Food & Drink 2023

BEST ICE CREAM

Photo: Kjeld Mahoney

Hornstra Farms

hornstrafarms.com

Runner-Up: Peaceful Meadows Ice Cream

Offering delicious homemade ice cream in a bucolic country setting, Hornstra Dairy Farm is a popular destination for families on hot summer days. One of the last working dairy farms on the South Shore, this family-run business is famous for its Grade A quality milk, dairy, and specialty food products, which are delivered to homes across the South Shore. The farm’s Dairy Bar window is open daily, noon to 6 p.m., from April through mid-October. Visitors can peruse the chalkboard menu, which lists a rotating selection of classic and seasonal homemade ice cream flavors. Favorites Include “Cow Tracks” (creamy vanilla ice cream with crushed peanut butter cups and fudge swirl), “Pasture Patty” (rich chocolate ice cream with cookie dough, chocolate chips and fudge swirl) and their famous frappes. Afterwards, kids can check out the resident herd of red and white Holsteins grazing in the pasture.

 

BEST DELI

Photo: Jack Foley

Previte’s Marketplace

previtesmarket.com

Runner-Up: Brant Rock Market

Family owned and operated since 1963, Previte’s Marketplace combines the best aspects of a neighborhood butcher shop, delicatessen and specialty foods marketplace into one. At the flagship location in Weymouth and new expanded marketplace in Hanover, customers can order a wide range of made-to-order sandwiches, from ham and cheese to hot pastrami. Their massively sized gourmet sandwiches (available in Hanover) are one of their specialty sandwich menu items. ​​Order the Tuscan Pesto Chicken Cutlet, Italian Caprese, or the Honey Ham with Cheddar–but you’d better be hungry.

 

BEST RESTAURANT CHEF

Douglas Rodrigues at Osteria Vivo Restaurant

osteriavivo.com

PHOTO: Kjeld Mahoney

Runner-Up: Clarke Peavey, Station Eight

Head chef and partner at Osteria Vivo Restaurant & Bar in Pembroke, Douglas Rodrigues puts a creative twist on classic Italian cuisine. Rodrigues grew up in Scituate and over the course of his career he has worked in kitchens across the South Shore and Boston. His experience at restaurants like Clio, Liquid Art House and Aquitaine influenced his modern and technical approach to crafting dishes. When Rodrigues got the chance to move “home” and partner with restaurateurs Jimmy Burke and Joanie Wilson, he jumped at the opportunity. At Osteria Vivo, customers rave over the lobster and oxtail bolognese, grilled piedmontese sirloin steak, and pasta al limone with dayboat scallops. The secret, says Rodrigues, is to always use the freshest seasonal ingredients.

 

 

BEST SEAFOOD RESTAURANT

Jake’s Seafood Restaurant

jakesseafoods.com

PHOTO: Kjeld Mahoney

Runner-Up: Haddad’s Ocean Cafe

Celebrating 75 years in business this year, Jake’s Seafood Restaurant in Hull specializes in serving delicious fresh-off-the-boat seafood. The restaurant features its own onsite fish market, which ensures that the chef is always supplied with the very best fish, shellfish and lobsters. Menu favorites Inc.lude a lemon garlic shrimp over fettuccine, Cajun swordfish over Greek salad and the fried fisherman’s platter. Guests can dine alfresco in the waterfront patio and watch boaters come and go from the docks.

 

BEST APPETIZERS

Salt Society

saltsocietyma.com

Runner-Up: Square Cafe Hingham

 

BEST BAGELS

Gunther Tooties

gunthertooties.com

Runner-Up: Atlantic Bagel & Coffee Co

 

BEST BAKERY

Veronica’s Sweetcakes

veronicassweetcakes.com

Runner-Up (tie): French Memories

Runner-Up (tie): Montilio’s Baking Company & Pizzeria

 

BEST BAR PIZZA

Poopsie’s

poopsies.food93.com

Runner-Up: Lynwood Cafe

 

BEST BARTENDER (INDIVIDUAL)

Kelly March at Polcari’s Bridgwaye Inn

polcarisbridgwayeinn.com

Runner-Up: Cassidy Dahill at The Parrot

 

BEST BEER SELECTION (RESTAURANT/PUB)

Flanders Field

flandersfield.org

Runner-Up: Speedwell Tavern

 

BEST BEER SELECTION (STORE)

Curtis Liquors

curtisliquors.com

Runner-Up: Board143

 

BEST RESTAURANT VIBE

ALBA on 53

albaon53.com

Runner-Up: Scarlet Oak Tavern

 

BEST BLOODY MARY

The Tinker’s Son

thetinkersson.com

Runner-Up: Yaz’s Table

 

BEST BREAKFAST

Strawberry Fair Restaurant

thestrawberryfair.com

Runner-Up: TOAST

 

BEST BURGERS

KKatie’s Burger

kkaties.com

Runner-Up: Wahlburgers

BEST CATERING

Lavishly Dunn Catering & Event Planning

lavishlydunn.com

Runner-Up: A Fork In The Road

 

BEST CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Board143

board143.com

Runner-Up: Station Eight

 

BEST CHINESE RESTAURANT

Tsang’s Village Cafe

tsangsvillagecafe.com

Runner-Up: Quan’s Kitchen

 

BEST CHOWDER

Polcari’s Bridgwaye Inn

polcarisbridgwayeinn.com

Runner-Up: The CabbyShack

 

BEST CRAFT COCKTAILS

Salt Society

saltsocietyma.com

Runner-Up: Station Eight

 

BEST CUPCAKE SHOP

Veronica’s Sweetcakes

veronicassweetcakes.com

Runner-Up: Cupcake Charlie’s

 

BEST DATE SPOT

Tosca

toscahingham.com

Runner-Up: ALBA on 53

 

