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

OpenTable

Updated December 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 analyses more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favourites. 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 (481)

$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

DeanaVIP

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Awesome restaurant- everything was great from food to drinks to service.

Black Eyed Susans

4.9

4.9 (238)

$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

HeidiVIP

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

One of our favorite places in Nantucket! Great service and food-- never disappoints!

Embargo

4.7

4.7 (778)

$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

BOBVIP

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Visiting Hyannis from out of state and decided to try Embargo. Definitely one of the best decisions ever. Drinks, food and service were some of the best we've ever experienced. Would make a trip back just to go there again. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and try Embargo.

Governor Bradford Restaurant

4.6

4.6 (37)

$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

Pat

Dined on Dec 14, 2024

The new "new" Gov Bradford is fun and a great place to hang out with friends. Drag Queen Karaoke is a must!

Pinehills East Bay Grille

4.7

4.7 (187)

$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

Donald

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

Our experience was very pleasurable. Service was outstanding, food was cooked to perfection.

Patio American Grill

4.7

4.7 (1184)

$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

Peg

Dined on Oct 3, 2024

I am not kidding when I say this is one of my favorite places to eat, drink, and people watch. Took some first time diners there for lunch and they loved it. The food and drinks were delicious and the service was, as always, fantastic. Martin makes everyone feel special and makes the experience so much fun. Can’t wait to see everyone next season! Good health to all.

Pepes Wharf Restaurant

4.7

4.7 (2928)

$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

BethVIP

Dined on Oct 5, 2024

Excellent as always! Favorite spot for lunch in Ptown!

Thoreau's & Verandah's at Wequassett Resort

4.5

4.5 (103)

$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.
Should there not be a reservation available for a desired time, walk-ins are welcome!

Top review

AnnVIP

Dined 1 day ago

We had really had wonderful dining experience. However there really should be valet parking and its very difficult to reach an actual person for questions or changes to the reservation. Food was delicious and server was impressive but had way too many tables to service for the dining service expected at Thoreaus! We loved the evening dont get me wrong but for the level of service at wequasset you should get 5 star service and the the hotel should not over stretch their staff. It is one if my favorite places but there is room for improvement.

Salt Raw Bar + Fine Cuisine

4.6

4.6 (1010)

$30 and under

American

Plymouth

About the restaurant

SALT RAW BAR + FINE CUISINE

Top review

BrianVIP

Dined 3 days ago

Excellent romantic dinner. Menu breadth is a bit limited beyond fish & raw, but quality of cuisine was exceptional including the truffle ramen, the hibiscus cosmo, and more

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Farmers Cheese Dumplings

4.5

4.5 (1716)

$31 to $50

American