Visit to the Good Friends Cafe: Voted Best Breakfast in Massachusetts. Stopped by West Dennis Beach, Cute Gift Shop, Huge Victorian House, and bought a cool Mermaid for the Zandy Castle

Earlier this year I wrote about a diner fairly close to the Zandy Castle that was voted the Best Breakfast in Massachusetts. As we were in town to visit the Castle and get it ready for the summer season, we decided to give the Good Friends Cafe a try. It took us 35 minutes to get there from the Zandy Castle with very little traffic.

Since this is February, probably the slowest month of the year in terms of tourism, the Cafe was not crowded. There is plenty of onsite parking - which is a plus as many Cape Cod diners only have on street parking or tiny parking lots. That is the first check in the right-hand column.

Good Friends Cafe in West Dennis outside

The exterior paint color is in a coastal seafoam green with white trim and fencing that looks homey and welcoming. Inside the decor is a coastal theme. Very tasteful without being overdone. Much of it highlights the soothing seafoam with accented teal, coastal pillows and art, with shiplap on the walls. All very Cape Cod looking!

Indoors at the Good Friends Cafe in West Dennis with logo items for purchase

Coastal decor and waiting benches. Free coffee is offered to those waiting

While you wait (there was no wait today) there are benches that seat at least 20 people inside. I am told those waiting will receive a free cup of coffee. There is a little shop of items with name and logo of the diner. Our very knowledgeable waitress, Margaret, told us that the owner put a lot of thought into the decor and this was just refreshed about 2 years ago. Outside there is another bench to sit while you wait. The diner does get busy on weekends and anytime during the summer season. Fortunately, we went off-season and during the week.

The inside appears to seat about 50 patrons. Something fun they do is the name of the day. If you have that name, you will get free coffee. This is changed each morning.

Inside the Good Friends Cafe and the Name of the Day for free coffee!

The standout items to me are their homemade grilled breads. These flavors change daily, they had cranberry-apple, raspberry-pear, apple-walnut and several others. The also have Oreo French toast which I think is made from the grilled breads and is on both the Kids and Adult menus. All French Toast orders can be made on their regular bread or upgraded to the flavored grilled breads. The same with regular toast. WELL worth doing as the homemade grilled breads are phenomenal! For $2 you can also upgrade to pure maple syrup.

They make homemade muffHins with the flavors changing daily and Homemade Corned Beef Hash. I love Corned Beef Hash but find it can be hit or miss. I don’t like peppers in mine, this does not have peppers but is delicately flavored with onion and garlic. I hesitated about getting some, especially since my dining companion does not care for it.

To my suprise and utter delight, our waitress, Margaret, brought us a half order of Corned Beef Hash and Home Fries on the house. The half orders were a good size so I imagine the full orders are quite substantial. Let me say the Homemade Corned Beef Hash has was the BEST I HAVE EVER HAD!! The flavor was different than any other place I ordered this dish from.

Complimentary Half Order of Homemade Corned Beef Hash and Homefries

Another popular item is the Monte Cristo ham, turkey, & swiss on grilled cinnamon egg batter-dipped HOMEMADE white bread & their own cranberry jam (yum! ). Though I love a good Monte Cristo sandwhich, I will save it for next time. Another guest favorite is the Grilled Cornbread Bacon Benedict, topped with their “kicked up” hollandaise sauce & served with home fries or fresh fruit. This was sold out by the time we got there, definitely something I plan to try during a future visit.

I ordered the French Toast with the upgrade to the apple-cranberry griled bread. There is a fruit garnish of apples, fruit in the middle of the folded bread and in the bread itself. It is, however, very different than “stuffed french toast” with a unique flavor all its own. My dinner guest, ordered the same except he got the raspberry-pear grilled bread. Absolutely phenomenal!! We both understand why this place is voted so highly.

French Toast upgraded with homeade raspberry-pear grilled bread

French Toast upgraded with Cranberry-Apple homemade grilled bread

We asked Margaret about the area and just a 5 minute drive away is the West Dennis public beach and there were seals hanging out that day!

Small Lighthouse West Dennis Beach

Better view of West Dennis Beach on a cloudy day in February - still serene!

It is quite a large beach area which I imagine fills up during the summer. We also stopped at the cutest gift shop (the Cape Cottage) next to a large “can’t miss it” Victorian house (owned by the shop keepers) and purchased a very cool mermaid. If in town I highly recommend stopping there as they have quite a selection including Brahmin handbags (produced locally in Fairhaven) and a large selection of standout jewelry, crafts and other decorative items. Plus the Victorian house alone is Instagram worthy.

Wonderful little gift shop called Cape Cottage next door to large standout Victorian House. Well worth stopping in - friendly owners and wide selection of items.

Victorian House next to gift shop at 275 Main St, West Dennis. Old-fashioned Carriage House in the rear!

Super cool mermaid we bought from the Cape Cottage Gift Shop in West Dennis. And her name is Sandy, like my mom’s, so it felt meant to be! She will be a permanent guest in the Zandy Castle this year.

During the season the Good Friends cafe adds 9 tables to the patio to accomodate the in-season crowd. I would rate this an A+ for food, ambience, service and would not hesitate one bit to recommend it. So if you are staying at the Zandy Castle, and/or exploring the mid-Cape area (Barnstable, West Dennis, Yarmouth and Hyannis) please stop by the Good Friends Cafe for the elevated breakfast experience you come to expect in Cape Cod..

NOTE: They are cash only with an ATM on the premises.