Located in the heart of the South Dennis Historic District, at 36 Old Bass River Road, Red Cottage Restaurant has been operated by the Rosenbach family for the last 37 years, and serves up not only delicious meals, but offers that warm, welcoming feeling you look for in a diner.
Originally established in 1951 by Kenneth Pareseau as a seasonal restaurant, serving fresh seafood, it was sold in 1953 to the Mathieu family, who expanded it to a variety/grocery store. After that, it changed hands a number of times over the years, until the Rosenbachs purchased it.
In 2009, the dining room was redesigned with an eye toward a return to its 1950s splendor, which is reflected in the long, yellow laminate counter, red seats, rooster curtains, black and white tile flooring and vintage South Dennis photos hanging on the walls.
The large and extensive menu had so many options, I hardly knew where to begin. My server was friendly and patient and brought me coffee while I perused. I ended up playing it safe, and ordering breakfast for lunch – The Chatham – which offered two eggs, meat (I got the hockey-puck sized sausage patties) and extra-thick French toast. Everything was delicious and filling.
I noticed a bin of tall, red umbrellas near the door and asked my server about them. She told me that sometimes the line to get into the restaurant is long and, if people are standing in the rain, they’re offered an umbrella. Nice.
Although the restaurant wasn’t crowded at that time on a weekday, just before lunch, there was a steady trickle of patrons coming in. I chatted with one lady, who had just come from a yoga class at the nearby senior center, and told me she was just passing by and thought she’d treat herself. She was a regular patron and couldn’t say enough about the yummy food served there.
The only drawback is that this is a cash-only establishment – an important fact that I didn’t realize until I’d finished my meal and received my check. Fortunately, there was an ATM in the restaurant, but there was no signage in plain sight in any area that I could easily see. Only after I’d left the building did I see a very small “Cash Only” sticker near the door handle.
According to its website, only breakfast and lunch are served in winter, and the restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. For casual, family-style dining, Red Cottage Restaurant fits the bill perfectly.
About Ann Luongo
