Loved the interior as soon as we walked in. A nod to the feel of an old speakeasy, rich wood tones…read moreand a faux brick ceiling, it was fun and right out of a movie. I loved how all of the bartenders and servers seemed to pitch in and help out. There was never the feeling like anyone was focused on just their job. They were all focused on making sure the patrons had what they needed. I was here on a Tuesday evening with my husband and 2 kids, 6 and 10. They don't print a kids menu but readily offer options of burgers, grilled cheese, mac and cheese, pasta with marinara, and pasta with butter and parmesan. My kids had mac and cheese and buttered pasta, which with homemade rigatoni noodles, we packed the leftovers. For cocktails, we had The Balcony is Closed, a delightful gin and lemon cocktail but the honey beer syrup balances it and the chili oil gives it a kick of a finish. I have gin cocktails wherever I go, and I've traveled and eaten far and wide. This is one of my top 3 most memorable gin drinks. We also tried The Assault Continues, smoky and earthy; not my favorite but for my smoky scotch loving husband, it hit the spot. Of course, we had to try the tuna nachos. I feel like so many restaurants try to do tuna nachos and it's been there, done that. But you haven't had THESE tuna nachos. They're spectacular. The ingredients on the menu speak for themselves but they finally got the ratio and presentation just right. It's a work of art. The caprese was also delicious, the stracciatella and pistachios playing nicely off each other. Dinners were rigatoni with short rib, and the halibut. The rigatoni was delicious. The halibut was out of this world. Perfect sear, perfectly cooked halibut in a corn cream sauce or nage, the summer succotash, fresh corn, crisp bacon, salty caviar. I really proverbially licked the plate with my fork. It was special and incredibly well executed. Not to mention the blueberry pie bar and carrot cake were also delicious. Both disappeared in a matter of seconds. We didn't have to fight for or pay through the nose for parking in downtown Bar Harbor for this wonderful dinner. Get the free parking in several lots in town. The city hall parking lot is directly behind the restaurant building. If you like to eat on a budget, this spot may not be for you, but if you enjoy great food and cocktails, I really think the prices are comparable to what you'd pay in other more populated areas. The food is a diamond in the rough.

The appetizers were excellent!…read more We ordered mussels which were tasty and generous, could have been is own meal. If it was served with crusty bread instead of a thick slice of toasted bread, it would have been perfect. The nachos were unique and delicious with generous toppings and ahi tuna... also could have been a meal by itself... chef's kiss to those two items! Our entrees were a dish called Gnudi- which if you don't know what they are(we didn't and when we looked it up, it said it is similar to gnocchi- IT ISN'T!!!) ask before you order, if you've never had it, it's very unique and we didn't care for it at all... there was no recourse given by the restaurant... make sure you know what it is!! Our other entree was rigatoni that was topped with ricotta and short rib sauce, shredded cheese... it was tasty, but very pricey for a bowl of pasta... To make a reservation, you need to give a credit card and if you don't show up, your card is charged $25 per person. The service was friendly until we didn't like the Gnudi... then it was a little weird... It was fine, but not exceptional... Cold bottles of water are given to the table and refreshed as necessary. The restroom is not kept up, could use shine attention, a little elbow grease to clean it. They are on Facebook and offer specials on their burgers.

Ellsworth's best known little brew pub is also a friendly little place to get the best beer in…read moretown. The food is above average (I recommend the baked potatoes!). Flights of beer in a small cozy setting. Oatmeal stout among the best I've had. Famous for their Red Ale. You really can't find better beer In Ellsworth!

They have traditional Cornish pasties, which my husband says are the best thing he's ever eaten. He…read morealso loves the Steak and Ale Pie. I like the Blackened Haddock Tacos and the pretzel sticks. Pro Tip: get BOTH the "beer cheese" and the "beer mustard" and get extra of both. You might have extra, but you can use the extra on sandwiches tomorrow. The extra mustard is also great with cheese and crackers as a snack. The blueberry cobbler is fantastic! The peanut butter pretzel pie did not impress my husband; he said the pretzels themselves tasted cheap, like grocery store pretzels. I have been trying to get them to add a vegetarian pasty to the menu. They have almost nothing vegetarian in there, and a Greggs style cheese and onion pasty would also be extremely traditional and surely wildly popular. PLEASE ADD A VEGETARIAN PASTY!! And/or a fish pasty, which would also be very traditional. Oooh, what about a Stargazy Pasty with leeks and cream? Now, THAT would be traditional and would certainly get some media attention. I will raise my rating to 5 stars as soon as this place adds a good vegetarian or fish Signature Entree (preferably a pasty!!). That is literally the only reason they're not getting 5 stars, that it's way too oriented towards meat eaters. (They do have a grilled cheese toasty and a vegan garden burger, so I would still go there if you are vegetarian or vegan, but keep your expectations low when it comes to selection.)

