Here at Patch, we know Barnstable residents don’t just stay in town when they want a night out and a break from cooking.
Restaurant coming and goings, new business and the best dishes and recipes are among the items that have appeared on Patch sites across the South Shore, Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard during the past month.
Below is a look at the restaurant and food stories covered in May.
Barnstable-Hyannis
Restaurant Spotlight: Dog House Worth a Drive to Dennis Port
For more than 25 years, the Dog House in nearby Dennis Port has been a favorite of families and foodies alike. The seasonal stand is known for its Junkyard Dog, an open-faced sandwich toasted and topped with hot dog pieces, onions, peppers, cheese and bacon.
Restaurants from Falmouth to Wellfleet gathered in May to offer three- and four-course menus ranging in price from $25 to $35 in honor of restaurant week, which featured more than 30 Cape Cod restaurants, including Anejo Mexican Bistro in Falmouth, the Black Cat Tavern in Hyannis and the Ocean House Restaurant in Dennis Port.
Local Teens Start Hot Dog Truck
Four teens from the area worked to start a hot dog truck at Cape Cod Beer, in a new venture called Cape Cod Dawgs.
One Barnstable Restaurant Fails Health Code Ratings, 10 Earn 'Cs'
The International Inn Bar and Grill was placed on probation in May, receiving an "F" in Barnstable's Health Rating System. The Health Department will subsequently monitor the International Inn, as it failed to meet minimum sanitation standards. Find out what ratings other restaurants in the area received in May.
Sea Street Café Hosts One Fund Day
Sea Street Café Owner and Chef Michael Hamwey was born and raised in Boston and felt compelled to help in any way he could after the tragic events last month in Boston.
Before moving to Cape Cod, Sea Street Café Owner and Chef Michael Hamwey worked as the food director at the John Hancock Tower and would cheer on Boston Marathon runners from Boylston St. each year. That connection was what made Hamwey decide to donate 50 percent of Sea Street Café’s restaurants sales Saturday May 4 to the One Fund Boston.
Martha's Vineyard
Watch: Roasting Coffee on Martha's Vineyard
For more than 20 years, the coffee-roasting machine at Tisbury Farm Market has been on the job, producing about 25 pounds of coffee beans each day. Watch this video to find out how dried beans are transformed into aromatic coffee.
New Café Opens Thursday in Edgartown
Located in what was once the original home of Espresso Love, new cafe Tocco Puro opened in May, and is owned by the proprietors of Pure Touch Salon.
The shop is intended to operate year-round, offering organic coffee beans, as well as fair trade offerings, for purchase along with carry-out food offerings.
Flatbread, Lobsterville Hold Season-Opening Events
Two more seasonal Martha's Vineyard restaurants opened their doors in May: Flatbread Company on the Edgartown side of Airport Road and Lobsterville Bar & Grillon the Oak Bluffs waterfront.
Both establishments invited customers to special events celebrating the start of the 2013 season.
Chef Becomes Manager at Oak Bluffs Eatery
The man in charge of the cuisine at Red Cat Kitchen at Ken'n'Beck in Oak Bluffs is now the restaurant manager, following approval by town selectmen in April.
Wine, Beer OK'd at Martha's Vineyard Airport Restaurant
Both the Martha's Vineyard Airport Commission and the West Tisbury board of selectmen approved a beer and wine license for the Plane View Restaurant at the airport in May.
11 Edgartown Restaurants Inspected
Find out what restaurants were inspected and get the results in this month's roundup on Martha's Vineyard Patch.
Edgartown Restaurants Welcome Patrons
Seasonal restaurant Detente in Edgartown's Nevin Square began serving dinners nightly this month, while Eleven North invited customers to a "meet and greet" with recently-hired chef John Welch.
Plymouth
South Shore, Cape and Islands Beer Week Takes Place in Plymouth
For those who love craft brews, restaurants and the like, South Shore, Cape and Islands Beer Week delivers.
A number of establishments featured beer specials or specific breweries during the first week of May. Participating restaurants and pubs included The Office Bistro, British Beer Company, T-Bones Roadhouse, The East Bay Grille and Cabby Shack, among others.
