12 Great New England Road Trip Food Spots
From fried clams to grilled cheese, senior food editor Amy Traverso maps out some of the best places for New England road trip food — conveniently located right off the interstate.
By Yankee Magazine|Jun 09 2022|
The Tastiest Refueling Spots Off the Interstate
Photo Credit: Matthew BillingtonKnowing how easy it is to work up an appetite on long drives, Yankee food editor Amy Traverso recently compiled a list of favorite places to eat near New England’s interstates. Beyond serving up great New England road trip food, the winners also had to meet these criteria: (1) A location outside major cities and their parking hassles. (2) Operating hours that span at least two meals. (3) Menu with something for kids. (4) Setting casual enough for travel clothes.
12 Great New England Road Trip Food Spots
Sunny Day Diner | Lincoln, NH
This cute-as-a-button spot makes superb banana bread French toast and a road trip–worthy Reuben.
Red Hen Baking | Middlesex, VT
Some of the best breads in New England are baked here. Don’t miss the egg sandwiches and tartines.
King Arthur Baking Café, Bakery & Store | Norwich, VT
From bread, jam, and porridge to a perfect grilled cheese, this café has day-trippers covered.
Four Aces Diner | West Lebanon, NH
There’s a 1952 Worcester diner car hidden in this nondescript building, and its eggs Benedict and poutine are terrific.
Bob’s Clam Hut | Kittery, ME
While the menu is vast, it’s really all about the fried clams (ask for them “Bob’s style”).
Puritan Backroom | Manchester, NH
They claim to have invented chicken tenders, so you have to try them — either straight up or baked parmigiana-style.
Photo Credit : Matthew Billington
The Farm Table | Bernardston, MA
Several restaurants inside Kringle Candle serve brunch through dinner (hit the more casual Tavern for excellent flatbreads).
Publick House | Sturbridge, MA
The bread basket, with its cornbread and sticky buns, is the stuff of legend. So is the classic turkey dinner.
Modern Diner | Pawtucket, RI
You can’t miss with any of the many daily specials here, but we love the chouriço special and yummy custard French toast.
Rein’s Deli | Vernon, CT
Of course, the main route between NYC and Boston has a terrific deli. Love the matzo ball soup and corned beef.
Dottie’s Diner | Woodbury, CT
The doughnuts here are so beloved, their recipes are held like state secrets. Same with the plump, buttery chicken pies.
Clam Castle | Madison, CT
Come for fried fish and hot butter lobster rolls, then — if you time it right — catch a beach sunset at Hammonasset State Park.
What’s your favorite New England road trip food?
These “Editors’ Picks for Food Lovers” originally appeared in the May/June 2018 issue of Yankee.
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Add Arethusea Amano cafe to the list of freshly made pastries daily awesome salads and pannini great spot in bantam Ct
Best fried scallops and onion rings can be found at The Barnacle in Marblehead, Ma. Absolutely delicious and generous portions. Yum!
You left out the Travelers Restaurant (and bookstore) in Union, CT, just off I-84. Great food (I like their turkey dinner), and a used bookstore to boot.
Thanks for spreading the yummy news about Clam Castle on Madison Ct. Absolute favorite !! If only they would open one (many) in NJ !!
my favorite summer clam shack is two little fish in misquamicut beach…in westerly rhode island 🙂
best seafood around!
You forgot to mention red’s eats for the best lobster rolls in Maine on Route one in Wiscasset
Add Moody’s on route one in Waldoboro Maine for some of the best pies around
If you’re stopping in Sturbridge, MA, make it B. T.’s Smokehouse if you appreciate great barbecue. It is amazing – if you can get in!
LOVE B.T.s! They’re amazing and the best BBQ I’ve had!
I have to agree. Best BBQ ever
Porthole in Portland, Maine.
Best lobster Eggs Benedict anywhere. Bloody Marys are awesome, too.
If you’re looking for breakfast, the Cosmic Omelet in Manchester, CT is a great place to visit!
Blue Colony diner,exit 10 off interstate 84 in Newtown Ct…. amazing 24 hour Diner complex, around the clock 3shift mainstay for truckers and travellers.. virtually a self sustaining beehive of an operation where EVERYTHING is done on the premises ….the eighth wonder of the diner world…. gotta try it.
No one can forget the clams served at the Clam Shack in Ipswich Ma. Large amounts and yummy.
Vero Cucino, Route 9 Middletown, CT. Bakes all their own breads for sandwiches! So child friendly they have a basket for free toys. Everything from pizzas to steaks and seafood. Every time we go we feel like family. A must try.
This list is wonderful for a roadside travelled! If you are in the Northampton, MA, I strongly recommend a visit to Captain Jack’s Roadside Shack! All the food is great, but the high quality seafood is excellent!
When I was a kid there used to be seafood place called Jack August… I wonder if it is still there?
RT 1 Rye NH Petey’s the best seafood We drive up to NH to our daughters & that’s the first place we have to go & we go a couple of times while we are there & take a couple of quarts to go that we freeze in our RV for our trip home the best clam chowder & fried clams
The Red Parrot Restaurant, Newport, RI …the best Piña Coladas and the best coconut shrimp!!
The Fastnet Pub, Newport, RI…the best fish ‘n chips in New England! Crispy, crispy, crispy beer battered cod. Wash it down with a Smithwick’s or Guinness on a Sunday night and catch the live Irish Music Session. An authentic Irish Pub ambience.
Haraseeket Lunch and Lobster, Freeport, ME…Fresh catches right off the dock!! A quintessential Maine harbor dining experience and you get a hearty portion at a great price!
Jordan’s Diner, Bar Harbor, ME…busy place but GREAT for breakfast!! Huge, fluffy blueberry pancakes and great coffee served in those delightful, contoured diner mugs. It’s BERRY good!
Richardson’s Candy Kitchen, Deerfield, MA…the best chocolate on the east coast, I’m pretty certain. A must stop!!
Delicious fried clams at Conrad’s, Lunenburg, MA
You have not had a cold OR hot buttered lobster roll until you have had one at Cold Harbor Seafood in Enfield, Ct. There’s none to even compare! If I could put a picture in, I would !!
I second Petey’s in Rye. My go to place. Try fish chowder!
How can you miss Polly’ Pancake Parlor?? Great pancakes/breakfast and fantastic views!! Sugar Hill, NH.
It’s funny how everyone has their favorite place to eat when traveling. All that I can say is only in New England you can find some of the best road side eateries. So just take a road trip and enjoy, I know that my wife and I do every chance we can.
Add ‘BECKY’S’ in old port in Portland overlooking Casco Bay. Staff and food are excellent and love their mugs.
Two very good places —Casey’s Diner in Plaistow NH , and Eggy’s In Atkinson NH !!
Becky’s indeed !!
Too bad it’s 3 hours south of us 🙁
In fact, everything is south of us.