6 Best Restaurants in Nantucket, Massachusetts

This loft-like restaurant with a harborside deck has enjoyed legendary status since the mid-1970s; these days, the focus is on re-interpreting summer classics that highlight local produce and fresh seafood. The two-course dinner menu ($78), served in the dining room, features such delectables as iced Nantucket oysters, perhaps followed by slow-poached salmon with a Brussels sprout and baby kale caesar. The bar grill offers a short, well-curated a la carte menu. (Moroccan-spiced eggplant "parm" is a favorite.) Hurricane lamps lend a soft glow to well-spaced tables; the vibe is best described as barefoot-chic. (But do wear shoes!)

This game-day favorite offers a rowdy, not rarified, atmosphere and big platters of smoked meats suitable for sharing. But, don't let the casual vibe fool you, as they pay great attention to the food, offering gluten-free versions of all side dishes (except cornbread), great mac-and-cheese, perfectly cooked meats, and their own delicious sauces. Indoors, TVs tuned to games draw sports fans; outdoor tables are snug against folks queuing up for the ferry on Straight Wharf. 

No, it's not really an 1840s whaling bar—though the atmospheric basement, which dates all the way back to 1972, presents an "olde tavern" vibe. The owners added three new dining concepts as well, including the upscale Notch Whiskey Bar, the surf-themed Cisco Kitchen & Bar, and a beer garden patio, but they haven't changed crowd favorites like curly fries and big, juicy burgers.

Opened by the founders of Nantucket Bike Tours, this cozy spot offers a welcome space to relax with a coffee or tea and check your email, or just read a book. If you need a snack, scones, muffins, and nuts can be ordered to go with your beverage of choice.

Climb the copper-clad stairs into this historic home, settle in at one of three dining rooms, and get ready to enjoy the island's freshest fish and produce, impeccably prepared. The menu changes with the seasons, but count on house-made pasta (available in half portions) and toothsome mains with an international tilt, like Moroccan fish tagine.

Eating your vegetables is a total pleasure at this tiny lunch and dinner spot, where gorgeous greens meet Latin and Asian flavors in a happy, healthy marriage. Oh, there's protein on the menu—including Korean BBQ quesadillas, Moo Shu-style duck, and pork Bao buns—but it's the green food that really shines. What they can do with cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli is surprisingly delightful. Order at the counter and eat at one of the indoor tables or take it to go at this unique-for-Nantucket eatery.