Is it a dream location? Yes. Is the food exceptional? Yes. Is it a bit pretentious for this neck of the woods? Absolutely. We would go back, for sure. Took us years but we finally visited. Everything was finely tuned. Every dish was delicious. There was a creative amuse bouche and a surprise pre-dessert intermezzo. After some great local lobster rolls and fried clams come here for a bit of fantasy Island. read more

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Beautiful, remote location Aragosta had been on our list for quite some time. The meal is more of an experience than I would say "a dinner" . There are many dishes served and I certainly didn't leave hungry but I wasn't thrilled with a lot of the preparations. Starter featured local kelp and seaweeds- not my thing. Lobster and crab dishes were outstanding. A course of just carrots was good but maybe not as a dinner course. Service was "a presentation" of each course and the overall evening became slow because of it. Dinner started out well timed but there were long waits in the middle. I would go back but would only go when the à la carte menu was available. Oh yah, you have to be on time for the seating so that means being early as it is fairly remote. Aragosta doesn't serve from the bar until the restaurant opens so no pre-dinner cocktails overlooking their great ocean view. We saw people in their cars having cocktails before dinner. Smart! read more

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We've visited Aragosta Restaurant on Deer Isle, Maine before... but always in Autumn. This year, July's "Ode to Summer" menu mostly featured lighter seafood dishes, and why not? It doesn't get any more "New England Seafood" than the Deer Isle / Stonington areas. This was a remarkable experience from start to finish. The staff is mostly very young, friendly, yet well-polished. The room and the views are gorgeous. And we loved every bite. Take a look at the treats Chef Devin Finigan and her team presented: TASTE OF LOCAL SEAWEED - Nori Tamagoyaki, Laver & Toasted Sesame Cracker, Fried Dulse THE COLD SEA - Aragosta Oyster - Green Apple, Fennel & Thai Basil Juice, Fresh Apple / Maine Fluke Crudo - Lemon Verbena Kombucha, Fresh Local Strawberry, Cucumber Granita / Maine Peekytoe Crab - Corn Croustade with Crab Salad, Butter Poached Claw PEN BAY SCALLOP - Cultured Butter with Aleppo Chili and Dulse cooked over the Hearth (I'm told the butter will be featured in their Cookbook, coming soon) LOBSTER BAKE - Stonington Lobster, Hominy, Charred Corn, Lobster Butter & Chives Topped with Corn & Espelette Espuma - with Old Bay Waffle Chips GOLDEN BEET - Fountain Farm Golden Beet Soup, Pickled Blueberry, Duck Fat, House Creme Fraiche, Nasturtium Green Puree - with Fennel Pollan Focaccia & House Sumac Ricotta AGNOLOTTI - Stonington Lobster Agnolotti, Mascarpone, Gremolata, Beurre Blanc, Pea Shoot Salad FRIED DEER ISLE CLAMS - Seasoned Cornmeal Dredge, Gochugaru Aioli, Fine Line Farm Cucumber & Baby Courgette, Sesame Vinaigrette, Red Orach COD - Maine Cod, Vadouvan Curry with Coconut Milk & Lime Leaf, Flowering Cauliflower, Sugar Snaps, Green Beans STRAWBERRY - Local Strawberry & Anise Hyssop Sorbet, Olive Oil Mousse ZUCCHINI BREAD - Puff Pastry, Zucchini Pastry Cream, Charred Corn Custard, Sweetened Ricotta, Zucchini Jam, Thyme Flowers, Elderflowers, Micro Basil What a meal! Thanks to everyone involved especially Chef Devin Finigan and GM Dan Marchese read more

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One of the best restaurants in this part of Maine... and for good reason Here is what you should know: 1. Make a reservation 2. Delicious seasonal fare so be ready to feel more connected to the local food 3. Good portion size 4. Excellent service 5. Wonderful wedding and event venue, especially in the warmer months with the lake view read more

