4 Best Restaurants in Easton, The Eastern Shore

Surrounded by shops, lodging, and other eateries so very American, sophisticated Scossa almost seems out of place. From its sidewalk patio with wall-mounted fountains to its superb menus, Scossa Café is unmistakably northern Italian. The well-trained co-owners create lunch and dinner dishes with an Italian influence that does not overwhelm the fine ingredients. Samples of daily specials include braised lamp shank with artichokes, short ribs with Borolo wine sauce, roast rabbit campagnola, and soft-shell crabs alla provinciale. Brunch is available on weekends. Jackets are not required, but the cosmopolitan style of Scossa definitely attracts a well-dressed clientele who reserve ahead.

Consistently rated the top restaurant in Easton, The Bartlett Pear Inn Restaurant calls itself an "upscale Amerian Bistro." However, its roots are European and the menu features truffle butter paparadelle, braised snails, and paella. The decor and service are impeccable, as is the inn.

A most unusual and exciting blend of Pacific Rim, California surf, and grandma's kitchen await adventurous taste buds in this intimate venue. A tanuki is akin to a Japanese leprechaun, and the creative flavors here play tricks on traditional dishes. Imagine a restaurant serving buttery sushi and sashimi, lamb lettuce wraps, thai mussels simmered in Woodpecker cider, and a classic Hawaiian pizza under one roof. Run, don't walk, to this place, and make sure to check out happy hour (4 pm–6 pm) at the U-shaped bar.

A family-run landmark for more than 30 years, Mason's uses fresh ingredients from its own garden. The chef brings bold flavors like pan-seared crab cakes topped with a corn and soybean succotash, crispy-skin red snapper surrounded by braised artichokes, and gentle rockfish stuffed with lump crab meat, a local delicacy. Sip a classic martini in the swanky lounge while waiting for a table—make sure to ask for one on the porch in warm weather. Next door are a coffee bar and a food store that sells hard-to-find cheeses and meats, wonderful handcrafted chocolates, and all manner of esoteric edibles.