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Boston Restaurant Blog -- May, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Five Hidden Restaurants on Cape Cod
Well, it's Memorial Day Weekend, and the weather looks absolutely perfect for heading to Cape Cod and other seaside destinations. It is bound to be extremely busy on the Cape with the weather being so warm, which means that many, if not most of the restaurants there could get incredibly busy, especially the ones along Route 28 from Hyannis east toward Chatham and on Route 6 in Eastham and Wellfleet. So what are some dining spots that folks might not know about? There are actually quite a few of them, with some places on side streets, others in the tiny villages scattered throughout the Cape, and still others that only the locals tend to go to. To give you a taste of what's out there, below are five relatively little-known restaurants on Cape Cod that may be worth checking out if you don't want to deal with the crowds.
1) Kettle-Ho Restaurant & Tavern, Cotuit
Never heard of Cotuit? Well, you're probably not alone. This tiny village on the south side of the Cape is actually a part of Barnstable, which also includes the bustling village of Hyannis a few miles to the east. Peaceful and very quiet, Cotuit is a world away from Hyannis, with its village center consisting of little more than a post office, a few houses, and the Kettle-Ho Restaurant & Tavern. The Kettle-Ho is a casual restaurant that is a true local spot, serving burgers, wings, beef stew, mussels and more mainly to folks who live in the immediate area. It isn't easy to find if you don't know this part of the Cape, but it's actually only a couple of minutes south of busy Route 28. Kettle-Ho Restaurant & Tavern, 12 School Street, Cotuit, MA, 02635. Phone: (508) 428-1862.
2) Flying Fish Cafe, Wellfleet
It is easy to pass right by Wellfleet without even knowing it is there, as it is one of the few towns on the Cape whose "downtown" area is not on a main road. And while most of the action in this beautiful community near the tip of the Cape is on Main Street and Commercial Street, there is a restaurant called the Flying Fish Cafe that is located on a tree-shaded side street that is just off the center, yet very easy to miss. The Flying Fish resides in what looks more like a residential structure than a commercial one, and it goes from being a cafe-style spot during the day to more of a Mediterranean restaurant at night, with such dishes as pasta carbonara, clams with kale and linguica, and shrimp with capers and parsley. Flying Fish Cafe, 29 Briar Lane, Wellfleet, MA, 02667. Phone: (508) 349-7292.
3) Jack's Outback Restaurant, Yarmouth Port
I need to give credit where credit is due, and Boston-area food/drinks writer MC Slim JB is the one who first told me about this place in a food discussion I hosted awhile back. While it is located on one of the three main thoroughfares on the Cape (Route 6A), Jack's Outback Restaurant is nearly invisible, hidden from the road down a driveway at the far edge of a parking lot in this charming bayside community. Jack's, which is mainly a breakfast spot (though it does serve lunch as well) is one of those places that tourists simply do not know about, instead being almost exclusively a restaurant where locals go. Their menu includes breakfast sandwiches, waffles, pancakes, omelets, and popovers. Jack's Outback Restaurant, 161 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port, MA, 02675. Phone: (508) 362-6690.
4) Andale Cafe, Harwich
While most towns on Cape Cod are situated either along the water or very close to it, Harwich has its center within the "inland" part of the Cape, and since the Chatham branch of the Cape Cod Rail Trail passes right through the center of town, Harwich Center sometimes feels more like an outpost for hardcore outdoorsy types than a place for laid-back beachgoers and sun worshippers. The town itself is rather sleepy, with a few stores and dining spots, including a Mexican place called Andale Cafe. A family-friendly restaurant with an outdoor patio and a bar, Andale Cafe features items familiar with lovers of Mexican-American fare, including tacos, burritos, fajitas, enchiladas, and more. Andale Cafe, 703 Main Street, Harwich, MA, 02645. Phone: (508) 432-0518.
5) Stir Crazy, Bourne
OK, so this spot isn't literally "hidden," being on busy Route 28 a little south of the Bourne Bridge. But a Cambodian restaurant on the Cape? It is indeed true, and doesn't seem to be all that well known, perhaps because Stir Crazy is on a road that people take to get somewhere else (typically Falmouth or Woods Hole), or maybe because, well, it's a Cambodian restaurant in an area where folks might be looking for classic American restaurants and seafood joints. But for those looking to have green chicken curry, fried tofu, bar bong (angel hair noodles with eggrolls), or beef lock lack (steak tips with garlic, onions, and ginger), this place is certainly worth looking into. Stir Crazy, 570 MacArthur Boulevard (Route 28), Bourne, MA, 02532. Phone: (508) 564-6464.
If you have any favorite places on the Cape that could be considered hidden gems, please post a comment about it here. And have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Related Blog Entries: Cape Cod restaurants
Posted by MH, Boston's Hidden Restaurants, on May 27, 2011.
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