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I don't say this lightly: Aragosta is easily one of the best dining experiences I've ever had--top three of my life, no question. We did the Chef's Tasting Menu with the premium wine pairing and chef's selection add-on, and from start to finish, it was a masterclass in flavor, presentation, and hospitality. Each course was thoughtful and balanced, from the briny, delicate seafood opener ("The Cold Sea") to the decadent short rib with mole and tomatillo that practically stopped time. The "Ode to Summer" menu is poetry in edible form. Highlights included: * Perfectly seared bluefin tuna with pepita and baby squash * Lobster agnolotti in beurre blanc that I'll be dreaming about for months * A whimsical ending of strawberry shortcake with a twist of seaweed (yes, it worked--and wow) What elevated this experience even further was getting to chat with Chef Devin Finigan. Her passion for food and for this restaurant radiates in every bite. It's rare to see that level of heart, skill, and soul all in one place. The space itself? Warm, intimate, and perfectly coastal-Maine chic. Beautiful wood tables, elegant plating, and a staff that clearly loves what they do. This isn't just a meal--it's a culinary memory. If you're within 100 miles of Deer Isle or Bar Harbor, make the drive. Aragosta is a gem that deserves national recognition. Pro tip: Go for the full tasting with pairings and let go. Trust the process. You won't regret a single bite. read more

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We went for the tasting menu based on all the reviews. The food: decent. Presentation: excellent. Staff: nice And somehow, the experience was mediocre at best. The night felt disjointed, not the memorable experience you expect at this price point. A few reasons: 1. The food. it is a mixed bag. Some dishes are exceptional: the clams, the halibut, the sorbet. And some don't work: the dry crab meat cracker, the strawberry dessert, the lonesome teriyaki-like-tasting quail on the plate. 2. The portions: I get it - tasting menu portions are small. But these are micro-portions - I left kind of still hungry after 8 courses. 3. The drinks: we are not wine lovers. We had the non-alcoholic cocktails. They were underwhelming. Just sweet and flat. 4. The ambiance: this is where the experience completely broke down. You are in a slightly elevated beach shack. And if, like us, you are unlucky and sit at the side by the entrance, you have no view, the sun in your eyes and people come and go right next to you. 5. The upselling: that's not what you want at an experience like this. 6. Pacing: serving was too fast, presentation felt rushed, explanations were mumbled quickly. They sell a memorable experience - and for us, they did not deliver. We would not go back. read more

I really wanted to like Aragosta. I like the idea. However, the execution was flawed. From the cold lobster bisque to the Starbucks-like foam mousse, the only reason the 8 courses were memorable is due to their mediocrity. The vibe was unnecessarily snobby. Hello, the location is Deer Isle, not Laucala Island! Relax. Also, the tent resting on the restaurant windows blocked any view of the seascape. Factor in the cost, and this was a solid "C-" experience. Too bad. read more

This was a great meal. Wonderful setting and even though the dining room is on the elegant/darker side, it still has a lot of understated energy. The dishes were fantastic. We weren't in the mood for the tasting menu so ordered ala carte but sorta wish we had pushed ourselves to do the tasting menu because all of the ala carte dishes were great. In particular, the lobster pasta - lobster was perfectly cooked. read more

The food here is sooooooooo good the service is great and the all around atmosphere of this restaurant is so calming

DELICIOUS thank you Aragosta Five star service! The entire team was amazing! The ambiance was amazing, restaurant was beautiful and the views, nothing short of amazing! I will definitely be back for more! read more

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We loved Aragosta when it was in Stonington. This time around I'm a little confused. We were given a tiny menu, filled with tacos. Tacos? Lost me on that one. The food wasn't even any good. I came there expecting to spend $500 on a fabulous meal, and instead we walked out hungry and very disappointed. The location is nice but there's also a huge tent in the way of viewing the ocean. All in all, we are glad we went and found out that we don't need to come back. read more

