Restaurants in Hanover

Through the windows of Bridgeman's Restaurant's upper- and lower-level dining rooms, the churning blue sea entertains diners awaiting entrees of pasta, steak, and locally caught seafood. From their table they can also watch the open-theater kitchen to see cooks toss pasta and cut seasonal vegetables that are delivered daily. Or patrons can scope out Bridgeman's wine list, which features varietals from boutique vineyards in France, Australia, and Italy. In warmer months, Bridgeman’s invites guests to eat housemade ice cream and gelato on the outdoor, beachfront patio, using the sweet treat to convince merpeople to come ashore.

Nestled on a land bridge sandwiched between the Atlantic Ocean and the Weir River, Barefoot Bob's Beach Grill channels the vibes radiating from Nantasket Beach across the street to surround patrons with tiki-bar style. In a bamboo-lined dining room, numerous high-definition televisions cast a glow on waiters toting seafood samplers, where broiled fresh haddock and scallops buddy up to shrimp before stealing its lunch money, as well as surf 'n' turf combos with Black Angus steak tips crowned by three jumbo stuffed shrimp. Thin-crust pizzas customized to please taste buds comprise a shareable lunch, whereas sandwiches and wraps, such as the north carolina pulled pork with jalapeño-jack cheese and cider-vinegar-infused barbecue sauce, convince hands to never let go. In warmer months, an outdoor patio offers ample opportunity for palm-shaded alfresco dining and tossing table scraps to hungry-looking lifeguards across the street.

When Chef Mike Richardi vacations in Italy, he takes the opportunity to learn recipes, seek out new flavors, and glean inspiration for Spazio's seasonal menus. Though the recipes change to incorporate new Mediterranean and Italian influences, they always feature housemade pastas and breads as well as market-fresh seafood. Previous menus have included grilled cuts of pork tenderloin and lamb as well as wood-fired pizzas with toppings from the kitchen's selection of nine meats, vegetables, and minerals.

Named for the friendship of restaurateurs Abelardo Gallego, Manuel Vazquez, and Andres Cervantes, according to Wicked Local, Three Amigos crafts a menu of familiar Mexican specialties, each tailored to taste homemade by including fresh, natural ingredients, often from local sources. Seafood dishes abound as morsels of shrimp and scallops take on traditional south-of-the-border spices in the form of chipotle, jalapeño, and poblano peppers. Meanwhile, five styles of enchiladas swim in colorful sauces including the signature mole, which RocklandNews.com calls "punchy" and "genuine" with "plenty of sweet and savory flavors." Ten types of margaritas extinguish mouth fires caused by peppery spices and attempts to install rear molars with mood lighting, and a bevy of Mexican desserts crown meals in sweetness. In the dining room, soft lights illuminate vivid orange walls emblazoned with paintings of cacti, and curtain-lined booths lavish diners with a prime listening space for live music and standup comedy.

Situated across from Nantasket Beach on Boston's south shore, Daddy's Beach Club opens its doors every day of the year to fuse fresh food with live entertainment. The staff prepares wings, burgers, or the restaurant's calling card: New Haven-style thin-crust pizza. They hand-toss each pie, and—with 20 toppings available for customization—no two are alike, much like a snowman's tears. On most nights, Daddy’s Beach Club combines its food and drink with festive events, such as pool tournaments, open-mic competitions, and live music.

“Easy” may be in the name, but this restaurant’s inventive pizza combinations are anything but simple. The Bangkok pizza, for instance, arrives tableside topped with grilled chicken, stir-fried veggies, crushed peanuts, and a peanut Thai sauce, and the Beach Chair sports fresh mango-peach salsa, pineapple, and prosciutto under a portable sun. The creativity continues into dessert, when crusts hold gooey s’more fixings or daring heaps of Nutella, bananas, and caramel. And for those who prefer their crusts in more loaflike form, an array of subs and burgers can be customized to their hearts’ content.