Oh, The Places You (Can) Go

By Mary Grauerholz

Quaint yet sophisticated Provincetown, located at the tip of Cape Cod, has a smorgasbord of excellent restaurants with dishes that range from the simplest American-style burger and fries to lobster straight from the sea and served in sumptuous surroundings.

This cozy town, with one main downtown street, is known for its diverse, artistic community and its rich heritage as a fishing community, many of them Portuguese. Provincetown, or "P-town," as it is commonly called, also draws cosmopolitan sophisticates who have fine-tuned their taste buds. This diverse character gives the town's dining scene a wealth of options.

Naturally, most visitors want to sample seafood, and they couldn't pick a better place. Local fishermen supply restaurants with superb fish, lobster, oysters, and more. If you crave your fish fried and served with fries and coleslaw, you'll have an ocean of choices. The Lobster Pot, in the center of town, serves fish and chips and an array of other dishes. You'll love the view.

Ethnic restaurants abound here. You can easily find excellent Italian, Mexican, and other out-of-the-ordinary cuisines to spice up your day. Ciro & Sal's serves wonderful Northern Italian dishes. For Mexican food that leans toward the gourmet, many people visit Lorraine's Restaurant. Napi's is a popular local spot that serves vegetarian dishes, among many other types of dishes. The pizza choices here can't be beat. One of the most popular is Spiritus Pizza, which also serves wonderful ice cream. (Spiritus was the first to bring Haagen-Dazs ice cream to Provincetown.)

If romance is on the menu, head for one of the town's high-end restaurants. The Red Inn, Front Street and The Mews Restaurant and Cafe serve dinner in lovely surroundings and boast good reviews.

In nice weather, you may want to sit outside. Many of the downtown restaurants have pleasant patios and decks. Bubala's By the Bay, Patio and Devon's have patios on Commercial Street that offer sunny dining and great people watching. Or just walk into one of the small eateries lining Commercial Street, get something to go, and find a nice place to sit. Mojo's, with its "gourmet fast food," and John's Hot Dog Stand are both in the heart of town.

For breakfast, you can go for simple fare, such as eggs served with sweet rolls, at one of the local bakeries. One good place is the Provincetown Portuguese Bakery & Coffee Shop. Or pick up an espresso and pastry at The Purple Feather. For something more creative, and filling, the Post Office Cafe & Cabaret is a great place for an omelet and a Bloody Mary. And it's always served with some good people-watching on the side.

How about taking a break and relaxing with a creamy treat? Lots of places, such as Ben & Jerry's, offer ice cream and frozen yogurt.

Wherever you eat, you'll get a taste of Provincetown. And you're sure to be back.