My boyfriend and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner here at the end of September. The food was excellent and the ambiance was as well. Service was decent. However, the owner was extremely welcoming and courteous to us which made up for it. read more

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We had the most wonderful dining experience. The service was exceptional! Heather took great care of us. The food was amazing! We sat out on the patio. Can't wait to come back! Thank you for such a memorable dining experience! read more

I came here with my family while we were on vacation in Maine and it was the best dining experience of the whole trip! The ambiance was charming and historical while so spacious for our babies to roam around. And everyone who worked there was so accommodating and great to our little ones, offering whatever we needed and beyond to make them comfortable. The food was some of the best I've had in my life and my whole family agreed. The proof was in the empty plates we left! Oysters were so fresh, and the entrees were one of a kind - elegant and the perfect portion too. The homemade pappardelle pasta with scallops and shrimp was the tastiest dish ever. You can tell they put their hearts and souls into every ingredient and handle each element of the dish with finesse and intention. And don't forget about the ice cream and Napoleon dessert! All around amazing experience. Our server Anya was so lovely and kind and attentive and helpful. If we are ever in this area again we will definitely be visiting! read more

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We went to Arborvine for our 25th anniversary. I spent a lot of time researching restaurants before our vacation, and this restaurant did not disappoint. The atmosphere was perfect and the food was delicious. We sat on the patio and we both had filets that were among the best we've had. We ordered Brie and the most beautiful flower was used as a garnish on top. Our server noticed that I was enamored by it, so she brought me a little container so I could take it home. Was a great experience and would definitely recommend. read more

Arborvine - Brie In Puff Pastry - New American Near Me - Blue Hill, Maine

Rude elitists with overpriced mediocre food. When you pay too much for a meal that you could have prepared better at home.

We stayed in Blue Hill for a week and kept driving by this adorable place. A member of our group was able to secure the last opening at 5PM on a Saturday, and so we went. And WOW. This place is excellent. I haven't had food this good in a LONG time. When you pull up to Arborvine, you are greeted by a beautiful display of garden flowers before you walk into a cute screened-in dining area worthy of being a tea party backdrop. We checked in with the host and we're seated inside. The inside looks small at first, but it is evident that there are several rooms with additional seating. Our server was soft-spoken and attentive to our needs. When I had asked what could be made gluten free for me, he responded that most anything could, and he lets the staff know that there is an allergy explicitly. My group started with beer and wine for drinks and the pâté appetizer. Our server brought out gluten-free crackers for me, which I was grateful for. We all thoroughly enjoyed it. My sister ordered a salad to start and it was delicate and delicious. For our entrees, I ordered the crispy duck, two members of the party ordered the halibut, and another ordered the filet mignon. Holy yum. I had never had duck before, but I don't know how any duck I have in the future can top it. The flavors blended so well together and the chutney was absolutely delicious. We ended our dining experience with desserts and the homemade ginger ice cream was the perfect mix of sweet and spicy. read more

The service was excellent, with a kind hostess and wonderful knowledgeable waitress (thanks heather!). The smoked salmon appetizer was phenomenal, as was the halibut and duck. We finished the evening with a lemon dessert that was exceptional. Overall, I absolutely recommend this restaurant to anyone and is certainly worth the drive if you're hiking Acadia. read more

We love Arborvine and go there often for special occasions. Great food and wonderful people. Thank you.

Vacationing in the area and had the opportunity to visit the restaurant- excellent experience from friendly staff to beautifully presented delicious food Ingredients were very fresh- nice wine selection read more

After not being able to dine at Arborvine on several occasions during the pandemic, we dined here on two occasions last week, and tried to make a reservation for a third night. We were seated promptly each night. The service was spectacular and the food was absolutely delicious....perfect. If Arborvine is having staffing issues, such issues are not resulting in poor service or less than perfect food. We truly enjoyed our two evenings here. Looking forward to our next meal at Arborvine. read more

The one restaurant I make sure I have a reservation for in Maine, and the day is planned around this special evening's gourmet dinner. The setting is quite romantic inside. Plan ahead because it is popular for good reason. We always start out with their amazing oysters and craft cocktails. Next, we had the haddock nicoise and rack of lamb that was outstanding . They have an excellent wine selection. I also highly recommend the house-made desserts. read more