Hmmmm? Lovely setting. Food disjointed. Oysters-perfectly shucked but were room temp. No bueno. Need to be ICE cold. Please ice them down before serving next Sunday. Tuna tartar was stringy and over sauced. In fact everything we ordered was over dressed or sauced and lacked that wow/ umami factor. Underwhelmed. Staff was great but over food didn't live up to the hype. Meh read more

Beautiful setting, incredible food presented as a work of art. The chef provided many little extras in addition to the nine course tasting menu. Lots of seating options - dine alone, at a communal table or at one of the fairy-like greenhouses. We were full to the brim at the end. Worth it!! read more

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excellent food, service, and views. being vegan didn't leave me with many options from their menu. I got the sides- grilled sourdough bread, roasted potatoes, and the salad. all delicious. i do wish there was a vegan option besides sides and hummus. i'm so sick of hummus! C' mom James beard nominee- you can do better. read more

Incredible, innovative food. We were blown away by the tasting menu. Each dish was a little surprise packed with flavor and visually stunning. We had the 8:15 seating so it was dark outside but the dining room is very beautiful. The service was impeccable. Can't wait to go back read more

Beautiful ambiance. Stunning location. Kind staff. Wonderful food. Nothing more needs to be said.

Absolutely the best meal I have ever had! Everything was amazing. The food, the service and the ambiance were all perfect!

Wonderful evening with fabulous food and service! Highly recommend Aragosta and its lovely ambiance!

Go. Here. Everything about it is perfect: The scenery; the ambiance; the food (pizza was good but only thing that's "unique" - everything else will blow you away); the waitstaff. Someone cares about all details. read more

Lovely remote setting on a rolling hill with sweeping views. This photo is of the Aragosta "Manager", Daniel at 3pm Sunday, smoking and talking on his phone, during service while every table was occupied, taken as we were driving out of Aragosta. Says it all. Made advance reservation including inputting my credit card as required. Drove three hours downeast from midcoast area and arrived 20 minutes early for 2 pm brunch reservation. By 2:30 all tables were occupied. Hostess, Scarlet, explained that all vacant shaded tables outside were reserved. I said "great, we have a reservation". She demurred. I asked "why is my reservation is less important? ". Her response was, "I'm sorry and we have more umbrellas coming next week". We were seated at an unbussed table indoors with Scarlet saying she'd be back to clean it. She never came back, so we sat down, as we tired of standing awkwardly over the table waiting. 20 minutes of more waiting to give an order for brunch. Ordered a glass of Pet Nat which was about a three-ounce pour served in what appeared to be a child's juice glass. Was delicious, though. The food Oysters and mignonette were superb. My main course, a burrata veggie "salad" was nice with crunchy veggies, but must have been a starter portion. My wife's lobster roll was mostly a bulky frank roll and both the modest portion of lobster meat and a tablespoon full of potato salad were not chilled, so likely in the over-40 degree food safety danger zone. Waited and waited to ask about desert. Lots of staff circulating but no one stopping to check in. Daniel never greeted our table but was fawning over a couple of elderly local ladies who arrived after we did, at the adjacent table who asked to be relocated outside. "Let's do it" was his response, after the run-around Scarlet gave us. We eventually put our credit card in plain view, paid and left, highly disappointed, especially with the complete lack of engagement from the floor staff. Had the distinct impression that were we viewed as low priority for Daniel and the Crew. No sense of warmth or caring hospitality. We had anticipated a much more special experience. read more

Aragosta - Restaurant Manager? - New American Near Me - Deer Isle, Maine

Everything. Food service atmosphere. An expensive evening meal but well worth for a very special experience.

