Gabrielle’s Guide to Outdoor Dining in the 02043: The Anchor Makes It Easy!

June 11, 2021 by Gabrielle Martin

If the ongoing heatwave is indicative of anything, it suggests the transition of seasons and the much-anticipated arrival of summer—which also signifies the return of outdoor dining, sans heat lamps and multiple layers!

It’s true that many restaurants maintained outdoor dining practices throughout the fall and winter to comply with COVID-19 social distancing and spacing guidelines, but eating outside really hits its stride in the summer—the days are longer, plus the weather is much more mild, meaning no blankets, bulky sweaters, or mental preparation for braving the elements to enjoy your meal necessary.

Our heavenly hometown of Hingham has a wealth of incredible eateries to choose from; in this article, Lifestyle Contributor Gabrielle Martin has compiled a comprehensive guide of options for your deck and outdoor dining needs in the 02043.

Alma Nove: Located at 22 Shipyard Drive, this trendy and modern Italian-Mediterranean eatery is owned by the Wahlberg family and named for its matriarch, Alma, and her nine (nove) children. 

• Mondays through Thursdays, 2:00pm–8:00pm
• Fridays, 2:00pm–9:00pm
• Saturdays, 11:00am–9:00pm
• Sundays, 11:00am–8:00pm

Bertucci’s: This family-friendly chain of American restaurants, originally founded in Somerville, Massachusetts in 1981, specializes in serving pizza and other Italian-inspired dishes. The Hingham branch of Bertucci’s is located at 90 Derby Street and currently offers outdoor dining on their spacious patio, open daily from 11:00am-9:00pm; reservations are not required but can be made in advance by calling (781) 740-4405.

Boathouse Bistro & Pizzeria: Located in the Hingham Launch, this bustling bistro boasts “the finest, freshest, authentic Italian cuisine on the South Shore” and offers outdoor dining during their hours of operation (11:00am-10:00pm); reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (781) 749-3777.

In addition to a lavish lunch spread, darling dinner entrees, and upscale cocktails at affordable prices, the Boathouse Bistro also has a delicious deal for you: on Mondays through Wednesdays, you can order an appetizer, two entrees, and one bottle of wine for just $50! What better way to start your week?

Burtons Grill & Bar: This upscale bar and grill chain features an extensive menu of American fare in a chic setting with excellent service, making this the perfect spot for shoppers and locals. Reservations for outdoor dining can be made by calling (781) 749-1007 or using Yelp. Their hours of operation are a follows:

• Sundays through Fridays, 11:30am-9:00pm
• Saturdays, 11:30am-9:30pm

Cafe Tosca: A fan-favorite around town, guests of Cafe Tosca can count on contemporary Italian fare and familiar dishes served in a cozy setting; their patio seating is especially whimsical due to the restaurant’s proximity to Hingham Harbor and the dozens of string lights wound around each tree trunk on their lush, shaded patio.

Reservations can be made by calling the restaurant at (781) 740-9400; they ask that you please keep in mind, when reserving a table on the patio, that the weather is constantly changing and unfortunately, they cannot guarantee they will be able to accommodate your party inside should the weather prove to be unfavorable.

Greenside Grille: This eatery, which opened its doors in 2011, overlooks the gorgeous green grounds of the South Shore Country Club, making it a perfectly picturesque place to spend an afternoon or evening! Enjoy the Grille’s upscale Italian-influences cuisine and a pub fare menu in a scenic spot.

Their patio is open for outdoor dining daily from 11:00am to 9:00pm, and, of course subject to the elements. Reservations are recommended, especially on weekends.

Legal C Bar: Located in the Derby Street Shops, Legal C Bar is an industrial-chic spinoff of Legal Sea Foods that pairs fish and sea-focused fare with specialty cocktails and wines. This casual and social venue provides customers with a contemporary, comfortable experience and now offers outdoor dining options (weather permitting) on a daily basis; their hours of operation are 11:30am-9:00pm.

