Jack’s Hot Dog Stand started in 1917 as a nickel-a-dog operation serving hungry mill workers on their way home. The lunch counter has dished out burgers, hot dogs, and hand-cut fries in its tiny space in downtown North Adams ever since. Servers whirl about behind the counter as they steam, fry, assemble, and wrap your food in front of you with well-practiced movements passed down through decades of operation. Jack’s feels like a monument to a bygone era, a place unstuck from time. Inflation, however, has not forgotten about this little hot dog stand, and you can no longer buy a hot dog for a nickel – unfortunately, you now have to pay $2.

Executive chef and Mezze co-owner Nicholas Moulton won big on Food Network’s Guy’s Grocery Games in 2019, inspiring Guy Fieri to dub him the “veggie king.” The title fits Moulton even better off-screen at Mezze, where he works up a contemporary farm-to-table menu. Seasonal options might include miso-marinated bistro steak with roasted onion and delicata squash jam; scallion pancakes with lacinato kale; or petite butternut squash with beluga lentils, hen-of-the-woods mushrooms, and fermented squash-seed curry.

A testament to Pittsfield’s growing West African community, House of Seasoning brings the flavors of Côte d’Ivoire to the Berkshires. Meats are marinated in secret spices and sauces that burst with flavor but don’t overwhelm, and the sides range from familiar french fries to more traditional plantains, yams, and cassava couscous. If you have time, try the kenkey, a traditional Ghanaian dish made from fermented white corn, similar to a tamale but with a distinct tangy flavor.

Cristiane Melo entered the food industry by taking orders over WhatsApp from her friends in the local Brazilian community. Her cooking became so popular that she decided to open a restaurant with her family right in the heart of the Berkshires. Have the espetinhos (steak skewer) made from a cut of beef that is between the sirloin and rump. And don’t miss the yuca fries and deep-fried salgadinhos — literally, “salty bites” — filled with cheese, beef, chicken, or sausage. The desserts are also worth exploring, especially the mousses and the churros. Be sure to check their social media feeds for specials like feijoada (Brazilian bean stew) or kibbeh.

Whether you’re coming from a performance at Shakespeare & Company in the summer or you need somewhere to cozy up on a winter evening, Brava is the late-night food spot to know in Lenox. Open until 11:30 every night, it’s the perfect place to share a few tapas or a pizza with friends as you explore the extensive beer and wine list. The patatas bravas — a fried potato tapas from which the restaurant gets its name — taste like they came straight from Barcelona and are a must-have.

Join the Jersey cows strolling the fields and taking in the views at this farm and ice cream shop in Lee. Located at High Lawn Farm, the Farmstead Creamery serves flavors like sweet cream, chocolate chip, and purple cow (black raspberry ice cream with white and black chocolate chips). You can stock up on Berkshire staples at the same time, including cheeses, meats, preserves, pickles, and maple syrup. If you’d prefer savory to sweet snacks, order a cheese and charcuterie platter featuring the dairy’s cheese and local accouterments, and find some seats among the picnic tables outside.

Alpamayo has been a local favorite in downtown Lee since 2010, offering Peruvian classics such as lomo saltado and ceviche. Chef Javier Fernandez, an award-winning bartender, brings his A-game to his cocktail menu with a stunning pisco sour and refreshing chilcano (pisco, ginger beer, lime).

The Lost Lamb is just as cozy as any other restaurant on Main Street in downtown Stockbridge, but the patisserie adds an easygoing French twist, making you feel as if you’ve stumbled onto a quiet side street in Paris. Le Cordon Bleu grad Claire Raposo is the dynamo behind all the bread, pastries, and desserts, like her luxurious olive oil orange bundt cake. Try the prosciutto and gruyere sandwich on a housemade baguette if you’re craving something savory.

After nearly two decades of running a traditional restaurant, this family decided to survive by opening a counter-service lunch spot that is also the county’s only Asian market. Try all the classic ramen flavors, as well as some vegan options like tantan or kimchi. If ramen isn’t for you, there are other options like sushi and poke. Consider treating yourself to some mochi from the freezer or grabbing a package of “x2 Spicy Buldak” ramen from the market shelves for later.

At the Prairie Whale, owner Mark Firth (formerly of Brooklyn’s Diner, Bonita, and Marlow & Sons) and chef Stephen Browning apply modern twists to classic dishes like pig head rillettes and brick chicken. A handful of specials highlight the best of whatever arrives from a growing network of local farms. Grab a seat at the bar, a cozy table, or a spot on a communal bench.

A seasonal roadside burger and sandwich joint, the Bistro Box offers delicious and creative sandwiches made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. You can’t go wrong with the roadside burger or the farm frank, a local no-nitrate hot dog paired with french fries. Tired of dipping them in ketchup? Try one of the homemade rotating fry sauces, with flavors such as French onion aioli and hot honey. The seating area — a massive green lawn dotted with picnic tables, lawn games, and free frisbees — is the perfect spot to let your kids and dogs run wild while you wait for your food. Just be sure to check the weather before planning a trip out there.