An out of the way dining experience -- literally down a dirt road to the end of a peninsula. The views outside are spectacular, requiring good weather to enjoy. Early seating has the advantage of no (less) mosquitos in the summer. This is a tasting menu experience, with your only choice as to whether to do the additional wine pairing. We said yes, of course. After the welcome aperitif (non alcoholic to settle the stomach and prepare the appetite) and the tasty triple-amuse bouche, we launched into a long and delicious tasting. Highlights included local Long Cove fire roasted oysters and scallop crudités; a lobster gazpacho; roasted beets with a golden beet creme fraiche; stuffed lobster pasta; blueberry dotted duck breast; and a fork tender (although a bit too fatty) short rib with carrot purée and root vegetables. Overall, the cuisine and presentation are showstoppers. Period. To find such a high quality tasting experience in this part of Maine is quite incredible. The views, the service, and the cuisine was spectacular. This is definitely a top level experience for foodies, and my life is changed because of it. Get here. read more

Such a perfect spot on the Blue Hill Peninsula. I had a truly gourmet lobster roll, low 20's. Very fresh, small minced lobster, lovely seasoning and lightly dressed. It was accompanied by a tasty potato salad, quite different. My man had lobster Benedict and loved it. Smallish portions, no sides for him. Great beer selection. Oh, the grilled oysters were delish. The views were outstanding and service was flawless. This is a lovely spot. The setting was magical. Off the beaten path on the Blue Hill Peninsula (where we stayed, MUCH recommended). read more

Aragosta - New American Near Me - Deer Isle, Maine

Service, location, food, cocktails and wine are marvelous. It truly doesn't get any better. Yes, It's hard to get to. Yes, reservations take 6 months of planning. Yes, it ain't cheap. Yes, it is worth the struggle. If you love food and wine. If you love quality. If you love an experience over stuff. You will make the effort to experience Aragosta read more

One of the best meals ever experienced (albeit at the old location). A Cheese plate with pungent blue cheese, roasted Brie, tangerine marmalade, blueberries, bread and banana bread made for quite a spread shared by all. Mussels sautéed in broth with charred baguette were plump, firm and deep mahogany. Crab balls - almost dumplings - are sweet and delicate. Local skate is firm and moist, nestled in a roasted red pepper broth. The Lobster ravioli are huge and full of lobster in a buttery sauce. The service is world class. The setting was breath taking - hope the goose cove location lives up to the former in Stonington. Drinks excellent as well. read more

Hello..... drove 3 hours and yeah would have drove 5 hours. I had the crab cakes and they knocked it out of the park! My husband had the bahn mi with haddock. Great selection of beers and wine. Service was top notch. read more

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My girlfriend heard about this spot from her coworker. The food was great and the staff were friendly enough. Great environment and nice atmosphere, kind of a hoity toity crowd, but to be expected. When we received the bill at the end we found that we were "upgraded" to the "chef selection" menu. (Which in reality is just like one or two added ingredients to a couple of the courses) which incurred an additional 75$ / person. Personally, I did not make the reservation so I was ready for anything, but my girlfriend who set up the evening, felt very misled and taken advantage of. When I brought it up to the staff in private (not to cause a scene obviously) I was shot down and told that I was informed at the beginning. I do agree I was told what menu we were getting but there was no mention of additional prices on the menu: The menu simply said "chefs tasting menu" - 150$ then explained the additional prices for wine pairing and caviar service... no mention of chefs specials or anything bringing the total up 150$. Overall a nice time, but in retrospect I feel as though we were being taken advantage of. We will not be returning to Aragosta. The prices are not the issue, we'll worth it for the quality of food and experience. The communication and the trust issues are just things I can not forgive. read more

The experience you receive at Aragosta is perhaps the best I have had at a restaurant. The food is decadent and with each individual plate you see the effort that was put in. Each dish comes up with a different flavor profile and each gives a unique experience. Additionally everything feels so fresh and from talking with the staff it sounds like nearly all of it is locally sourced which I appreciate. The staff was welcoming and attentive to your every need as well as it was delightful to meet the general manager: Matt. He gave us background on what he owns and essentially how Aragosta has came to be. The view that you can see is amazing as the waterfront is literally right there. By no means is it too loud or dark which makes for a nice atmosphere. To not spoil the journey that the restaurant takes you through I will not post pictures as I truly believe it is something you must experience for yourself. It is a bit out of the way but it sure makes up for it with the entire experience. read more

Great location with excellent views. Food was very good and original. Unique dinning experience.