Arborvine - Menu August 22 - New American Near Me - Blue Hill, Maine

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Lovely location and dishes are works of art. (See pics below) Servers know their stuff and are super attentive, Maybe I'm just used to miami rates but for the experience prices are reasonable. Only open for dinner from 5-8. So early bird gets the worm. Worth it! read more

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This is a surprisingly impressive restaurant for a small town like Blue Hill. Dinner was delicious, including more than one "wow" moment. Our waitress was excellent. The wine list was limited, but the choices were excellent. Make your reservation early, particularly in season. read more

If you're itching to go out to a nice dinner in the part of Maine, would recommend Arborvine. They have a select menu, and a cute atmosphere. They have an insulated outdoor area, decorated with lights. Romantic spot for a 1:1 or place to take the family. I'd recommend trying the dishes you can't get anywhere else, like the Maine crab. read more

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Maybe the best restaurant in Maine. Where do I begin? Lovely setting in the charming town of Blue Hill Maine. Beautiful old home with a wonderful outdoor patio tent that was added to create additional dining space, or perhaps in response to the pandemic. I don't know. It has lovely brick courtyard under the tent--and that's where we sat last night. They have many specialties but last night our table ordered the duck, the halibut and the scampi and shrimp special. Outstanding. My halibut was cooked perfectly. The duck, which is always outstanding here didn't disappoint my wife and my brother could not stop raving about his shrimp and scampi dish. We each ordered a delicious chocolate dessert. . Reasonably priced wine list. Friendly people. If I could I would eat here every night! (Well maybe not every night, and if I did I wouldn't order dessert every night). Ha ha read more

Very fancy restaurant just a drive away from Bar Harbor! Would definitely recommend for a nice night out. Extensive wine list, and I enjoyed some blueberry wine shown below. read more

Arborvine - Blueberry Wine - New American Near Me - Blue Hill, Maine

Outstanding food in a beautiful environment Sophisticated menu, excellent ingredients, well prepared read more

The food here is the best you'll get around here...so so so so SO good. The service was pretty great. What is keeping me from the 5 star is we came in to celebrate our engagement (we literally got engaged hours prior)...I am in the restaurant bizz and when a customer goes out of his/her way to mention something special ...we accommodate the moment and do a lil something something special ...the host or waitress didn't acknowledge our engagement until we finished up after I had mentioned it again ...not that we were expecting a bottle of Don Perion...but a little chocolate? A glass of champagne? Just something to recognize our special moment ...other than that ...everything was so excellent and I would definitely return. We ordered the duck and pork ...AMAZING. read more

Our must place to celebrate my birthday- - back today- As always nothing has changed even in age of Covid except the must wear mask From Beth the receptionist to our server, Andrea, The service and hospitality cannot be beat The food ABSOLUTELY is the best ANYWHERE We had the oyster Rockefeller for an appetizer- the warm spinach salads and roasted duckling for our entree- was so stuffed we opted to take the apple crisp to go! The atmosphere here at Arborvine is vintage Maine- simply delightful When an ole Fort Worth guy comes to Maine to Arborvine to eat birthday dinner- you guessed it This place gets a 7 on the yelp scale of 1-5!! Thanks for a great birthday dinner! Look forward to next year Blessings Dale & Linda Behan Fort Worth read more

Get the Halibut entree! Truly outstanding. I don't think i've ever had fish so good. (They get it fresh daily). I was thoroughly impressed. I dine out a lot but am very rarely moved to write a review. We also tried the smoked salmon salad with mango and grapefruit. A wonderful combo which they also kindly added avocado to for me when I asked. I can't speak to anything else on the menu but based on my experience I would bet the other options are all top notch too. Looking forward to trying Arborvine again if I'm ever in the area in the future. (Service was also good/attentive!) read more

Delicious food and excellent service in a traditional upscale setting with both indoor and outdoor seating.

