A seasonal restaurant frequented by locals and visitors alike, Abba is truly one of the best restaurants on Cape Cod. Once referred to as “where the chefs go to eat on Cape Cod”, Abba’s menu reflects the the heritage of Israeli-born Chef/Owner, Erez Pinhas along with his passion for Middle Eastern and Asian fare. Tucked away on a side street just blocks from downtown Orleans, MA, and minutes from the Whalewalk Inn, Abba’s inventive cuisine reflects the casually elegant atmosphere diners enjoy whether they are dining inside the restaurant, at the bar, or on the patio.
Opened in 2001 in a renovated 1830s barn, the restaurant underwent a recent remodel in an effort to create a more contemporary, laid-back atmosphere. Now sporting warm wood tabletops, plush velvet cushions on the banquette seating, and stone flooring on the patio, the restaurant evokes a feeling of being transported to some far-off land for an intimate dining experience.
Fusing flavors from his childhood and those he experienced while traveling, Chef Erez manages to put a new spin on traditional dishes found throughout the region. For example, you might start your meal with an order of local Wellfleet oysters on the half-shell that the chef pairs with a Thai inspired mignonette. Your whole lobster, fresh from the waters off Cape Cod, comes deconstructed in the shell with a fragrant curry.
Innkeeper Christina’s favorite dish is the Lobster and Shrip=mp Pad Thai, accompanied by Sawadika, a combination of kafir vodka infused with passion fruit, lime and just a smidgen of chili. Steve, on the other hand, loves the Grilled Big Eye Tuna, while his drink of choice is the Basil Paloma, a pleasant mixture of tequila, grapefruit rose and basil, with a splash of soda. At lunch you can’t beat the Mediterranean dishes, something we haven’t been able to find since we left our neighborhood in Queens, NYC.
Heralded by the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Boston Globe and Travel and Leisure magazine, dining at Abba is sure to be one of your most memorable dining adventures on your next visit to the Whalewalk Inn and Spa. All of the guests that dined there on our recommendation thus far this summer have been very pleased with their experience.
The restaurant is located at 89 Old Colony Way in Orleans, MA and is open 7 days a week in season for lunch (11:30 – 2:30) and dinner (5:00 – 10:00).