Eat to live or live to eat? Always a conundrum. However, if you’re traveling to Cape Cod you best bring your appetite for fresh seafood and fine dining. In fact, farm-to-table restaurants on Cape Cod showcase some of the finest regionally-inspired flavors found anywhere. And whether that farm is raising produce, livestock, or oysters in a grant on Cape Cod Bay, you can always expect the freshest possible locally-sourced ingredients influencing their menus.
A stay at the Captain Farris House starts with an amazing dining experience at breakfast. Prepared in-house daily, the menu features an alternating sweet or savory entrée served with an array of seasonal fruit and an endless cup of freshly brewed coffee and tea. But, as innkeepers on Cape Cod, we constantly seek out the best restaurants to recommend to our guests for lunch and dinner.
In our opinion, and to quote Virginia Woolf, “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” So, let us take you on a culinary journey, as we explore our favorite farm-to-table restaurants on Cape Cod.
Belfry Bistro
6 Jarves St, Sandwich, MA 02563
(508) 888-8550
Converted from an old catholic church, the Belfry Bistro is a show-stopper. Original stained-glass windows and warm oak buttresses set the stage for a memorable dining experience. Sit by the massive fireplace in winter, or dine al fresco on the elegant garden patio come spring and summer. Perfectly grilled game dishes share the spotlight with locally-caught fish straight from the waters of Cape Cod Bay.
Cape Sea Grille
31 Sea Street, Harwichport, MA
(508) 432-4745
Step into this lovely restaurant housed in an old sea captain’s home located within spitting distance of the ocean. Serving creative American dishes in an elegant and spacious dining room, the Cape Sea Grille is a date-night destination. Fresh-cut flowers adorn the white tablecloths and candles burn beside. Seafood may be the star of the menu, but carnivores and vegetarians are equally at home here.
Ceraldi’s
15 Kendrick Avenue, Wellfleet, MA
(508) 237-9811
Ceraldi’s offers a 7-course dining adventure featuring truly fresh local fare. The menu changes daily according to what’s in season. Authentic and inventive, foodies rave about this place and with good reason. While expensive and difficult to book, the attention to detail in cuisine and service is evident as soon as you walk in.. Located in Wellfleet on the town pier, Ceraldi’s is one of those restaurants you will long remember and talk about.
Fin
800 Main Street, Dennis, MA
(508) 385-2096
With extensive training under Michelin-starred chefs, the executive chef at Fin brings a worldly palate to his charming restaurant on Route 6A in Dennis. Open seasonally, this once antique home features intimate dining areas on 2 levels, plus an outdoor patio for al fresco dining. Featuring the freshest seasonal ingredients, the accent may be on fish, but exquisite beef, pork, and poultry dishes frequent the menu as well. This is one of our favorite spots. Intimate and cozy, it’s like dining in someone’s home.
Fisherman’s View
20 Freezer Road, Sandwich, MA
(508) 591-0088
Owned by brother fishermen, Robert and Dennis Colbert, Fisherman’s View offers “boat-to-table” fare in a waterfront location overlooking the Cape Cod Canal. Open year-round, it’s one of the few places on the Cape where you can find lobster on the menu even in the off-season. Adjacent to the restaurant, the brothers also operate a fish market featuring fresh shellfish and prepared items such as stuffed quahogs and crabcakes. Indoor, outdoor, and patio seating make this spot the ideal restaurant choice in any weather.
Gerardi’s Café
902 Route 28, South Yarmouth, MA
(508) 394-3111
When you’re in the mood for fresh pasta and authentic antipasti, head straight for Gerardi’s Café. Serving traditional Italian dishes and creative takes on old-world recipes, the feeling here is “abbondanza.” A local treasure and guest favorite, we love dining here listening to classical music and enjoying a glass of vintage wine. Just 2 minutes from the Inn, we love the traditional dishes and authentic Italian food.
Ocean House
425 Old Wharf Road, Dennisport, MA
(508) 394-0700
Enter this charming restaurant and be prepared for the jaw-dropping view of Nantucket Sound. Sitting literally atop the ocean, this contemporary restaurant prides itself on serving impeccably crafted cocktails and an eclectic selection of entrees with an international flair. The Ocean House is arguably one of the most scenic restaurants on Cape Cod.
Old Yarmouth Inn
223 Route 6A, Yarmouthport, MA
(508) 362-9962
Quaint is the only word that suitably describes the Old Yarmouth Inn. In winter, a warm fire burns in the hearth of the entryway, and the wide pine plank flooring evokes a nod to the past at this wayside inn that first opened in 1696. Reserve the “red room” for a private dining experience, or sit in the cozy bar/tavern for an intimate meal amid an historic setting. An extensive award-winning wine list accompanies their daily changing menu.
The Pheasant
905 Route 6A, Dennis, MA
(508) 385-2133
Working closely with local farmers and fishermen, chefs at The Pheasant strive to create bold and dynamic flavors that honor its New England location. Served in intimate dining rooms in a stunning farmhouse, the ambiance is best described as casual elegance.
Twenty-Eight Atlantic
2873 Route 28, Harwich, MA
(508) 432-5400
Hands down, Twenty-Eight Atlantic is the most romantic, fine-dining restaurant Cape Cod has to offer. Housed in a glass-walled dining room overlooking Pleasant Bay, the menu features a coastal dining experience embracing organic ingredients. Start your evening with caviar, then feast on something from the raw bar or go straight to the 5-star entrée menu and award-winning wine list. This is the perfect “special occasion” restaurant. With outstanding service and exquisite ambiance, be sure to linger over your meal. And go a bit early so you can sit and enjoy the view of Cape Cod Bay while sipping a cocktail at the outdoor bar.
We hope you’ll enjoy testing out our list of farm-to-table restaurants on Cape Cod. They are the perfect blend of fresh, wholesome ingredients brought together in some amazing ways to tempt your taste buds. With so many choices for dinner, you’ll need to book an extended stay at our seaside bed and breakfast. We look forward to seeing you soon!