Incredible vibe and healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals made to order. Plenty of parking and…read moreindoor and outdoor seating.

The chai and kitchari were a little overdose on spices (not subtle.. like a bunch of powder spices…read moreadded to liquid.. not brewed chai as in authentic). I wondered if ghee was used in kitchari. Friendly staff, relaxing ambience for gathering with friends. I look forward to trying their other items in menu.

The food is amazing, very authentic Maine dinner. Our waitress, Shayna, was wonderful and had no…read moreproblem with our requests.

Lobsters and chowder were very good. Casual ambience. The back yard area is quaint and the ducks…read moreare cute. My blueberry sangria was also awesome. And everyone raved over the blueberry pie. So good we went back a second time during our week stay. Service was so friendly.

Service was great Pancakes were great with blueberries & a…read morepair of eggs on top Everybody was very welcoming!!

Hot and humid and the AC was either broken or nonexistent. doors propped open…read more Service was good, food was meh.

Ok. I'm not going to lie. When I first looked at the menu I actually headed next door to…read moreMargarita's to eat instead. Boy do I regret that decision! We came back the following night for a REAL treat... First of all, Tony was our server. What an absolute sweetheart!! He had nothing but fantastic recommendations for us. He was definitely not your standard "waiter". He spoke to us like we were regulars, which we appreciated, considering we were from Massachusetts. We ordered three of his suggestions: wings, fish and chips and the spicy margarita. Outside of what was recommended we also got the beer cheese and GIANT soft pretzel, bangers and mash and the creme brûlée. First off- this was my first time trying beer cheese, so I was beyond excited. I hate pretzels, however. Guess what?? They were BOTH SOOO GOOD!! The pretzel was the size of my giant head and was so soft & salty. It really paired well with the creamy beer cheese. I'd come back just for this appetizer every time. The wings too, actually! I was a little hesitant because I read the word "dill" on the menu but they really tasted more like Buffalo wings with a note of dill at the very end. I think I might be in love.... On to the main event! The Smithwick's beer battered fish and chips... WOW. It was a little different than I'm used to (which was a great thing in this case). The batter was thick and crispy (I'm used to thinner) and the haddock was super moist. Very fresh! I order this meal wherever I go and this is definitely in my top 3 (out of probably 50 others). I was hoping I could switch out the chips for fries because, well, I've never had traditional chips before! I must say I was pleasantly impressed though! They were the BEST and completed the dish perfectly. My fiancé had the bangers and mashed. He said it was good and very traditional. I did not indulge, so I can't relay that in my review. Last, we ended the meal with a MUST try....the creme brûlée. LEAVE ROOM FOR THIS DESSERT! The top was a hard sugar coating while the rest was truly a creamy dream. I might have to stop back in JUST for this before I head back home! 5 stars. Definitely. 6 stars for service!!

Their Bangers & Mash entree was better than expected. And with about 30 different drafts to choose…read morefrom other than a Guinness, ya can't go wrong at Finn's. The kitchen closes around 8:50pm during the week so keep that in mind. We found out too late in the evening that their jumbo pretzel was sold out. While it's tough to navigate through most every restaurant in the Trenton/Ellsworth/Bar Harbor area without the blitz of seeing t-shirts and beanies for sale, Finn's has their their own Challenge Coin for sale ($8), which was a nice find.

Dinner for 6, seated at a corner table in the back of the restaurant with a nice view of a…read moremanicured lawn. Service was attentive and prompt (including a check-in from Josie herself!) Three salads (burrata and ahi) were delicious and so pleasing to the eye in their presentation. Some pretty serious knife skills for the salad chef! Steak, fish and chips and a wrap served the rest of this, and it all was good as plates were clean when done! Truffle fries for an appetizer and many raved about the dipping sauce too! The checkout out front easily accommodated 4 separate checks too! Highly recommend ~ an extensive menu, great staff and good ambiance!

