This is my partner's parents' favorite restaurant, and a big group of us had their 65th anniversary celebration there. It was a beautiful occasion, and Arborvine made the honorees feel very special. It is a beautiful restaurant, with a traditional feel. The food was pretty much flawless. I had the rack of lamb, and for me, a smallish person, it was an absurd amount of food. I took much of it home (the dogs had a feast too!). Everything was meticulously prepared and presented, and I don't even know how many people we had serving our table. They paid particular attention to the guests of honor. What a wonderful place. You should dress up. There are just some places where that is appropriate, and this is one of them. read more

We passed through on our family vacation to Bar Harbor. This place was incredible and probably our best meal the whole week we were here. There were seven of us in our party and each person raved about their meal. The appetizers and deserts were awesome as well. Additionally, the waitresses were welcoming, hardworking, and had excellent customer service. read more

We have a house near Blue Hill and try to eat at this lovely restaurant whenever we are in ME. We have been there every season and have never been disappointed. The food is wonderful as is the atmosphere. The hostess is very friendly and charming and we've always had wonderful service. My husband usually orders the duck and I enjoy their lamb. The portions are generous too. We usually share an appetizer and if we are not stuffed, a dessert. It is nice to have a place like this for dinner after hiking or doing other outdoor activities all day. Very civilized! read more

Also a brewery..called DeepWater. Tasty stuff. Did not have food but they let us drink in the back garden. Good Pale, decent IPA...good brown that was like an Irish stout. read more

How fortunate we are to come to our Maine home and enjoy, as delicious food we experience in great restaurants in the Los Angeles area without the staff having another "agenda" here in Hollywood . We love the staff and the spirit of friendliness that permeates. Can hardly wait to return!! read more

Truly one of the finest meals I have ever experienced. A wonderful hostess (Beth) with her two sons in the kitchen (her husband was away when I visited). They get strong points for the room which is classic coastal Maine, with lots of wood, fire places and oriental rugs. The tables are spaced out well and the service top notch. They get strong points for the sourcing of the ingredients; not always easy in Fall in Rural Maine. We had Oysters from only a few miles away. Also local fish and veggies. On the other hand the Venison was from New Zealand and some cheese was local and some with Wis. The oysters were without compare so good that I had them both as an app and then after my main course I had 2nd round before my final course (cheese plate). I had: Oysters (clean tasting, lots of juice) Local baked Clams (mostly clam, moist, tender and delightful) Tomato & Mozz. salad with a pesto dressing Venison with a risotto cake that was both crunchy (outside) and soft (inside).. I didn't leave anything on the plate.. More Oysters (as good as the first) Cheese course with a modest amount of cheese from a nice selection plus sliced Pear and two bunches of Champagne grapes.. Perfection. All that plus a nice bottle of wine.. This place is highly, highly recommend. ------- I went back a second time and had just as good of a time. I had a dozen oysters, then a salad, a baked brie in Filo, then a dozen top neck clams, followed by a 1/2 plate of the venison and then a cheese course. The service lagged at times but was still very good and I felt very comfortable and had a great meal. read more

We love this place. The colonial type atmosphere is fantastic and it feels like a more traditional New England restaurant as you might expect. The menu is broad and has something for everyone. The price is reasonable the service is good and there is a general upscale feel but you will not be robbed like some of those bar harbor guys. read more

Just wonderful from start to finish! The staff is extremely nice and efficient, we were greeted warmly and seated right away. The food was absolutely delicious. My pork tenderloin was done to perfection with a great balance of savory and sweet...just beautiful! Thank you for a wonderful dining experience! read more

When giving this Restaurant a rate, it was 5 stars easy, but for good reason. Good quality food is found here. I have eaten here multiple times for Mother's Day, Birthdays, and countless other important events with my family. The Arborvine supports local farms which I think is important. This is one of Blue Hills only high end restaurants, and it can be a nice treat to go to. The atmosphere is classy and sophisticated: and I LOVE IT. You need to GO. read more

Some of the best fine dining in the area. Beth and John are wonderful . A must when in Blue Hill.

I'm a local resident and have eaten here once. I ordered lamb chops well done. I was told the "chef" wouldn't cook them that way. It's not the "chef's" job to tell me how I should have my meal served. PRETENTIOUS! This ruined the whole experience for me. I will most likely never go back there again! read more

Overrated. Not worth the cost. We have been here a number of times and don't understand the appeal. They seem to cater to older folks who are craving an upscale dining experience downeast. It's upscale, but the food doesn't measure up. read more

We had a local burger at the pub, it was outstanding with onion rings , a fresh pickle and slaw the only disappointment was the fries which were fresh but undercooked. Lovely barn like feeling cozy atmosphere. read more

Unbelievable, high-end quality dinning in small town Maine. The use of ingredients and the playfulness with flavors, combine with expert meal finishing to make for an unforgettable dinning experience. Highly recommend the warm spinach and arugula salad and the beef tenderloin medallions. read more

Such a magical place! Cozy, romantic, great lighting. Started with the oysters and the warm spinach salad, so yummy. Then we split the sirloin which was cooked perfectly and topped with a chimichuri which complemented the meat perfectly. It just burst with flavor. Love this place! read more

