Best Bakery: Back Door Donuts
5 Post Office Square, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3688, backdoordonuts.com
Runner-up: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6633, scottishbakehousemv.com
Here’s the thing about Back Door Donuts: it’s there for you when you wake up, always available to help you celebrate a birthday or anniversary, and still open when you want something sweet like an after-dinner apple fritter. Whether you go for the fresh-baked bread or a flourless chocolate cake, nobody has ever left Scottish Bakehouse hungry.
Best Bar/Pub: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
Runner-up: Lookout Tavern
8 Seaview Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9844, lookoutmv.com
At Offshore Ale, patrons come for the often-changing selection of cold craft beer, from golden ales to stouts to IPAs. They stay for the equally delicious brewpub food. If you like a good view, there’s the other Oak Bluffs staple, the Lookout Tavern, where mixed drinks, beer, and wine are readily available.
Best Breakfast: ArtCliff Diner
38 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1224, artcliffdiner.com
Runner-up: Linda Jean’s Restaurant
25 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-4093, lindajeansrestaurantmv.com
Heaping portions of perfectly poached eggs, fresh fishcakes, poblano hash, salmon bagels, and almond-crusted French toast are some of the many reasons ArtCliff wins Best Breakfast year after year. Linda Jean’s will have you looking no further for a filling three-egg omelet.
Best Breakfast Sandwich: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6633, scottishbakehousemv.com
A 7a Foods breakfast sandwich is the perfect start to any day. Choose between the cheddar-jalapeño or regular biscuit, then add your choice of fresh veggies and meat topped with a perfectly fried egg. At Scottish Bakehouse, you can’t go wrong with adding “the works” to your egg sandwich.
Best Burger: Atria
137 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5850, atriamv.com
Runner-up: Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar
7 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-6600, fatronniesburgerbar.com
Try not to look at the exquisite, inventive burger menu at Atria unless you’re sitting down, and definitely not while you’re operating heavy machinery. A favorite? The Thai shrimp burger. And if you find yourself hungry at 12 a.m., you can’t beat Fat Ronnie’s.
Best Caterer: Buckley’s Gourmet Catering
508-693-3318, buckleyscatering.com
Runner-up: V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons Catering & Party Design
508-560-4364, vhamlincatering.com
Buckley’s Gourmet Catering knows variety is the spice of a good party. Start your event with craft cocktails and passed apps, and follow it up with a Caribbean beach buffet. Or a Mexican fiesta. Or an Italian-themed dinner. At every event V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons caters, the food is delicious and no details are overlooked.
Best Chowder: Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co.
9 Oak Bluffs Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-3000, mvchowder.com
Runner-up: Larsen’s Fish Market
56 Basin Road, Chilmark, 508-645-2680, larsensfishmarket.com
Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co. lives up to its name with what’s arguably the perfect bowl of New England chowder: big on flavor, filled with fresh clams, and even gluten-free. It wins over new fans every year. Larsen’s serves up a tried-and-true recipe on the wharves of Menemsha.
Best Clambake: Bill Smith’s Martha’s Vineyard Clambake Co.
508-627-8809, mvclambake.com
Runner-up: Larsen’s Fish Market
56 Basin Road, Chilmark,
508-645-2680,
larsensfishmarket.com
Bill Smith’s Martha’s Vineyard Clambake Co. specializes in Island culinary traditions, perfect for a six-person beach trip, backyard party, or full-service catered wedding reception. And you can’t go wrong with Larsen’s, a leading name in locally caught seafood.
Best Cocktails: Alchemy
71 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9999, alchemyedgartown.com
Runner-up: Beach Road
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-8582, beachroadmv.com
Alchemy may be located right in the middle of the action in downtown Edgartown, but it’s the hand-crafted, fruit-forward cocktails that will capture your attention. Think muddled cherries and tequila or pomegranate, ginger, grapefruit, and lemon with vodka. Beach Road excels at innovative flavor combinations.
Best Coffee: Mocha Mott’s
10 Circuit Avenue,
Oak Bluffs, 508-696-1922
15 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-3155, mochamotts.com
Runner-up: Espresso Love
17 Church Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9211, espressolove.com
Mocha Mott’s isn’t just a coffee shop; it’s a way of life. And the army of almost-every-day-of-the-year regulars at the no-frills Island establishment won’t let you forget it. Espresso Love is a reliable spot for a hot or iced coffee and tasty baked good.
Best Family Dining: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: Nomans
15 Island Inn Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-338-2474, nomansmv.com
Family is the heart of Giordano’s Restaurant, an Island favorite that has perfected the art of Italian hospitality since 1930. Bring on the cheese pizza, ravioli, eggplant parm, and manicotti. Nomans has a winning new concept: a spot where mom and dad can relax with fish tacos and a beer while Junior and his sister run around the lawn.
