Casual dining in Massachusetts is a tasty and fun option for families

Massachusetts > State > Dining & Restaurants > Casual Dining

Everyone -- perhaps especially families with children -- likes to dine at a casual restaurant, diner, or drive-in on occasion, particularly on a vacation. Massachusetts has plenty of great restaurants serving American and traditional New England food that serve inexpensive and good food.

Check out more great dining experiences at our VNE Blog!

Briar Barn Inn

101 Main Street Rowley, MA, 01969 Phone: 978-653-5323

Diners treated to creative regional classics served in a welcoming, light-filled space

Extraordinary dining in a rustic but elegant setting: That’s what awaits you at this inn’s on-site restaurant, Grove, at Briar Barn Inn. Both locals and guests have fallen in love with Grove’s open-concept, light-filled dining room, with hardwood floors and exposed beams. And they love the cuisine, too: seasonal menu offerings from an award-winning chef focusing on farm-fresh ingredients, inspired flavors and regional classics with creative twists. You might start your meal with street corn or an apple salad, moving on to cioppino or steak frites. Dessert might be a chocolate caramel tart or cinnamon bread pudding. Cocktails are classic, beers are local, and there’s a vibrant wine list. Weekend brunches feature breakfast pizzas, biscuits and gravy and Bloody Mary flights.

Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club

2907 Main Street (Route 6A) Brewster, MA, 02631 Phone: 508-896-9000 Toll-Free: 800-343-6074

So many options for great dining at this resort, everyone’s taste buds are bound to be rewarded

From lite bites by the beach to fancier feasts on an oceanview terrace, the restaurants at Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club have offerings to please the tastes of every diner. Enjoy a refined dining experience against a glittering bay backdrop at the Ocean Terrace, flavorful pub cuisine in the English-inspired Bayzo’s Pub, sip a regionally inspired cocktail atop the dunes at the fun Beach Bar, or share some delightful bites and drinks with the family under a tent on The Front Lawn. Don’t forget breakfast at the Irish-inspired Roscommon Room, or a sunny al fresco lunch overlooking the golf course’s first tee at the Line Tavern. Kids and adults also love the Shark Bah, serving up frozen drinks, ice cream and sandwiches near the pool.

Salem Waterfront Hotel

225 Derby Street Salem, MA, 01970 Phone: 978-740-8788 Toll-Free: 888-337-2536

Friendly atmosphere, waterfront location and great food – this pub has it all

At the Regatta Pub & Patio at the Salem Waterfront Hotel & Suites, the atmosphere is as delightful as the food. Enjoy inside dining in the warm, friendly pub, or have a bite and a brew outside on the patio. In the evenings, fire pits and fire towers provide a happy glow – and so do the varied menu selections. For lunch or dinner, start with pork pot stickers, mahi-mahi tacos or New England clam chowder. Entrees include a seafood Cobb salad, lobster roll, fish and chips and the popular Witch City turkey sandwich. Drinks include wicked rum punch or a season-inspired martini as well as a large beer and wine selection. There’s a special menu for kids at all three meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa

149 Main Street Historic Sandwich Village, MA, 02563 Phone: Toll-Free: 855-520-0550

From the tavern to the glassed-in conservatory, dining at this inn is an experience not to be missed

You have your choice of places for delightful dining at the Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa: And all of them are exceptional. Experience the fusion of regional and organic ingredients in the one-of-a-kind glass-enclosed Conservatory or by sunlight or moonlight in the Marshview Terrace or patio. Relax with a burger and a brew in the Tavern at the Inn, where Daniel Webster visited when it was a tap room. Or, enjoy candle-lit, fireside dining in the cozy Music and Webster Rooms. Savor tender prime rib as well as creative dishes inspired by the Cape’s bountiful seafood. The inn’s wine cellar has received the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence. And don’t forget dessert, with confections including carrot coconut cake and key lime pie.

Visit our sister property - The Cape Codder Resort & Spa

Deerfield Inn

81 Old Main Street Deerfield, MA, 01342 Phone: 413-774-5587

Classic New England dining experience at this inviting inn’s restaurant, tavern

Providing classic comfort food as well as innovative flavors to surprise your tastebuds, Champney’s restaurant and tavern at the historic Deerfield Inn offers that inviting New England dining experience. Seasonal dinners, lunches and breakfasts are based on what’s fresh from local farms, artisans and other purveyors. Choose chicken pot pie, slow-roasted turkey dinners, fish and chips or Norwegian salmon, among many exceptional entrees. Enjoy a creative cocktail by the fire or chat with guests and locals with a glass of wine or a local brew at the magnificent mahogany bar. Special nights have special deals on pizzas, burgers, oysters and prime rib, and there are a variety of budget-friendly family meals to go. Watch for special dining events like the yearly Robert Burns Dinner.

