ALFRESCO
EDITORS’ CHOICE (CASUAL)
SUNSET CLUB
PLUM ISLAND
Open on Plum Island since the summer of 2021, this largely open-air space from Starlite Management Company—the team behind Newburyport’s The Paddle Inn, Somerville’s Trina’s Starlite Lounge and Parlor Sports, and Boston’s Audubon—occupies the former Angie’s Service Station. In addition to unparalleled sunsets, the Sunset Club offers an international menu, including tuna poke, char siu BBQ wings, and fried fish tacos. Equally compelling is the restaurant’s selection of drinks, available both mixed and frozen. 4 Old Point Rd., Newbury, sunsetclubpi.com
EDITORS’ CHOICE (UPSCALE)
1606 RESTAURANT & OYSTER BAR
GLOUCESTER
Located within Gloucester’s Beauport Hotel, 1606 Restaurant & Oyster Bar enjoys sweeping views of Gloucester Harbor. Guests can also enjoy some of the most robust raw bar offerings around, including caviar service, a rotating daily selection of oysters, and conservas, or tinned fish. The restaurant’s seasonal crudo is ever-changing, drawing inspiration from the market and from the catch of the day. Views of Ten Pound Light, combined with some of the North Shore’s freshest seafood in a luxury setting, make 1606 a perennial favorite. 55 Commercial St., Gloucester, 978-491-5090, 1606restaurant.com
READERS’ CHOICE
THE DECK
SALISBURY
With an unreasonably good view of Newburyport’s distinguished shoreline, The Deck, in Salisbury, offers guests seasonal, casual dining in one of the best locations on the Merrimack River. A substantial menu of sandwiches, burgers, tacos, and appetizers is matched by The Deck’s drinks list, which includes on-tap beers from local breweries and cocktails that feature New England–made spirits. The restaurant also hosts live music events throughout late spring and summer on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
179 Bridge Rd., Salisbury, 978-499-4422, thedecksalisbury.com
BAKERY/BREAD
EDITORS’ CHOICE
HONEYCOMB
SOUTH HAMILTON
Lauren and Billy Moran opened this curated South Hamilton bakery—where croissants are often sold out by lunchtime—in 2017. In addition to a wide array of sweet-tooth–satisfying baked goods, the café also sells sandwiches, homemade baguettes, breakfast and lunch bowls, and even select retail items, like local honey, olive oil, and maple syrup. The full coffee bar and drinks bar serve everything from green matcha lattes to seasonal lemonade.
248 Bay Rd., Hamilton, 978-626-0014, honeycombhamilton.com
READERS’ CHOICE
A&J KING ARTISAN BAKERS
SALEM
A&J King Artisan Bakers, which opened in 2006, is named for owners Andy and Jackie King, bakers who met at the New England Culinary Institute. The couple is now responsible for a thriving Salem business (you can find their breads and pastries at local farmers markets, including Newburyport’s, on Sundays, and Marblehead’s, their largest); a cookbook, published in 2013; and a massive baking facility and retail store. A&J also has a newly installed stone mill and mills local grains for bread. 48 Central St., Salem, 978-744-4881, ajkingbakery.com
BBQ
EDITORS’ CHOICE
RUSTY CAN
BYFIELD
The Rusty Can brings traditional barbecue to Byfield at this casual spot that’s so inconspicuous that you might miss it at first glance. Pulled pork, St. Louis-style ribs, and chopped or sliced beef brisket all demonstrate a steadfast dedication to slow-cooked ’cue. But it would be criminal to overlook the stellar sides: mac and cheese, cornbread with honey butter, collard greens, and BBQ black beans, all part of what makes Rusty Can a can’t-miss experience. 6 Fruit St., Byfield, 978-462-1204, rustycanbyfield.com
READERS’ CHOICE
FLIP THE BIRD
BEVERLY
Come for the fried chicken, stay for the buttery biscuits, baby back ribs, and orange Fanta floats. At Flip the Bird, in Beverly, launched in 2019 by Torie Farnsworth and Anthony Marino, fried chicken devotees can choose between multiple sandwiches, all of which are served on buttered, grilled potato rolls. Heat-seekers should head directly to The Cry Bird, a ghost pepper–dipped version offered up with a red pepper jelly. To cool off, try the Southern-inspired sweet tea, made in house. 407 Cabot St., Beverly, flipthebirdfriedchicken.com
BREAKFAST
EDITORS’ CHOICE
RED’S KITCHEN + TAVERN
PEABODY
With its plentiful, affordable menu, Red’s Kitchen + Tavern in Peabody remains a North Shore favorite for the breakfast set. At Red’s, guests can order anything from a breakfast sandwich to any manner of Belgian
