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Golf on Cape Cod - The 19th HoleChoosing A Restaurant on Cape CodChoosing a restaurant in your hometown can be a challenge, but that's nothing compared to the daunting task of selecting what restaurants to visit while visiting and playing on Cape Cod. There are so many fabulous places and, if your time here is limited, why not make every meal a great one? Whether you are playing at Ballymeade in Falmouth or Highland Links in Truro, here are some suggestions to help guide you through the sea of choices. Some are tried and true favorites, while others are newcomers that have established themselves in short order as heavy hitters on the Cape Cod dining scene. FINE DINING On the historic Old King's Highway in Dennis is another local favorite that has been providing patrons with gourmet delights since 1977 - The Red Pheasant (800-480-2133). Started by Chef-Owner Bill Atwood's father, Bill and his wife Denise have continued to refine the restaurants established standards of excellence. In 1987 they added a large wine cellar that boasts one of Cape Cod's most renowned collections, ensuring you the perfect match to their Buffalo Carpaccio with Lemon, Shallots, Capers and Asiago with just a drizzle of Truffle Oil or for whatever the evening's delectable game specialty might be. Serving dinner nightly; reservations are a must. BISTROS This restaurant genre has become increasingly popular over the past decade and stresses high quality, big city cuisine served in a casual and friendly setting. Recently there seems to have been an explosion of bistros all over Cape Cod, but some have managed better than others to carve a niche for themselves amongst the younger generation of locals and visitors who crave a funky urban vibe and a perfect Cosmopolitan as much as they do quality cuisine. Roobar has proven itself a master in this dining arena. With locations on Main Street in Falmouth, Hyannis and Chatham, each venue offers its own unique take on atmosphere and cuisine. With menus choices that range from Coconut Curried Mussels to BBQ Duck Confit Quesedillas, from Wood Roasted Native Cod to Gorgonzola Crusted Filet Mignon, along with wonderful salad options and wood-grilled pizzas, there is something for every one's tastes. Each restaurant has its own unique menu, but they all embody the same high standards of quality that has made each Roobar location a tremendous success. (Owner Dana Heilman is a member of actor Christopher Reeve's family, and a portion of all profits from the restaurants go to The Christopher Reeve Foundation, making Roobar a prime example of both Cape Cod entrepreneurial and charitable spirit.) If overlooking Nantucket Sound while savoring Lemongrass Battered Native Sole with Rock Shrimp, Fried Rice and Tempura Haricot Vert with a Sweet Soy Drizzle sounds like the perfect evening, then dinner at Dennisport's Ocean House is a must. This New American bar and bistro offers diners a diverse menu of both light and more substantial fare. And don't pass on the luxurious desserts, including such as Warm Chocolate Souffle Cakes with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Pistachio CrËme Anglaise or s Wild Main Blueberry and Sweet Cream Tarts with Lemon Verbena Ice Cream. Chef Tim Miller has managed to create new world cuisine in a most dramatic setting, taking coastal dining to new heights. CASUAL, SEAFOOD There is no dining decision more difficult to make on Cape Cod than where to go for the best seafood. With a clam shack and lobster pound every one-quarter mile, the choices seem limitless - but only a few have managed to gain the respect and patronage of finicky locals who expect only the freshest of local seafood. One common theme among many of our seafood restaurant selections is that they are family-owned, and many have been passed down through the generations. Cooke's Seafood, with locations in Mashpee, Hyannis and Orleans, is now run by the third generation of the Haidas Family. They have been serving up award-winning seafood since 1977, and they emphasize that their fish and shellfish is of the ëhighest quality fresh local seafood available.' Cape Cod Life's reader's choice awards has listed them as Best Seafood since 1993, and WCOD has recognized them as having the Best Fried Clams for the past five years. The restaurants are open seasonally and serve lunch and dinner seven days a week. Seafood Sam's began as a small take-out joint on Coast Guard Road in Sandwich in 1974. Since then it has grown to have locations in Falmouth, South Yarmouth, and Harwichport. Four of the original restaurant's employees formed a cooperation that now brings you some of the Cape's freshest seafood available - no matter what part of Cape Cod you may be visiting. Whether you eat in or take-out, or prefer broiled to fried, Seafood Sam's will cure any craving for local seafood you might have. If you find yourself along Route 28 in Yarmouth, Salty's serves up some of the tastiest seafood dishes on the Cape. The menu is huge and offers a lot more choices than just the traditional fare. For chowder, choose from clam, seafood or lobster and Corn, or perhaps start your meal with a Stuffed Quahog, "Indian Thanksgiving in a shell." For dinner, try the Cod Fish Cakes or the Lobster Fra Diavlo and finish off your meal with a New England tradition, Fried Dough. Salty's has a full bar and even has its own brew, a golden hued lager served in a frosty mug. Back in 1963, The Lobster Claw in Orleans began delighting hungry folks on the Lower Cape with its mouthwatering dishes and funky nautical decor. As the name implies, lobster is the specialty of the house and is served either Broiled, Bake-Stuffed, Deep-Fried or Newburg. No matter which type of crustacean preparation is your favorite, rest assured that you will not be disappointed. The Berig family has owned this restaurant since 1970, and they have mastered the art of lobster cooking. The restaurant has a full liquor license and is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner in season. Rarely do you think of a beach snack bar as serving quality dishes, but Liam's at Nauset Beach puts that theory to shame. This beach shack has received