Got there with an 8:30 pm reservation, didn't get our food until 9:30. They did give us blueberry sorbet for the long wait so honestly the service was great! Probably just an off day in the kitchen. Hopefully that wasn't the norm. I had the seared Scallops and my husband had the braised beef short ribs.....I am not sure if it was because it was so long to get it, if the serving size was so small, or I'm just a big back but we were both still hungry at the end of it. Great place for a special occasion. The view is absolutely stunning and I bet sunset would be incredible there. read more

My food was incredibly good and the service was friendly and efficient. We had an amazing view. I loved all the blueberry items-amuse bouche and blueberry butter. I got chicken and it was very nicely seasoned. Husband got lobster. Paired with Sancerre. Thank you for a memorable meal read more

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A beautiful restaurant with a romantic feel and live piano, this is the perfect location for a date night in bar harbor. I have been to this restaurant only a few times, but am extremely satisfied each time by the selection of dishes. The service differs each time, but wait staff are really great overall. I recently had a not so great experience with the hosts, where they were very dismissive, so that definitely lowers my rating and inclination to come back. They have a great selection of starters including soups and salads. We always try their seasonal compressed fruit salad, and their soups are good as well. We started out with complimentary bread and blueberry butter, which was nothing to write home about. They also serve different aperitif which we love. For entrees they have great steaks, but this time I tried the scallops and they were perfect. Loved the crispy potatoes and onions as well. My partner got the prosciutto wrapped cod, which was a little dry and maybe overcooked. I think the prices here are quite reasonable, but it is more of a place you come for the experience and views. We definitely recommend as a special place to eat while visiting the island, but the recent service has definitely made me less inclined to visit again. read more

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While staying at Bar Harbor Inn, we decided to check out this restaurant since it was just a few steps away from our room. First of all, the views here are absolutely stunning!! This place feels so romantic and I'm so happy I got to dine here with my mom on our last night. There was lovely music being played on the piano and as the sun started to set we got to witness a picturesque sunset. The food was spectacular and the vibes felt very upper class. Our server was so kind and the presentation of the food was impressive. This will definitely be a lovely memory that we will share together forever. read more

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This place is located inside the beautiful Bar Harbor Inn and is beautiful. Right on the water. Even on a foggy night it was such a nice experience. Piano player also created such a relaxing environment. We split the Petite Greens salad which has a nice blueberry vinaigrette on it. It was good but didn't wow me. Could use a tad more flavor but still tasty. Our waiter brought me special gluten free bread so I could try their delicious blueberry butter so that was so nice and wow was both the bread and butter amazing. Before our main course they brought out some sorbet to cleanse the palette. Very classy and also delicious. I then had the Downeast Lazy Lobster. The dish and accompaniments were really good, however the lobster I had the night prior at Geddys tasted a tad more fresh. My boyfriend loved his short rib entree. We then headed to the bar to see Harry who we had met the night prior. Great bartender. Made me a nice coffee drink that I very much enjoyed. Would most certainly come back if we lived in the area. Beautiful restaurant. read more

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My husband and I spent this year's anniversary trip in New England with the majority of our time in Bar Harbor. While most our trip was spent in the national park and doing more casual things, we did want one nice dinner out. After perusing the cute town earlier that day, we knew that we wanted to go to the Reading Room for this. Thankfully, they were able to squeeze us in for a later reservation that same evening. While waiting to be seated, we explored the lobby of the hotel, and it was so beautiful and historical. I really enjoyed looking at all of the old photographs and reading about the background of the hotel. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated near one of the picturesque bay windows. We were served a small loaf of soft bread with blueberry butter and a small scoop of blueberry sherbert. After deliberating the menu, I opted for the short rib meal. It was absolutely delicious, and I would highly recommend. While it is pricey, the ambiance and food are well worth a nice night out! read more

Food was excellent but the views were better. We came here on our honeymoon and were in love. Definitely a must do on your trip to bar harbor. The staff was so kind and very helpful with the menu options. Unfortunately I don't have many food pics because it was so good we ate it so fast! read more

