Best Bakery: Back Door Donuts/Martha’s Vineyard Gourmet Cafe & Bakery
5 Post Office Square, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3688, mvbakery.com
Runner-up: Scottish Bakehouse
977 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6633, scottishbakehousemv.com
Who doesn’t love hanging out in a parking lot next to a dumpster with waves of doughnut goodness blowing out the exhaust fans? Once a delicious secret, now a genuine phenomenon, Back Door Donuts is a must-have experience for any Vineyard visit. There are long lines for a reason. Scottish Bakehouse is a great go-to source for bread, pies, and cakes with Vineyard flair.
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
Offshore Ale is the place to be if you’re a fan of excellent beer brewed on the premises. Master brewer Neil Atkins always has at least a half-dozen ales and lagers on tap, and a mix of locals and tourists keeps the atmosphere hopping. The food is as hearty as the beverages. Lookout Tavern has a sports-bar vibe with a home-run view of the ocean.
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, lindajeansrestaurant.com
Yes, there’s always a line. That’s a sure sign that you’ve chosen the right spot. At ArtCliff Diner, breakfast staples like choose-your-own-filling omelets and sugary French toast share space on the menu with more adventurous options. Try the jam and chèvre panini or the breakfast enchilada with cheese, cumin, sautéed black beans, chili sauce, salsa, and farm-fresh eggs. Over at Linda Jean’s Restaurant, budget-conscious diners can get a hearty meal that appeals to every family member’s taste.
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
7a Foods offers breakfast sandwiches with real Vineyard flavor, like local farm eggs, house-made sausage, and, when available, Island greens. Get breakfast to go on an English muffin or a house-made biscuit (plain or cheddar-jalapeño) and sit on the porch to take in the West Tisbury scene. Scottish Bakehouse’s breakfast sandwich is endlessly customizable and can be made gluten free.
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
Classic? Dante’s Inferno? The Fast Eddie? Choosing a burger at Atria can be tough, but there’s comfort in knowing you can’t go wrong. Whatever juicy gourmet combo graces your brioche bun, it will be rounded out with delicious details and all the right fixings (including Best of the Vineyard–winning fries). Fat Ronnie’s Burger Bar lets you build your burger à la carte. Enjoy it while taking in the bustling Circuit Avenue scene.
Best Caterer: V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons Catering & Party Design
508-560-4364, vhamlincatering.com
Runners-up (tie): Buckley’s Gourmet Catering
508-693-3318, buckleyscatering.com
Kitchen Porch Catering
14 A Street, Edgartown, 508-645-5000, kitchenporch.com
Too many cooks in the kitchen is a recipe for disaster, but the right combination of a head caterer, cooks, and support staff can turn a humdrum party into a fabulous fête. V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons has earned a stellar reputation for creative food, attentive service, and attractive displays that will wow your guests. Kitchen Porch excels with Island ingredients, while Buckley’s will keep you glued to the buffet tables with ethnic spreads from Hawaiian luaus to Mexican fiestas.
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
You know the chowder must be good if Martha’s Vineyard Chowder Co. can serve a non-traditional gluten-free recipe and still win top honors in a region where bowls of super thick, flour-laden chowder are so beloved. Chowder Co.’s lighter broth, made fresh daily, allows the quahaug flavor to better come through. Larsen’s Fish Market cooks up a chowder of the day using either mussel, clam, or lobster broth.
Best Sushi: Lookout Tavern
8 Seaview Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9844, lookoutmv.com
Runner-up: Mikado Asian Bistro
76 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-338-7096, mikadoct.com/vineyardhaven
Lookout Tavern has an impressively large menu – and half of it is devoted to sushi, so you know they mean business. From maki and sashimi to a chef’s special section boasting rolls with Vineyard names like the Tashmoo or South Beach, it’s a sushi lover’s dream. At Mikado Asian Bistro, the selection ranges from the classics to specialties like the Sexy Roll, made with lobster salad, mango, and avocado.
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
There’s nothing more New England than serving a clambake to a hungry crowd on a shimmering summer beach evening. Bill Smith’s Martha’s Vineyard Clambake Co. takes all the work out of a major feast: they bring the chowder, lobsters, clams, mussels, baby red bliss potatoes, corn on the cob, watermelon, and more. All you have to do is show up hungry. At Larsen’s Fish Market you can curate your own clambake by choosing from fresh-off-the-boat daily catches.
