Cape Cod is thought for its foodie scene, and top-of-the-line cities for waterfront eating and recent seafood is Dennis. Comprising the 5 villages of Dennis, Dennis Port, West Dennis, East Dennis, and South Dennis, this mid-Cape city has a few of my favourite Cape Cod eating places with wonderful seafood and different entrees.
Just like the finest eating places in Yarmouth MA that we’ve already reviewed, these eating places in Dennis may be very busy in the summertime season. Whereas a few of them settle for reservations, others are first-come, first-served. It’s finest to go to the preferred eating places mid-week because the weekends are sometimes essentially the most crowded.
Verify restaurant hours earlier than planning. Most of those eating places usually are not open year-round, and shut for the winter or supply restricted hours. You’ll wish to be ready if visiting within the low season. As well as, a number of of those areas don’t settle for bank cards.
This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks. A purchase order/click on by way of one in every of these hyperlinks could end in a fee paid to us at no further price to you. All opinions are my very own.
The Finest Eating places in Dennis MA (Cape Cod)
Scargo Cafe
Are you on the lookout for plenty of dinner choices along with seafood? Scargo Cafe on Important Avenue in Dennis presents lunch and dinner. We first ate right here whereas staying at Ocean Edge Resort in Brewster, and beloved the massive meals choice.
The menu contains appetizers and salads in addition to entrees and sandwiches. Along with lobster, calamari, fish, and oysters, Scargo Cafe additionally presents steak, ribs, pork, hen, and extra.
There’s additionally a terrific bar menu, together with a big choice of wines, craft beers, and cocktails. Don’t skip dessert – Scargo is thought for its world-famous Grapenut custard, however there are many different nice choices as nicely.
They do settle for reservations, so that’s in all probability the best choice throughout peak season. They do save many tables within the eating room for walk-ins, nevertheless, so that’s an possibility in case you didn’t make a reservation.
Summer season Shanty
Waterfront eating isn’t as ubiquitous as you’d count on on Cape Cod, however Dennis does have a couple of nice spots. The Summer season Shanty is situated on the Bass River Marina waterfront and is open for lunch and dinner seasonally. They’ve an everyday dwell leisure schedule on Fridays and Saturdays, and it’s such a enjoyable place to dine and hang around.
The Summer season Shanty is an off-the-cuff restaurant, and so they appear to all the time be busy. As you wait to your desk, you may get a drink from the bar and sit in one of many chairs by the river as you benefit from the stunning views. You’ll get a cellphone name when your desk is prepared.
Go to when the climate is sweet, and you’ll sit exterior on the patio overlooking the marina. The meals and drinks are nice, though the ambiance is why it’s a terrific place to go to. I loved my chowder and quahogs, and there are sizzling canine and burgers on the menu as nicely.
It is a seasonal restaurant, so be sure you examine the hours earlier than you go to. A lot of the seating is open air so that you’ll wish to be sure to go to on a pleasant day.
The Doghouse
Do you like to eat at an off-the-cuff, kid-friendly restaurant for lunch or dinner? We love the Doghouse, a sizzling canine shack situated in Dennis Port. Order on the counter, and then you definitely’ll be referred to as when your order is prepared.
Whereas the Doghouse is thought for its sizzling canine, these aren’t simply any sizzling canine. You will get some scrumptious combos just like the Mayflower Seashore Canine, which comes with skin-on fries, melted cheddar, and bacon bits, and the new ‘n spicy canine, with queso cheese, Flamin’ Scorching Cheetos, jalapeños, sriracha, and pink pepper.
There are additionally a number of sorts of scrumptious loaded fries. On the advice of the employees, I initially tried the Dennisport Fries and they’re so good. They embody bacon, cheddar, garlic aioli, and herbs, and are supposed to be shared.
In the event you don’t desire a sizzling canine, there are many different choices on the menu. These embody hen, lobster rolls, tacos, burgers, veggie canine, and extra.