Re-visited for our anniversary this year. It's just as delicious and amazing an experience as I remember. We also stayed on site in a cabin this year, so had the included breakfast each morning. It was so delicious! I recommend this place !! read more

Aragosta - Filet Mignon dish! - New American Near Me - Deer Isle, Maine

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We didn't plan ahead and make reservations, and lucked into a brunch spot. When we drove into the resort we were confronted with an amazing view. Bloody Mary's were perfect, not too much anything. Keelie was a phenomenal server, start to finish. Ordered awesome Blue Hill Mussels with amazing sauce and grilled baguette. Followed that with herbed latkes and an amazing burger, potato salad, house-made pickles. Wine steward, Matt, helped us select the perfect wine. We will be back!. read more

If you are looking for a fine dining experience in Stonington, this is your one and only option. On being seated at a table with a harbor view, we were provided with an amuse bouche and a roll with herbed butter. We then shared a farmer salad (local mesclun dill, chevre, roasted beets, sliced pears, fried shallots and buttermilk dill dressing) that was very good. Prior to entrees, a dollop of mint sorbet was brought to the table that brightened our palates. Haddock with local crab was my wife's choice of entree while I settled on duck breast confit accompanied by house gnocchi, bok choy and a cranberry pear, white balsamic sauce. Both entrees proved to be excellent choices while the service was top notch. read more

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The view and location ( and we took an amazing hike after brunch-don't miss it)is amazing. As has been stated, the brunch menu is limited. We got the very tasty but, small lobster rolls which arrived with 2 heaping tablespoons of potato salad. The plate seemed large for the modest amount of food. I never order desert but I was so hungry I ordered the berry shortcake and it was wonderful. Someone made reservations for us for our 44th anniversary and when we arrived, I noticed that "anniversary" was next to our name. I was very excited. Nobody said Happy Anniversary or noted the occasion. Why would they note anniversary on the reservation and then ignore the very special occasion? read more

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WOW. I am still dreaming about Aragosta and cannot wait to come back again and again. My husband and I had our wedding ceremony and celebration here, with 8 close family members staying in cabins on the property. Our experience was everything we could have imagined and so much more. The staff at Aragosta went above and beyond to make our wedding weekend incredibly special. We cannot thank them enough. Dan, the manager, coordinated our weekend from day one, making sure that every logistical detail was squared away. Marvin was our waiter for both nights at dinner, and impressed us with his knowledge of food and his vibrant personality. I can't say enough good things about Devin, who is a complete rockstar; her incredible vision is clearly what makes Aragosta so special. We had the tasting menu for dinner both nights and were blown away each time. The attention to detail is astounding and the plating is absolutely stunning. The meal progresses beautifully and you can taste the freshness of each ingredient. It was hands down the best meal that I've ever had, and our family members agree. Standout dishes included the butternut squash consumee and Devin's signature lobster tortellini. We had breakfast both mornings as well; both options were excellent and our family agreed that the pancakes were the best they've ever tasted. The cabins are gorgeous and a wonderful combination of rustic and luxurious. My husband and I stayed in Elm; the rest of our family stayed in Juniper and Maple. The cabins were decorated impeccably. But perhaps the best part of the experience is the property that the cabins sit on. The beach is private and magical; there are wooded trails throughout that make you feel like you're in a fairy tale. I think it's important to mention that this all happened during COVID-19 and we never once felt uncomfortable or unsafe. It was first time for me, my husband and most of our family members to dine inside while at Aragosta and we felt 100% good about it. All staff members are masked and the tables are appropriately spaced. They also have a huge deck overlooking the ocean that is perfect for outdoor dining. I could go on and on about Aragosta, but I will just end with this: if you want a magical dining and travel experience in a beautiful location in Maine, then go. You will not be disappointed. read more

