Attractions such as the Salt Pond and Province Lands Visitor Center, WHOI, Cape Cod National Seashore, and others are filled with people seeking a rejuvenating connection with nature, education about the local ecology, and simple enjoyment of the incredible views and wildlife.
But, you’re also here for the internationally famous seafood of course. Thankfully, between visiting each attraction you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to incredible dining destinations.
Below are a few of the many award-winning local restaurants that make for ideal stops for some cool air, beautiful views, and satisfying seafood as you enjoy summer fun on the cape.
The Ocean House Restaurant
The views are spectacular at The Ocean House Restaurant in Dennisport, offering an ideal place to unwind for a pleasant, upscale dinner after exploring the cape.
Wide windows, chandeliers, and a classy décor make up the design and aesthetics of the Ocean House Restaurant. It retains that homey and classic feel of historic America right aside from the Nantucket Sound.
The focus of the menu is fresh, local, and innovative. A few of the main dishes include the Lump Crab Cake, coated in smoked kimchi sauce and charred cabbage slaw, Yellow Fin Tuna with snow peas and black coconut rice, Sea Scallops with miso whipped potatoes and baby heirloom carrots, and much more.
Imported meats and cheeses make up the Charcuterie Plate along with a variety of other enticing small plates. The dinner menu is extensive and filled with variety for an upscale restaurant and includes several different types of wood-fired pizza, linguini, pad thai, lobster ravioli, filet steak, burgers, and more.
The location has unusual hours. You can find the doors open from 4 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. giving the restaurant a cozy diner atmosphere late into the night and early morning.
Head out to experience a credible award-winning Northeast American regional restaurant, with splashes of Pan-Asian influences.
Find it at 425 Old Wharf Rd, Dennis Port, MA.
Skipper Restaurant and Chowder House
A white picket fence, soft blue hue, and a classic northeastern home exterior introduce you to Yarmouth’s most whimsical and pleasant seafood house. It started on Cape Cod back in 1936 and is one of the area’s longest-running establishments for good reason.
The Skipper Restaurant and Chowder House are long-established and well-renowned across the region for its cheery service, beautiful water views, and its all-encompassing range of local seafood options.
From a raw bar with local oysters to a famous award-winning claw chowder, fried shellfish, lobster rolls, seafood platters, lobster mac and cheese, and burgers, the menu is mesmerizing and authentically New England.
This chowder house is most famous, unsurprisingly, for its perfectly made clam chowder. The Cape Cod Clam Chowder and the Fried Cham Chowder are main staples, but the restaurant rounds them out daily with a Soup of the Day option.
It is located at 152 S Shore Dr, South Yarmouth, MA 02664.
The Impudent Oyster
The Impudent Oyster manages to balance itself between the bustling bar atmosphere that attracts Cape Cod late goers and the upscale eatery approach that captivates seafood aficionados and early-evening diners.
The menu manages this balance with near-perfection. The Smoked Blue Fish Paté relies solely on local Chatham bluefish cured with citrus and whipped with mascarpone cheese. Coop’s Calamari manages a nice and casual dish, with banana peppers and artichoke hearts.
An order of Seafood Potstickers and the Mussels Isabella take the steamed lobster and local white wine-soaked mussels to the masses with a delectable preparation.
With a top-tier menu, exclusive local seafood items, and an authentically classy atmosphere, the Impudent Oyster captures a big part of what makes Cape Cod a rich and satisfying place to visit.
Find it at 15 Chatham Bars Ave, Chatham, MA 02633.
Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar
With all the top Cape Cod restaurants focused on a range of seafood dishes and rustic décor features, few have dominated the one thing that makes the northeast such a special place- the lobster.
Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar encompasses everything you love about lobster, and perhaps a little more, in a whirlwind of brilliant seafood spins in cozy décor.
Order the most perfect Maine Lobster and clams or perhaps jumbo cold or warm lobster. The lump crab cake and the assortment of burger options help round out the menu.
The location also manages to deliver it all in a casual and cool space. The prices are modest and the energy is approachable.
The end result is a welcoming place for the whole family, where the kids can eat what they want and the adults can eat what they want (lobster, of course) all on a reasonable budget.
It is open from 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
The address for the restaurant is 3580 US-6, Eastham, MA 02642.
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Any of the above-mentioned restaurants are sure to satisfy your group as you explore the cape under the summer sun.
Consider stopping by a Visitor Center for new activities and ideas in the summer – the Visitors Centers on Cape Cod also have things to do for the family such as theaters, museums, trails, and more.
Contact us for more information about Cape Cod vacations in the summer, the top outdoor attractions and activities, and the best restaurants.
