6 Best Restaurants in Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard

Who needs saltwater taffy when you can have a freshly baked apple fritter or gooey, buttermilk-glazed donut? This is a donut shop with a secret: by day, it's a tucked-away bakery; at 7 pm, they open the back door and sell warm treats to in-the-know fans who line up for the privilege.

This family-friendly roadhouse wins fans with its worth-the-greasy-fingers fried chicken, kale salad, fish-and-chips, and pizza, but it's the combination of all-American comfort food, affordable-for-the-Vineyard-prices, and friendly vibe that keep 'em coming back. A great addition to the Oak Bluffs restaurant scene with bowling to boot, this place is also open year-round.

There will be a line, but this hole-in-the-wall breakfast joint is a great spot for grabbing a hand-held breakfast sandwich—say, a honey-chicken biscuit—en route to the ferry. If you're not in a rush, nab a table, and peruse the extensive menu featuring Southern favorites like shrimp and grits and chicken and waffles along with avocado toast, brioche-and-berry French toast and linguica hash.

Sometimes, you don't feel like a fifty-dollar, fancy-schmancy entrée—you just want a big, fat lobster roll and a beer, and that's what you'll get at Lookout Tavern. Dig into fresh lobsters from Katama Bay, eight kinds of tacos (beer-battered cod is the best), or their award-winning sushi and sashimi. Pro tip: Skip the indoor tables and head to one of the stools facing the water—perfect for watching ferries and pleasure boats glide by (and even better with a rum punch in hand.)

The island's first microbrewery restaurant is quite popular with locals and visitors alike, especially since it is open year-round. There are private wooden booths, a dart board in the corner, and live music from October--May. Grab some peanuts from a barrel by the door and drop the shells on the floor; then order from a menu that includes steaks and burgers, chicken, pasta, gumbo, and fish. However, to truly appreciate the beer, try it with one of the wood-fired brick-oven pizzas. There's a nice shaded patio for outdoor dining.

The venue has changed, but the spirit hasn't with its "stellar cuisine meets lively bar" vibe. Standing at nearly 6½ feet tall and covered with colorful tattoos, chef--owner Ben Deforest turns out an extraordinary array of dishes—think seared yellowfin tuna in a coconut red curry broth, slow-braised short rib, linguine and clams, or a fried tomato and snow crab salad—in the heart of Oak Bluffs. The service is so friendly, everyone feels like a regular. Whatever else you order, get a plate of crispy Brussels sprouts (or two) for the table.