Restaurants in Barnstable and Hyannis
Coffee & Desserts
La Petite France Cafe, 349 Main St., Hyannis, in the center of town (tel. 508/775-1067; www.lapetitefrancecafe.com), serves scrumptious croissants, breads, and pastries, all baked on-site. For lunch there are homemade soups, quiches, and crepes, as well as sandwiches and salads. Open Monday to Friday 7am to 3pm, Saturday 8am to 3pm. Closed January to mid-March.
Vermont's favorite sons, Ben & Jerry, have one of their playful ice-cream parlors at 352 Main St., Hyannis (tel. 508/790-0910). Open daily from 10:30am to midnight.
A modest luncheonette may make an unlikely shrine, but since 1934 several generations of summer-goers -- including enthusiastic Kennedys -- have fed their ice cream cravings at Four Seas Ice Cream, 360 S. Main St., at Main Street, in the center of Centerville (tel. 508/775-1394; www.fourseasicecream.com). This place served up exotic flavors long before they became the norm. The parlor's specialties include rum-butter toffee, cantaloupe, and -- at the height of the season -- Cape Cod beach plum. Closed early September to late May.
Takeout & Picnic Fare
Another branch of the popular Box Lunch (tel. 508/790-5855; www.boxlunch.com), serving pita "rollwiches," is right on Main Street (no. 357) in Hyannis. These are the best -- and fastest -- sandwiches in town. Open Monday to Saturday 9am to 6pm, Sunday 9am to 4pm.
Lamberts Rainbow Fruit (tel. 508/790-5954), at 1000 W. Main St., Centerville, has the best produce selection, bar none, in the area. Also, this is the place to pick up such picnic fixings as breads and spreads.
Earthly Delights (tel. 508/420-2206), at 15 W. Bay Rd., Osterville, specializes in natural foods to go. There are different specials prepared every day, but expect to find delicious pizzas and quiches featuring organic ingredients. Fancy's (tel. 508/428-6954), at 699 Main St., Osterville, is a family-owned market specializing in meats, produce, and breads. The deli here is a great place to pick up a picnic lunch. Treat yourself to a panini. Nirvana Coffee Company (tel. 508/744-6983), at 3206 Main St., Barnstable Village, is a hip coffee bar centrally located across from the courthouse. Some say this is the best coffee on Cape Cod.
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22 Results
- Northern Italian
Alberto’s Ristorante
When Alberto’s opened in 1984, it was said to be the first Northern Italian in the region. Many other local restaurants have come and gone since then, but Alberto’s, run by the suave Felisberto Barreiro, has remained a consistent choice. It is an elegant venue, with crisp white…$$$Hyannis - Seafood
Baxter’s Boat House
For waterfront dining in Hyannis, you can’t do much better than Baxter’s, set on a pier on Hyannis Harbor. It’s fun to sit out on the deck and watch the ferries, sailboats, fishing boats, and even a pirate cruise come and go from the harbor. The fare here is standard clam-shack…$$Hyannis - Mexican
Beech Tree Cantina
One highlight here is the magnificent English weeping beech tree, said to have been planted in 1776 and given to the town for its loyalty to the British Crown. The tree is not only the namesake of the restaurant, but the focal point of the popular outdoor bar area, which includes…$$Hyannis - French
Bistrot de Soleil Restaurant and Bar
This hidden gem is on a side street on the west end of Hyannis’s main street. The dining room is a roomy mix of tables and booths, with one side airy with a high ceiling, the other more intimate. The sophisticated menu is a pleasing mix of old and new, so we have beef Wellington and…$$$Hyannis - New American
Black Cat Tavern
Tourists love this traditional restaurant across the street from Hyannis Harbor. The interior is very “mid-century yacht club,” with polished brass, sailboat models, and framed nautical flags. The menu hits all the basics, with burgers, steaks and seafood. Four nights a week, the…$$$Hyannis - American
Common Ground Cafe
This deli, run by members of a Northern Vermont commune, serves wholesome soups, salads, and baked goods in what looks like a mysterious tree fort, with booths made out of carved-out trunks and seemingly tucked into the walls. The menu changes with the seasons, but favorites include…$Hyannis - Contemporary American
Eclectic Cafe
The unusualness of this restaurant begins at the hard-to-find entrance, located down an alleyway. Finding it feels like discovering a secret and romantic hideaway. There is a large brick patio for dining outside and only a few tables inside, so hit this place on a clear night. Chef…$$Hyannis - New American
emBargo
The bar is where most of the action is here, but it also happens to have yummy and sophisticated food—delectables like pan-seared scallops over truffle Parmesan basmati, or baby-back ribs with a mango salsa. Come between 4:30 and 6pm, when there are half-price oysters and tapas.…$$Hyannis - Gourmet American
