Chowder and Lobster Bisque at the Squire was wonderful also.

Stopped in at Nantucket Wild Gourmet and Smokehouse - http://www.nantucketwildgourmet.com/ - great place. The owner was so personable (from Ireland so it was fun to listen to him), and let us sample many things. Lots of unusual things to be had.

We drove by Chathams Bar Inn - looks fantastic. And we tried to get into Buca's Roadhouse, but weren't able. So, that means only one thing - a return trip next year!

[Meg O'C]

Thanks for the report out! Sounds like you ate well. You tried some places we didn't get to . . . hmmm, guess that means we need to schedule a return trip too.