This restaurant is simply beautiful, especially around Christmas when they decorate with white lights and candles in the windows. In Winter, a fire roars in the fireplace and creates a very cozy dining experience. This definitely feels like a Special Occasion Restaurant. In fact, my husband and I celebrated our engagement here and we've been back since then as well. Exceptionally friendly and gracious service. From the moment you walk in the door, you are treated like the most important guest of the evening. I'm not much of a foodie, but I could tell that they prepare the food with skill and love. My favorite dish is the "Tournedos Bordelaise with Vermont Chevre" but sometimes they run out of a couple entrees later in the evening so you may need to have a second choice in mind. Save room for dessert! The only thing I don't like: this restaurant is very quiet in the smaller rooms away from the bar area. Perhaps everyone is just enjoying the food, but my husband and I think of this as a "whisper while you eat" restaurant and not a place for excitedly discussing personal news. read more

Arborvine - New American Near Me - Blue Hill, Maine

We went there to celebrate my birthday and we were thrilled. Dh got the summer salad, which was really delicious and attractive too. For his main course he ordered the crispy duck and he loved it. I started with the lobster bisque, which was not my favourite. After I saw his salad I wished I had ordered that. My main course was rack of lamb, Hunter style. I had never heard of that before. The sauce was really robust and full of roasted vegetable. Rack of lamb is something I don't often order out because I make it at home and often restaurants fail to meet my expectations. The piece of the meal was leisurely which I believe a special dinner should be. They paced out the reservations really well. I would suggest reservations well in advance as it appears too be a pretty popular place. read more

Great find for our first night in Maine. My wife and I started with the mussels in a cream curry sauce which were wonderful, followed by the lobster tower salad - again fantastic. For the main course we had the scallops and shrimp - great! Portions were not too large and service was impeccable - attentive without being obvious or interruptive. Wine list was also solid - we had a very nice Sancerre. We haven't had this quality of service and food since our last trip to Europe. read more

We had a wonderful meal here. Elegant and tasty. Lots of fun and good wine with friends Fine dining. Highly recommend.

We attended a wedding party here. The food was fantastic. Unbelievable variety of locally smoked seafood. I couldn't stop eating it. Very fresh and juicy oysters. Quality wine and cheeses. And the dinner courses were delicious. Arborvine knows how to keep true to New England dishes and ingredients. I enjoyed the atmosphere very much.. very quaint and New Englandy. The service was excellent as well. We had a 6 month old baby with us, and the waiters did all they could to try to make our stay as enjoyable as possible. read more

I have been here many times over many years. This restaurant is consistently excellent, and has nothing to envy the restaurants in New York, Boston, or San Francisco. I was in San Francisco last week, and the quality and excellence of this restaurant would cost much more in any of the aforementioned cities. The lobster bisque is amazing. Our table ordered crispy fried duck, a rack of lamb chops, and halibut on polenta, all quite excellent. The espresso is real. Desserts are creative and not too heavy. read more

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Our must place to celebrate my birthday- - back today on my 75th As always nothing has changed- maybe even better if that would be possible!! From Michelle, whose birthday was yesterday, and whose pleasing and personable demeanor is such that you know you have arrived- - to our server, Amy, who simply made our evening The service and hospitality cannot be beat The food ABSOLUTELY is the best ANYWHERE We had the baked Brie for an appetizer- the warm spinach salads - With Linda having the roasted duckling for her entree- and I enjoyed the pork tenderloin -- We were so stuffed we opted to take the apple crisp to go! The atmosphere here at Arborvine is vintage Maine- simply delightful When an ole Fort Worth guy comes to Maine to Arborvine to eat birthday dinner- you guessed it This place gets a 7 on the yelp scale of 1-5!! Thanks for a great birthday dinner! Look forward to our next get together Blessings Dale & Linda Behan Fort Worth read more

We were on a two week trip in the Northeast and dined here during our stay in Maine. I had read reviews of this restaurant in advance and so made a reservation for our family a month before we arrived. We were NOT disappointed and everyone in our party agreed this was a fabulous meal! We started out with oysters and pate while enjoying cocktails. Our group of 4 enjoyed the following entrees - halibut, pistachio encrusted pork loin, and tournedos bordelaise, Everything was done to perfection. Our server helped us pick a white wine for those having the pork and halibut and helped me select a pinot noir for my tournedos. Desserts were heavenly and included the grand marnier chocolate mousse and a wonderful napoleon constructed of delicate wafers and chantilly cream. While the meal represented a splurge for us, it was money well-spent. Highly recommend for a special occasion or a splurge. read more