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What a beautiful restaurant. Claire was our server and she was amazing! The view of the harbor was very nice from our table. We didn't have reservations and glad that it was such a short wait to get a table. We ordered Maine Oysters, caesar salad, Herb Seared salmon, and Seared scallops entree. All were delicious! I love the blueberry butter and bread. A very nice pianist playing beautiful songs while dinner is being served. Great live music! Also, we did valet parking. What a convenience! read more

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5 stars for location and ambiance Food was very good too... some New England coastal classics. Large portions for entrees Or kids took us here for anniversary and it was a lovely experience. Service also great. It's pretty spendy, you're paying for an awesome view and upscale dining. read more

Delicious food and quick service. Although it's now the off season, this restaurant still impresses with some amazing dishes. Although I'm not a seafood eater, I still recommend the crab cake appetizer, I promise it won't disappoint! The staff also helped celebrate my birthday with an awesome dessert and piano rendition of Happy Birthday. Be sure to make a reservation, they get busy! read more

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We came for our anniversary. I live in NYC so I am a hard-to-please food snob. This was AMAZING. Tyler, our server, was absolutely wonderful. The caesar salad must not be missed, It was SO good. They use fresh garlic and anchovy for a nice depth of flavor. We also had the Land & Sea - a dazzling cut of filet mignon and pillowy lobster. Melted in my mouth. Ambiance and the view were the real catch for me. It made my dinner so much more enjoyable. Overall this was a peaceful, serene dinner and I cannot wait to come back! Thank you again to Tyler, for answering all my questions and making sure we had a nice time. read more

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Upping this to 5 stars because the Reading Room really is my favorite upscale restaurant on MDI, especially with the indefinite closure of the Asticou Inn and restaurant. I think they've gotten a new chef in the last few years; the menu definitely feels a little fresher and everything is very well executed. The soft bread with blueberry butter that they start you off with is always a winner - we went through multiple loaves - and if the sea scallops with a side of lobster and potato hash are on the menu, don't pass them up. The scallops are cooked to perfection and the lobster hash is great. Although the vibe of the place is relatively fancy with the live piano music and formal table settings, it's kid-friendly and they even have a children's menu (probably due to the location inside a hotel). read more

We have been dining here since 1993. Service has always been great. Atmosphere can not get any better, sunsets over Frenchman's bay make it the best. Food is a bit pricey but almost always very good. Tonight we had scallops, lamb, ribs and lazy lobster. Everything was perfect, but lobster a little over cooked and tough. read more

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I was devastatingly disappointed with my experience at the Reading Room. The positive points first: our waiter, Tyler, and the attractiveness of the dining room. It was all downhill from there. I'm unsure why people rave at the food -- it's extremely mediocre, at best. I had the scallops, which included 4 scallops (well prepared) and a strange potato hash with a miniscule amount of lobster, plus the equivalent of 1 asparagus spear, cut in 3. There was nothing elevated about the flavors or preparation that you'd expect with "fine dining." My husband's lazy lobster was similarly unimpressive. For the fine dining label and prices they charge, it would be safe to expect elevated food. This did NOT deliver. The blueberry pie was similarly non-inventive and wasn't much better than a pie I'd get from the grocery store. I was also underwhelmed by the hosts' sense of logic. We got the very last window table in the restaurant, meaning in the back of the dining room, next to a bus cart that was both noisy and unappealing to look at all night. Now, the hosts knew we were 1) there for our anniversary, 2) hotel guests for 3 nights, and 3) had reservations. There were better window tables available when we were seated -- exactly what does one need to do to get a prime table? Special occasion, spending a lot of money already at the property, and planned ahead. ??? But by the time I realized we were next to a bus cart and I should perhaps ask for a table in the main dining area (window or not), Tyler had greeted us, and we quite liked him, so we didn't make a fuss. Not thrilled we did that, since it was a pretty irritating experience and the food definitely did not impress. read more

I'm so mad at myself for not taking pictures!!! We came after hiking early in the morning so I was just too hungry!! I got their blue velvet waffle and the table agreed it was the best choice! But the traditional waffle and baguette French toast were also fantastic! Service was so quick which was great. Here's the best advice though- whatever you get you MUST order a side of the breakfast potatoes. Oh my gosh these were the best things ever. Not your average side on a breakfast plate. These were 10/10. Also loved that the chef made some rounds speaking to us and other guests. The view is also gorgeous. 10/10 overall read more

