Good Local
Grub By Evelyn Battaglia and Hannah Van Sickle
Certain places are synonymous with food —Philly calls to mind cheesesteak, and Buffalo has spicy wings. Closer to home, Maine is known for lobster rolls, Vermont its maple creemees, and Rhode Island the milkshake known as coffee cabinet. The Berkshires may not have its own eponymous dish, but the food-centric region is routinely prized for proffering real-deal renditions of universal favorites as well as taking a few creative (but referential) tweaks on tradition. These fan foods, so-named for their staunch cult following, can be found throughout the 413 and neighboring counties—as evidenced by the dozen-customers-deep lines at roadside shacks, neighborhood eateries, and otherwise off-the-beaten path destinations dotting the landscape. When the craving strikes, let your GPS lead you to one of the following impromptu pit stops to slow down and fuel up, whether your plans include basking in the late–summer sun or leaf-peeping come October. (Note: Most places here are open year-round while others close for winter, as noted. Also, the categories aren’t exclusive; many restaurants serve multiple fan foods, so you can satisfy everyone’s fancy in one fell swoop.) Think of this as your go-to guide to eating like a local whenever the hankering for something familiar hits, morning, noon, and night—and wherever your wanderings may lead you.
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