Breakfast burrito was a surprise when brought to the table as it was more of a hay roll in size…read more However, it was very, very tasty. The crispy outside gives an initial flavor of an eggroll but then it lets the breakfast mix inside take over. Every ingredient in the inside complements each other. Breakfast platter was also good with tasty sausages but not comparable to the burrito. Seating is on a porch area behind and around the country store, so you just go through the front and wait to be seated by the cooking area where they have the menus on a table. It can be a bit confusing. Oh, and diner style, when you are done you pay at the front register. Very nice find!

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our stop here for dinner. Service was fantastic and quick. Food…read morewas delicious! Hard to find economical meals in this area, and this was perfect. Highly recommend!

Best fajitas I've had in Maine. Their salsa is delicious as well. I went on a Monday evening and…read morethe special of the day was a margarita. It was huge and refreshing!

Stopped by this iconic restaurant at the recommendation of the innkeeper where I was staying. It…read morewas packed to the gills (pun intended) with both locals and the hordes of tourists who descend to this part of Maine to visit the Acadia region. The place is apparently famous for its pies, and if course, since it is Maine, fir seafood. A lot of the dishes in the menu are market price, which is understandable. The waitress was Megan and she was all smiles and very friendly, and there's a small army of staff working their tuchis off on Sunday, which is when I dropped by. Super generous portions, which seems to be the standard for this region of Maine. I started with the basic Maine dish of seafood chowder. Helen's seafood chowder is a rich, creamy soup that celebrates the fresh flavors of the area. Tender chunks of haddock, clams, shrimp, and scallops are simmered with potatoes, onions, and celery in a white thickish broth seasoned with butter, herbs, and perhaps a touch of black pepper? Every spoonful was hearty, comforting, and filled with the sweet, briny taste of the sea and packed with chunks of seafood. Definitely Maine style comfort food! Once again, I went for the fish and chips and that was a hit! Flaky, fresh Haddock coated in a light, crispy golden batter and fried to perfection. Served alongside hot, hand-cut fries, this classic favorite of mine was (as usual) accompanied by creamy coleslaw, tangy tartar sauce, and a fresh lemon wedge for the perfect finishing touch. Did I mention that the blueberry pie was out of this world? YUM! And they have military and veterans' discount!

Food of the lowest quality. Worst was the kids menu steak and fries. Two kids ordered it. One was…read morethe flat, overcooked, looked just super gross. Accentuated by the fact that the other kids steak was decent. Fries--there were 7 or 8 per plate. On a little 3-section plate with one section blank that definitely played into the bad cafeteria vibe of the food. Some menu items are highlighted as house recs like the haddock chowder. Broth was watered down skim milk, untouched by anything that might give it flavor like onions, celery, salt. Soggy salad served with packs of Ken's dressing. But it wasn't a loss. Helen's and its saddest steak in the world became a family punchline we used for the rest of our trip and will stay in our lexicon.

First, can we talk about the amazing host and servers? They made our meal that much more terrific…read more Unlike many places in the area, this felt like a true sit-down restaurant with a mix of local flavors and things from the chef's travels around the world while the restaurant is closed (evidently they are built on top of granite and cannot stay open year round as the granite freezes). My son had the strawberry-rhubarb lemonade (yum), my husband had a cider, nd I had tea! To start, we shared the gluten free calamari. After that, I had the cataplana (very tasty and filling), my husband the halibut (sooo good), and my son the steak. For dessert, my son had the blueberry cheesecake, because when in Maine, why not. They also had a chocolate gluten-free cake. Everything was scrumptious, but it really was the server who made the meal extra special.

This was our first visit to Ironbound despite living in the area. We were welcomed warmly by…read morestaff and found the indoor dining area to be cozy, comfortable, and relaxing. The fresh oysters were superb, and Meg, the bartender, was spot on with our cocktails. Thanks to our server, we narrowed down our choices and went with the pistachio-encrusted sea bass special. It was perfectly prepared and exceeded our expectations. Honestly, it rivaled the seafood entree I had at Street & Co in Portland, ME the month before. We finished off our delicious meal with the San Sebastian cheesecake. We are looking forward to our next visit.