Outer Cape Recs

[Hey Adrien!]

Beachcomber all the way….. crush as much of the raw bar as possible… seared tuna and raw osyters especially….. if you are not between 22 and 35, i’d say don’t go there on the weekends

We're 42 and 38, wife doesn't drink and I'm good for one drink a night, if that.

Based on that, is it worth the visit just for the food/vibe/ambiance? My gut says no since we're not "bar people".

 

[HuskyHawk]

We're 42 and 38, wife doesn't drink and I'm good for one drink a night, if that.

Based on that, is it worth the visit just for the food/vibe/ambiance? My gut says no since we're not "bar people".

Probably not. It can be pretty crowded.

 

[pepband99]

-Chatham Squire --> Another spot to go out besides the Beachcomber

As someone who has been visiting the Squire for decades, it's really started to go downhill under the new ownership.
I'll probably give them one more chance this summer, but if my visit is as bad as last year, it won't be on my list anymore.

Impudent Oyster is fantastic. It's also hard to beat a sunset cocktail at Chatham Bars Inn, possibly followed by (a very expensive but very good) dinner.

Beachcomber should be a Cape bucket list item.

The Donut Hole in Orleans = great breakfast

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Today after driving up and down the outer cape we picked up takeout from Cooke’s (cold lobster roll and shrimp skewers for me, thank you) and had dinner at Nauset Beach. The ocean mist was pretty amazing, lots of surfers and saw three seals!

 

[HuskyHawk]

Today after driving up and down the outer cape we picked up takeout from Cooke’s (cold lobster roll and shrimp skewers for me, thank you) and had dinner at Nauset Beach. The ocean mist was pretty amazing, lots of surfers and saw three seals!

View attachment 101901

If you see seals, knee deep is about it. That water is also wicked cold in June (and in July).

I didn't mention it, but the Seal harbor cruise in Chatham was cool. So many seals. Thousands.

 

[Excalibur]

If you see seals, knee deep is about it. That water is also wicked cold in June (and in July).

I didn't mention it, but the Seal harbor cruise in Chatham was cool. So many seals. Thousands.

That water is wicked cold all the time, which is why I prefer Block, Montauk, the Vineyard, Nantucket etc to the cape.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That water is wicked cold all the time, which is why I prefer Block, Montauk, the Vineyard, Nantucket etc to the cape.

The rest of the Cape isn't that cold. I usually go to North Falmouth (Buzzard's Bay) but Nantucket Sound or Bay Side in Dennis or Brewster is much, much warmer than the outer cape. Water temps easily in the 70s.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

We ended up loving Nauset Beach so much that we ended up bringing take out breakfast and dinner there today.

We picked up coffees and breakfast from Snowy Owl in Brewster and loved it. Had happy hour buck a shuck oysters and shrimp at Caroline’s in Eastham before bringing some pizza back to the beach and then caught the end of the Orleans Firebirds game for my first Cape Cod League game.

Overall, the Outer Cape has been my favorite part of the Cape so far. More local and low-key than other parts I’ve been to.

 

[HuskyHawk]

We ended up loving Nauset Beach so much that we ended up bringing take out breakfast and dinner there today.

We picked up coffees and breakfast from Snowy Owl in Brewster and loved it. Had happy hour buck a shuck oysters and shrimp at Caroline’s in Eastham before bringing some pizza back to the beach and then caught the end of the Orleans Firebirds game for my first Cape Cod League game.

Overall, the Outer Cape has been my favorite part of the Cape so far. More local and low-key than other parts I’ve been to.

Most of it is local and low key outside of Barnstable/Hyannis and maybe Chatham. Dennis and Brewster north of 6A, North Falmouth, all pretty laid back even in summer. Have you tried Coast Guard or Ballston beach for a change? There are several good ones in that stretch. Race Point further north in PTown as well.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Most of it is local and low key outside of Barnstable/Hyannis and maybe Chatham. Dennis and Brewster north of 6A, North Falmouth, all pretty laid back even in summer. Have you tried Coast Guard or Ballston beach for a change? There are several good ones in that stretch. Race Point further north in PTown as well.

I'm sure all of the oceanside beaches are awesome out there, but we just felt so comfortable at Nauset that we just kept coming back. We got to see two different species of seals just bobbing on the waves!

 

[Excalibur]

The rest of the Cape isn't that cold. I usually go to North Falmouth (Buzzard's Bay) but Nantucket Sound or Bay Side in Dennis or Brewster is much, much warmer than the outer cape. Water temps easily in the 70s.

It's fine, but I also don't like groins and breakwaters every 100 yards along the beach.

 

[Waquoit]

Yankee Magazine just came out with "Hidden Cape Cod" in the current issue. It's available online.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Now, almost a week removed from the trip, Orleans is my favorite town on the Outer Cape. I

 

[HuskyHawk]

Now, almost a week removed from the trip, Orleans is my favorite town on the Outer Cape. I

That's interesting, because Orleans is the gateway town. Being adjacent to Brewster and Chatham, with good road access and more "stuff" it's more like a mid-Cape town in many ways. It has an incredible amount of land facing water. To me, the worst thing about the Outer Cape is that once you hit Eastham, there's one road in and out, Rt 6. Orleans has 6, 23 and 6A.