critical acclaim from The Boston Globe, and Chronicle News Magazine recently did a feature story on the concession. Their hand-cut, paper-thin Onion Rings dipped in a delicate batter are to die for, and the Clam and Lobster Fritters are a personal favorite. (On closing weekend, Columbus Day weekend, I've witnessed lines of sweater- and scarf-wrapped local folks patiently waiting for their "last fix" of these made-to-order indulgences until next year's opening.) Liam's has also gotten on board with serving healthier items and has added Mesclun Salads, Grilled Shrimp Kebobs and Grilled Swordfish to their menu. Open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and on weekends through Columbus Day. If visiting beautiful Nauset Beach isn't enough to get you out there, the food at this place is worth the trip. In a town renowned for its oysters, Wellfleet's Bayside Lobster Hutt has been a native family business for 25 years. Their specialty is "lobster in the rough", and the atmosphere is "intentionally informal." These guys know that eating a lobster is a messy process, and they understand that, to properly enjoy every morsel, you might just have to get a little down and dirty. In terms of freshness, you can't beat this place. Selections from the Raw Bar come freshly harvested from the restaurant's own shellfish beds only a few hundred yards away, and you can select your own lobster from the tank. The Lobster Hutt is located on the road to Wellfleet Harbor and is open seasonally; no liquor license, so B.Y.O.B. ETHNIC FARE Just because fried seafood and lobsters are extremely popular fare on Cape Cod does not mean that is all there is to savor. In fact, there are several ethnic restaurants that prepare premium examples of their cuisine. Perhaps it is because of our abundance of fresh seafood, but there are two noteworthy Japanese restaurants offering some of the freshest sushi that just melts in your mouth. Ota Torao, who has been a professional sushi chef for 28 years, heads Misaki, located on Main Street in Hyannis. The restaurant, open year-round, offers traditional Tatami seating, and the menu, which ranges from the traditional to the exotic, changes seasonally. Not far away, on Route 6A in Yarmouthport, is Inaho. Chef Yugi Watanabe begins his day with an early morning trip to Boston's fish market to personally select the finest fish to offer his patrons. His menu is comprised of a vast selection of Japanese fare, and each dish arrives artfully presented to be enjoyed amid the restaurant's simple and elegant decor. Out back there is even a beautiful and serene Japanese garden, complete with a koi pond. With our ever-growing Brazilian population, it is no wonder that the Cape is home to a traditional " Churrasco a Rodizio" restaurant. The Brazilian Grill, on Main Street in Hyannis, serves up Brazilian barbeque fare - swords of grilled meat, ranging from Beef, Pork and Chicken to Portuguese Sausages and even Quail. "Churrasqueros", traditionally-clad servers, wander through the restaurant delivering patrons the meat of their choice. A salad bar accompanies this all-you-can-eat BBQ feast and offers such traditional Brazilian fare as Farofa, a cous-cous like dish made of Manioc, Plantains and Rice and Beans. Dinner or lunch at the Brazilian Grill is a festive affair that the whole family will enjoy. For casually elegant Northern Italian fare, visit The Nauset Beach Club (508-255-8547) on Main Street in historic East Orleans. Proprietor Art Duquette and Chef Steven Graves have worked to create a restaurant that embodies all the wonderful flavors of Italy right here on Cape Cod. Much of the pasta is house-made, like the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli in Light Tomato Sauce, or the Maltagliati Boscaiola, which is a fresh hand-cut pasta prepared with Roasted Wild Mushrooms, Prosciutto, Tomato, Sage and Cream. Most of the pasta dishes are available as either first or second courses. It is dishes like the Zuppa di Pesce, loaded with local seafood and served with a Saffron Aioli Crostini, or the Stinco d'Agnello, a braised Lamb Shank with Tuscan Cous-Cous and Preserved Gremolata, that make The Nauset Beach Club a cut above the many other Italian restaurants here on the Cape. Serving dinner nightly year-round; reservations are recommended. This is a mere sampling of all the wonderful dining establishments here on Cape Cod, where the landscape of restaurants seems to be in constant flux. You can patronize any one of the aforementioned establishments, confident that you will not be disappointed. We hope you enjoy all aspects of what we refer to here as Cape Cod Cuisine, and that it meets your standards of excellence. Bon Appetit! | ||||
The Regatta of Cotuit (508-428-5715) has been serving dinner patrons elegant and refined cuisine for 33 years. Owners Wendy and Brantz Bryan have made an
art form providing comfort and service in this 213-year-old home. Whether you are sampling a selection from Wendy's hand-chosen wine cellar (Wendy also
serves as the restaurant's sommelier) or feasting upon Executive Chef Heather Allen's Foie Gras and Grilled Georges Bank Scallops with a Port Wine
Demi-Glace, Plantain Chips and Mango Chutney, you will not be disappointed. Serving dinner and Sunday Brunch; reservations are highly suggested.
The Naked Oyster Bistro and Raw Bar (508- 778-6500) on Independence Drive in Hyannis is a relative newcomer with a devoted following of area locals.
The bistro specializes in seafood, and it should come as no surprise that oysters are a specialty of the house. I highly recommend sampling from the
assorted Dressed Oyster Platter, which gives you one of each of their very special oyster creations - including the BBQ Blue, an Oyster topped with Great
Hill Blue Cheese, Carmelized Onions, Barbecue Sauce and Bacon and broiled to perfection. If you prefer your oysters raw, there are several unique options
-the Oishi Oysters with Tamari and Pickled Ginger, or Oysters Moscow with Caviar and Sour Cream. Serving lunch Monday through Friday and dinner, Monday
through Saturday, year round. Since Naked Oyster is rather small in size, reservations are highly recommended.
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