Surprisingly Mediocre. If you have a restaurant on the coast of Maine, and you can't cook fish, it probably shouldn't be on the menu. Appetizers and salads were good, but the halibut and swordfish entrees, at $32 each, were dry, chewy and remarkably flavorless: not just unseasoned, but the fish itself. The server insisted that it wasn't frozen, but that might have been better. We went because of the great reviews. Perhaps just a bad night, but at these prices, one expects at least a good meal. Paging Gordon Ramsay. read more

I come here when I want a nice meal to celebrate or just enjoy myself. The menu is always so fresh and the ingredients couldn't be more local and seasonal, I have never been disappointed. Service is so friendly and warm. Tournedos bordelaise and whatever baked fruit dessert is on deck usually catch my eye, but the seafood is also impeccable. A little gem of a restaurant. read more

How do I even start with the location of this restaurant and how good it is? Here is some context: we were traveling throughout Northern Maine and had booked an AirBnB at the Arborvine Apartment in Blue Hill, Maine. Blue Hill is a quaint small town (compared to the craziness in Southern California) and we were looking for a good place to eat. To our surprise, there was a restaurant called Arborvine right next to our apartment with the same name. We made reservations on the way up to Maine. We were seated at a table for two and you can tell that this is for fine diners. The menu was exciting and fit with our surf and turf mentality for the day: Duck Liver: Yes, we wanted pate and we got a generous portion of pate with some biscuits. There was also an apricot marmalade that went well with it. I would definitely get this dish again if I were to be back in town. Swordfish: My boyfriend ordered this and I tried a piece. Fresh, soft, tender, and cooked to a perfect temperature. It came with a mango sauce that also gave it some good acidity. Steak: What am I doing ordering red meat in MAINE? Isn't this state supposed to be the seafood capital of the continental states? I had been eating lobster for 4 straight days and needed a change. I asked for a steak to be cooked to a medium rare and it came out just that, juicy, red meat that melts in your mouth. I couldn't finish the entire thing, honestly, because my pant liner couldn't handle it anymore. The steak came with potatoes and onions that were a perfect side dish. Service was on point and our waitress frequently refilled our water cups and checked up on how we were doing. A quick note, the Arborvine is the only microbrewery in Blue Hill. You can see the brewery is right outside of the restaurant where you can take a quick tour. Read my review on Deepwater Brewery for the good eats there and the beer. I honestly felt like I found an obscure restaurant in Maine since a fine dining restaurant like this was located in such a remote area. I want to say that I am wrong. It seemed like a lot of the people stopping by Arborvine have heard about it before or are returning customers. The place is also consistently full whenever I walk by it. Where are all of you people coming from? And how did you hear about Arborvine? Regardless, it shows you how good the food is. Well worth the price. Was a great addition to our Maine experience for us West Coast people. read more

I'm not sure what was more upsetting, realizing that as a 40 year plus pescatarian I'd just consumed bacon (that was not listed on the menu as the ingredients of the dish) OR the unconcerned reaction by the staff when I inquired about the remaining brown pieces under the corn salsa. A pat on the shoulder by one server, and being told by our original server "the chef said there was just a little so it shouldn't disturb your digestion" were inappropriate and insensitive responses. What should have been a lovely dinner was ruined and shame on the restaurant for the error and failing to be more responsive. Try a different restaurant if you like knowing what is in your food and expect staff who care about your wellbeing. read more

Arborvine is, simply stated, the finest restaurant in the area. Every aspect, from the friendliness which is characteristically Maine, combined with the impeccable and stellar service you'd find at Michelin star rated restaurants around the globe, to the food prepared to perfection, to the ambience and decor, is unparalleled anywhere I have seen in Maine. Foods are sourced locally; my poached pear and beet salad, with fresh local greens and produce was prepared and plated to create an amazing starting experience. The beef tournedos were perfectly medium rare, tender, succulent and finished with just the right complements. And the crime caramel, and pear cobbler were simply to die for. This is perhaps the only place in the area to go on a nice date, or a nicer family event, and get out of the bathing suit and flip flops for. It however, does not take its solitude lightly, and works hard to rise far above and competes with the best establishments you'd find in NYC or Boston, rather than just the multitude of relaxed establishments you'd find in Maine. read more