We enjoyed the view.....restaurant was really beautiful...everyone enjoyed their breakfast ... service was great... highly recommend...

the most incredible view overlooking the water!!!!! we had dinner right around sunset and the sky was absolutely stunning - felt like the sky kept changing to various hues for an hour. there was live classical piano music too so it just really added to the overall ambiance - everything about this was perfect!! the service was good, our waitress came by a good amount to check on us but I didn't exactly feel the interpersonal connection. she seemed like she asked questions just to ask, without really caring to hear what we said? my bf responded to something she asked but she literally walked away while he was mid-speaking. she spent a long time serving & talking to the old couple in front of us - I definitely got a sense of ageism here. this sort of restaurant def draws a wealthier crowd so you can kind of imagine how the servers might tend to cater towards people like them. we also saw the manager walk around and check in on this family behind us 2x, that older couple once, but not us ever. that irked me a lot. as for the food: bread & butter: the butter is infused with blueberry which was soo unique - you could actually see blueberry pieces in it. the butter melted right into the warm bread. I thought the edges of the bread was actually a bit too crispy and tough to bite down on at times. great combo tho lobster bisque: thick soup that's hearty and warms my stomach, but kind of reminds me of gravy. it's not very sweet and I liked the lobster pieces that come on top. it comes with crispy bread with a cream cheese & chive spread. probs not the best lobster bisque I've ever had but still good raspberry sorbet palette cleanser was so refreshing. palate was cleansed!!! soy glazed atlantic cod: the glaze was very yummy and cooked well, it came with this lobster egg roll thing which was actually so good. not a huge risotto person but I thought the overall combination of this dish was yummy and was my fav of the two entrees downeast lazy lobster: shredded lobster dipped in butter that was fresh, came with carrots and potato. gorgeous presentation but overall a mid dish mint chocolate chip crème brûlée: the HIGHLIGHT of dinner (besides the bread & butter). i felt like i could taste actual mint leaves in the homemade ice cream, never had anything like this. the torched creme brûlée on top and chocolate pieces really accentuated the flavors of the mint. wish I could have this again overall, pleased with my experience here esp when it came to the ambiance. def felt ageism and as if the restaurant catered only to the top 1% so if you're a young, not wealthy diner.. take that as you will. some of the food was unique but overall the entrees didn't blow my mind. read more

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The food in the reading room is absolutely some of the best you'll find in Bar Harbor! They have a wide selection of specials every day, so it'll be mixed up even for repeated visitors. The high quality of food and fine dining level of service, combined with some of the best views of any restaurant on the island, is what makes this place so special. The pan seared halibut is one of mine and my wife's favorite dishes that sometimes is a special. The fish is crispy on the outside and glistening with moisture on the inside. One of my personal favorites is the braised beef short ribs, which falls apart when touched with your fork and is covered with a delicious glaze -- they even give the roasted potatoes a smoke flavor, which pairs very well with the beef. Also would recommend the pan seared scallops, which are fork tender and delicious. The crab cake is a generous portion and filled with flavor. For dessert, the exploration of chocolate is new a favorite and if they ever have it as a special, the s'mores dessert is excellent! Can recommend this place enough! read more

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Fantastic view of the harbor. Interesting historic artifacts in the lobby. Very well landscaped exterior. This is great for a romantic dinner or just watch the ships come in. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The food was very good. The Compressed Asian Pears were wonderful. The surf and turf had a great presentation. The Spiced Apple Bomb looked great but wasn't my favorite. It is a little expensive but a great experience. read more

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Everything about the Reading Room is so beautiful and the food and Service is amazing. Claire was our server and even though she had just come back from a 24 hour flight seeing her mother she was energetic and very happy to be back at work. The Reading Room is an experience- we have been coming for 26 years our hostess for 36. A new manager for the restaurant but is from Bar Harbor. It is the highlight of our stay to come to this beautiful dining experience. We will be sure to book again for next year. The hotel at the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa is a gem. The steak and lobster at the restaurant is perfection. Also the Blueberry pie is delicious. read more