Food was terrific. We had the shishito,peppers, burrata salad, octopus, gluten free bread, and the mackerel. I think the octopus was over a grilled fennel, or something similar, which was even better than the terrific octopus. The mackerel was not to our liking, but we suspected this before we ordered it as we are not fans of mackerel. The view is spectacular. The service was lacking. Our server spent more than ten minutes talking to guests at a table near ours, while we waited for her to assist us, and while our food got cold. Apparently, the conversation was about her availability to babysit. The other guest who initiated the conversation should not have been so rude as to monopolize the server's time and the server should have known better. We will return. read more

The staff is friendly, courteous but overworked. So much respect for the service which gives a solid Varsity effort. We dined here three times before writing our thoughts of this lovely and charming little place in the quintessential coastal granite and fishing town. Their top dishes are just OK. The whole lobster was very small and in the pot way too long. The firmness was that of jello and texture was well below expectations. The mussels dish was OK. Many of the mussels did open up and about 20% of the dish was not consumable. The fish tacos were...OK. The portion was small. The cocktails earned a 1 star at best. There were four choices from which to select from and we ordered three of them. Each of hem were weak with excessive carbonation and syrupy canned mixes. There is an opportunity here to improve both quality and margins. The deck is weathered but charming. The view lends to a warm feeling of what this lovely town is about. The people are very friendly and I believe there is an albeit short seasonal window of opportunity to improve value to guests and locals alike. We will definitely return next year and report back. Again, there is a lot of potential here! read more

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We came for dinner, we showed up early to get a drink at the bar, which was already besieged by other early arrivals waiting for tables. We could tell the bartenders were feeling weedy, one was shaking and stirring like mad, as tickets lined up next to him and the other dodged and weaved around taking and delivering orders. The dining room was full and some tables were running late, but soon enough we got our spot at the communal table, which started out nicely enough. The dining room cleared, the new tables sat, the lights were already low and multitudes of candles were lit. We all calmed down and the food began to arrive. And so too, did the late night crowd... Within about an hour we realized that when they call it communal, they don't just mean other people sitting at the table with you, but the entire bar and restaurant staff. We were sat between the doors to the waitstaff area and the bar, which turns into a thoroughfare during dinner, so much so that if I didn't know better, I'd imagine that was how their signature drink was named, because knocking back a few of those is the only way to soothe the constant anxiety and fear of being placed literally in the restaurant highway as giant trays of food and drinks are swung over your head and you can hear the growing roar of the crowd at the bar behind that also lurks just behind your back as you are trying to eat a five hundred dollar meal, and you are trying not to worry for the giant vase on the corner of the bar that happens to also be just over head AND within elbows reach of the obviously drunk barflies that keep backing into your chair, only repositioning themselves briefly when the waitstaff beat them back like Thompson with his swatter in bat country, all the while attempting to hear the quiet voice of your lovely date who is peering intermittently over your shoulder in bewilderment at the scene as she tries not to laugh, or cry, or both. At one point, our dinner was so hectic that I attempted to ply her with a bottle of the best red wine, calling the sommelier over for advice. He seemed stressed, having already run in circles a few times, we observed. He was nice enough, disappearing for a while and then, just as I was giving up hope, returned with the best wine I've had in. A long time, but apologizing oddly for not having the right glasses. He seemed awfully stressed out, along with the poor bartenders who it seemed never got a break. At one point, my date told me the music had quieted and so too the crowd, and just then she could hear someone roar "hands!" several times from the back and every single server turned and shuffled into the back, some looking as terrified as my date was, including the sommelier, who quickly put his bottle down, excused himself and seemed to run. She could also hear some kind of argument over the breaking of wine glasses, thus my joke about the sommelier and the wallop. There are other things that made it more like a circus than anything, the constant silverware change, the brief but angry Italian argument coming from the back, the constantly circling of staff, and someone singing along with an irish jig at the end... By dessert we were stuffed with good food but quite exhausted trying to keep up. We are grateful for the entertainment, disappointed by the lack of trapeze show. But we expected less of a loud party and more of a quiet, intimate atmosphere. The staff seemed too stressed and there were way too many of them. The environment was loud and frightening. We signed our tab and stepped outside, the fresh Maine air slapped us in the faces, awakening us from a strange trance, and now looking back at my experience, it's like when Thompson awakes in that trashed hotel, a microphone taped to his face, lizard tail on his rear, wondering what happened with only brief flashes of memories to piece it all together. read more