Best Farm Market or Stand: Morning Glory Farm
290 Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, 508-627-9003, morninggloryfarm.com
Runner-up: Ghost Island Farm
27 Davis Look Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-5161, ghostislandfarm.square.site
The best way to experience Morning Glory Farm is to work there for a summer as a guitar-toting, Kerouac-reading youth. A close second is to stock up on the freshest of fruits and veggies at the always-packed down-Island farm stand. Ghost Island’s founder Rusty Gordon is an Island farming icon.
Best Fine Dining: L’étoile
22 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5187, letoile.net
Runner-up: The Outermost Inn
81 Lighthouse Road, Aquinnah, 508-645-3511, outermostinn.com
For more than thirty years, energetic chef Michael Brisson has been satisfying Island gourmands with his French-inspired menu at L’étoile. Don’t miss the lobster étuvée or the foie gras. The Outermost Inn offers a hyperlocal menu with a stunning Aquinnah backdrop.
Best Fish & Chips: The Newes from America
23 Kelley Street, Edgartown, 508-627-4397, thenewesfromamerica.com
Runner-up: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071, mvseafood.com
The Newes dates back to colonial times, and like the restaurant, the generous crispy fish and chips are an Island classic. The hand-cut fries at The Net Result will be hard not to finish before you get the chance to share.
Best Fish Market: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071, mvseafood.com
Runner-up: Larsen’s Fish Market
56 Basin Road, Chilmark, 508-645-2680, larsensfishmarket.com
The Net Result is best visited daily: there’s always something new and fresh, and the staff are happy to advise on how to prepare it. For fifty years, Larsen’s has been a Menemsha mainstay and a family endeavor.
Best French Fries: Atria
137 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5850, atriamv.com
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
At Atria, no meal (especially the award-winning burgers) is complete without a helping of crisp truffle fries with creamy Béarnaise on the side. The hand-cut fries at Offshore Ale Co. make for a perfect salty prologue.
Best Fried Clams: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071, mvseafood.com
At Giordano’s, droves of people may line up for the pizza, but those in the know stay for the fried clams. The bellies and strips are perfectly breaded and fried to perfection. At The Net Result, it’s whole belly clams only, and they don’t disappoint.
Best Grocery Store: Cronig’s Market
357 State Road,
Vineyard Haven, 508-693-4457
469 State Road,
West Tisbury, 508-693-2234,
cronigsmarket.com
Runner-up: Reliable Market
36 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-1102, thereliablemarket.com
In winter and summer, good times and bad, Cronig’s can be counted on for healthy staples. The friendly, hard-working staff keeps the Island fed. Family-run Reliable Market is loved for its excellent meat selection.
Best Ice Cream Shop: Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
20A Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0008, benandbillsmv.com
Runner-up: Mad Martha’s
48 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5883
12 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-9151
7 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8761
The vibe at Ben & Bill’s Circuit Avenue outpost is delightfully old school, the ice cream anything but. Check out interesting flavors such as mud pie, maple walnut, and ginger. Wherever you are down-Island when a craving strikes, there’s pretty much always a Mad Martha’s within walking distance.
Best Island-Made Candy/Chocolate: Murdick’s Fudge
21 North Water Street, Edgartown
5 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs
Corner of Union and Main Streets, Vineyard Haven, 888-553-8343, murdicks.com
Runner-up: Ben & Bill’s Chocolate Emporium
20A Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0008, benandbillsmv.com
Murdick’s recipes date back to the 1800s, and every fudge they spread on their signature marble slabs to cool is tried and true, whether you’re into chocolate, Cape Cod cranberry, or peanut butter. At Ben & Bill’s, pick up some peanut brittle to enjoy after your ice cream melts.
Best Lobster Roll: Grace Episcopal Church
Corner of Woodlawn Avenue and William Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0332, graceepiscopalmv.org (Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m. through September)
Runner-up: Lookout Tavern
8 Seaview Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9844, lookoutmv.com
The lobster roll is almost a sacrament in New England, so it’s appropriate that on Martha’s Vineyard it’s most enjoyed from a church. Plus, revenue from the Grace Church lobster rolls goes to a bevy of good causes. At Lookout Tavern, buttered rolls are loaded with claw and knuckle meat.
Best Lunch: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Little House Cafe
339 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9794, littlehousemv.com
Whether it’s the classic Liz Lemon sandwich or the tuna melt with banana peppers and bacon, lunch at 7a is good enough to be the day’s main event. And don’t skip the compost cookie for dessert. Little House is a charming and homey Vineyard Haven treasure.