BEST DESSERT

Fratelli’s

fratellilspastry.net

Runner-Up: Scale & Spoon

 

BEST DOUGHNUTS

Donut King

donutkingweymouth.com

Runner-Up: Coffee Shack

 

BEST FAMILY RESTAURANT

Stars On Hingham Harbor

starshingham.com

Runner-Up: Polcari’s Bridgwaye Inn

 

BEST FARM-TO-TABLE MENU

Rye Tavern

theryetavern.com

Runner-Up: The Farmer’s Daughter

 

BEST FISH ‘N CHIPS

The Tinker’s Son

thetinkersson.com

Runner-Up: Wood’s Seafood

 

BEST FOOD TRUCK

South Shore Taco Guy

southshoretacoguy.com

Runner-Up: Thyme Traveling Food Truck

 

BEST FRIED CLAMS

Haddad’s Ocean Cafe

haddads.restaurant

Runner-Up: Tony’s Clam Shop

 

BEST GLUTEN-FREE MENU

110 Grill

110grill.com

Runner-Up: Burtons Grill & Bar of Hingham

 

BEST HAPPY HOUR SPOT

The Range Bar & Grille

therangehingham.com

Runner-Up: East Bay Grille

 

BEST HOT WINGS

Speedwell Tavern

speedwellplymouth.com

Runner-Up: FETCH BBQ and Catering Company

 

BEST IRISH PUB

The Tinker’s Son

thetinkersson.com

Runner-Up: The Snug

 

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Mother Anna’s Restaurant and Bar

motherannaspembroke.com

Runner-Up: Mia Regazza

 

BEST JUICE BAR

PRESS Juice Bar

pressjuicebar.com

Runner-Up: Smoosh Smoothie & Juice Bar

 

LOBSTER ROLL

Green Harbor Lobster

Pound Inc.

greenharborlobsterpound.com

Runner-Up: Jake’s Seafood Restaurant

 

BEST LOCAL BREWERY

Untold Brewing

untoldbrewing.com

Runner-Up: Stellwagen Beer Company

 

BEST LOCAL COFFEE SHOP

Lucky Finn Cafe

luckyfinncafe.com

Runner-Up: SlackTide Coffee Roasters

 

BEST LOCAL DISTILLERY

Dirty Water Distillery

dirtywaterdistillery.com

Runner-Up: Boston Harbor Distillery

 

BEST LUNCH SPOT

Mae’s Sandwich Shop

maesmarshfield.com

Runner-Up: Crossroads Sandwiches

 

BEST MARGARITAS

Station Eight

stationeight-marshfield.com

Runner-Up: Lenny’s Hideaway

 

BEST MARTINIS

Station Eight

stationeight-marshfield.com

Runner-Up: Osteria Vivo Restaurant

 

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

El Sarape

elsarape.com

Runner-Up: Locales Tacos y Tequila

 

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

The Beth Kitchen & Bar

thebethhingham.com

Runner-Up: Osteria Vivo Restaurant

 

BEST OUTDOOR DINING

The Parrot

theparrothull.com

Runner-Up: East Bay Grille

 

BEST OUTDOOR RESTAURANT BAR

East Bay Grille

eastbaygrille.com

Runner-Up: Island Creek Oysters

 

BEST PIZZA

Mamma Mia’s

mammamias.net

Runner-Up: Peel Pizza Company

 

BEST PREPARED MEALS TO-GO

Alfredo Aiello Italian Foods, Inc.

aapasta.com

Runner-Up: Previte’s Marketplace

 

BEST RAW BAR

The Raw Bar at Island Creek Oyster Farm

islandcreekoysters.com/the-raw-bar-at-island-creek/

Runner-Up: Trident Galley & Raw Bar

 

BEST RIBS & BARBECUE

Sarcastic Swine BBQ & Restaurant

sarcasticswinebbq.com

Runner-Up: FETCH BBQ and Catering Company

 

BEST SANDWICH SHOP

Previte’s Marketplace

previtesmarket.com

Runner-Up: Crossroads Sandwiches

 

BEST SCENIC VIEW WHILE DINING

Mill Wharf

millwharf.com

Runner-Up: LOCAL 02045

 

BEST SOUPS

Mae’s Sandwich Shop

maesmarshfield.com

Runner-Up: PRESS Juice Bar

 

BEST SPECIAL OCCASION SPOT

Alma Nove

almanovehingham.com

Runner-Up: ALBA on 53

 

BEST SPORTS BAR

Cask ‘n Flagon

casknflagon.com

Runner-Up: The Fours Bar & Grill

 

BEST STEAK

Stockholders

stockholderssteakhouse.com

Runner-Up: ALBA on 53

 

BEST SUNDAY BRUNCH

The Tinker’s Son

thetinkersson.com

Runner-Up: Yaz’s Table

 

BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT

Fuji at WoC

fujiatwoc.com

Runner-Up: Salt Society

 

BEST TAKEOUT / CURBSIDE PICKUP

BARK BBQ

bark-bbq.net

Runner-Up: Mae’s Sandwich Shop

 

BEST TAPAS / SMALL PLATES

Galley Kitchen & Bar

galleyscituate.com

Runner-Up: Liv Creative Cuisine

 

BEST THAI RESTAURANT

Wild Ginger Thai Cuisine

wildgingermass.com

Runner-Up: Lime Leaf

 

BEST VEGAN / VEGETARIAN

Liv Creative Cuisine

livecreativecuisine.com

Runner-Up: The Green Light Hingham

 

BEST WINE LIST (RESTAURANT)

Uva Wine Bar

uvawineplymouth.com

Runner-Up: Tosca

 

BEST WINE SHOP

Bin Ends

binendswine.com

Runner-Up: Ralph’s Hingham Wine Merchant