17 Plymouth Restaurants Inspected in May
Food service inspector Joseph Murphy went to 17 Plymouth restaurants and food service locations across Plymouth in May. Most of the locations received passing grades, but a couple had some issues. Find out which ones in the most recent report.
Screaming for Ice Cream in the Pinehills
Nothing says summer more than a drippy ice cream cone and Plymouth's newest ice cream shop that recently opened for business.
Let's Scream 4 Ice Cream opened May 4 in the Pinehills Village Green. The shop offers more than just 18 flavors of ice cream, according to owner and Plymouth resident Anthony Apicella.
Hingham
A Look Inside Hingham Shipyard’s Newest Restaurant
South Shore Owners Chris Tocchio and Kristian Deyesso recently opened their new restaurant Union Fish Seafood & Raw Bar in Hingham. Tocchio from Plymouth and Deyesso from Norwell, each have strong local ties and are each excited to now have two restaurants on the South Shore.
Legal C Bar, a Legal Sea Foods brand, officially opened at the Derby Street Shoppes in Hingham this past month. From the bar, Legal C Bar features 19 signature cocktails that range from Blueberry Thyme Collins to Pineapple Coconut Smash and a trio of Sangria options.
Hingham Brigham's Asks Fans to Share Their Photos
Before Brigham's in Hingham Square becomes Patti's Place, the eatery is asking customers to share their memories and photos of the ice cream store. Brigham’s has been operating in Hingham since 1954 but owner Pat Halliday has been forced to change its name and ice cream.
List of Restaurants at Taste of Hingham 2013
Taste of Hingham was held in Hingham Square in May, with several businesses offering food, including Bare Cove Café & Catering, Stars on Hingham Harbor, The Corner Meat Shop and The Fresh Market, among others.
Stone Hearth Pizza Opens at Hingham Shipyard
Pizza made a return to the Hingham Shipyard in May. Stone Hearth Pizza Co. held its grand opening, and is serving lunch and dinner. The restaurant, which has locations in Allston, Belmont, Cambridge, Needham and Winchester, fills the void left in both the storefront and the pizza category when Pizzapalooza closed two years ago.
Wahlburgers’ New Burger to Benefit Boston Marathon Bombing Victim
Wahlburgers announced in May that it planned to donate 30 percent of all proceeds from their newest burger to the family of Martin Richard, who was killed in the Boston Marathon bombing in April. The Hingham restaurant’s new burger is named "Originally from Dorchester", which is where Chef Paul Wahlberg and his family were raised. Richard also lived in Dorchester.
Union Fish Opens Today at the Hingham Shipyard
Union Fish Seafood & Raw Bar opened in May at the Hingham Shipyard, and offers an indoor dining room, a full service bar and al fresco patio seating. The restaurant seats a total of 70 patrons and its menu includes signature seafood dishes such as Pan Roasted Striped Bass with Bacon, Brussels and crispy Shallots and Baked Local Haddock with a Leek and Crab Crust over Potato Puree.
Bertucci's Hosts Bocce Tournament
Bertucci's in Hingham on Derby Street hosted a bocce and beer event and happy hour from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 30.
Chipotle Gives Back to Hingham Schools
Chipotle Mexican Grill donated 50 percent of its proceeds on May 1 to the Hingham Education Foundation.
Weymouth
What Should Replace Main Street Pizza?
Main Street Pizza, Deli, Subs and More is vacating 409 Washington Street, leaving an opportunity for a new business in the store front. The new Main Street Pizza will replace Caswell's Seafood at 380 Washington Street. Caswell's was open for 40 years before closing its doors in January 2013.
Braintree
Japanese Restaurant at Plaza Receives Beer and Wine License
A re-submitted application to serve beer and wine at Wasabi at the South Shore Plaza was looked upon more favorably by Braintree officials in May than when the Japanese restaurant withdrew its request for a license last September. Three board members present voted to approve the Wine and Malt Restaurant License after a revised presentation by attorney Carl Johnson.
Who Makes the Best Sandwich in Braintree?
With so many things that can be put between two slices of bread or into a sub roll to make such classics like tuna, turkey, grilled cheese, a cheesesteak or the classic PB&J, Braintree Patch asked readers this month who they felt makes the best sandwich in all of Braintree.