Best Cocktails: Alchemy Bistro & Bar
71 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-9999, alchemyedgartown.com
Runner-up: 20byNine
16 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-338-2065, 20bynine.com
Here’s a Vineyard conundrum: should you sip on gin with limoncello or rye with torched orange while taking in the scene from Alchemy’s second-story Main Street porch? How about something with tequila? Solve your conundrum with the Conundrum (Hornitos, muddled orange, black cherry, ginger, and fruit juices). The next big question you’ll face is how soon is too soon to order another. Bourbon and beer lovers flock to 20byNine, where the mix masters make their own infused spirits and syrups.
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
When you need coffee, you need your coffeehouse to be open. Every single day, from 6 a.m. until early evening, you can count on Mocha Mott’s to serve up a hot cuppa or a large iced. With locations in Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, it’s never too far to stumble in. In Edgartown, Espresso Love is a good choice for a strong brew.
Best Family Dining: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
Four generations have run Giordano’s Restaurant in Oak Bluffs, so they know a thing or two about keeping a family fed. There’s something for everyone, whether your tastes run to chicken fingers and spaghetti or baked haddock and veal Parmesan en casserole. Up the street at Offshore, adults rave about the dishes and house-brewed beer; kids like the house-brewed root beer and the invitation to toss their peanut shells on the floor.
Best Farm Market or Stand: Morning Glory Farm
290 Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, 508-627-9003, morninggloryfarm.com
Runner-up: West Tisbury Farmers’ Market
The Grange Hall, 1067 State Road, West Tisbury, wtfmarket.org
With a wide variety of homegrown vegetables and a kitchen that turns out first-rate breads, pies, muffins, cookies, and jams, Morning Glory Farm is a must-stop for stocking up on Vineyard flavor. Don’t miss the pumpkin festival in the fall or the strawberry festival in the spring. The West Tisbury Farmers’ Market is a quirky Wednesday and Saturday morning alternative. Fill your sustainable tote with Island greens, sheep cheeses, goat soaps, and fresh bouquets.
Best Sandwich: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Humphreys Bakery
Woodland Center, 455 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6518, humphreysmv.com
A sandwich joint that serves both pulled pork on a brioche bun and peanut butter and jelly on white bread claims the hearts of Best of the Vineyard voters. 7a Foods’ Liz Lemon sandwich (pastrami, turkey, Swiss, coleslaw, Russian dressing, and potato chips on rye) and the meatball sub (beef, pork, and ricotta meatballs with Parmesan cheese on a sub roll) are customer favorites. When you need a giant – and we mean giant – sandwich, only Humphreys Bakery will do.
Best Fine Dining: State Road Restaurant
688 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-8582, stateroadrestaurant.com
Runner-up: Atria
137 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-5850, atriamv.com
State Road Restaurant checks all the boxes for a fine-dining experience: a roaring fireplace, intimate tables, soft lighting, and attentive service. Oh, and the food is delicious too. The menu changes with the season, but continually puts fresh, local produce and proteins front and center. Atria serves “global comfort food” with nods to Asian and Mediterranean cuisines in the heart of Edgartown.
Best Fish and Chips: The Net Result
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6071, mvseafood.com
Runner-up: The Newes from America Pub
23 Kelley Street, Edgartown, 508-627-4397, kelley-house.com/dining
The Net Result knows how to deliver an “upper-scale” version of fish and chips: the fresh haddock is crisply fried and the fries are hand cut, served with a side of coleslaw and tartar sauce. Enjoy it at one of the outdoor picnic tables, or take it to go and savor it at home. At The Newes from America Pub, the thick fillets of beer-battered haddock will make you think you’ve been transported to an olde England isle.
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
What’s for dinner? That’s easy to answer at The Net Result, where you’ll find fresh fish ranging from Alaskan salmon to local striped bass, bluefish, and flounder. Don’t want to cook your catch? Check out the variety of prepared foods, like chowders, scallop plates, and seaweed salads, or grab sushi or something fried from the takeout window. At Larsen’s Fish Market in Menemsha, the fish comes straight from the nearby boats. There’s an impressive raw bar too.
