After the opening of the photo show at Orleans Camera last night, I decided to indulge a long-time desire to experience ABBA, an Orleans restaurant that’s been showing up on all the “Best” lists for 18 years. What a treat! It’s intimate, thoughtful, and lives up to its reputation. I doubt it’s named for the Scandinavian musicians.

I met the owner/chef, Erez Pinhas, who was as charming as his restaurant. In Hebrew “abba” means dad or father. I should have asked if it’s named for him or his dad, but I was enchanted, and didn’t get to that. But I did find out why he and his wife opened this very sophisticated Mediterranean restaurant in Orleans. He said that they first visited in the summer and thought it was as special as the French Riviera.

Now that Erez and his wife have been here 18 years, raised their family, and become true Cape Codders, he’s acutely aware of all the ways that Orleans isn’t the French Riviera. He’s started leading culinary tours of Israel, where he’s from, in our off-season. Sounds fabulous! Look at abbagotravel.com for more info, and who knows, maybe I’ll be on your trip! Meanwhile, dinner at ABBA is definitely worth the drive down-Cape.