Greater Merrimack Valley

61 Market Street, Unit 1C Lowell, MA, 01852 Phone: 978-459-6150

Great options for delicious dining close to cultural venues in downtown Lowell

Dine in style – or, rather in one of many styles – near downtown Lowell’s cultural, historic and entertainment venues. Enjoy the ambiance, magnificent architecture and hand-cut steaks at Cobblestones in a building that dates back to 1859. Walk on cobblestoned streets to Fuse Bistro in the old firehouse building, where they specialize in upscale flavors in a casual setting. See why the locals love Worthen House Caffe, Lowell’s oldest bar, where Poe and Kerouac stopped by. The largest variety of Greek food in New England is served up at the Athenian Corner Restaurant, where there’s also Greek and Middle Eastern music and bellydancers on Saturdays. And it’s all about the hot java and wholesome American meals at Four Sisters Owl Diner, located in a vintage Worcester Lunch Car.

Hotel on North

297 North Street Pittsfield, MA, 01201 Phone: 413-358-4741

Come see why locals and guests are enjoying this restaurant’s craft food and drinks

At the Berkshire Palate restaurant, located just off the Hotel on North, craft food and drinks served in a warm, inviting atmosphere are the order of the day. You might start your meal with a creative cheese and charcuterie board, sweet potato confit or crispy calamari then move on to small plates or big burgers (try the roasted sirloin sandwich), or a margarita flatbread pizza. Go all-out with vodka sauce fettuccine, bouillabaisse, a nice ribeye or duck breast. The restaurant is committed to providing the freshest ingredients, locally sourced when possible, to please every diner’s taste. Choose from a variety of craft beers, wines and cocktails. Check the restaurant’s Facebook page for live entertainment offerings and “taproom takeovers” from local breweries.

Cape Codder Resort & Spa

1225 Iyannough Road Hyannis, MA, 02601 Phone: 855-861-4370

Creative, made-from-scratch cooking at this lively resort’s two restaurants

At the Cape Codder Resort & Spa, you’ll be able to see for yourself why locals and tourists have raved for generations about the Hearth ’n Kettle restaurant. The restaurant is known for its hearty, made-from-scratch cooking for breakfast, lunch and dinner (you’ll want to seriously consider the turkey dinner or Yankee pot roast). The resort’s other restaurant, the Grand Cru, is a great place to get a handcrafted pizza or creative Italian entree on the weekend. Stop in for a light bite or complete meal, a glass from the carefully selected wine list or a seasonal cocktail. There’s live jazz, blues and popular music, too. Another dining option at the resort: the Gazebo Cafe in the fabulous water park.

Visit our sister property - The Dan'l Webster Inn & Spa

Harbor Light Inn

58 Washington Street Marblehead, MA, 01945 Phone: 781-631-2186

Inn’s popular tavern a great place to enjoy a glass of wine, a bowl of chowder

New England favorites are served in a warm, inviting atmosphere at the popular Tavern at the Harbor Light Inn, in Marblehead’s historic harbor district. Local favorites on the casual-dining menu include New England clam chowder, shrimp cocktail and lobster bisque with sherry. Other delicious items range from burgers and Maryland crab cakes to a cheese and fruit platter perfect with a selection from an extensive wine list. The Tavern also serves beers, cocktails and cordials. The inn also features a hearty breakfast for guests, with rotating hot dishes like quiches and breakfast casseroles as well as freshly baked sweet breads, seasonal fruits and homemade granola. Weekend favorites include creme brûlée French toast and a fresh smoked salmon platter.

Mirbeau Inn & Spa Plymouth

35 Landmark Drive Plymouth, MA, 02360 Phone: 508-209-2626 Toll-Free: 877-647-2328

Multiple dining options at luxury inn and spa inspired by aura and menus of French bistros

Inspired by the creative menus and atmosphere of French bistros, dining at Mirbeau Inn & Spa Plymouth is both casual and elegant, with selections to please every palate and settings to delight every sensibility. The dining room of the Bistro & Wine Bar features seasonal, locally sourced options, from butter warmed split lobster tail to grilled rack of lamb and steak frites. Desserts include beignets, profiteroles and housemate sorbets. The bistro serves breakfast, lunch and dinner and a bountiful brunch on Sundays. The Garden Bar offers al fresco dining (try the champagne and grilled brochettes) among the inn’s Monet Pond and gardens. Other dining venues include the Aqua Terrace, solarium and, in season, outdoor shady spots under umbrellas. In-room dining is also available.
Mirbeau accolades include Forbes Travel Guide recognition, AAA Four Diamonds and Conde Nast Top 20 Resorts in New England and Top 100 Hotels and Resorts in the World.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace

1 South Market Street Boston, MA, 02109 Phone: 617-523-1300

Faneuil Hall Marketplace is Boston’s hottest, newest old spot for dining and entertaining. Full service restaurants include Ned Devine's Irish Pub, Salty Dog Oyster Bar & Grill, and Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville®, and merchants on the Collonade include Jen Lai Noodle & Rice, the Boston & Maine Fish Company, and Aris BBQ. It’s always a festival with free entertainment and incredible shopping.

Western Mass.

Cape Cod & The Islands

Central Mass.

Boston

North of Boston

South of Boston