Prepare a Cape Cod & Islands' favorite - lobster and clam bake
Tradional Cape Cod Clambake
For some, it wouldn't be a vacation without a lobster and clam bake, complete with sausage, potatoes, clams and corn, prepared at the beach or on the grill.
Here's a recipe for your own clambake or have one prepared and delivered to you while on vacation from places like Treats Catering, Swan River Fish Market, and Eastwind Lobster & Restaurant.
The ultimate indulgence - a lobster roll
A lobster roll at JT's Seafood in Brewster
Some people claim that a vacation isn't complete until they've had a lobster roll, traditionally a hot dog bun filled with fresh lobster meat tossed with a little mayo. Pictured is a lobster roll from
JTs seafood in Brewster.
Get some fresh seafood at a traditional clam shack
Grilled tuna steak and fried clams from Mac's Seafood in Wellfleet
Cape Cod clam shacks like this one offer the freshest of seafood in a casual, no frills beach setting. Just walk up to the window and place your order. Typical fare includes fried clams and onion rings, chowders, lobster rolls, and crab cakes.
Try some fresh oysters at a raw bar
Fresh oysters on the half shell
True oyster afficionados know that oyster flavors differ from farm to farm. The Wellfleet oyster is one of the most highly sought after and recognizable varieties of oyster anywhere in the world. But there are many terrific oysters found everywhere on the Cape, including the East Dennis Oyster Farm.
View information on the annual Wellfleet Oyster Festival in October.
Try some fried seafood
Fried calamari at Baxter's Boathouse in Hyannis Harbor
There's nothing better than dining al fresco overlooking a beautiful harbor. Great options around Hyannis Harbor include Black Cat, Dockside Ribs n' Lobster, and Baxters (pictured).
View more waterfront dining.
Littleneck clams
Steamed clams at The Beacon Room in Orleans
Steamed clams make a great first course.
Pictured here are
The Beacon Room's steamed littlenecks in chili lime butter with garlic crostini.
New England (is there any other kind?) Clam Chowda
Clam chowder at Captain Parker's Pub
A steaming cup of award-winning clam chowder at
Captain Parker's in Yarmouth.
Alternatives to Clam Chowder
Lobster and corn chowder at Pisces in Chatham
While Cape Cod is known for its clam chowder, other excellent chowders include different types of seafood. This lobster and corn chowder enhances the succulent, sweet meat of the lobster.
Pictured is the outstanding chowder from Pisces in Chatham.
It's not a vacation without some fried seafood
Fried clams, calamari, onion rings, and french fries at
Kream 'N Kone in Dennis.
Prepare your own seafood dinner at home
Young's Fish Market on Rock Harbor in Orleans
If you choose to dine at home, the Cape and Islands have seafood markets that sell a wide variety of fresh seafood, including local fish, lobster, and shellfish brought in daily. Some, like Young's Fish Market, will cook the lobster for you.
View seafood markets.
Lobster dinner
A lobster dinner ready to be devoured
Whether you boil, steam, or grill your lobster, you'll want to serve it with hot melted butter and lemon. Lobster crackers and small pick forks will make for easier cracking of the hard shell and removing the meat.
Baked, grilled, or steamed -- mussels are a popular favorite
Steamed mussels at the Dolphin
Steamed mussels at
the Dolphin in Barnstable.
Steamers
Steamers are soft-shelled clams found in the flats. Steamed clams are easy to prepare. Just steam them in a pot with a little water until their shells open. Serve them with melted butter and lemon.
Salmon drizzled with an aoli sauce -- delicious!
Salmon at the Brewster Fish House
Although the salmon is generally flown in from Northwest, many menus on the Cape and Islands offer phenomenal salmon dishes. This salmon dish is from the
The Brewster Fish House.
Find food at the beach
A something-for-everyone menu at Liam's at Naurset Beach in Orleans.
Riding the waves or simply lazing on the beach can increase your appetite. Some beaches, such as Liam's at Nauset Beach, allow you to grab some fried clams or onion rings without even leaving the beach.
What’s a “tuna martini?
Tuna martini and sweet potato fries at the Scargo Cafe
It's a delicacy of raw tuna, in this case, with an Asian flair, pictured here with sweet potato fries, served at the
Scargo Cafe in Dennis.
Fried calamari
Fried calamari at The Pearl in Wellfleet
And if you're on the Outer Cape,
dine at The Pearl overlooking picturesque Wellfleet Harbor.
View more waterfront dining.
Lobster from a Fish Market
A lobster at a local seafood market
Most lobsters are not this large! In the seafood market, you can pick out your own lobster from a salt water tank. A lobster can remain alive out of water for about a day, so ideally, it should be cooked the day it is bought.
No, not onion rings -- calamari!
Calamari at Scargo Café
Many consider calamari (squid) a delicacy. Here they're flash-fried at
Scargo Cafe in Dennis.