We were excited to eat at beautiful Arborvine after years of missing it on visits to Blue Hill. Our meal was good -- not great -- and the menu enticing, but unfortunately the service and atmosphere were really lacking. Touches such as glassware and flower arrangements seemed very dated and almost cheesy, and the dining space was quite stuffy save for a few neat, antique details that fit the space well. Arborvine projects an upscale ambience, but did not retain the service level of fine dining restaurants we are accustomed to. For example, our waiter refused to let us order an appetizer to start and place our entree order upon arrival of the first course (I have never experienced this, but thought perhaps it was a quirk of their ordering system). Suffice it to say, our meals were not warm when they were delivered. We will give it another shot, but our first impression left a bit to be desired. We also felt oddly rushed by our server which felt really counterintuitive for a 7 p.m. reservation in June during what the hostess even said was a fairly low-key night. Definitely a disappointment! read more

It was slightly off season when we went and we had a 7:30 dinner reservation. The food was very good, very high quality and local. I'm giving a 4 because they were out of a couple items including the entrée that I ordered - and we only arrived at 7:30. With that being said the atmosphere is very cute New England, they have a nice wine list - although only a few are available by the glass. The oysters were the best I've ever had. My husband got the duck and raved about it. Overall it was a great ending to an evening in Blue Hill. The place cleared out around 8:30 and we were the only ones there - I'm chaulking this up to being off season. read more

The finest meal you will eat in the state of Maine!....A five star restaurant that serves the most delicious eats, with a fabulous, friendly & most outgoing staff all while surrounded by a gorgeous atmosphere inside & out......I simply cannot wait to return to Blue Hill & dine there again! read more

Can't say enough good things about this place! Great rooms, great service! Two of us had the the duck...really impeccably done. the recipe is 30+ years old from the old Fire Pond restaurant which was just down the street. One of the others in our party had the tuna, while the fourth had a steak. All done to perfection. Truly wonderful bisque-type soup and great salads (try the pear). finished off (if really needed) with a blueberry/raspberry cobbler which managed to get both flavors come through and ice cream (locally made I think). An excellent experience from start to finish. Reservations probably needed, esp during the high season. read more

Second time here - both experiences have been perfection. Service, food, ambiance, drinks, wine, desserts - amazing. Hands down the best restaurant in the Blue Hill area. read more

Easily the premier venue on the peninsula I've never been disappointed by the food and the service which is always top notch. The Local Bagaduce oysters is my go to appetizer and they make a wicked martini. It's pricey but what the heck. You only go around once. read more

This place rocks!! Lamb was Is Exquisite the service was phenomenal everything was wonderful. Other entrée was talk and it was amazing we love this restaurant read more

The perfect place to go for a special occasion- birthday, anniversary, proposal! Superb food, service and atmosphere. All food is local and prepared artfully. We had a lovely evening. read more

This restaurant is amazing, and I have visited every time I've been up to Maine. First, their in-house bread is delicious. I had a brie pastry puff stuffed with mashed figs. The pastry was light, layered, yet crisp; quite possibly the best puff pastry i've ever had. For my entree, I had the crispy duck, which featured a half pekin duck that unfortunately, was a little drowned in their molasses sauce. It was delicious, moist and tender flesh, with a crispy crackling skin. I found myself trying to eat around the sauce as it was spread a little too thick across the plate. Even still, I would highly recommend everyone stop by there. read more

The food here is absolutely fabulous, but beware in the busy summer season the restaurant really does not seem to want any business from the under 30 crowd unless you are part of an older group. My husband and I are food fanatics and have eaten here several times with family and friends, yet were refused to be seated when we tried to eat on our own. If you are under 30, go to Table in Blue Hill and save yourself the attitude of Arborvine. The food at Arborvine is fabulous and they have a great selection of local foods from small farmers but I will not pay for the side of attitude again. read more

Great food the staff are very friendly and a overall great place to eat. That's why I am rating this restaurant 5 stars one of my favorite places to eat at good jobs guys, read more

I have to say, I was stunned. I don't take to Yelp too often to share, but I owe it to Arborvine after this dinner. My fiancé and I are up this way from Boston for WoodenBoat School, and this restaurant parallels and perhaps beats the finest dining in the city. The bordelaise mini filets melted, and everything that arrived exceeded expectations. The wine selection was also impressive. Really, we are stunned. Thank you for the experience; we will return! read more

Extraordinary and worth a trip. Elegant interior lovely location. Best fresh halibut you can get. Lightly broiled, served with fresh tomato remoulade, fantastic just out of the water taste. Local oysters amazing served with slightly frozen sauce mignonette, great bit of subtle theater. Cooking is like sophisticated art curating...the less you notice the chef the better it is, let the,art or the food shine! My only 5 star review so far.. read more

Arborvine is a gem! Gracious service, outstanding, creative, fresh food. I've eaten here several times and can't think of a favorite but every single time I have been delighted. It's somewhat pricey but if you really, truly appreciate good food you will agree that it's also a remarkable value. read more

PERFECTION1 From the staff to the food to the surroundings, everything was great. I just wish I lived closer. Do not hesitate to go to this restaurant, one of the best I've ever been to. I had the cesar salad, rack of lamb, and toranadoes of beef. read more

We've been vacationing in Castine, ME for the last 8 year. We cook and dine most evenings at the house we rent, but we always make a point of dining at Arborvine at least once each trip. Beth (the hostess) is charming, but she also runs a tight ship. The food is always spectacular, and the service is impeccable. We always leave the restaurant feeling that we've been well-fed and well-cared for, and that we had a very relaxing, enjoyable evening. How can you beat that? read more