Diners' Choice: American restaurants in Cape Cod and the Islands

OpenTable

Updated September 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall American cuisine in Cape Cod and the Islands? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Ships Inn

4.9

4.9 (474)

$31 to $50

American

Nantucket

About the restaurant

The Ships Inn Restaurant offers one of Nantucket's finest dining experiences. Located in an historic whaling captain\'s mansion built in 1831, the dining room and lounge are below street level and have an updated colonial atmosphere. Tall windows along two walls let in the summer breezes and let escape the sounds of happy conversation. This restaurant is a very good choice for an evening out with friends, and there are cozy, intimate alcoves for more romantic encounters. American/French cuisine is featured, with everything freshly prepared on the premises. Chef Mark Gottwald's food is bold and flavorful, and presented with understated elegance. Dinner menu selections include lobster, calamari, crab cakes, salmon, prawns, chicken, duck, beef, and lamb. Only the freshest ingredients are used. Members of our restaurant staff have been part of the Ships Inn family for an average of seven years or more. Friendliness, attentiveness, and food knowledge are the cornerstones of our operation.

Top review

Marion

Dined 5 days ago

Wonderful restaurant, food is fabulous and service is great. I love celebrating special personal milestones for myself and friends here. The noise level can be very high which is both positive and sometimes negative. It adds to the energy but occasionally can be challenging to individual table side conversations. Overall, topnotch in every way!

Black Eyed Susans

4.8

4.8 (210)

$31 to $50

American

Nantucket

About the restaurant

An island institution for over 30 years, BES has recently been reborn under new management and ownership. Chef Todd Edwards returns to create new + old menu item favorites, including BES’ classic linguini w/ clams and tuna tartare. With an intimate and cozy atmosphere, the restaurant features an open kitchen with counter and table service. BYOB.

Breakfast is open! Walk-in only.

Top review

Jim

Dined 1 day ago

Spectacular as always! Todd and staff always deliver

Embargo

4.7

4.7 (756)

$31 to $50

American

Hyannis

About the restaurant

Embargo is open and is the place to be on Cape Cod, featuring a chic and sophisticated atmosphere with amazing food and handcrafted cocktails. Our menu features dry aged steaks cooked to perfection, mouth watering tapas, and of course, fresh local seafood. Each meal becomes an event when shared with friends and family!

PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO HIGH DEMAND, we do not guarantee reservations for outdoor patio seating. Tables are sat on a first come, first serve basis. If you have a reservation and request outdoor seating, you may endure a brief waiting period. All reservations are held for 10 minutes and will be considered cancelled without a phone call. Please also note we only take reservations for dining tables only.

Top review

Lynnvip

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent variety and great service by John! Enjoyed the music very much.

Governor Bradford Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (31)

$30 and under

American

Provincetown

About the restaurant

Located in a building with a unique and telling history, we bring to the table classic dishes with a traditional Cape Cod feel and a new twist. Focusing on local, fresh, ingredients, our chef demonstrates how innovation can make old feel renewed. The bar room has been updated with a state of the art draught system. It is our privilege to be pouring craft beers from the most coveted breweries near and far. We hope you join us soon to enjoy our offerings.

Top review

Steve

Dined on Sep 7, 2024

Great service, food and drinks. Very comfortable atmosphere.

Salt Raw Bar + Fine Cuisine

4.5

4.5 (981)

$30 and under

American

Plymouth

About the restaurant

SALT RAW BAR + FINE CUISINE

Top review

Tatianavip

Dined 2 days ago

We love Salt! Always a great time and experience!

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Popular dish

Farmers Cheese Dumplings

Pepes Wharf Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2896)

$30 and under

American

Provincetown

About the restaurant

Pepe's Wharf is an iconic seaside restaurant known for its beautiful waterfront views overlooking Provincetown Harbor. We have 2 fantastic decks, with one incredible view of Cape Cod Bay due to our unique location directly on the beach in Provincetown. Pepe's is the place where you can enjoy delicious New England inspired cuisine, or one of our many cocktail creations on our new Upper Deck Bar! Pepes offers a chic and festive P'town experience! Hope to see you soon!

Top review

Jay

Dined 2 days ago

Our waiter Javier along with his support staff were most professional and friendly.My only negative is the lack of vegetarian options aside from one pasta dish

Mooncussers Tavern

4.5

4.5 (1695)

$31 to $50

American

Harwich Port

About the restaurant

A wine, martini, tapas bar, with full dinner menu and specials, in Harwich Port Cape Cod, MA. Old world style with a modern twist.

Top review

Judivip

Dined 3 days ago

Food and service is always consistently great at Mooncussers. We love to sit in the Library for dinner. Shanna, was the bartender in the library and our server. She was so upbeat and professional. I had the green salad with a side of salmon. It was absolutely delicious. My friend had the surf and turf. He said the filet was excellent. The lobster was not only delicious but so plentiful. Last night’s selection also included large grilled shrimp. Another great dinner. Thank you.

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4.7

4.7 (1174)

$30 and under

American

Provincetown

About the restaurant

Patio American Grill and Cocktail Bar offers a true Cape Cod experience in the center of Provincetown. This is the place to come and enjoy inspired New England cuisine and great cocktails in a casual, elegant and chic atmosphere.

Patio's eclectic menu features a new spin on fresh local seafood and a variety of lobster preparations alongside steaks, entree salads, Panini sandwiches, burgers, pastas, vegetarian dishes and homemade desserts. Guests can also find sanctuary at the raw bar, known for its delectable freshly shucked local oysters.

And if it's just a drink you're after, you can nestle into our cozy bar with one of our famous mojitos, martinis, frozen drinks or a glass of wine selected from a list that features good values from around the world.
Come join us at Patio, and begin your new Provincetown tradition.

Top review

Kevinvip

Dined 3 days ago

Great outdoor place for lunch! We are frequent diners there and always come back. Staff are a lot of fun!

Thoreau's & Verandah's at Wequassett Resort

4.6

4.6 (82)

$31 to $50

American

East Harwich

About the restaurant

Thoreau’s is the ideal spot for an intimate lunch or dinner featuring menus with a unique take on familiar favorites. It’s also become a favorite for pre and post dinner cocktails for Twenty-Eight Atlantic diners. Outdoor dining is available (weather permitting)!

Top review

Katerina

Dined on Sep 2, 2024

Great food and ambience. Finished our drinks by the fire pit after dinner

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Experience

Wequassett Winter Lounge

Pinehills East Bay Grille

4.6

4.6 (176)

$31 to $50

American

Plymouth

About the restaurant

At East Bay Grille Pinehills, located at The Pinehills Golf Club in Plymouth, Massachusetts, we offer fine cuisine in a warm, yet casual environment. Our daily menu includes ocean fresh seafood, varietal pastas, and choice cut steaks, in addition to savory sandwiches and craft pizzettas. Get comfortable in our cozy Grille Room, relaxing veranda, or enjoy a cocktail around the fire pit. Whether you are just finishing a round of golf or enjoying a night out with family or friends, you can escape the everyday here at East Bay.

East Bay Grille at Pinehills Golf Club is a public restaurant. You do not need to be a member of the Golf Club or resident of the community to dine with us.

Top review

Nancy

Dined on Sep 3, 2024

We ended up eating inside. Waitress was satisfactory. Even though it is fly season…having several flies buzzing around us while eating was not pleasant…when mentioned to waitress, did not seem concerned / do anything (only said, “well, it is fly season”!) Did not explain the price difference with the changes made to our choices from the lunch menu. We did enjoy the food…not so much the service.

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