We stay in Litttleton every year on our way to Sunday River and have really enjoyed;
1) 99- food was fresh, juicy beef and popular! going again this year.if its a chain, who cares, its great. I would take a great chain over a mediocre independent any day.
2) ChangThai is fine for thai but never feel like Thai in the winter.
3) Been to the Diner several times, foods good, just wish it looked cleaner or brighter.
4) Have also done pizza on the main street- forgot name , near Chutters and it was also a hit.

After spending 5 nights in Gloucester:
1) Best quality and freshest fish and chips @ Charlies Place, Gloucester- on a side road on our way to hotel, we found this gem.Amazing value. A family type place we loved.
2) Stone Soup in Essex was ok, kind of retro- super huge platter of fried clams on top of fried onion rings and fries. Platter so big I could only eat 1/4 of it.
3) Down River ice cream- excellent but why is everthing so huge in portion size.?Sizes are ridiculous , huge and no smaller sizes available., so that you feel sick after eating a cone.
4) Farnhams clams- easily the poorest quality, overbrowned, could not even tell if a clam was in the batter. Avoid unless you want to be fleeced for money.
5) Captain Carlos- nice ambiance for waterfront, food quality just ok. bar type place , good for groups
6) Virgillos- thanks everyone for this rec, super great sandwiches and pastries.

it is wise to warn visitors that many places take cash only. This was a new experience for us as travellers.

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Martha's Stone Soup - CLOSED
517 Old Sandwich Rd, Plymouth, MA 02360

Captain Carlo's Restaurant
27 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA 01930

Thanks everyone for the 2010 update. We are in the Cape Ann area for a week so will have lots of chances to try your recommendations.

Would anyone like to update this post for 2010 as we are planning to stay in the area soon. Knowing what to avoid this year would help alot.

We had a so so dinner @ Paradiso in Oakville this Friday night. One meal( the Morrocan chicken) was double salted and my salmon tasted frozen and slightly past its prime.
Service was good but did not make up for lack luster food quality.
And , yes, we did tell them it was far too salty. No comment from the server. It was a kind of "tough luck " attitude.
Think they are banking on the glitzy look of decor and flashy "open kitchen" concept a bit too much. Would NOT recommend.

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Paradiso
125 Lakeshore Rd E, Oakville, ON L6J1H3, CA