This is probably the finest restaurant in all of Maine and with that being said read below for my supporting argument why. No need to wear a full suit, but flops and shorts are inappropriate. Our waiter offered 5 star service, was very courteous, and accommodated our haste schedule. We had a performance at Kneisel Hall in just an hour and a half. The wine list offered a cosmopolitan array of wine by the glass and had a library by the bottle. The beer came from next door at Deep Water Brewery (review to follow). The menu changes seasonally, but with a few staples that can follow it appeared. I started with the pate. It was perfect. Served with fresh apples, toast, and an apricot marmalade, the mixed meat blended harmoniously together into a tasty app. The apples were crisp. The marmalade you can taste the fruit and it was perfectly sweetened. The oysters were fresh with a minimal amount of brine remaining. It comes with this frozen garlic / shallot mix. It changes the oyster's profile immensely. Try it. For my main of crispy duckling. All I remember is I ate it very fast. The duck was still very juicy and cooked thoroughly, but it had the perfect crispy skin. They tasted very separate, but combined into a great entree. The mixed vegetables that came with were crisp and fresh. I was stuffed and passed on the dessert. read more

Amazing from start to finish. Some of the best lobster bisque I've ever had. Fresh local oysters. Tasty halibut. My boyfriend got the crisp roasted duck which was also delicious. The wait staff was pleasant and attentive. Would most definitely return here. There is also a brew pub next door which we did not get the chance to check out but we will next time. read more

This is our Very Finest Restaurant on the Blue Hill peninsula! We have visited as often as our pocketbook allowed since the day they opened and also went for decades to the owner's previous restaurant The Fire Pond. The Tournedos of Beef are to die for! The crabmeat avocado salad is superb. We have never had a single poor menu choice ourselves, nor have our extensive friends and family whom we have brought as a treat. The Gentlemen wear a jacket. The ladies wear a dress. The service is exemplary, they have staff that have served there for years. It is quiet, a Soto Voce place, the house is perfect Maine charm. This is a place to go for a romantic dinner or to celebrate one of Life's very special events, leave the kids at home with a pizza. I don't happen to drink wine but the list appears significantly large and covers a wide range of choices. I adore this place. I hope it stays precisely the same and stays in business as long as I am able to visit, read more

I went here with my folks the other night, and no exaggeration I will be dreaming of the crabcakes for the rest of my life. The crabcakes were genuine, not a lot of filler, and came on a bed of minty tabouli, slightly marinated heirloom tomatoes with basil and a creamy avocado sauce (very fancy guacamole, but it had something extra...) There were also three of my favorite vegetables: spinach, carrots and asparagus, cooked to a tender perfection. The service was great, too. A party next to us was having a pretty raucous birthday party and several times our server asked us if we were okay, if we wanted to move. We didn't and the partiers were funny and nice, anyway. I loved the building, a gorgeous old home converted into a restaurant. It was a truly memorable meal and evening with my favorite parents. If you are ever in Blue Hill, go there! read more

Went here last night for girlfriends B-day dinner. We've eaten at every so called fine dining spot from here to portland. El guacho, Paleys place, Peter Otts, Crocker House, Iron bound. You folks top the list..I'm a local from Bucksport an it's nice to know I can get such great food. All the staff where very personable an we had a very nice time.. Thanks so much Jason read more

I have eaten at Arborvine each time I visited Maine over the past 7 years. The restaurant is located in a beautiful old house and the decor is elegant New England colonial simplicity. The menu is ambitious and while the presentation is lovely the food doesn't quite hit the mark for fine dining. We had the beet and pear salad, the caprese salad and oysters on the half shell to start. The pear and Gorgonzola was lovely together but the star of the plate - the beet - was tasteless and there were only 4 tiny pieces. The oysters were wonderful - in fact the mignonette overpowered the delicate salinity. The caprese was ridiculous. The tomatoes were hard and tasteless. I would have taken it off the menu entirely. The lamb chops were perfectly prepared and served with an interesting corn risotto (?) cake. But at $34 you should be able to say the whole dish was perfect - unfortunately the vegetables on the plate looked liked they'd been sitting awhile and were a bit on the mushy side. The pan fried flounder was completely overwhelmed by a rich sauce, but the tiny mushrooms were a pleasant surprise. My companion regretted the choice. In summary, I can't say I want to go back to Arborvine next summer. The attention to detail that was standard 5 years ago has slipped, despite the rise in prices. The service is still wonderful. The atmosphere is lovely. I just wish the food was as good as it's been in the past. read more