15 Best Restaurants in Side Trips from Boston, Massachusetts

Shaped like a giant fried-clam box, this small roadside stand is the best place in the region to sample Ipswich's famous bivalves. Since 1935 locals and tourists have been lining up in droves for clams, oysters, scallops, and onion rings.

According to local legend, this is where Lawrence "Chubby" Woodman invented the first fried clam back in 1916. Today this sprawling wooden shack with indoor booths and outdoor picnic tables is the place for seafood in the rough; though it's in Essex, it's a quick drive from Gloucester and worth getting a to-go order to take to the beach. For fun, you can get into a lively discussion with a local over whether clam bellies or strips are the better choice.

This fine-dining restaurant, located in the Concord Depot, offers new American cuisine, with much of the food on the plate coming from nearby local farms. Friendly and knowledgeable servers can help you navigate the menu, which changes with the seasons and availability.

This local spot serves up coffee drinks, smoothies, salads, and sandwiches, perfect for fueling up during, after, or before a long day of sightseeing. Classic sandwiches and subs are on the menu, along with house specials like the Paul Revere, made with deluxe roast beef, barbecue sauce, and cheddar. Small and large salads can serve as a side or on their own. For a caffeine boost, hot and iced coffees and teas are available. Try the iced sea salt caramel shaker, with espresso, caramel, and milk, for a sweet treat.

The Concord outpost of the long-running Bedford Farms Ice Cream shop offers many tasty, locally made ice creams. "Always Making" flavors include chunky chocolate pudding, green monster, and black raspberry, but there is also a list of "Sometimes Making" flavors, sorbets, and sherbets. You can also order custom ice cream cakes and pies with advance notice.

Grab a seat on the outside deck overlooking the water at this friendly, somewhat funky (plastic fish dangling from the ceiling), Caribbean-inspired eatery. Enjoy fruity cocktails on the patio, or hang out in the colorful dining room. Start with thick crab bisque full of hunks of floating crabmeat or coconut shrimp with green mango chutney. Dinner entrées include Caribbean fish stew, jerk chicken, and the Cajun mahimahi fish tacos. Don't miss the Caribbean rum cake for dessert.

Offering excellent cheeses since 1967, it's impossible to resist sampling the variety of cheese available or resist picking up all sorts of other items that go well with cheese, from crackers and chocolates to jams and a great wine selection. You can also pick up sandwiches and salads to go.

This contemporary seafood restaurant on Salem Harbor treats patrons to prime canal views. There is an extensive sushi and sashimi menu, plus lots of other seafood favorites, including sesame-crusted tuna and steamed lobster. Burgers and steaks are also available for meat eaters. Nab a seat on the outdoor deck when the weather's fine and eat practically among the boats. You'll see why this restaurant has been a local favorite for more than 20 years.

This contemporary restaurant offers bistro-style Statler chicken, pan-seared cod, and steak frites, perfect for a food-savvy clientele. A long list of apps and raw-bar items are great for sharing. There is usually live music on Thursday evening. Look for the signature martini glass over the door.

Stop in for freshly brewed coffee and homemade baked goods, like banana bread, granola bars, and cinnamon buns, at this cozy spot. At lunch, enjoy the soup du jour and or a couple of sandwich options. In nice weather, enjoy your food outside on the patio.

Decorated in nautical blues and whites, this pleasant restaurant sits right on Marblehead harbor, with a deck that's nearly in the water. The restaurant offers classic New England fare like clam chowder and broiled scrod, and serves brunch on Sunday. The pub area has a lighter menu and a local feel.

Housed in a 200-year-old building that was once a bank—Ledger takes its name from the massive amount of banking ledgers found in the building—today diners enjoy a modern-day spin on traditional 19th-century dishes, especially live-fire cooking. Grab a cocktail while checking out the multitude of original features incorporated into the restaurant, including deposit boxes and a huge safe that serves as the restaurant’s walk-in refrigerator. Start with something from the raw bar, then dig into hearty dishes like wood-grilled half-chicken or pasta. Brunch offers classics like eggs Benedict and chicken and waffles.

Cyclists, families, and sightseers pack into this brick building, which was used to store munitions during the Revolutionary War. Wood floors and blackboard menus add a touch of nostalgia, but the extensive menu includes many classic dishes, including mac and cheese, fish-and-chips, and steamed mussels. Breakfast offerings, served all day, include a variety of eggs Benedicts, a breakfast burrito, and omelets. At lunch, try the house-made chili, a burger, or a variety of salads. Be prepared to wait at this bustling spot. In season, there are outdoor tables.

In the heart of downtown Gloucester, Passports serves a modern take on classic New England seafood. Whether you sit at the bar or a table, you'll be served delicious complimentary popovers to start. The house haddock is a favorite here, with other options like lobster and paella on offer. There's always local art hanging on the walls for patrons to buy.

Since 1961, this bustling Italian bakery and deli has been making fresh breads and rolls, serving some of the tastiest sandwiches around. One of the shop's signatures is the now-famous Saint Joseph Sandwich, made with their Italian bread stuffed with Italian deli meats, olive oil, and oregano. Pick up one (or two), along with other grocery items, before heading to the beach for a picnic.