Restaurants in Gloucester, MA

The Stage Fort Park snack bar, the Cupboard, 41 Hough Ave. (tel. 978/281-1908), serves excellent fried seafood and blue-plate specials in the summer. Lobsta Land, 10 Causeway St., near exit 12 off Route 128 (tel. 978/281-0415), is a summer-only destination for familiar and unusual seafood dishes deftly prepared and served in a friendly atmosphere that belies the location, just off the busy highway. If you're in town just for a day, consider sticking around for dinner at the Franklin Cape Ann, 118 Main St. (tel. 978/283-7888; www.franklincafe.com). It serves excellent bistro cuisine daily from 5pm to midnight (but unfortunately not at lunch).