Leonessa
Cape Cod’s coolest dining destinations
by Patrick Flanary
Photos by: Christine Hochkeppel
This popular location on Route 6A roared all winter without shutting its doors. “We’ve never slowed down,” says General Manager Taylor Amara. The approach? No familiar Italian fare. Instead, the dishes are Italian inspired (like the steak au poivre), with the menu drawing from the homeland and beyond. You’ll have to come back if you want to keep up—Chef Diego Mota (formerly of Bluefins Sushi in Chatham) reinvents his menu seasonally to keep things interesting.
leonessacapecod.com
43 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port | 508-744-7831
FLAVOR:
A sugarcane-marinated pork chop doesn’t exactly scream “Italy,” and that’s the point. Chef Mota is constantly churning out scratch recipes that know no borders. Any room left for liquid dessert? Go for the caffè corretto, an espresso with grappa.
VIBE:
No Andrea Bocelli here. More of a modern, quaint feel, with plenty of elbow room and just the right lighting. Settle in for a full-course experience, and don’t miss the wine lounge.