The Doghouse additionally has some nice drinks, together with frose, nitro espresso, craft beer, and wine.
It is a informal, counter-service restaurant, and no reservations are accepted. There are picnic tables the place you’ll be able to sit and eat. Hours differ, so examine earlier than you head out. Once we had been there, they had been closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
The Oyster Firm Uncooked Bar and Grille
In the event you love Oysters, you’ll wish to go to the Oyster Firm Uncooked Bar and Grille. Daily, earlier than 6:30 pm, you may get their signature Quivet Neck Oysters for half-price. Even when visiting after that point, these scrumptious oysters are nonetheless price making an attempt.
Many of the menu at this fashionable Dennis Port institution is seafood-based, with creative dishes like Portuguese Paella and Cioppino amongst extra frequent dishes like yellowfin tuna, lazy-man lobster, and roasted cod. There’s additionally a bar menu with some small plates and flatbreads.
The Oyster Firm Uncooked Bar and Grille is open for dinner in the course of the week and lunch and dinner on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Indoor and outside seating is offered. Reservations are accepted, though they do settle for walk-ins primarily based on availability. It’s a family-friendly restaurant, though not particularly a child’s restaurant.
Sesuit Harbor Cafe
Some of the iconic eating places in all of Cape Cod is the Sesuit Harbor Cafe, overlooking the Northside Marina in Dennis. This seasonal restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and is a must-visit throughout your Cape Cod trip. It’s usually rated top-of-the-line seafood eating places on the Cape and has superb meals and views.
As you drive into the marina, you’ll wish to fastidiously observe the indicators to the cafe. It may be difficult to seek out. If it’s busy on the marina and cafe, parking attendants will assist information you to obtainable parking spots. Remember that this can be a fashionable place!
When you exit your automotive, you’ll head over to the lengthy line resulting in the doorway of the waterfront restaurant. Reservations aren’t accepted, and picnic tables are first-come, first-served. After you place your order, you could find an obtainable seat and wait till your order quantity known as.
If you’d like uncooked bar gadgets like oysters, tuna sashimi, lobster, and shrimp, there’s a separate counter exterior, however connected to the primary constructing. The road is mostly shorter and generally seemingly ignored by the crowds.
Oyster lovers ought to attempt the sushi oysters (add the tuna for the additional payment) which is one in every of my all-time favourite dishes. Though it isn’t intuitive, clam chowder can also be bought on the uncooked bar counter.
Sesuit Harbor Cafe doesn’t promote alcohol and is as an alternative BYOB. The views are completely stunning, and the meals is nice. It’s extraordinarily informal, and also you’ll typically see many households eating on the picnic tables. Whereas it could look like one of many many clam shacks within the space, it’s rather more than that.
It’s essential to notice that Sesuit Harbor Cafe doesn’t settle for bank cards, so carry alongside loads of money to your meal. Regardless of the road, it’s one in every of my favourite eating places on the Cape.
The Sand Bar, West Dennis Seashore
This seasonal restaurant presents each indoor seating and outside patio seating. Positioned on Lighthouse Highway, it overlooks the marshes at West Dennis Seashore. The menu is informal – together with issues like pizza, sandwiches, and seafood. There’s additionally a uncooked bar exterior which is money solely (there’s an ATM inside the primary eating space).
The Sandbar is open from Memorial Day to Columbus Day. Reside leisure can also be provided – there’s a schedule on their web site.
Kream ‘n Kone
Fried seafood and ice cream are a Cape Cod staple, and Kream ‘n Kone, situated in West Dennis, is the place to go to fulfill your craving. Kream ‘n Kone is an off-the-cuff counter-service restaurant providing golden fried clams, broiled dinners, recent fish, lobster rolls, and rather more together with soft-serve ice cream.
I really like fried clams however positively can’t eat an entire order. So I loved sharing them as an appetizer and getting the extra wholesome broiled flounder as my entree. There are many choices for youths right here as nicely, so it’s a terrific spot for the entire household. The lobster roll is nice as nicely.
