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

OpenTable

Updated 05 December 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Contemporary 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!

The Ocean House Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (6052)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Dennis

About the restaurant

The Ocean House is closed for the remainder of the 2024 Season and will reopen in April 2025.

Welcome to The Ocean House, named one of the Top 100 Restaurants in America by OpenTable. Located on a pristine sand dune, our establishment offers breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, setting an unforgettable backdrop.
Our culinary philosophy blends the freshest New England seafood with Asian fusion inspiration, creating dishes that delight and inspire.
Please note, due to dining room design and fairness, we cannot honor requests for window tables but are committed to providing an exceptional experience at every seat.

As a premium fine dining destination, our menu features a mix of classic favorites and bold new flavors, each prepared with meticulous attention. From succulent seafood to unique creations, every bite aims to impress.

We look forward to making your visit extraordinary, whether for a special occasion or a night of unparalleled dining.

Thank you for being our guest!

Top review

W. Paul

Dined on 3 Nov 2024

We love this restaurant and are so glad we got to have dinner the night before they are scheduled to close for the season.

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Popular dish

Filet Mignon

Popular dish

Gluten Free Brownie Sundae

Popular dish

Point Judith Calamari

Viera on Main

4.7

4.7 (663)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Chatham

About the restaurant

We offer an extensive menu featuring Cape Cod Coastal Cuisine that celebrates local seafood and creative dishes by our Chef Owner Ben Porter! Pair this with our beautiful wine list, creative cocktail menu, or local draft beers to enhance your dining experience. We are open in season 7 days a week and in the off-season Tuesday-Saturday for Dinner at 5pm. We'd love to have you! If reservations aren't available for your preferred date and time, please feel free to walk-in to our Patio or full-service Bar seats.

If you're looking for a great way to spend an afternoon, our Finest Hours are from 3pm to 5pm Thursday through Sunday during the summer, featuring Half Priced Raw Bar! We also offer salads and starters during this time. It's the perfect Après Beach or a great start for dinner!

Are you looking to host your private event with us? Please fill out the form on our website https://www.vieraonmain.com/events and we will reach out to you promptly! We look forward to hosting you!

Top review

Pamela

Dined 7 days ago

Excellent experience! Will return and tell everyone!

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Popular dish

Chicken Milanese

Popular dish

Fresh Fettuccine & Clams

Experience

New Years Eve Prix Fixe Menu

or, The Whale

4.7

4.7 (603)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Nantucket

About the restaurant

With a prime location in a storied Main Street building, or, The Whale, bistro, bar & patio will be serving dinner nightly and weekend brunch in summer season. The spacious outdoor patio is the perfect spot to enjoy Chef Manny's inspired menu. Indoor and outdoor dining reservations are accepted 2 weeks in advance - bar seating is first come first serve.

Top review

Sharron

Dined on 8 Dec 2024

Or the Whale has a wonderful atmosphere for visitors and year-round Islanders alike! It has the largest bar on island as well as a wonderful outdoor patio area for alfresco dining! It’s a must stop on your visit to Nantucket! The staff are amazing and we consider it our island Cheers! Kudos to the team!!

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4.6

4.6 (560)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Nantucket

About the restaurant

Casual indoor/outdoor dining, open year-round. Located mid-island, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner 7 days a week.

Seasonally, we have a beautiful outdoor bar, serving up drinks and food for before or after a trip to the beach, as well as a full outdoor patio and indoor dining room! We also serve 30 different homemade flavors of ice cream at our ice cream counter from May through Columbus Day.

Follow us on Instagram @iknantucket @ikpalmbeachcatering

Top review

William

Dined on 8 Dec 2024

A must visit on Nantucket. Outstanding food, fabulous and friendly service and a wonderful environment!

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Popular dish

Bagel & Salmon

Stars at Chatham Bars Inn

4.6

4.6 (590)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Chatham

About the restaurant

At Stars, enjoy stunning panoramic views of Chatham Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. Inspired by the stunning views, our natural surroundings, and the bounty of our farm, we blend regional heritage into modern coastally inspired cuisine. Steeped in history, with Norman Rockwell’s “Spirit of America” hanging above the fireplace, STARS is an experience that will excite all the senses.

By reimagining classic dishes, we honor the legacy of our setting with a menu that embraces the inn’s past and bridges the gap of time. With an award-winning wine list, genuine hospitality, and personalized service. We invite you to begin your mornings and end your evenings with Cape Cod’s premier dining experience. Breakfast is first-come, first serve. Dinner reservations are highly recommended.

Attire: Resort Evening Attire. For ladies, resort casual. Please no pool or beach attire. For gentlemen, long pants including jeans, collared shirt and proper footwear. Shorts are not

Top review

Thomas

Dined on 27 Nov 2024

It was a beautiful setting for a holiday meal, every detail was perfect, the decoration was magical at night, the food, the service and the atmosphere were excellent!