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
Perfect French fries don’t just happen; they take work. The potatoes have to be hand cut and cold soaked, the better to achieve a crunchy-outside, creamy-inside texture. Thankfully, the folks at Atria know what they’re doing. Their fries regularly take top honors, plus they perfectly accompany their award-winning burgers. At Offshore Ale, it’s never a question of whether to order fries, but whether to get the regular or Parmesan-truffle variety.
Best Fried Clams: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: The Bite
29 Basin Road, Chilmark, 508-645-9239
Nothing screams summer in New England like a crispy clam strip. Grab a half-pint, pint, or quart to go from Giordano’s clam bar and savor them as you stroll around town. The Bite’s clam strips and bellies, served piping hot in a brown paper bag, are best enjoyed on nearby Menemsha Beach.
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: Vineyard Grocer
294 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2000, vineyardgrocer.com
Cronig’s Market has been providing Vineyarders with sustenance for more than 100 years. Sure, there’s all the usual selections – meats, cheeses, pantry staples – but it’s the impressive array of local veggies, organic items, and dairy products that really sets Cronig’s apart. Vineyard Grocer also specializes in organic items, as well as Brazilian specialty products, and has great rotating produce sales.
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
Home of lobster ice cream (yes, it’s real lobster) and just about every other house-made flavor you can think of, Ben & Bill’s is the center of the ice cream universe on Circuit Avenue in the early evening hours. In peak season there are more than fifty flavors on the board, with gelato, floats, and shakes too. Mad Martha’s attracts crowds in each of the three down-Island towns.
Best Island-Made Candy/Chocolate: Chilmark Chocolates
19 State Road, Chilmark, 508-645-3013
Runner-up: Murdick’s Fudge
21 North Water Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8047
5 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2335
Corner of Union and Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-7344, murdicks.com
There is simply nothing more Vineyard-y than Chilmark Chocolates. Shuffle down the line and pick out your favorites by the box. But before you make that trek up-Island, give a call to make sure they are open! Murdick’s is fudge nirvana, and does a lot of their business shipping confections around the world.
Best Lobster Roll: Grace Episcopal Church
Woodlawn Avenue and William Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0332 (Fridays, 4 to 7 p.m. through September)
Runner-up: Lookout Tavern
8 Seaview Avenue Extension, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-9844, lookoutmv.com
Some people want to add brown butter, tarragon, or chives to their lobster rolls. The folks at Grace Church know not to mess with a good thing. For more than three decades they’ve been serving up lobster rolls made with tried-and-true essentials: meat, mayo, and white pepper. The crowds have yet to complain. The Lookout prepares their rolls two ways: cold with mayo or warm with butter. Both are delicious.
Best Lunch: Little House Cafe
339 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9794, littlehousemv.com
Runner-up: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Little House Cafe has been called “a hidden gem,” and that’s no empty boast. Inside the gray shingled house is a creative menu filled with healthy salads and sandwiches to sit down or take out. Try the crispy fish tacos or classic falafel and an iced matcha green tea latte from the coffee bar. Ever wondered how a classically trained chef would tackle a tuna melt? Head to 7a to find out.
Best New Restaurant: The Sweet Life
63 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0200, sweetlifemv.com
Runner-up: Mikado Asian Bistro
76 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-338-7096, mikadoct.com/vineyardhaven
The Sweet Life isn’t new to the Island – it has a long list of devotees who come for the refined food served in a refined atmosphere under twinkling lights. New owners Hal and Erin Ryerson wanted to keep what’s special about the beloved Island restaurant, while introducing new local menu items like a striped bass crudo with rhubarb and chili and a Beetlebung Farm pork chop with red cabbage mostarda. By all accounts, it’s been a tremendous success. Connecticut’s Mikado Asian Bistro expanded to Vineyard Haven last year and quickly earned a devoted following.
Best Outdoor Dining: The Seafood Shanty
31 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8622, theseafoodshanty.com
Runner-up: Behind the Bookstore
46 Main Street, Edgartown, 774-549-9123, btbmv.com
Come because you’re hungry, stay because of the view. The Seafood Shanty offers some of the most picturesque outdoor dining on the Island, with views of Chappaquiddick, the Edgartown Lighthouse, and the bustling harbor from its newly updated deck. Behind the Bookstore is a cozy, calm hideaway tucked off Edgartown’s Main Street. Relax under the twinkling lights and sailcloth tent.