I don't usually get lobster rolls at fine dining restaurants. I find that the only difference is inflated prices, and everyone knows that the best ones are found in "hole-in-the-walls." But I made an exception since we were in a lobster town. It did not disappoint. It had a light lemony mayonnaise-based dressing, with the added surprise of celery and dill. To be fair, you could put dill on anything and I'd eat it. Turns out lobster rolls are no exception. My husband got the hamburger, because he's weird, but he said it was delicious. We came back for 5-8 happy hour (at 5 on the dot ). I got the summer fizz, which was lovely and fresh with basil and raspberries. Our favorite part was watching the lobstermen come in and unload. When we left, we realized everyone else was watching them too! We were not dressed nicely for dinner, so we booked it after drinks. Overall enjoyable experience. read more

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An amazing experience! We went here on our first night in stonington and it was by far the best place! I would recommend coming here expecting to have dinner, wine & dessert! A little pricy but it was all so worth it! My husband and I ordered the lobster dinner with recommended wine pairing and we were so plenty surprised by every little detail! First they came out with polenta bites, then our chilled white wine, warmed bread and amazing herbed butter served in these ceramics from a local artist in town! Then a really impressive salad and finally to the lobster. I loved all the small courses and the slow pace dining, it makes the experience and you are able to soak it all in. we didn't expect to order dessert but we got chocolate mousse with a blueberry sorbet; amazing pairing although we originally ordered it separate! The service was amazing as well! Our waitress was so sweet. I also realty noticed the quietness of their clean up. We stayed until closing and they were so pleasant and barely made a sound. Go here! If I'm ever in this town and I will definitely be back read more

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It makes me sad to write this review because we're locals who have been going to Aragosta for a long time, since they were in Stonington, and have loved the experience. There was always a very high standard of food, service, and ambience. This time, not so much. Like last year, we had the $150 prix fixe menu to celebrate an August birthday. This time the flavors were muddy and flat; there seemed to be no vision uniting the menu. Lots of crudos/raw seafood that were rather bland. The duck was so undercooked I couldn't eat it but the oysters were a highlight--very good. Gluten-free "substitutions" (they ask when you reserve) were perplexing: my friends got the "chef's speciality dish" of a very large lobster-stuffed ravioli and I got three strands of plain, undercooked GF tagliatelle. Fried tomatoes vs *half* a grape tomato with vinaigrette. What? Why even bother? We ordered three glasses of wine, all delicious but two came out 1/2 full; the third was a normal pour. At $20-$22/glass, as a part of this kind of dinner, it shouldn't be happening. Sadly, we had the uncomfortable feeling that we were being taking advantage of. I'm sure it wasn't malicious--but it really did feel like there was very little quality control. Instead of feeling luxurious, it felt like they were cutting corners. We asked to sit on the deck as we had before and were told it was too windy. Inside it was stuffy and there were so many flies we were swatting them away with our hands. The service, which has been great in the past, was uninvested and uninspired to the point that it was awkward. Having eaten at 1-star Michelin restaurants in France this summer for much much less than $150/person + wine--restaurants where the food was superb and the service exemplary--I am really confused about what's happening at Aragosta. I hope they figure it out, but I won't be back. read more