My Favorite Spot — Dennis

People often ask me my favorite spot in New England, it’s impossible to choose! New England is so diverse and changes with the seasons. My favorite spot on the cape during the summer is totally different from my favorite spot in Maine. Today I’m happy to introduce a new series, My Favorite Spot, I will feature my favorite spots in various towns and New England getaways. This will be updated throughout the year so you can get an inside look at all the best spots throughout the seasons.

Today I’m happy to start with Dennis, Cape Cod. Dennis will always hold a special place in my heart, I grew up coming here every summer, just like my dad and granddad did. Cape Cod has a little something for everyone, beaches, hiking trails, golf, water sports, fishing, and so much more!

One of my favorite spots in Dennis is Sesuit Harbor Cafe. Located right on the water, sesuit harbor sits on the bay side of the cape. If you don’t know where to look for the cafe you will miss it, why? Because it is located behind the marina! Sit and watch boats get out in the water, watch people take off on jet skis and enjoy some of the freshest seafood out there.

I stopped by the other day for a mid day snack, I walked around the the raw bar and ordered some oysters. If you’ve never been you have to try their lobster roll! Sit outside at a picnic table and watch boats come and go from the marina. Sesuit Harbor is definitely worth a stop if you’re new to Dennis, or have been coming to Dennis for years and never been! After take a drive along the water and take in the amazing views!

Can I Get and Encore?

I have been coming to the Cape since I was less than a year old, I am somewhat set in my ways here. I like to go to the same beaches every year, I have my two favorite breakfast places, and there are restaurants that are a must go year after year. The other day I couldn’t decide where I wanted to eat so I hoped on Yelp just to scroll through all the nearby restaurants, right at the top of the app Yelp informed me that a new restaurant had just opened two weeks ago, Encore Bistro and Bar.

Now as someone who has worked in the restaurant business for a while I am always a little nervous to try places that JUST opened. It takes time to get a restaurant up and running to 100%. It takes time to train your waitstaff, your kitchen staff needs sometime to work out all the kinks that may arise with the food. But this place had 5 stars on Yelp and everyone said it was amazing, so why not give it a try?

Boy am I glad I did! From the moment we walked in the place oozed New England charm, simple blue and white walls, with subtle nautical decor and fresh sunflowers. At the end of the dinning room is a large accent wall made of drift wood, hand crafted by the owners Joanne and her son. Our waitress Hannah was friendly and very knowledgable about the menu she pointed out a few dishes that had been fairly popular since the opening. We decided to star with the truffle fries, I love truffle fries and always try them if they are on the menu and these ones were amazing! Hannah let us take our time but I never felt like we were sitting around waiting for her, she helped me make the decision between the duck and the lobster Alfredo. I went with the Lobster Alfredo and my mom had the Lobster Encore, when dinner came Hannah suggested a few wine pairing for us and was spot on! For desert my mom had the creme brulee and I had the gelato, we did a splitsy and both were to die for!

It was definitely the best meal I have had down here in a long time, the lobster was so fresh and cooked to perfection. If you are in the Dennis area I cannot recommend Encore enough, tucked away right over by the Dennis Play House it is the perfect spot for a nice dinner out. The owner was so gracious floating around the dinning room checking in on her patrons, you can make reservations until 6pm but if you want to go after that it is first come first serve but we didn’t have a problem and were sat right away. If there is a wait there is a bar and lounge area you can have a drink while waiting. Congrats to the Encore owners and staff, you guys blew me away, you ran like a well oiled machine, oh and did I mention the chef Tyler is only 23 fresh out of culinary school? Bravo! Can’t wait to come back!

Truffle Fries, we had as an appetizer

What was left of the truffle fries when I was done!

Lobster Alfredo

Lobster Encore

Gelato

 

Creme Brulee