Summer is just around the corner, and that means road trips and vacation!!! Every year, my family and I make at least one trip up to Cape Cod from Connecticut. My father’s family has owned a cottage in Dennis since he was a child, and we still go there to this day. Being there so often, my family and I have been able to weed out the bad food from the good food. Here are a few of mine, and my family’s, suggestions! All suggestions are in the mid-cape area.
Red Cottage Restaurant (South Dennis)
The Red Cottage is honestly my personal favorite for good breakfast food. The restaurant has been serving food for the last 35 years by Chef Dan. In the open kitchen style restaurant, you feel at home. There are no uniform coffee mugs, just a collection with all different sayings or designs. The restaurant also used to be seasonal before it decided to stay open all year round! Always a long line in the mornings, the restaurant jokingly made their motto “Same Day Service”. The Red Cottage is also open for lunch, and dinner a few times a month! My personal favorite are the cinnamon bun french toast, caramelized onion omelette, Red Cottage homefries (homefries with peppers, onions, ham, and mushrooms with hollandaise sauce on top). Red Cottage also serves lobster benedict, crepes, and combo plates!
Sesuit Harbor Cafe (Dennis)
Just like the title, this restaurant is on Sesuit Harbor. Located right in the marina, boat owners and food lovers come together for the food here. With all outside seating, customers get to watch the boats go by while enjoying a good meal. Growing up, I used to go fishing in the morning and always get one of their blueberry scones after! Always fresh! Sesuit Harbor Cafe serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sesuit Harbor Cafe also has a bakery with fresh baked goods and a raw bar with fresh seafood. All food is fresh and tastes great! Be prepared to wait, because this place gets busier and busier every season!
Grumpy’s (East Dennis)
Grumpy’s is a well known breakfast and lunch stop. Grumpy’s has great food and a great atmosphere. Grumpy’s was always a favorite of our’s for their wide variety of great homemade muffins! Grumpy’s is also decently priced, not being terribly expensive! I loved to get some eggs with a side of one of their muffins grilled with butter! Food heaven! Like the other two places, be prepared to wait outside to get a seat at this restaurant!
Captain Frosty’s (Dennis)
Captain Frosty’s has been part of my life longer than I can remember. My cottage is not even a mile from this yummy lunch stop. Growing up, my brother and I used to walk there for lunch or for ice cream! Starting off in the 1950s by only serving soft serve ice cream, who would have known that today they would have great seafood? In 1976, Captain Frosty’s started adding fresh, local seafood to the menu. Choose from a variety of different seafood plates, sandwiches, and seafood rolls. They’re also known for their clam cakes, fried savory bites of clam in a fluffy dough.
Land Ho! (Orleans, Harwich)
Land Ho! Opened up in Orleans in 1968 and has been serving good lunch and dinner ever since. In addition to his Orleans location, Land Ho! also opened up a location in Harwich in 2010! And if you ever find yourself craving Land Ho! while in Costa Rica, there is a location there as well! The Land Ho! is known for their delicious seafood, sandwiches and pub food. My mother loves the Cape Cod Reuben they sometimes service!
The Ocean House (Dennisport)
If you are looking for a more formal dining experience, then The Ocean House is for you! The Ocean House is opened only for dinner and is great for hosting events. Located right on the water, diners will have a beautiful view while they eat delicious food. The Ocean House serves elegant dishes. I once ordered a dessert that was a chocolate bag filled with an ice cream sundae including bananas and a brownie! Delicious! The restaurant is always booked with reservations, so you might need to book this dinner days in advance.
The Original Seafood (Dennisport)
The Original opened in 1953 as a drive in restaurant serving hamburgers, fried seafood, and ice-cream. The owners developed delish, secret recipes for the seafood and onion ring batters. The restaurant was passed down within the family until 2005 and they continue to serve delish fried seafood, seafood rolls, and other summer foods with the original recipe! The onion rings are my favorite! This place is open for lunch and dinner. You will often see people stop here after spending a day at the beach, so you might have to wait in a bit of a line to order! Even though it might seem busy, it’s not the most well known place on The Cape-but it should be!
Sundae School (West Dennis, Harwichport, East Orleans)
The Sundae School is my personal favorite ice cream shoppe on The Cape! The Sundae School also was named one of the “Best Ice Cream Spots in the U.S.” in 2013 by Food and Wine magazine! My mother and I especially like to go for lunch instead of getting something else. The homemade ice cream is delicious, comes in a variety of flavors, and is served by teenagers either in high school or college. The Sundae School is allergy friendly and have the yummiest toppings! They serve homemade whipped cream and thick, decadent hot fudge! All sundaes are served with a real bing cherry on top! If you decide to come during or after the dinner hour, be prepared to be directed to parking by teenagers and waiting in quite a line. Although the line may take long, it is most definitely worth the wait.
The Ice Cream Sandwich (Sandwich)
The Ice Cream Sandwich is a delicious place to get ice cream! The name of this shoppe is adorable, and fitting for being in the town of Sandwich. This place is known for their delicious ice cream and great variety of flavors! This place serves ice cream sandwiches as well as pies and cakes. The special flavors change weekly, so make sure to stop by often to try all of them.
The Ice Cream Smuggler (Dennis)
I grew up going to the Ice Cream Smuggler. The Ice Cream Smuggler is located closest to our cottage, so I went there a lot as a child. The line can be lengthy, but worth the wait. The Smuggler’s hot fudge sundae has been featured on Food Network’s Best Thing I Ever Ate. The Smuggler offers a wide variety of flavors, ice cream cakes, and ice cream pies! The good thing about this place is it is open all year!
Cape Cod Creamery (South Yarmouth, Hyannis)
Open since 2005, Cape Cod Creamery has been scooping award winning ice cream ever since. Cape Cod Creamery is known for their denser ice cream. You can often find Cape Cod Creamery ice cream in your local grocery stores on The Cape. Cape Cod Creamery serves a variety of flavors and recently opened a new location in Hyannis!