Cape-Cod-LIFE

Destination Dining

Cape Cod Life  / July/August 2026 /

Writer: Leslie Hatton

 

Destination Dining

Cape-Cod-LIFE

Cape Cod Life  / July/August 2026 /

Writer: Leslie Hatton


Cape Cod is increasingly drawing crowds eager to experience the viral food and drink sensations that have captured the internet’s attention.

We all know Cape Cod has long been a vacation destination for people who have packed their cars to the brim in the pursuit of sunshine, rolling waves and the promise of summer fun and relaxation. But lately, there’s more reasons why visitors and locals alike are lining up. And it’s not for a beach pass, it’s the social media buzz caused by the hype over some inventive, delicious and maybe even over-the-top food and drink creations that have become local attractions in their own right. Patrons are now singularly focused, guided by Google maps, TikTok recommendations, and lists of “must-try” items that have become destinations across our stretch of sand.

Fin

In an online article by Bake magazine, Brian Amick shared that the restaurant marketing agency MGH showed results of a survey highlighting TikTok’s growing influence on dining decisions, finding that many users are “willing to travel farther and spend slightly more at restaurants that they discovered on the platform.” A leading digital publication, Restaurant Dive concurs: “Someone sees a video featuring a new menu item, checks the comments to see if it passes the vibe check and then opens an app to order or gets in their car to go try it. They then share their thoughts online, influencing a whole new set of people.” 

Let’s face it, the internet has changed virtually all the ways we all connect with food. Where we used to tear recipes we wanted to try out of magazines, we now often find and share them through some form...

Want to read this article and more?

Subscribe today to our Digital Edition to gain full access to this article plus every issue of LIFE or HOME for only $9.95.

Leslie Hatton

Leslie (Horne) Hatton enthusiastically joined Cape Cod Life in October of 2022. Educated in Mashpee and Falmouth, she graduated from Assumption College and received her Master of Education degree from Lesley College. A former teacher, she has taught middle school, preschool and most recently, fifth grade. She and her husband Tom have three children: Aidan, Colin, and Erin. Their newest family member is Millie, an outgoing, outrageously happy chocolate lab. She loves to talk about all of them so better not ask. One neat tidbit about Leslie is that she is the author of the locally best-selling children’s book Cape Cod ABCs, with over 10K books sold on Cape Cod, the Islands and across Massachusetts. Happiest in the summer with a little sun on her face, she loves being with friends and her family, laughing, drinking and eating all over beautiful Cape Cod.