The Hotel Nantucket (126)
Chanticleer: The Chanticleer, out in Sconset, has a long-standing tradition of elegant French dining. I think it’s fair to say that back in the day, it was a bit stuffy. (The original owner did not allow music in the dining room, for example.) However, since being bought by Nantucket restaurateur Susan Handy (of Black-Eyed Susan’s, featured in my novel Here’s to Us), it has achieved the perfect balance of classic and modern. The front garden, anchored by the iconic carousel horse, is one of the most delightful places to eat in the summer. There are also two indoor dining rooms as well as a sunporch. (I prefer the cozy, clubby dining room to the right.) In addition to more formal French fare, there’s an outstanding burger on the menu (I’m not embarrassed to say this is what I usually order). The restaurant used to attract an older clientele, but that has completely changed—it is now popular with savvy millennials, and I am so here for it. Website: Chanticleernantucket.com; Instagram: @chanticleernantucket.
Petrichor: A hidden gem. This wine bar located in mid-island has outstanding food, including my favorite fried-chicken sandwich on the island, and it does a terrific business at brunch. Highly recommended, and after dinner and some thoughtfully curated wines, you can walk right over to Island Kitchen for dessert! Website: Petrichorwinebar.com; Instagram: @petrichorwinebar.
Island Kitchen: Also located in mid-island, Island Kitchen is exactly that, a terrific and cozy local spot where the food is outstanding and the ice cream is even better. The ice cream flavors change with the season, but in years past, I have been a huge fan of the lemon soufflé and the peach and biscuits. There was a time a few years ago when my daughter was obsessed with their charcoal ice cream. (It was delicious.) Island Kitchen ice cream can also be found at the Counter on Main Street in Nantucket Pharmacy and at my beloved Surfside Beach Shack. Website: Nantucketislandkitchen.com; Instagram: @iknantucket.
Sea Grille: A classic, family-run seafood restaurant and islander favorite! The Sea Grille is my choice for best lobster roll and best lobster bisque. I like to sit in the fun front-bar area and order from the bar menu! The food is crazy good. Website: Theseagrille.com; Instagram: @theseagrille.
Get it to go!
Wicked Island Bakery: Home of the infamous morning buns. Full disclosure: In the summer of 2021, my daughter worked at Wicked Island Bakery, and therefore I heard endless sagas about the morning buns. (It might be a stretch to say I could write a novel about the morning buns, but this will definitely be the topic of my daughter’s college essay.) When I dropped off my daughter, who was then age fifteen, at six a.m., there was already a line of people waiting for the bakery to open. Once, a man saw my daughter get out of the car and he hurried out of his car, because he thought she was there to get in line. It’s that bad and worse. The morning buns are hand-crafted cinnamon rolls that are produced in batches of thirty, and they take forty-five minutes to make. The frenzy is caused by how delicious they are, yes, but it’s also the law of supply and demand in action (there is a six-bun-per-customer limit in the summer). The stories I heard about Adults Behaving Badly in regard to the morning buns prompt me now to remind everyone that civility and kindness are always mandatory, especially when you’re dealing with people in the service industry and especially when those people are teenagers working summer jobs. We adults must lead by example. Period. Wicked Island Bakery also has outrageously delicious ham-and-cheese croissants as well as the almond croissants that I used in this novel! And it’s where you can procure Amy’s Cookies, adorable sugar cookies decorated in any number of charming ways by #girlboss Dr. Amy Hinson. (Amy served as my forensics expert for Golden Girl.) Website: Wickedislandbakery.com; Instagram: @wickedislandbakery.
Born and Bread: This is where I get my sourdough. (They also have an addictive olive sourdough on certain days.) The bread is baked fresh and sliced right there. Terrific sandwiches as well, including Lizbet’s favorite, the ABC grilled cheese! It’s right downtown on Centre Street. Website: Bornandbreadnantucket.com; Instagram: @bornandbreadnantucket.
Lemon Press: Do you love fresh-pressed juices, kombucha, acai bowls, avocado toast? If so, then you must make a visit to Main Street superstar Lemon Press. It provides a breakfast or lunch of champions—fresh, healthy, delicious. And it’s owned and operated by two women! The line can be quite long, since this place is super-popular for a reason, so bring a book (or buy one—Mitchell’s Book Corner is right across the street!). Website: Lemonpressnantucket.com; Instagram: @lemonpressnantucket.
The Beet: While we’re supporting women entrepreneurs and eating delicious and healthy food, why not stop at the Beet? The menu is fun fusion; I know people who are devotees of the Kung Fu Fighter salad, and I adore the chicken burger. Website: Thebeetnantucket.com; Instagram: @thebeetnantucket.
Walter’s and Stubby’s: Both Walter’s and Stubby’s are on the Strip, which is the block between Easy Street and Water Street known for inexpensive, fast, and delicious eats. Easy Street Cantina is on the Strip, as are Steamboat Pizza and the Juice Bar (you’ll know the Juice Bar by the hundreds of people waiting in line). My two favorite stops on the Strip are Walter’s and Stubby’s. Walter’s has made-to-order hot and cold sandwiches, including the best Reuben on the island (you heard it here). Stubby’s is, as Edie says in the novel, Nantucket’s version of McDonald’s. It’s known for its waffle fries—they come highly recommended—and they also have excellent fast-food-type burgers and chicken sandwiches. Stubby’s stays open until two a.m., making it very popular with a late-night crowd, and this past year, some marketing genius finally created a hoodie that says ENDED UP AT STUBBY’S. More than one of these hang in my own mudroom! Website: Stubbysnantucket.com; Instagram: @stubbysnantucket.