Best Package Store: Our Market
1 East Chop Drive, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3000, ourmarketmv.com
Runner-up: MV Wine & Spirits
17A Airport Road, Edgartown, 508-627-7557, mvwinestore.com
With a wide selection of beer and wine, Our Market is the packie of choice for many Islanders. Knowledgeable staff can help with a smart selection of bottled liquor. Convenience items and groceries are a help for those in a hurry. Skip the down-Island traffic for helpful staff and a good selection of wines and craft beers at MV Wine & Spirits near the airport.
Best Picnic Food: 7a Foods
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-4636, 7afoods.com
Runner-up: Black Sheep
18 North Summer Street, Edgartown, 774-549-9118, blacksheeponmv.com
7a has everything you need to pack the perfect picnic, from freshly made sandwiches to baked goods and gelato, plus there’s a mini market stocked with upscale salty snacks and cool drinks. Black Sheep offers gourmet cheeses and a constantly changing selection of packable entrées like grain salads, to-go sandwiches and salads, and marinated shrimp.
Best Pizza: Giordano’s Restaurant
18 Lake Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-0184, giosmv.com
Runner-up: Wolf’s Den Pizzeria
249 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, Edgartown, 508-627-9994
45 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9112, wolfsdenmv.com
Giordano’s has been handcrafting authentic Neapolitan pizza for more than sixty years. It’s safe to say they’ve got their recipe down. Pick your own toppings or try one of their four specialty pies. Want to grab and go? The pizza counter serves up slices hot, fast, and fresh. Wolf’s Den specializes in crispy crust and creative flavor combinations, such as steak bombs,
Big Macs, and Thai chicken.
Best Seafood Restaurant: The Seafood Shanty
31 Dock Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8622, theseafoodshanty.com
Runner-up: Home Port Restaurant
512 North Road, Chilmark, 508-645-2679, homeportmv.com
The Seafood Shanty sells seafood by the seashore – or, more specifically, by Edgartown harbor. Sit on the porch and order from one of the tried-and-true favorites, like the fisherman’s platter, which comes with fried haddock, scallops, clams, and shrimp. The Home Port excels at classic New England fare, like baked quahaugs and lobster pot pies. The outrageous sunset views come gratis.
Best Takeout: 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
After a long day at the beach you can’t be expected to stress yourself out making dinner. Instead, head to Giordano’s takeout window to grab some great food on the go. From lobster rolls and fish sandwiches to chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks, there is a little bit of something for everyone. At The Net Result, try the crab cake sandwich or a stuffed quahaug.
Best Vegetarian Meal: Little House Cafe
339 State Road Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9794, littlehousemv.com
Runner-up: Not Your Sugar Mamas Organic Cafe
Tisbury Marketplace, 79 Beach Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-338-2018, notyoursugarmamas.com
As any vegetarian knows, it’s no fun getting stuck ordering just sides. At Little House Cafe, there’s nearly too many options from which to choose. Since it’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and late lunch, and taco night), there are enough veggie-centric goodies to keep you full for the whole day. Not Your Sugar Mamas Organic Cafe’s slogan is: “We’re curating plant-based experiences for high-vibe living.” Translation: everything on the menu is veg-tastic.
Best Wings: Coop de Ville
Dockside Marketplace, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3420, coopdevillemv.com
Runner-up: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
Secure a seat at a harborside picnic table, grab a stack of napkins, and make a delicious mess while sucking down wings at Coop de Ville. Feeling brave? Try the newest flavor: New Orleans voodoo. Choose from flavors like teriyaki and salted caramel at Offshore Ale, where you can wash everything down with freshly brewed beer.
Best Year-Round Restaurant: Offshore Ale Co.
30 Kennebec Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-2626, offshoreale.com
Runner-up: Little House Cafe
339 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-687-9794, littlehousemv.com
When cold winter hits, Offshore Ale beckons with its warm interior, roaring fireplace, comfort food favorites, and home-brewed beer. Little House’s cozy dining room and exotic fare make for great breakfast, lunch, or dinner options year-round.
