Preparation

There’s only one way to say it: Martha Stewart knows good food. And throughout her extensive travels across the United States, she’s tasted her fair share of it. She also knows that good food isn’t necessarily fancy—it’s the basics, the staples we turn to over and again, that are truly noteworthy. Here, our founder shares the restaurants that deliver on this front—their food is so good, that she always pulls over for a bite when she’s nearby.

When Martha is in Chicago, she always visits Kasia’s—a deli founded by Kazimiera Bober in 1982. Kazimiera, best known as Kasia, the deli’s namesake, emigrated from Poland in 1970, and began sharing her homemade cuisine with her new community just over a decade later. Martha’s not the only one who loves her pierogi: Kasia’s recipe is award-winning and has been sampled by celebrities and diplomats alike.

Martha knows that there’s nothing like a hot dog on a hot summer night, and when she’s in Fairfield, Connecticut (she used to live there and still occasionally visits), she heads to Rawley’s Drive-In, an unassuming shop that’s considered a local gem. “My Saturday stop when I lived in Westport, sometimes I still get to Fairfield and I have to go to Rawley’s!” she says.

Downyflake, located in Nantucket, Massachusetts, may be known for its donuts, but the mid-island cafe offers breakfast and lunch, too, and is about as classic as a diner can be. When Martha visits, she orders the waffles, which come with fresh strawberries and whipped cream.

Bob’s Clam Hut was established on Route One long before Kittery, Maine, began bustling with tourists; today, the seafood shack is sought out by travelers and locals, alike. Martha loves the lobster rolls, but the fried clams are also worth your time—probably because the staff uses the same cook-to-order system that the owner and his family developed since the restaurant’s origins (talk about standing the test of time!).

There’s no shortage of taco shops in West Palm Beach, Florida, but Martha is loyal to one in particular: Cholo Soy Cocina. The Latin-American fusion shop actually offers the only gourmet Latin street in town (so it’s not one to miss).

Originally featured in Martha Stewart Living, July/August 2020.