Must-see restaurants in Massachusetts

  • South Street Diner

    South End & Chinatown

    A divey diner that does what a diner is supposed to do – that is, serve bacon and eggs and burgers and fries, at any time of the day or night. Plonk…

  • Carmen's Café Nicole

    South Shore

    Boasting a wonderful view of Plymouth Harbor and outdoor seating, this eclectic cafe pulls off a wide variety of delicious dishes including decadent…

  • Scargo Cafe

    Cape Cod

    A handsome clubby interior, friendly staff and a crowd-pleasing menu of well-executed classics draw loyal customers. Scargo covers its bases well, from a…

  • Ellen's Harborside

    Massachusetts

    By the T Wharf in the town center, Ellen's has grown famous serving a simple menu of American breakfasts, chicken, ribs and lobster since 1954. Consider…

  • Arnold's Lobster & Clam Bar

    Cape Cod

    Fried seafood is the staple (plus renowned onion rings); there's also salads, baked cod and steamed lobster on the menu. Everything is fresh, and at night…

  • Belfry Inn & Bistro

    Cape Cod

    If you like quirky, this restaurant (in the B&B of the same name) occupies the sanctuary of a former church and is one of the Cape's more unusual fine…

  • Sea Level Oyster Bar

    Massachusetts

    This is a lovely spot with a wide-open dining room, giant windows and an appealing patio overlooking Waterfront Park. The menu is heavy on seafood, with…

  • Ben & Bill's Chocolate Emporium

    Cape Cod

    Lobster mania takes a new twist at Ben & Bill's, where the crustacean has crawled onto the summertime ice-cream menu. It's a butter-based ice cream with…

  • Abba

    Cape Cod

    Feeling adventurous? This fine-dining restaurant offers superb pan-Mediterranean fare with a hint of Thai thrown in, from an Israeli-born chef. Start with…

  • All-American Diner

    South Shore

    You're here in America's Hometown – what better place to eat than the All-American Diner? It's a classic red-white-and-blue place, with a breakfast menu…

  • Lobster Hut

    South Shore

    There's nothing fancy going on at the Lobster Hut, but who needs 'fancy' when you've got fresh seafood and breezy harbor views? It's a classic seafood…

  • Crepe Cod

    Cape Cod

    It's worth making the detour from Falmouth's town center to enjoy a breezy lunch at this French bistro. As the pun in its name suggests, the specialty…

  • Winsor Dim Sum Cafe

    South End & Chinatown

    The shrimp dumplings and steamed pork buns are highly recommended at this no-nonsense Chinatown favorite. The downside is that there are no pushcarts to…

  • Red Nun Bar & Grill

    Cape Cod

    If burgers are your thing, step into this unassuming joint and order the Nun Burger. It starts with a half-pound of Angus beef placed in an oversize…

  • Petticoat Row Bakery

    Nantucket

    While the pastries are delicious enough on their own to warrant a recommendation, history lovers will also appreciate the story behind the establishment…

  • Dunbar House

    Cape Cod

    Tucked amid gardens, a swan pond and period homes, the tea room resembles a Victorian-era movie set. The crumpets, cream teas and classical music just add…

  • Mike’s City Diner

    South End & Chinatown

    Start the day with a big breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and other old-fashioned goodness, topped with a bottomless cup of coffee. If you need to refuel…

  • Box Lunch

    Cape Cod

    Light on the wallet and handy for a quick lunch, this simple roadside operation attached to a farm stand offers an array of roll-up sandwiches, the best…

  • Martha's Vineyard Gourmet Cafe & Bakery

    Martha's Vineyard

    This simple joint serves inexpensive coffee, famous apple fritters and cannoli, but the time to swing by is from 7pm to 1am (when the shop itself is shut)…

  • Brazilian Grill

    Cape Cod

    Celebrate the Cape's Brazilian side at this real-deal rodízio (steakhouse), where an immense buffet is paired with churrasco (barbecued meat on skewers),…

  • Chapoquoit Grill

    Cape Cod

    At the northwest side of town, this place makes excellent wood-fired pizzas loaded with everything from artichoke hearts to whole baby clams. The nightly…

  • Falafel King

    Boston

    At Falafel King, the Middle Eastern food is fast, delicious and cheap. This carry-out joint is perfectly placed for a picnic on the Common. Best of all,…

  • Mike's Pastry

    Boston

    A North End staple. Crowds of tourists and suburbanites (and some locals, too) line up at Mike's to sample his diverse selection of cannoli – not just…

  • Publick House Historic Tap Room

    Massachusetts

    The historic inn's original dining room features a rustic atmosphere, enhanced by the enormous wide-hearth fireplace. Here you can order a traditional…

  • Spanky's Clam Shack

    Cape Cod

    One of those fun, family-friendly, unstuffy waterfront places the Cape specializes in. The menu is big (including options for kids and land-food-only…

  • Centre Street Bistro

    Nantucket

    Settle in at a parasol-shaded sidewalk table and watch the traffic trickle by at this relaxed, year-round cafe. The chef-owners, trained at the Culinary…

  • Wicked Oyster

    Cape Cod

    Hang out here for the likes of filet mignon with a bourbon caramel sauce, buttermilk-fried calamari and, of course, several incarnations of Wellfleet…

  • Mad Martha's

    Martha's Vineyard

    If the Obamas are on the island and you want to snag a photo, this is your best paparazzi hang: they’ll invariably swing by for a scoop of award-winning…

  • Sam La Grassa’s

    Boston

    Step up to the counter and place your order for one of Sam La Grassa’s signature sandwiches, then find a spot at the crowded communal table. You won’t be…

  • Captain Frosty's Fish & Chips

    Cape Cod

    Don't be misled by the 1950s ice-cream shack appearance: this simple seafood takeout joint does it right. Forget frozen food – there's none in this…

  • Brax Landing

    Cape Cod

    Head to this casual harborside gem for water-view dining and fresh seafood at honest prices. The menu's broad, but stick with the local catch, like the…

  • Bean

    Nantucket

    The place in town to munch on a bagel and get your quality caffeine fix. (If you ask about Starbucks, islanders on Nantucket just might think you're a…

  • Falafel King

    Boston

    Two words: free falafels. That’s right, everyone gets a little free sample before ordering. There is no disputing that this is indeed the falafel king of…

  • Friendly Fisherman

    Cape Cod

    This simple seafood spot, attached to a fish market, has outdoor picnic tables and serves the perfect lobster roll: huge, overflowing with sweet chunks of…

  • Raw Bar

    Cape Cod

    Come here for the mother of all lobster rolls: it's like eating an entire lobster in a bun. The view overlooking Hyannis Harbor isn't hard to swallow…

  • Corner Store

    Cape Cod

    Corner Store's name and location (a charming storefront complete with a covered porch) are all nostalgia, but what it offers is a modern make-your-own…

  • Club Car

    Nantucket

    This converted railroad car, a vestige of the actual railroad that sank in the sands of Nantucket, dishes up consistently good food. Classic dinner mains…

  • Black Dog Tavern

    Martha's Vineyard

    These days it's more famous for its T-shirts than its food, but this legendary eatery packs a crowd. Just a short walk from the ferry, it's handy for…

  • Taiwan Cafe

    South End & Chinatown

    Taiwan Cafe is a few steps off the main drag, so you might not have to wait quite as long for the excellent soup dumplings and other Taiwanese specialties…

  • Cafe Rustico

    Boston

    This family-run Italian joint is one of Boston’s best-kept secrets. But those in the know keep coming back for more – staff seem to know everyone by name,…

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