Best New Restaurant: MV Salads
55 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-338-7754, mvsalads.com
Runner-up: Nomans
15 Island Inn Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-338-2474, nomansmv.com
The heart logo gives it away – MV Salads makes everything with love. A combination of fresh ideas, local ingredients, creative dressings, and satisfying service made a strong impression in its first season and earned it the title of Best New Restaurant. Runner-up Nomans knows a thing (or fifty) about putting a creative spin on classic, crave-worthy food.
Best Outdoor Dining: The Aquinnah Shop Restaurant
27 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, 508-645-3867, theaquinnahshop.com
Runner-up: The Seafood Shanty
31 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8622, theseafoodshanty.com
If you want to feel like you’re on the edge of the world – in a good way – settle in for a meal at The Aquinnah Shop’s clifftop porch. The meals come out hot and fresh; the views go on and on. Visit The Seafood Shanty’s rooftop deck any time, but especially at sunset when Edgartown Harbor reflects the sky’s colors.
Best Package Store: MV Wine & Spirits
17A Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-627-7557, mvwinestore.com
Runner-up: Our Market
1 East Chop Drive, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3000, ourmarketmv.com
Whether you’re looking for a $12 bottle of white wine to go with takeout or a nice bottle of whiskey to thank an essential worker, the enthusiastic staff at MV Wine & Spirits always steers you in the right direction. Our Market’s huge selection of wine, beer, and liquor is also available for delivery.
Best Picnic Food: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Black Sheep
17 Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-338-7770, blacksheeponmv.com
The hardest part about a 7a picnic is waiting until you get to the beach to eat the turkey BLT wrap or spring-beet sandwich filled with locally sourced veggies. Black Sheep has sandwiches, crackers, cheeses, and a changing selection of prepared foods.
Best Pizza: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: Rocco’s Pizzeria
Tisbury Marketplace,
79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1125,
marthasvineyardpizza.com
Whether you’re grabbing a slice to eat outside or sitting down for a family meal, Giordano’s pizzas, with their family recipe tomato sauce, are always huge, cheesy, hot, and fast. Rocco’s margherita pizza is a fan favorite.
Best Sandwich: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Life at Humphreys
Woodland Center, 455 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6518, lifeathumphreys.com
By now, 7a’s Liz Lemon sandwich (house-made pastrami, turkey, Swiss, coleslaw, Russian dressing, and potato chips on rye) is more locally famous than the TV character it’s named for, and for good reason. At Life at Humphreys, bread is made daily in-house.
Best Seafood Restaurant: The Seafood Shanty
31 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8622, theseafoodshanty.com
Runner-up: 19 Raw Oyster Bar
19 Church Street, Edgartown, 774-224-0550, 19rawoysterbar.com
The Seafood Shanty, an old-school Edgartown hotspot, sells seafood by the seashore – or at least picturesque Edgartown Harbor. 19 Raw is a hip newcomer with intimate outdoor patio seating.
Best Sushi: Lookout Tavern
8 Seaview Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9844, lookoutmv.com
Runner-up: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071, mvseafood.com
Lookout Tavern’s sushi menu is long – for good reason. It’s hard to limit your selection. Indecisive and hungry types love the special Islander plate, a generous combo offering. The Net Result rolls sushi fresh and fast, perfect for eating on the go.
Best Takeout: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
For those with no desire to cook on vacation, that’s no problem. Giordano’s offers hearty Italian fare with a New England flair. A wrapped-up sandwich from 7a pairs perfectly with a good book from the West Tisbury library across the street.
Best Vegetarian Meal: Little House Cafe
339 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9794, littlehousemv.com
Runner-up: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6633, scottishbakehousemv.com
Little House Cafe is full of fresh and green menu options, from the maple-roasted butternut squash salad with goat cheese to the yummy peanut-y sesame noodle salad. Scottish Bakehouse makes being vegan or vegetarian no problem.
Best Wings: Coop de Ville
Dockside Marketplace, 12 Circuit Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3420, coopdevillemv.com
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
For a small space, Coop de Ville sure packs in a lot of wings. The menu features fifteen exciting flavor combinations, all best enjoyed at a harborfront table. Offshore offers classic Buffalo wings, teriyaki, or chipotle bacon ranch.
Best Year-Round Restaurant: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
Runner-up: Rockfish
11 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9967, rockfishedgartown.com
When it gets dark at 4:30, Islanders flock to Offshore like it’s the promised land, thankful for the kind servers and warm fireplace. Rockfish is the place to be on Thursday and Friday nights in the off-season. You never know when you’ll get to sample free passed apps.
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