I am a huge foodie. I love eating at new restaurants, but I also love eating at the same restaurants over and over, as long as they meet my standards of incredibly good food. So, with my passion for food fueling this series, I decided to start a foodies guide post on the blog.
Hop off the ferry and you are welcomed into a quaint little town with shopping, food, beaches, bars, and cobble stone roads. It is truly a magical spot, but to make it even better, I suggest trying out some of these restaurants below! After trying many different restaurants on island, here are my top ones that I recommend if you find yourself on this little island of paradise.
Breakfast
Downy Flake - the best donuts on this planet. Go early in the morning and get a box of sugar donuts that are still warm, you will not regret it. You can also sit down and have breakfast there, which is good, but nothing mind-blowing. You really do go there specifically for the donuts.
Lemon Press - they have amazing avocado toast and very good smoothies. Their new location is adorable and finally has indoor seating. I also highly recommend their chia seed pudding - expensive, but totally worth it. I heard they also do great tacos on Tuesday night, though I have yet to try!
Lunch
Something Natural - awesome salads and hearty sandwiches to bring right to the beach! They also have their own brand of iced teas and lemonades, which are really good, and incredible homemade cookie dough. I also love their herb bread. On any type of sandwich or even toasted with butter, this bread is incredibly amazing. My mom and I love it so much that we always bring a few loaves home with us!
CRU - this restaurant is right on the water with fresh oysters and an amazing lobster roll. While the food is amazing at both lunch and dinner, I prefer this place for lunch because at night they tend to over seat the tables so it can be a little too tight, plus at lunch, you can see the amazing view!
Dinner
Madaket Millie's - good for lunch or dinner, this place is honestly my favorite restaurant on the island. It is nothing fancy or trendy, just amazing fresh food with a great summer atmosphere. I highly recommend basically everything on the menu, especially the Mexican street corn as well as their queso. If the resturant is to busy, which on a weekend this is highly likley, they also have a takeout window that has the full menu, which you can then walk down the street and eat on the beach!
Venturo - amazing Italian food with a beachy twist. Their homemade pastas have a soulful Italian base with a summer addition of seasonal vegetables. Their burrata appetizer is just to die for. All around great atmosphere and incredible food. While Nantucket is an incredible place in many different ways, I’ve honestly found it hard to find an amazing, well done, simple dinner meal in town that has something for everyone on the menu. While Millie’s is always a hit, it is far from town and more casual. Similarly, Lola 41, as mentioned below, is hard to plan in advance for and more sushi based. Venturo on the other hand is a place where you are insured not only an incredible meal and atmosphere, but also a menu that everyone will be happy with. My experience at Venturo was nothing short of amazing, with spectacular food every time.
Lola 41 - the closest meal you can get to a Nobu or Zuma on the island. Incredible sushi and raw fish selection as well as burger and other traditional American food options for those who may not want sushi, plus really great truffle fries! The sushi bar is super fun and all of the staff there know the menu incredibly well, always recommending things that we may not have picked. The sushi chefs are incredibly talented and always pressing the boundaries of amazing food. Lola 41 is a must when coming to Nantucket, and clearly everyone knows that because it is very hard to get a table! They don’t take reservations in advance, so a pro tip is to go to the restaurant at 3:30/3:45 and wait for their open at four to put your name in for that night. They have open seating at the bar so if you are looking for an early drink and a few appetizers, going in at 4:00 is a great option, but if you want a table for that night you have to get their early!
Dessert (at any time of day)
Juice Bar - the line will be long any time after 3 in the afternoon, but for good reason. Complete with warm, homemade waffle cones, this ice cream spot is undeniably one of Nantucket's most famous spots. It is incredible, don't get me wrong, and I am very willing to wait in the line for my two scoops of coconut in a waffle cone. However, if you are looking for a place without a line around the corner and one that takes credit cards, I would recommend Jack and Charlie's ice cream just around the corner. Similar concept without as long of a line.
Xoxo,
Salut Sophie