There are now a number of great places to eat…but I caveat this with “in season,” because not all of them are open in the off season.  Here you go, in no particular order:

1. 1. Cockatoo Restaurant – check first, to make sure they are open this season, as they didn’t make it last year.  If Suzan opens up this is a great, casual place, on Oceanville Road, right on Webb’s Cove, serving authentic Portuguese food and some of the best mussels you will ever have.
      
   2. Stonecutters – good food, casual setting, right on the harbor, good prices.  Best fish tacos on the Maine coast, so they say.
   3. Fin & Fern – great pub atmosphere; excellent fish & chips.
   4. 27 Fathoms – newest addition; really good spot, right on the harbor, very good food and not outrageous pricing.  
   5. Stonington Food Company – convenient sandwich shop, and their ice cream shack is right next door.
   6. Burnt Cove Boil – want some lobster but don’t want to cook them yourself? Let Jake do it; outdoors, right on Burnt Cove, lobsters right off the boat and the sunsets are best around
   7. Aragosta – this is the island’s high class spot,  Beautiful place on Goose Cove and Devin’s artistry has won accolades and awards.   Bring your wallet to this one, perfect for a special occasion.
   8. Pilgrim’s Inn – under new ownership this year, so let’s see what they do.
   9. Deer Isle Music Hall & Barbecue – over on the west side, a wonderful barbecue dinner and some excellent music choices.  
   10. LDI Lobster – It stands for Little Deer Isle and that’s where it’s located, just this side of the bridge.  Probably the best lobster rolls around, acclaimed by Downeast Magazine.

Off island but some good nearby choices:

1. 1. Barncastle Inn – excellent food, bar and music in Blue Hill
   2. El el Frijoles – surprisingly outstanding mexican in Sedgwick
   3. Strongs – nice brewery, pub and food in Sedgwick
   4. Tinder Hearth – well known for extraordinary pizza, beautiful garden setting in Brooksville
   5. Brooklin Inn – beautiful, very classy dinner choice, in Brooklin
   6. Marlintini’s – good casual spot in Blue Hill
   7. Arborvine – higher class choice in Blue Hill
   8. Blaze – great classic pub in Blue Hill.
   9. Siam Sky – quite good Thai restaurant in Blue Hill

There are more choices further afield, such as in Ellsworth, about 1 hour from Stonington.