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

Yankee Magazine just came out with "Hidden Cape Cod" in the current issue. It's available online.

Yankee Magazine July/August 2024

Page 67 mentions Red Barn Pizza in Eastham -- I worked there one summer!

I don't recall being impressed with their pizza, but that was quite a while ago; it may have improved since then. What I do remember is working at what they called the Ice Cream Silo, a building adjacent to the "barn." That was fun. I loved giving the little kids bigger cones than what they asked for, and seeing them light up with big smiles!

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Yankee Magazine July/August 2024

Page 67 mentions Red Barn Pizza in Eastham -- I worked there one summer!

I don't recall being impressed with their pizza, but that was quite a while ago; it may have improved since then. What I do remember is working at what they called the Ice Cream Silo, a building adjacent to the "barn." That was fun. I loved giving the little kids bigger cones than what they asked for, and seeing them light up with big smiles!

After a Buck a Shuck happy hour at Caroline's, we ordered takeout at Red Barn last Tuesday and brought the pizza to the beach.

The pizza itself is Greek-adjacent even though it's cut in slices. It's pretty whatever, it got the job done and their ingredients were solid. Cape Cod isn't known for pizza, so I guess you could do a lot worse.

That's interesting, because Orleans is the gateway town. Being adjacent to Brewster and Chatham, with good road access and more "stuff" it's more like a mid-Cape town in many ways. It has an incredible amount of land facing water. To me, the worst thing about the Outer Cape is that once you hit Eastham, there's one road in and out, Rt 6. Orleans has 6, 23 and 6A.

Yeah, I just really liked the vibe of Orelans. Very relaxed and for a smallerish town, lots of historic builds, the food quality was really good and nothing was busy. Liked being close to the ocean too, but also got to catch an Orelans Firebirds game.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

We always loved Arnold's (Eastham) or Sir Cricket's (Orleans) for fried clams and fish & chips; the Box Lunch (Wellfleet) for a great wrap sandwich to go for a day at the beach; and the Beachcomber (Wellfleet) for nighttime bar and dancing fun.

For hiking/good walks, the Audubon Sanctuary, White Cedar Swamp, the Marconi site (all in Wellfleet) and the various trails of the Cape Cod National Seashore are all great.

Edit: the Beachcomber is still closed for the season right now. Before you go anywhere, check first to make sure it's open!

Back in The Cape this week, this year staying in North Truro.

Before sunset at the beach, we picked up dinner at Box Lunch and I tried something new: their “Gilded Lobster” wrap — 8 oz of Lobster, Swiss and avocado.

It sounds weird but it totally made sense. The fat from the cheese and avocado substituted nicely for a ton of butter and for some odd reason melted Swiss almost smells like lobster.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Back in The Cape this week, this year staying in North Truro.

Before sunset at the beach, we picked up dinner at Box Lunch and I tried something new: their “Gilded Lobster” wrap — 8 oz of Lobster, Swiss and avocado.

It sounds weird but it totally made sense. The fat from the cheese and avocado substituted nicely for a ton of butter and for some odd reason melted Swiss almost smells like lobster.

Hopefully you have the Sharktivity app. Stay safe in the water.

 

[HuskyHawk]

For those who frequent Cape Cod, this story is a bit of a game changer. I had been seeing stories from a guy on the Cape who documents seals and sharks that seal activity has picked up on Nantucket Sound, Chatham, Harwich, Yarmouth. But this is the Buzzard's Bay side of Wood's Hole. I checked with AWSC two years ago and they confirmed the Buzzard's Bay receiver had never had a ping from a tagged White Shark. Doesn't mean there aren't any of course.

Shark experts confirm great white shark sighting off Woods Hole

Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were paddleboarding and taking photos off of Stoney Beach on the Fourth of July when Bowles noticed an alarming dorsal fin. It's the first confirmed sighting of a great white shark off of Woods Hole in more than 20 years.

www.wbur.org

 

[Lafayette]

Hopefully you have the Sharktivity app. Stay safe in the water.

My favorite Winter get away is early Cape - in Sandwich, The Daniel Webster Inn. For some reason, when it's Feb and snowy that place is magic.

I have yet to go there in Summer though. Prefer traveling more into the Cape.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

Lived in Truro for 12 years. You can’t go wrong with any of these recommendations. For some of the restaurant recommedations timing is everything . For example Macs Shack in August fugetaboutit as we would say in Jersey unless you have a rezzy. Try Blackfish in Truro try the tuna bolognese. I am still trying to dissect the recipe. Get a beach sticker and swim in the kettle ponds. Great Pond in Truro was my fav. The RedInn in Ptown is great place for drinks and dinner. The Mews in the East End in Ptown and Mac’s in Ptown is also good and easier than to get into than Mac’s Shack. Harbor Stage Theatre great productions over the years. Oh and get the Sharkitivity app before you swim in the ocean!!!