Five Bays Bistro
Elegant fine dining in one of the Cape’s most exclusive villages is what you get at this charming establishment. The menu takes its cues from around the world, with Asian vegetable wontons and grilled Thai shrimp on the appetizer list and sole française and braised pork osso bucco…$$$Osterville - Seafood
Mattakeese Wharf
This is the ultimate mid-Cape restaurant to go to for a sunset view, sitting as it does in Barnstable Harbor, with lovely views out to Cape Cod Bay and Sandy Neck. Seafood—have it on the half shell or fried, broiled, or baked—makes up most of the menu. Many people indulge in the…$$Barnstable - French Cafe
Pain D’Avignon
You’d be hard-pressed to accidentally find this place, located as it is on a side street off Route 132, just north of the airport rotary. It’s well worth the hunt, however. Despite the industrial surroundings, stepping into Pain D’Avignon is really like entering a European cafe. It’s…$$$Hyannis - Pizza
Pizza Barbone
The competition is over: The best pizza on the Cape is at this small shop on Main Street Hyannis. The Neapolitan wood-fired pizza oven, a 6,000-pound beauty made by third generation oven-makers, was imported from Italy complete with hand-painted glass tiles. The pizza it makes is…$Hyannis - Brazilian/Italian
Prova Brazil Steakhouse & Italian Cuisine
At this modern interpretation of a Brazilian steakhouse, a large statue of a bull on the patio makes it very clear what its priorities are. “Prova” means “to taste” in Portuguese and “to try” in Italian, so it is an apt name for a restaurant offering both styles of cuisine. Diners…$$$Hyannis - Creperie
Rendezvous Café & Creperie
Rendezvous’s signature dish, whether sweet or savory, is a buttery delight. You haven’t lived until you’ve had a Portobello crepe with blue cheese and baby spinach. Live on the wild side and finish your meal with a wonderfully sweet bananas-Foster crepe. The menu also features hot…$Hyannis - American/Northern Italian
Roadhouse Café
In business for more than 30 years, this stalwart wins accolades for its clubby atmosphere and a menu that combines the best of Northern Italian cuisine with New American flair. The best room in the place has a glorious mahogany bar, high-backed booths, and a fireplace that warms the…$$$Hyannis - New American/Italian/Pub
The Barnstable Restaurant and Tavern
You can almost hear the echoes of horse-drawn carriages at this former stagecoach stop, its wide-board floors and antiques left over from colonial days. A tavern has been on this property for at least 200 years. These days, the popular chef-owned restaurant is notable not just for…$$Barnstable - Diner
The Daily Paper
Sit at the counter on a swivel stool and chat with your neighbor or grab a booth or a table at this chef-owned and -operated diner. Serving good honest comfort food has been a winning formula (there’s now a second Daily Paper just about a mile east at 546 Main St.). The menu has all…$Hyannis - French Bistro
The Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar
Chef Florence Lowell, from Bordeaux, France, runs the show at the Naked Oyster, one of the Cape’s top restaurants. Lowell has her own oyster beds in nearby Barnstable Harbor, so the sweet, salty shellfish come straight from the sea to the table, served, ideally, with the mignonette…$$$Hyannis - New American
The West End
This restaurant, new in 2018, is the place to dine if you are attending a show at the Melody Tent next door. The menu blends new ideas with the traditional—yes, there are crabcakes and stuffed quahogs, but also honey-roasted Brussels sprouts and truffle tots, a fancy spin on tater…$$$Hyannis - Bar
Trader Ed's
This summer-only hang-out at the Hyannis Marina attracts sailors, yachting types, fishermen, and other sea lovers. Besides the location on Hyannis Harbor, the atmosphere here includes a large pool. On weekends a DJ provides the atmosphere for dancing under the stars.Hyannis - Seafood
Tugboats at Hyannis Marina
Those looking for a lunch overlooking Hyannis Harbor will find this former sail loft to be a good choice; it’s informal enough for large parties and children. Large decks overlooking the harbor provide great views of the comings and goings of boats and ferries. The menu is heavy on…$$Hyannis - Peruvian
Tumi Ceviche Bar & Ristorante
The Cape’s only Peruvian restaurant, Tumi features a unique cuisine influenced by Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, and Italian flavors. Specialties include are ceviche (raw fish marinated with lemon and spices and served cold); housemade pastas; and wood-burning grill steaks. Patrons can…$$Hyannis