Kream ‘n Kone doesn’t take reservations and seating is first-come, first-served. I drove by on a busy summer season night time when there was a line to get into the car parking zone. So arrive early if potential.
Captain Baker Donuts
Inventive, connoisseur donuts are gaining popularity, and they’re a enjoyable deal with to get on trip. Captain Baker Donuts, situated in a historic carriage home, presents design-your-own adorned donuts with quite a lot of totally different toppings.
As you head by way of the road at Captain Baker, you’ll see some pre-designed choices to assist encourage you. Select a type of, or choose your toppings. Even the pre-designed ones are adorned when you wait, so all the things could be very recent. Additionally they supply breakfast sandwiches and low to finish your Cape Cod breakfast.
There are a couple of tables within the constructing, however most individuals have their donuts packed up to return to their properties or motels. Don’t miss the lovable reward store within the again providing items made by native designers.
Sundae Faculty
For a few of the finest sundaes and hand-packed ice cream round, go to Sundae Faculty, with areas in Harwichport and Dennis Port. Sundae Faculty doesn’t take bank cards, though there’s an ATM on web site. I choose to go to my financial institution first, nevertheless, so I don’t need to pay ATM charges.
You will get your ice cream to go, or eat it exterior or within the old style ice cream parlor. There are many taste choices, together with some in an allergy-aware freezer. The sundaes are particularly scrumptious, with selfmade whipped cream.
Three Fins Espresso Roasters
Good espresso is crucial for me, even once I’m on trip. Nothing I make at residence or in my resort room even comes near the good espresso flavors I can get at a espresso store. I used to be thrilled to seek out Three Fins Espresso Roasters and Mercantile, situated on Route 28 in West Dennis.
Three Fins has a big choice of espresso and tea in addition to bakery gadgets and snacks. There are additionally takeaway choices in case you prefer to brew your espresso at residence. The espresso home itself has ample seating, though I often take my espresso again residence.
La Tacodilla
La Tacodilla is situated in a meals truck within the car parking zone of the Clear Slate Eatery on Route 28 in West Dennis. Created in the course of the pandemic as a substitute for the Clear Slate Eatery, this progressive restaurant is price visiting. It presents a few of the finest Mexican meals I’ve had in New England.
The big menu contains tacos, Mexican grilled cheese, and chips and dip, however my favourite is the namesake Tacodillas. There are such a lot of to select from, so it’s possible you’ll think about sharing a couple of so you’ll be able to attempt a number of. You possibly can add an non-obligatory dip to your buy, and I’d suggest making an attempt that as nicely.
La Tacodilla is opening for various hours and days, so that you’ll wish to examine earlier than yo ugo. You possibly can name in your order upfront to save lots of time.
The Unique Seafood Restaurant
The Unique Seafood Restaurant is a traditional, providing conventional seafood specialties like lobster rolls and fried clams. It’s in an unassuming constructing, however the meals is scrumptious and all the time dependable.
The Unique Seafood Restaurant is an off-the-cuff, quick-service restaurant, and reservations aren’t accepted. It’s a terrific place to go once you haven’t made reservations and don’t wish to wait some time for a desk.
Woolfie’s Espresso and Breakfast Bakery
This scrumptious bakery has improbable espresso (with non-obligatory espresso ice cubes) in addition to muffins and breakfast sandwiches. It’s a terrific spot to select up breakfast and could be very fashionable. Advance orders are taken on-line up till the night time earlier than pickup, which may be a good way to make sure you get what you’d like, particularly on busy weekends.
The place to Keep in Dennis
Dennis is one in every of my favourite locations on the Cape as a result of it’s fairly centrally situated. Well-liked motels proper in Dennis embody the next:
You’ll find different motels and lodging choices on this map (affiliate hyperlinks on the map):
On the lookout for extra Cape Cod journey ideas? Click on to see our information with city suggestions, issues to do, eating places, and extra in Cape Cod.