Where to begin? The Reading Room was by far our most favorite dinner dining experience. From the most delicious and tender cuts of beef that don't require a knife to the succulent fresh Maine lobster and serene views overlooking the water The Reading Room has everything you need to celebrate a special occasion or just grabbing a quick dinner. The service at The Reading Room was unparalleled, Sergay was our waiter and Henry was our bartender the next evening along with an amazing pianist that set the mood for this special place in Maine that will forever live in our hearts. Would highly recommend! read more

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Food -Bread with blueberry butter -Caesar Salad -Lobster Bisque -Scallops -Salmon Service -Amazing Ambiance -Elegant -Piano player What a wonderful find! I loved how they transformed this space into a beautiful dining area. To top it off, the food was exquisite. There was definitely a uniqueness to it with an artsy flair to the production. The service was wonderful and attentive. I just had a wonderful experience. The prices are a bit steep but it is worth it to go for a celebration or if on vacation. read more

Made a reservation for later in the night hoping to get a seat with a view or at least near the piano as it was my SO's birthday. I specifically requested a good seat and said we didn't mind waiting Instead we got the seat farthest away by the door and wait station. We had a bottle of wine and port with dessert. Our dishes were good. We had lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, scallops, short ribs, blueberry cheesecake. Ambiance? Again, we were by the door / and wait station. I was disappointed as I wanted this to be a special night for my guy. We did have a great waitress, Haley. She made it worth the trip. read more

Here's the sharper, more sarcastic version: The view? Absolutely gorgeous. The food and service? A slow-motion disaster. This is clearly a restaurant that survives on its scenery alone -- and boy, does it show. My meal arrived looking tired, tasting worse, and barely resembling the menu description. When the waitress finally returned, she asked if I wanted the bad meal taken off the bill. Let me think -- yes, I absolutely love paying for something horrible that I didn't eat. What a strange question. It's almost as if they've given up on the idea that customers might come here for the food or service. If you're fine with overpriced disappointment and indifferent staff, you'll be right at home. Otherwise, take your appetite somewhere that still cares about what ends up on your plate! read more

Really elegant dining and superb services. The food was absolutely delicious! A must stop here at the Harbor! read more

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I almost NEVER write negative reviews. When I have a negative experience, I will keep it to myself. However, when I dine at a restaurant with the reputation of the Reading Room, at an establishment like the Bar Harbor Inn, I was expecting so much more. First, the positive. Althea, the hostess, was amazing, as she helped with the reservation and arrange things for my wife and I's one year wedding anniversary. Vinet, our busser, was also amazing, and she went out of her way to say congratulations and make us feel special. However, Joe, another host, and our waiter, who I will not name, seemed to not care at all. When I called, talking to Joe was like talking to a brick wall. When I told him I had already talked to Althea, and that it was our wife and I's one year wedding anniversary, I was met with complete silence. Our waiter, who must have been aware of the occasion, made no effort to mention it once, show any enthusiasm, often looked away when taking our order, and when taking our dishes away at one point and when we said thank you he responded "yup." I do believe some of the staff need some training in etiquette. To add, the food was very good, but the portion of lobster I got for the price was very small. I got more in lobster rolls I got at roadside mom and pop shacks. I do wish I got the short rib or the scallops, those looked amazing and the portions looked more acceptable. Again, it was not that the food was bad, just not properly portioned for the price. My wife (a vegetarian) did love her meal as well. Again, I can't thank Vinet and Althea enough, they turned what would have been an absolutely horrible experience into a manageable one. read more

The Reading Room in Bar Harbor has incredible views and very good service--definitely one of the most scenic restaurants in town. Our server was friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, the food didn't match the setting or the price. I enjoyed my rack of lamb, but my boyfriend was very disappointed in the ribeye. It was cooked to temp, but the char was way too heavy and it tasted like it hadn't seen a grain of salt. For a high-end restaurant, that's just not acceptable. If you're going for the view and a drink, it's worth checking out. But for a pricey dinner? There are better options in Bar Harbor. read more

I enjoyed the food here. It was pretty tasty. Everything was plated beautifully. The views are also incredible, book it at sunset. I did wish they had some local specials or a few other options on the menu. It felt limited when you can tell they really know how to cook! read more

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Food, ambiance, service and wine list great. Views are beautiful and the lobster is a must.

