Editor's note: This guide will be regularly updated with new poll results and curated lists of reader and editor food and drink favorites on Cape Cod.
If you are looking for the best places to eat and drink, this ultimate guide to dining on Cape Cod offers the scoop on scores of places for everything from coffee to clams.
The guide has compiled stories about restaurants and chefs, lists of places for particular kinds of food, and poll results based on the opinions of hundreds of Cape Codders. We also get recommendations from nearly 4,000 members of the Facebook group "Good Stuff at Cape Cod Restaurants" (join us, it's free!)
All conveniently compiled in one place, here are some ideas to put on your list to try. Be sure to check out current hours — they’re changing often for different reasons — so you won’t be disappointed.
Best lobster dinner on Cape Cod
Lobster rolls are a Cape Cod favorite (see those next), but for this list, we looked at classic shore dinners with traditional steamed lobster. Some people consider that meal of lobster, steamers, corn and clam chowder to be a rite of summer, so it’s not surprising that four of the five places chosen by readers have water views.
Explore the list:Classic lobster dinner poll results
Best lobster roll is in Mashpee
We know lobster rolls are some of the most popular dishes on Cape Cod, so we held a new poll to keep up-to-date on what readers consider "best." Our latest poll did not include Sesuit Harbor Cafe in Dennis, which won last year's poll.
Explore the list:'It's massive.' Cape Cod's favorite lobster rolls are in Mashpee. Top 6 reader picks.
Best fried clams
Hold the metal fork and white linen napkin. It seems Cape Cod Times readers like their fried clams without fuss, taken away to enjoy at the beach or eaten at a picnic table with friends and family.
Explore the list:Readers recommend 5 places for Cape Cod's best fried clams
Best clam chowder (and other comfort foods)
Dining editor Gwenn Friss names her favorite clam chowder on Cape Cod, plus several other go-tos for when you need reliably delicious comfort food and a cozy vibe.
Explore the list:Tender clam chowder to slow-cooked brisket: Dining editor's top comfort foods on Cape Cod
Best pizza is in Eastham
We asked Cape Cod Times readers to choose their favorite pizza shops in time for Super Bowl, the busiest day of the year — both locally and nationally — for pizza orders. The number of places nominated was high for this poll, indicating that people are loyal to pizza places close to home.
Explore the list:Readers choose their favorite pizza places
Best Cape Cod breweries
You might be surprised to learn there are more than a dozen breweries and tasting rooms on Cape Cod. Voters chose their top six.
Explore the listThe sudsy six - Readers choose their favorite Cape Cod breweries
Best brunch on Cape Cod is in Hyannis
We asked Cape Cod Times readers for their favorite brunch places. The response made us hungry for the weekend.
Also: We made this list for Mother's Day brunches, but the restaurants named remain great places to get creative brunches any time of year.
Explore the list:Brunch on Cape Cod means crab, lobster Benedict, French fare: Readers rank top 6 favorites
Best gluten-free restaurants
Our favorite options for gluten-free eating on Cape Cod, from fried seafood to gourmet pizza, in Provincetown, Brewster, Mashpee, Falmouth and more.
Explore the list:Gluten-free pizza, soy sauce and fried fish: These Cape Cod restaurants ditched the gluten
Best waterfront views at Cape Cod restaurants
Harbors to open sea, clambakes to lobster rolls, eat at these beautiful waterfront places in Dennis, Falmouth, Cataumet, Wellfleet and Provincetown.
Explore the list:Craving an ocean view? Our favorite waterfront restaurants on Cape Cod
Best doughnuts
Check out which three Cape Cod doughnut shops are your favorites. Be warned: You will want to go out and buy doughnuts after reading this!
Explore the list:Cape Cod's favorite doughnuts? That's a 'hole' lot of indulgence: Poll results
Best coffee shop on Cape Cod - it's a tie
We asked and 1,181 of you voted— most likely after you had poured your first cup. Nirvana Coffee Company in Barnstable and Hot Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans finished strong with just over 300 votes each.
Explore the list:Readers choose top 5 places for favorite coffee
Top 5 places to get a burger on Cape Cod
The five places that came out on top did so by a considerable margin, with the rest of the votessplintering between eight other places.
Explore the list:You voted these restaurants the top five best places to get a burger on Cape Cod
Best pizza on Cape Cod
We asked Cape Cod Times readers to choose their favorite pizza shops. The number of places nominated was high for this poll, indicating that people are loyal to pizza places close to home.
Explore the list:Best pizza on Cape Cod? Readers choose their favorite places
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