JBF Trip Planner: Chatham, MA

by Anya Hoffman on August 31, 2011

If you’re anything like us, the first thing you do when planning a trip—perhaps even before booking a plane ticket—is figure out where you’re going to eat while you’re there. Museums, sightseeing, and shopping are all well and good, but food is often the main attraction. To make trip planning a little easier, we’re compiling lists of our can’t-miss pit stops in some of our favorite places. JBF Award winners, hole-in-the-wall favorites, America’s Classics, and one-hit wonders—we’ll give you a quick list of our absolute must-eats in each featured location.

If your end-of-summer travel plans include a trip to Cape Cod, don't miss a stop in picturesque Chatham, where you can eat a meaty, perfectly dressed lobster roll right on the pier and enjoy a delicious blueberry pie right out of the oven. Ignore most of the overpriced seafood restaurants on Main Street and head straight to these eateries instead:

Chatham Pier Fish Market (45 Briarcliff Avenue, 508.945.3474) You can’t go to the Cape without getting a lobster roll, and the ones made at the Chatham Pier Fish Market are some of the best in New England. The toasted, buttered bun can barely contain its decadent filling: hunks of sweet lobster meat tossed with just enough mayo to bind it together. Bring beach chairs and eat the sandwiches down by the water for an unforgettable meal.

Marion’s Pie Shop (2022 Main Street, 508.432.9439) Wild blueberry, strawberry–peach, key lime—it’s almost as hard to decide which fresh-baked pie to buy at Marion’s as it is to get it out of the parking lot without eating a warm, flaky slice. For those who prefer a savory snack, the buttery clam pie is not to be missed.

Hangar B Eatery (240 George Ryder Rd, 508.593.3655) For croissant breakfast sandwiches, huevos rancheros, and brioche French toast, head to Hangar B, the sunwashed brunch spot overlooking the town’s small airport. Chef Brian Erskine, formerly of the acclaimed Chatham Bars Inn, oversees the well-curated menu and makes sure the homemade potato-buttermilk donuts are served warm.

The Chatham Jam and Jelly Shop (10 Vineyard Avenue, 877.526.7467) This small storefront has been selling handmade preserves for almost three decades. To pair with your morning toast, try jams crafted from locally picked fruits like wild beach plum, cranberry, or Concord grape. The sweet-and-spicy West Chatham hot pepper jelly will perk up any cheese plate and makes a terrific gift for friends and coworkers back home.