With the warmer weather, be prepared that Legal C’s patio is “a popular lure.” Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (781) 556-0010 or booking via OpenTable.

The Range: This spacious, sporty bar and grill can be found at 306 Whiting Street and offers visitors an assortment of excellent pub grub, local tap brews and craft cocktails, plus a patio on the driving range. The Range is the perfect place to get a bucket of balls, have some drinks, and enjoy a good meal with family or friends; please note that they do not take reservations, but you can join the waitlist by visiting https://www.buzztable.com/widget/the-range-bar-grille.

Scarlet Oak Tavern: The Tavern is a favorite of Anchor co-founders Hilary and Laura, and it's no wonder why: this go-to gathering spots offers simply divine steakhouse fare with an upscale ambiance, lively lounge, and large wine list; this is the perfect place to conduct business, catch-up with an old friend, or reconnect with your family after a busy day!

The Scarlet's outdoor dining, which overlooks Queen Anne’s Corner, is first-come, first-serve, open daily starting at noon.

• Sundays and Mondays, 12:00pm-8:00pm
• Tuesdays through Saturdays, 12:00pm-8:30pm

The Snug: Home of the Perfect Pint, the Snug serves a combination of traditional Irish dishes and homemade soups as well as pub food favorites; this festive tavern, which is open daily starting at 11:30am, has set up an outdoor dining oasis behind its Downtown storefront that makes for the perfect place to pass an afternoon.

Dine and drink on a drink patio with plenty of shade that faces the other Downtown storefronts as well as a historic mural! Reservations are not required but can be made at (781) 749-9774.

Square Cafe: This beautiful 80-seat boutique-style restaurant is settled right on Hingham Square, serving French-accepted fare with an atmosphere of intimacy and elegance. Enjoy the upscale ambiance and scenic sidewalk seating; reservations can be made by calling (781) 740-4060.

• Lunch is served Mondays through Saturdays from 11:30am-3:00pm
• Dinner is served Sundays through Thursdays from 5:00-9:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays from 5:00pm-1:00pm

Trident Galley & Raw Bar: As you may have guessed from the nautical name, Trident serves an assortment of seafood small plates as well as chops and a highly raved about raw bar as well as beer, craft cocktails, and wine.

At Trident, the warm, welcoming atmosphere is complemented by the restaurant’s effortlessly cool vibe; their outdoor dining area is situated on the cobblestone pathways leading to the Launch at Hingham Shipyard, offering delicious dining paired with blissful and bustling waterside ambiance.

Their hours of operation are:

• Mondays through Fridays, 12:00pm-10:00pm
• Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00am-10:00pm

The Quarry Restaurant & Lounge: The restaurant’s “rustic-meets-refined” menu changes with the seasons; Chef and Proprieter Greg Jordan reinvented the eateries’ offerings depending on the harvest and what’s in season; they also have been recognized numerous times by Wine Spectacular and given the Award of Excellence, a national recognition that distinguishes the Quarry’s wine collection from others in the area.

The patio at the Quarry offers an extension of the elegant and iconic granite building, providing a glorious and shady lakeside escape from the elements. You can book a reservation on their website, https://www.quarryhingham.com; they are open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 4:00pm to 9:00pm.

Wahlburgers Hingham: The original location of the Walhberg brother’s counter-serve burger chain has been open and operatinout of the Hingham Shipyard since 2011; in the summer months, they open their “Sipyard” seating overlooking the harbor, open daily from 11:00am-9:00pm on a first-come, first-serve basis.

This outdoor dining option only adds to the family-friendly restaurant’s impeccable atmosphere. The “Sipyard” seating is the perfect place to enjoy a casual meal with family and friends, sharing laughs over good food, where you can count on fresh ground beef burgers and a healthy helping of heartfelt hospitality.

We are so fortunate to have such a well-developed, diverse dining scene here in Hingham, and fortunate to have weather nice enough where we can eat outside in the sunshine, breathing in the seaside air of our little waterfront town. Wherever you go, don’t forget the sunscreen!