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.
6 listings
Marblehead, MA
Harbor Light Inn
58 Washington Street 781-631-2186Enjoy the dining experience at this Marblehead inn from morning to evening
You could say that dining at the Harbor Light Inn, in the heart of Marblehead, MA’s charming Harbor District, is a delightful experience from morning to night. Stay at the bed-and-breakfast inn and start your day with a complimentary continental breakfast buffet, with options from assorted quiches and hot breakfast casseroles to freshly baked sweet breads. Feeling a little hungry in the afternoon? There are sweet treats, coffee and tea in the dining room. After a busy day in Marblehead (you can walk to shops, galleries and restaurants), relax in the popular tavern, where classic bar bites like Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, New England crab cakes and buffalo chicken bites are served up with a full selection of wines, beers and cordials.
Deerfield, MA
Deerfield Inn
81 Old Main Street 413-774-5587Classic 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.
Salem, MA
Salem Waterfront Hotel
225 Derby Street 978-740-8788Friendly 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.
Rowley, MA
Briar Barn Inn
101 Main Street 978-653-5323Farm-fresh ingredients, regional favorites make for superior dining at post-and-beam restaurant
A delightful atmosphere and an inventive menu featuring farm-fresh ingredients have made the Grove restaurant at the Briar Barn Inn a favorite with locals and inn guests. The seasonal menu focuses on inspired flavors and regional classics served with a twist. A winter menu might feature everything from duck and steak grilled to perfection to fish and chips and spaghetti with clams. The cocktails are creative, the craft beers are local, and the wine list is vibrant. The restaurant itself, in a beautiful post-and-beam barn, is an important part of the dining experience, with a terrace for outdoor seating in warmer months. Grove also offers an extensive and delicious brunch menu on the weekends, with everything from sweet potato and sausage hash to mussels frites.
Worcester, MA
Worcester Art Museum
55 Salisbury Street 508-799-4406Art museum’s dining venues provide visitors with creative offerings, locations
Be inspired by art indoors and out when you dine at the Worcester Art Museum. The awe-inspiring Renaissance Court is the inviting location for the museum’s Cafe. Enjoy coffee drinks, pastries, fruit and a variety of lunch options surrounded by inspiring art and architecture in an immersive space. Try a Lebanese yogurt cup, a Korean cold noodle bowl, or a special salad or sandwich. Kids’ sandwiches are available. The cafe is open during regular museum hours. In the evening, unwind with drinks, music, a bit of art and nature in the summer beer and wine garden in the Stoddard Garden Courtyard and Lancaster Room. Wine, locally brewed beer and snacks will be served and flowers and houseplants offered from Sparkle on Park.
Boston, MA
Faneuil Hall Marketplace
1 South Market Street 617-523-1300Faneuil 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.