Cape Sea Grille Restauarant-Located Just 12 Minutes from the Carriage House Inn

Paula & Tim Miller
The Carriage House Inn

Doug and Jennifer Ramler, husband and wife are the owners, the chef & manager of one of our favorite seasonal restaurants in the area, the Cape Sea Grille. It’s only a 12 minute drive from the Carriage House Inn to the beautiful 19th century sea captain’s house. Located down a little side street that ends at the ocean’s edge, the street is occupied by beach homes so it has a relaxed summertime vibe.

We had dinner there this past week for our 24th wedding anniversary and we were once again delighted by the food, service and ambiance. We sat out on the porch with white linen table cloths, candles and fresh flowers, and felt immediately relaxed. I honed in on the deal of the century which is the 3 course prix fixe menu being served every night through June 12 (5-5:45pm on Saturdays). The prix fixe menu has a good variety of slightly smaller portions of their regular menu items such as rabbit confit ravioli in a brandy cream broth and grilled yellow fin tuna on a pineapple & basil couscous with fennel and garlic confit. I ordered the cornmeal dusted calamari on a mesclun salad with lemon-chili vinaigrette as a starter. The calamari were tender and paired well with the vinaigrette. For my main course I had a 1/2 pan seared Lobster with pancetta, potatoes, grilled asparagus & Calvados-saffron reduction. This is like an upscale lazy mans lobster but with tons of different flavors. This was a nice change from the typical drawn butter approach. For dessert I had the chocolate bread pudding, which decadent dense and rich. All 3 courses were $25. Tim had the same lobster but he ordered the larger portion, and for dessert he had the honey goat cheese crème brulee. This was divine with the small hint of goat cheese to add tang and honey to provide another layer of sweetness.

The service was professional yet not stuffy. There is good reason why Chef Doug was invited to cook at the James Beard House in NYC in 2006. His food is fresh and interesting and delicious. This a fabulous restaurant be it for a special occasion like our visit or a good well prepared dinner out with friends in charming atmosphere.

Easy Day Trips from the Carriage House Inn, Chatham to Provincetown

During the year at the Carriage House Inn in Chatham whenever we get some free time, we head on out to the tip of the Cape to Provincetown and find ourselves in a different lively and fun place. Anywhere on Commercial Street, the bustling main artery of Provincetown, you’ll see celebrities, some real (John Waters), some fake (that wasn’t Cher) and in the summer time lots of folks from everywhere. From the Carriage House Inn to P-Town is only 36 miles, but it can take about 55 minutes to drive route 6 as most of it is only one lane wide. But once you get there the views are awesome with water and the harbor on one side and the town on the other.

Some of our favorite things to enjoy on Commercial St. and in P-town are the art galleries, eclectic mix of retail stores, excellent dining, and if you are looking for adventure the whale watching excursions and tours of the natural sand dunes. For a real work out you can bike through the dunes on a paved path for bikers, hikers and rollerbladers. The path loops around and through this extraordinary terrain in the National Seashore, making it the best way to experience the dunes in the space of a few hours. For incredible views of the town and the bay climb the Pilgrim’s Monument’s 252 foot granite tower.

The Cape’s National Sea Shore extends from Chatham to the tip of the Cape and one of the best beaches for whale watching is Race Point Beach, the beach was recently listed as the sixth best beach location in the United States, and dramatic Race Point may be one reason why. Here the Cape Cod Bay waters meet wild Atlantic Ocean waves to create a roiling surge called "The Race." It's probably no accident that this beach contains the Race Point Lifesaving Museum But it is well guarded in season, has a bath house, and is an overall good location for sunning and swimming.

For dining we gravitate to the somewhat touristy Lobster Pot Restaurant, you walk through the kitchen to get to the dining area located on the water, there you will find very traditional New England seafood such as wonderful chowder and lobster rolls, but for people watching, interesting fare with a twist the Patio cannot be beat. The Patio Restaurant (owned by a friend of ours) and our favorite summer time haunt, the Patio’s menu features wonderful gourmet items such as lobster mac and cheese, and baked crab and shrimp. For completely authentic bakery goodies and aromatic coffees we head to the Portuguese Bakery, which has the most delectable treats. We love the sweet potato stuffed pastries. For a romantic dinner on the water the Red Inn has beamed ceilings, sunset views and an upscale menu. And then exercise — with great places to walk, bike and swim, Provincetown makes burning calories as much fun as consuming them.




Paula & Tim Miller
The Carriage House Inn

Free things to do on Cape Cod

Considering these economic times we thought it was a good moment to talk about all the free fun things to do in Chatham & Cape Cod....here are our favorites.Reserve your summer vacation now and take in a sunset, lighthouse tour, and ballgame!

1. Watch the sunset on Chatham's Lighthouse Beach-bring a blanket and cuddle together as the sun goes down
2. Band Concerts-Friday nights all summer 8PM at the Band Stand in Chatham, singing for everyone
3. Chatham Lighthouse Tours-Wednesdays all summer 1:30-3:30PM-proper foot ware required
4. Enjoy a Chatham Anglers Game-this is the Cape's baseball league, all games are free June 12-August 12, 2009
5. Cape Cod Rail Trail-enjoy biking on a paved bikeway that runs 28 miles from South Dennis to Wellfleet
6. Browse the shops of Main Street Chatham and take a peak in the Chatham Candy Manor where they make the world's best home made fudge
7. Whales-the best place to spot whales is off of Race Point Beach in Provincetown-bring your binoculars
8. Bird Watching-Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge located in Chatham
9. Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory-offers complimentary tours Mon-Fri from 9-5, taste the best local potato chips
10. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute-offers free tours of their behind the scenes science institute, M-F 10:30 and 1:30 late June early September
This is just a sampling of the many free things to do to enjoy the beauty and history of Chatham and Cape Cod.

Cape Cod and Chatham Maritime Days Festival Celebrate Rich Seafaring History

May marks the start of the 16th Annual Cape Cod Maritime Days festival. Held throughout the month of May, the Cape Cod Maritime festival celebrates the long and close relationship that Cape Cod has with the sea with various events held all over the Cape. The festival features a wide array of activities such as lighthouse tours, guided walking and kayak tours, boat tours,and lectures on boat building to name a few. Practically every day there are different things to see or do that emphasize Cape Cod's rich maritime history.

One of the highlights of the festival is Chatham's own Maritime Festival on Saturday May 9th. Hosted by the Women of Fishing Families, this community wide festival helps support the hardworking Chatham fishing community. Before the advent of tourism Chatham was first and foremost a fishing village. Fishing is still one the main businesses in the town. The festival kicks off with the blessing of the fleet at 9:30am at the beautiful town fish pier, then from noon - 7pm the festival moves to the Community Center where there is plenty of food and a raw bar with the freshest seafood you can find, music, and craft vendors. Besides the ultra fresh seafood the best part is the fishermans olympics where fisherman test their skills of the sea with clam shucking, boot tossing and harpoon throwing. This is great fun small town event that has deep roots. Additionally,there is a tour of the Chatham Lighthouse from 1PM-3PM on Saturday afternoon.