We hit up Mac's On the Pier last night in between thunderstorms. Excellent meal of Welfleet oysters and fish and chips, which I really liked their chickpea breading and their portions were surprisingly huge.

 

[Fishy]

As someone who has been visiting the Squire for decades, it's really started to go downhill under the new ownership.
I'll probably give them one more chance this summer, but if my visit is as bad as last year, it won't be on my list anymore.

Impudent Oyster is fantastic. It's also hard to beat a sunset cocktail at Chatham Bars Inn, possibly followed by (a very expensive but very good) dinner.

Beachcomber should be a Cape bucket list item.

The Donut Hole in Orleans = great breakfast

Squire is good for a beer. Aplaya, down the street behind Lilly Pultzer, is better - get a cocktail and some Filipino appetizers at the Tiki bar.

Skip the Beachcomber. It’s absolutely middling and a pain in the ass to get deal with. Go to Brax Landing instead and eat outside overlooking the harbor.

Impudent Oyster…killer recommendation. Tiny, cramped, crowded…love it anyway. Devils on horseback app is one of my favorite things anywhere.

For those who frequent Cape Cod, this story is a bit of a game changer. I had been seeing stories from a guy on the Cape who documents seals and sharks that seal activity has picked up on Nantucket Sound, Chatham, Harwich, Yarmouth. But this is the Buzzard's Bay side of Wood's Hole. I checked with AWSC two years ago and they confirmed the Buzzard's Bay receiver had never had a ping from a tagged White Shark. Doesn't mean there aren't any of course.

Shark experts confirm great white shark sighting off Woods Hole

Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were paddleboarding and taking photos off of Stoney Beach on the Fourth of July when Bowles noticed an alarming dorsal fin. It's the first confirmed sighting of a great white shark off of Woods Hole in more than 20 years.

www.wbur.org

Stay home, candyass.

We ended up loving Nauset Beach so much that we ended up bringing take out breakfast and dinner there today.

We picked up coffees and breakfast from Snowy Owl in Brewster and loved it. Had happy hour buck a shuck oysters and shrimp at Caroline’s in Eastham before bringing some pizza back to the beach and then caught the end of the Orleans Firebirds game for my first Cape Cod League game.

Overall, the Outer Cape has been my favorite part of the Cape so far. More local and low-key than other parts I’ve been to.

Snowy Owl is great. (I think they have a small kiosk in Chatham, too?) Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, also great.

Yankee Magazine July/August 2024

Page 67 mentions Red Barn Pizza in Eastham -- I worked there one summer!

I don't recall being impressed with their pizza, but that was quite a while ago; it may have improved since then. What I do remember is working at what they called the Ice Cream Silo, a building adjacent to the "barn." That was fun. I loved giving the little kids bigger cones than what they asked for, and seeing them light up with big smiles!

Their pizza is crap. Now, I know who to blame.

Pizza Shark is about as good as it gets in terms of pizza on the Cape.

If anyone needs any other correct opinions about the Cape, I will be here for you.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Squire is good for a beer. Aplaya, down the street behind Lilly Pultzer, is better - get a cocktail and some Filipino appetizers at the Tiki bar.

Skip the Beachcomber. It’s absolutely middling and a pain in the ass to get deal with. Go to Brax Landing instead and eat outside overlooking the harbor.

Impudent Oyster…killer recommendation. Tiny, cramped, crowded…love it anyway. Devils on horseback app is one of my favorite things anywhere.


Stay home, candyass.



Snowy Owl is great. (I think they have a small kiosk in Chatham, too?) Chocolate Sparrow in Orleans, also great.



Their pizza is crap. Now, I know who to blame.

Pizza Shark is about as good as it gets in terms of pizza on the Cape.

If anyone needs any other correct opinions about the Cape, I will be here for you.

I was swimming in Buzzards Bay last weekend. I'm not staying home.

 

[Deepster]

Skip the Beachcomber. It’s absolutely middling and a pain in the ass to get deal with.

I'll add in, I do agree with this statement....if you choose the wrong time to go.

I pick a Tues or Wed every year, cut out of sitting on the beach around 2 and head there for a couple just before dinner. You can always get a bar seat, drinks are strong and the oysters are delicious.

Go on a Friday night and you're rearends and elbows and fighting to get a drink.

 

[UConnDad]

I'll add in, I do agree with this statement....if you choose the wrong time to go.

I pick a Tues or Wed every year, cut out of sitting on the beach around 2 and head there for a couple just before dinner. You can always get a bar seat, drinks are strong and the oysters are delicious.

Go on a Friday night and you're rearends and elbows and fighting to get a drink.

Next Tuesday or Wednesday it is for me then!