The Pointe Restaurant

4.5

4.5 (1213)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Provincetown

About the restaurant

Offering modern-coastal fare with a distinctly local undercurrent, The Pointe is an innovative restaurant and wine bar that channels the creativity of Provincetown. Its inspired spirit, buzzing atmosphere, and focus on bringing guests and neighborhood locals an unprecedented food and beverage experience. Rated excellent by Zagat's Restaurant Guide. Free Parking

Top review

CathleenVIP

Dined on 7 Nov 2024

A memorable birthday with great food, service, and view. Looking forward to returning!

Bettini Restaurant

4.8

4.8 (1004)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Edgartown

About the restaurant

Bettini is an upscale, fine-dining restaurant with a coastal chic vibe, refined contemporary American cuisine, and a fabulous selection of wine. Expansive windows reveal a magnificent coastal view that reinforces the kitchen’s relationship with the local landscape, creating a seamless island-to-table dining experience. The elegant bar draws a vibrant crowd of locals and island guests.

Our restaurant is intended to be intimate and personal. Many of our tables can accommodate up to 4 people. The dining room seating configuration may not allow certain combinations of tables and split parties will potentially not be seated adjacent to each other.

Bettini does not accept reservations for Breakfast. All guests are welcome to walk in on a first come first served basis.

Top review

CherylVIP

Dined on 13 Dec 2024

The up charging in the restaurant on a martini from the night before was ridiculous and added nearly $10 to the drink

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Popular dish

Lobster Roll

Experience

New Year's Eve Dinner

The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort

4.6

4.6 (2510)

$31 to $50

Contemporary American

Dennis Port

About the restaurant

Chic coastal design blends with breathtaking ocean vistas to create one of Cape Cod’s truly amazing new restaurant. Featuring uninterrupted views of Nantucket Sound, The Rooftop at Pelham House Resort promises a “bucket list” dining experience distinguished by the freshest local ingredients and creative, made-from-scratch dishes crafted by Executive Chef Daniel Coté. The food is simply delicious and the stunning oceanfront backdrop will give you all the reason you need to linger just a little longer. Perfect for any season, The Rooftop features a louvered roof, heaters and an accordion window system to keep our guests cozy through the year!

Top review

Diana

Dined 1 day ago

Holiday lunch with colleagues…it was great! The food and service were outstanding. The view was beautiful, even on a cloudy day!

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Woods at Lambert’s Cove Inn

4.6

4.6 (631)

$50 and over

Contemporary American

Martha's Vineyard

About the restaurant

Woods features the cuisine of Chef Galen Sampson—whose rustic, locally inspired, and incredibly flavorful dishes are driven by a sense of generosity and a respect for farmers and producers. Sampson, in partnership with the hospitality team led by his wife, will leave you feeling satisfied and completely taken care of. Whether you are dining alone, as a couple, or as a larger party with friends or family, enjoy the sophisticated, but down-to-earth, cuisine and service at Woods in coordination with wines from our carefully curated list.

Our restaurant offers a delightful night-out spot for couples and groups alike and features delicious dishes thoughtfully prepared with, when possible, sustainably sourced, on-island ingredients. The Menu provides a sampler as to what is served nightly, as it is subject to change.

We also have a private dining room perfect for special occasions and events. Please contact us at woods@lambertscoveinn.com for pricing and availability.

Top review

Tony

Dined on 7 Sept 2024

We ate an anniversary dinner at the Inn, a wonderful four-course meal of oysters, lobster, braised short ribs, and sea bass. Everything was delicious, and we're excited to return. Below is a fuller review of the Inn itself: We had a wonderful time at Lambert's Cove Inn. We stayed one night for our anniversary. Upon arriving to the island, we received two messages from the staff via text. This was wonderful as it allowed us to request early check-in. When we got to the Inn, we were greeted by Galen and Anna. They informed us that we could check in early and gave us a tour of the Inn. The grounds are spectacular. We were very happy to have arrived early as it provided time to take a leisurely walk to the pond, through lush flowers and plans, and near the alpacas. The room was cozy and had a private balcony, which was lovely. The staff had left us a bottle of Prosecco for our anniversary. This little detail was amazing.

Ocean Terrace at Ocean Edge Resort

4.0

4 (594)

$30 and under

Contemporary American

Orleans

About the restaurant

Inside and out, Ocean Terrace offers a refined dining experience against the stunning backdrop of Cape Cod Bay. At this Cape Cod restaurant, take a seat and sip on a refreshing glass of wine while gazing over the water’s horizon.

Guests can dine on elevated New England fare at every meal, including a grilled lobster roll with basil aioli, a hearty bowl of traditional clam chowder, and delectable oysters on the half shell. When the evening grows dark, gather out on the terrace and warm your spirits over fire bowls and conversation.

Important Notice: As per Commonwealth Guidelines, an item of food prepared on site must be ordered with an initial alcoholic beverage order; no exceptions.

Top review

Amy

Dined on 5 Oct 2024

This was our second visit to Ocean Edge, our first visit to the Terrace. There was a wedding reception the night we attended and we weren't able to see the water as the result. It was beautiful to be outside and the heaters helped keep us warm. The prices are really high on the food but the portions are not large. Next time, I will return to another local favorite which has delicious food and larger portion sizes for the price. Ocean Edge is beautiful, but I don't think we will return.

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