See how the best French fries are made on Cape Cod
The Knack is located in Orleans and Hyannis. As of 2024, the restaurant sold 4,500 servings of fries per week and won a reader poll for the best fries on Cape Cod.
It’s been years since I visited Cape Cod in the summer, and I had forgotten how nice it can be to enjoy the beach during the day and dinner at night.
For a few years when I was a teenager, I was very lucky that my family treated themselves to a week’s vacation at the Cape. My brother and sister, six and nine years younger than me, were still young, so we could all be on the beach together.
The most memorable was a couple of years at the Sea Crest, a resort in North Falmouth on Old Silver Beach. We also stayed at the Falmouth Tides near Falmouth Harbor several years in a row and brought my grandma. We once rented a house near Sea Street Beach in Dennis, to which my mom said, “Never again.” I remember my parents taking the other kids to the Red Jacket Resort in South Yarmouth when I was in college.
I revisited two of these places earlier this summer and was reminded of how lovely it was, with the sea breeze, the walks on the beach, the patient wait for the shower and the dinner where everyone was dressed up. They were simpler times.
Of course, there are many hotels, resorts and restaurants on the Cape. I would like to use my trip to give you an incentive to think about your own vacation.
Sea ridge
There is still a magical, nostalgic atmosphere at Sea Crest Beach Resort. However, it has been so long since owner/manager Steve Hill greeted guests in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He is long dead, as is his former co-owner Red Auerbach. (I couldn’t keep up with that.) Gone are the days of nightly entertainment – singers, bands and hypnotists – all introduced by Hill.
But the resort feeling remains. You never have to leave the property. You can start with breakfast, eat by the pool or on the beach, and have dinner at the pub. There’s even an ice cream stand where you can get treats.
In addition to the outdoor pool and private beach, amenities include an indoor pool with hot tub, water sport rentals, a fitness center, beach yoga and children’s activities. There are nature trails nearby.
The attraction is the rooms with sea views, balconies or terraces. From here it is just a few steps to a quiet walk on the beach or your next pina colada. This is the comfort and atmosphere that guests are looking for.
The Lantern Room is the on-site full-service restaurant with ocean views. It is cozy and offers a menu rich in local shellfish and seafood. The resort’s executive chef is Brock Anderson, a 2010 graduate of Johnson & Wales University.
Falmouth
If you’re looking for something to do, you’re not far from Falmouth’s Main Street. Downtown is a lovely place to stroll and explore small boutiques, galleries, and even the Falmouth Public Library. There are plenty of places to eat anything from breakfast to dinner.
The quarter deck
Nowhere has such a historic atmosphere as the Quarterdeck at 164 Main St. A restaurant has stood on this site for many decades, most recently the Quarterdeck, which opened in 1967. The interior was designed with materials salvaged from MacDougall’s boatyard in Falmouth Harbor. The restaurant says some of the wood dates back to the late 17th century. A local artist worked to create the feeling of being below deck on a sailing ship.
It’s quite charming and feels like a place where locals would gather on a nice winter’s evening. There’s a wood-burning oven in one corner. The menu is pub-style and there’s plenty of seafood.
Bucatino’s Restaurant
A popular dinner spot is even closer: Bucatino’s Restaurant & Wine Bar, 7 Nathan Ellis Highway in North Falmouth. Here you can dine in the airy dining room, or enjoy the outdoor patio, which is expansive and so beautifully landscaped you’ll feel like you’re on an island. There are tables and couches and an outdoor bar with plenty of seating. There was a band playing the night I visited.
But it’s the food that will bring me back. The menu is mostly Italian. Don’t miss the artichoke bruschetta appetizer with roasted artichoke hearts mixed with tomatoes and spinach in a pesto cream and served on grilled focaccia.
Bucatino’s also manages to combine its Italian style with the seafood that Cape Cod visitors crave. They have a lobster tagliatelle that combines a grilled half lobster with fresh lemon pepper pasta and grilled asparagus in a lemon butter sauce.
Red jacket
My second trip down memory lane took me to Red Jacket Beach Resort in South Yarmouth. I can understand why my parents took kids there. I counted three miniature golf courses along Route 28.
The resort is located on the waterfront on the banks of Parker’s River. It is a long private beach, but there are two outdoor pools and one indoor. There is a cozy pub for drinks and dinner.
Two weddings took place while I was there, so this is also a destination.
Interestingly, there are also cottages for those who need more space for their family or wedding party. Fully equipped kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms with bunk beds offer plenty of space for many guests.
Wheelhouse
On the way from Cape Cod, I ate al fresco at the Pilot House Restaurant & Lounge in Sandwich at 14 Gallo Road. It’s located on the Sandwich Marina right on the Cape Cod Canal. If you enjoy a gentle breeze outdoors, this is the perfect place for lunch or dinner. There’s also an indoor area.
Seafood has a special touch here. Think tacos like chipotle lobster, mahi mahi or nori sushi. Their crab cakes are also perfect.
I also liked their other beach cocktails like Long Island Iced Teas, Mudslides, and Pina Coladas. They may not be the lightest drinks, but they fit my nostalgic mood.
But it was this view, with the summer breeze and the smell of vacation, that I will remember from all my stays on Cape Cod.