What you see is absolutely what you get First Class. The ambience, service and food all fantastic! Celebrated our 25th they even had a handwritten card at our table. Alex our server was outstanding! read more

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One of the best ribeyes I have ever had. My wife's lobster dish was outstanding as well. The servers were attentive and efficient. The view from the dining room of bar harbor was spectacular. Definitely worth the visit read more

Fancy! Great service, excellent wine pairings, diner with a fabulous view! I had the lazy lobster but everyone else got the scallops and let me tell you they had amazing flavor. I was actually disappointed I got lobster, how's that possible?! That's how good the scallops tasted! The lobster was good, so not get me wrong, very fresh! Also had the s'mores dessert and Irish (decaf) coffee - I rolled out satisfied that's for sure! read more

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While staying at the Bar Harbor Inn we had an unforgettable meal at this restaurant. We had a 700 reservation and we arrived early but was seated immediately. We were granted a window table with unrivaled views of the sunset over the Frenchman bay. Our server Suzy was attentive and knowledgeable of the menu and spirits. We shared the lobster bisque and crab cake to start and both were delicious. To my surprise we were served a palate cleanser of ginger ale and fruit before our main course. Everything was served in a timely manner in an elegant atmosphere. I enjoyed the filet and lobster tail, my steak was cooked perfectly to my liking, medium rare. My husband had halibut which was also done to his liking as well. It was one of our favorite meals ever, thank you for the warm hospitality. read more

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After hearing wonderful things about the Reading Room my fiancé and I decided to stop by and try it out for ourselves on our most recent vacation. The ambiance is ideal with a pianist playing requests and the perfect view of the water. Service is perfect as expected. Unfortunately the main entrees missed the mark. Our filet arrived cold and tasted as though it was microwaved. The desserts looked great but needed something a bit more. read more

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Incredible views! Our food was just ok but the service was not good. Our dinner took 3 hours. We arrived at 6:45 and were seated at 7:00. Our main course was served at 9:15. The restaurant was busy, but not that busy. They need to train their staff to be more attentive and timely. read more

A total disappointment. I made a 5:30pm reservation through Open Table but tried to cancel. The app did not allow me to cancel online and required me to call the restaurant. When I called, no one answered, providing me a recorded message that they did not open until 5:00pm. I finally received a call from them at 5:43pm telling me that they were charging me $40 for not coming. I told the person that I tried to call but was met with deaf ears. "Nothing I can do" and "it's a system thing". Never again would I ever make a reservation at this snobatorium. read more

Located in the beautiful Bar Harbor Inn, the Reading Room overlooks the Gulf Of Maine with its floor to ceiling windows. We dined on a Saturday evening, where there was a live pianist during our meal - he was lovely! Service and staff were friendly and professional. Would also love to commend the bar staff for the delicious drinks - there were speciality items, but drinks could also be made to order! Overall service was great and the food was delicious. If you are looking for fine dining in Bar Harbor, I would recommend this location! read more

Reading Room Restaurant - Slow Braised Beef Short Rib - Seafood Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Elegant, classy, and upscale restaurant with a beautiful view of the Bar island. The service, food, and ambience is top notch. We came here for breakfast and had a wonderful experience. Ordered the Smoked Atlantic Salmon, 3 Eggs Omelet, and Eggs Your Way. The food was incredibly delicious. The service is staff is great and so accommodating. If you are in the area check it out! Highly recommend 10/10!! read more

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the server was very nice and had a good attitude. the food was very well presented and tasted even better. we ordered the rib, cod, and eggplant and all of us loved our meals! great view too! read more

Reading Room Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Best view in Bar Harbor. Outstanding food. Reasonably priced. Highly recommend! Had the crab cake, lobster, cod and blueberry pie and great cocktails. Stop searching and go here! read more