Where to Wednesday: Nantucket Eats

This is a guest post! We are so happy to have Meghan back on the blog, this time sharing great Nantucket travel info. 

By: Meghan Wolf 
We were so excited to have Courtney and her family join us in Nantucket for the 4th of July this year! Things have definitely changed since Maggie visited a few summers ago. There are now five kids between us, which meant a few more early bird specials and a lot less napping on the beach (for the adults at least).

Nantucket is such a special place and I constantly have a wish list of restaurants that I want to try when we visit. Just when I thought I was making progress, the New York Times published 36 hours in Nantucket. Courtney has promised me that once Maggie can babysit, we’ll be able to hit the town more often 😉

There are a lot of great places to eat and drink on Nantucket, but these are my current favorites. If you have other suggestions, I’d love to add them to my wish list!

Coffee
Handlebar
If you love coffee, you’ll love Handlebar. You really can’t go wrong with any of their drinks, but I like their pour over a lot. Everyone is extremely friendly and they have muffins, yogurt and other kid-friendly snacks. I usually head to Handlebar when I need to get a few hours of work done, it’s an awesome little spot!

Provisions 
This is usually my afternoon coffee spot – I love their iced coffee and iced lattes! If you’re heading home on the ferry, grab a coffee and a sandwich.
Breakfast
Island Kitchen
This is our new favorite! It’s a little breakfast place that’s about a 5 minutes drive from downtown, so it’s somewhat off the beaten path. They make an amazing breakfast sandwich on Portuguese bread and they’re really accommodating to families.

Nantucket Bake Shoppe 
A must-do if you love donuts! Enough said.

Black Eyed Susan’s 
It can get a little steamy in the summer, but we love sitting at the bar and watching the chefs work their magic! This is the place to go if you’re looking for a classic breakfast – eggs, pancakes, hash browns, etc. This is also one of our favorite dinner spots, especially if you can snag an outdoor table. But make sure you bring cash –credit cards aren’t accepted.

 
Lunch
Something Natural
Probably one of the best sandwiches you’ll ever have. My personal favorites are the lobster roll and the cheddar and chutney. The chocolate chip cookies are also to die for. Make sure you pick up a loaf of bread while you’re there! If you call ahead, you can save a little time because the line is usually very long.

Club Car 
A classic Nantucket spot! I like the lobster roll and my husband likes the turkey sandwich. Come back later in the evening to sing along to live piano music.

Millies 
We love sitting outside at Millies for a late lunch. This is a great Mexican inspired seafood spot that also serves delicious drinks! It’s close to our favorite beach for Nantucket sunsets – Madaket beach.

Cru 
This is a great spot for lunch or dinner, but we like sitting outside for lunch the best. The food is incredible and the people watching is equally as good! Grab a glass of rose and watch the boats come into the harbor…you’ll probably never want to leave.

Dinner
Our favorites have definitely changed over the years and now that we’re parents we’re going to a few more early bird specials!

If you’re getting a babysitter, definitely pick up Steamboat pizza. Great for kids and even better for a late night parents snack.

Lola 41 
This is a great spot for groups because there is something for everyone. They have great burgers but also serve really delicious sushi. The tuna burger is my favorite though – it captures the essence of the restaurant perfectly.

Ventuno 
If you like Italian food, this is the place to go! The ambiance is great and it’s fun to grab a drink at their bar after dinner.

We didn’t make it to a few of the most popular restaurants this summer, but our family and friends recommend Station 21 and Nautilus. Both have a great atmosphere and really creative menus. Nautilus is more of an Asian inspired menu and Station 21 has small plates that uses local ingredients. Two other tried and true favorites are American Seasons and Chanticleer (in ‘Sconset, a must-see part of the island).

Drinks
Cisco Brewery
Everyone is welcome here – adults, kids and even dogs! And there is something for everyone – beer, wine, spirits AND food trucks. A lot of people rent bikes and ride out to the brewery, but you can also catch their shuttle from downtown.

There is also live music in the afternoon and on weekends. There’s tons of room for kids to run around and Connor loved the live music when we visited last winter. My favorite drink is the blue haired lady – a grey lady beer with a shot of blueberry vodka.

The Gazebo
You’re never too old for an afternoon dark n’ stormy! Leave your husband here while you shop…you’ll thank me later.

Dessert
Sweet Inspirations 
Chocolate lovers must stop here! We love their chocolate covered gummy bears and chocolate covered cranberries. They also have more traditional chocolate treats to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Petticoat Row
If you’re looking for more traditional desserts such as cookies or cupcakes this is the place to go!

Juice Bar
I know every vacation spot has an ice cream place, but believe me (cause I’m a dessert pusher) when I tell you that this is probably some of the best ice cream you’ll ever have. You’ll be lured in by the smell of homemade waffle cones, so make sure you set time aside because the line gets kind of out of control by mid-afternoon.