Looks unimpressive from the outside. Don't let that scare you away. It's beautiful inside, and the food is great. Very fresh and delicious dinner. Attentive but not obtrusive service. About the only complaint is that the portion sizes are somewhat small, given the prices. read more

We had a fabulous dinner at the Rogue Cafe tonight. The setting is interesting - a cozy house near Southwest Harbor with 5 tables. A prix fix menu. All parties had the same courses at the same time. The food was magnificent! We started and ended with ginger blueberry: we started had a bubbly glass of Prosecco flavored with blueberry and ginger, and we ended had a lemon curd cake with a scoop of blueberry ginger sorbet. In between we had a red beet soup and fresh garden salad; grilled flank steak and scallops; incredible potato gnocchi with flecks of bacon and mushroom in a cream sauce. The service was excellent. What a wonderful meal! read more

Rogue Cafe - Lemon curd cake with ginger blueberry sorbet. - Cafes Near Me - Southwest Harbor, Maine

Fresh food decently prepared in a staid, romantic setting away from the center of town. Many dishes felt like things I make at home and lacked much integration; for the price, I expected more. This is where your parents go. By the numbers: Food 3/5 Service 4/5 Ambiance 4/5 Value 3/5 Seafood stew - Excellent. This is more of a bisque. Fresh lobster, crab, and herbs in a creamy broth. Local melon salad with burrata - OK. Little gems lettuce and a couple slices of melon. Tasted fine but lacked integration. More a sum of parts. Mushroom gnocchi - Very good. Creamy, peppery sauce with savory mushrooms. Halibut - OK. Fish was over cooked. Potatoes and beets were fine but, again, lacking any integration. Panna cotta - OK. Not quite set and slightly watery. Lavender creme brulee - Excellent. Just a hint of lavender and perfectly crunchy caramel. read more

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I ate at this restaurant last summer and had a great experience, so wanted to come back. Earlier this week we made a reservation..we needed to walk in to make it since we could not reach them by phone or get an answered phone message. The owner was upset that we came in to make a reservation and treated us poorly. She took our info but never wrote down the reservation date and time..they sat us anyway when we showed up but placed us right next to a large very loud table. We could not hear each other during the meal then the owner came to sit with the rowdy table and made the atmosphere even worse. When we got up to leave she even said 'sorry for being so rude the other day, I hope you forgive me' (about being rude when we made a reservation). Completely inappropriate, terrible atmosphere. If not for the host and a young man checking in on us to make sure we were attended to after 20 minutes of waiting seated we would have needed to walk out. read more

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Had a couple of excellent meals here over the winter break. Love this place and the team. Prompt service and beautiful decor but with a welcoming an informal atmosphere. As a new resident of the island, I truly loved laughing with the locals here while scarfing down scrumptious scallops and the like. Thank you Rogue Cafe. Swinging by for a cocktail and a bite tonight! read more

The customers at a neighboring table had just finished their meal at Rogue Cafe and they looked immensely satisfied. So I asked them what they had, and took their recommendations. So glad I did ! The gnocchi was the best I have ever had -- light and tasty, not leaden and oily like this dish often is. The mushroom bisque was divine, the blue cheese salad superb, and the desserts beyond tasty! Rogue Cafe is my go-to for real food! read more

Rogue Cafe - a dessert on a white plate - Cafes Near Me - Southwest Harbor, Maine

Rustic exterior doesn't give a hint of what's inside this excellent restaurant. Fabulous food, lovely wine selection and helpful, friendly waitstaff. Reservations limited, so book ahead! read more

The Food- Green salad and cheese plate appetizers were fresh, good/above average. Roasted halibut with beurre blanc and veggies were excellent; hubby's roasted codfish was comparatively slightly less flavorful but also very very good. The Service- Unfortunately below average. We arrived before the main dinner rush but waited for service. We were served by 3 or 4? different people, nice enough but clearly rushed and so we were somewhat neglected. Asked for sparkling water which was never served and our table water was never refilled, so actually left the restaurant thirsty. Ultimately we stopped at another restaurant for coffee and dessert. Overall- The food was some of the best we have had at MDI so far (already been to Burning Tree, Asticou, 59 Cottage) and so saved our star rating of this restaurant. However, if you highly value attentive service as part of your dining expericence (as we do), you may be disappointed. read more

We have passed by this restaurant many times and not stopped by. It is true that the exterior is not impressive. Finally we read the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try. What a great discovery. The food is excellent, fresh and inventive. The ambience is warm and fun, with a lively scene at the bar. The staff is helpful and friendly, but not overbearing. We shared a burrata salad to start, very tasty, but we could have used one more little burrata round. It paired well with the cornbread muffins and bread served to start. My entree was the scallop served in fennel and caramel sauce. It was delicious. The scallops were cooked just right, not under or over done. The sweetness of the caramel sauce was just right, and did not overpower the scallops. My husband had the pan fried haddock which was excellent. The roasted veggies which came on the plates were amazing. Little potatoes, baby squash and beets, they were on par with the proteins, and we would love to have had a few more. We both ordered dessert, lavender creme brulee for me, and blueberry adorned panna cotta for my husband. It was tough to say which one was best. Each was creamy, smooth and tasty. We enjoyed glasses of wine, but we thought that the beer menu looked interesting. We were very happy with the evening, and plan to return. read more

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I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who appreciates really delicious food in a non-touristy atmosphere. Based on the few reviews on here, my boyfriend and I decided to try it on the way to Bar Harbor for the weekend, but unfortunately they were full for the evening. So, we made reservations for the next night, and we were really glad we did. To start, they served fresh bread and mini buttermilk biscuits with house made butter and pickles. I had the local greens with apples, blue cheese, and lemon truffle vinaigrette and my boyfriend had the roasted corn and fennel bisque with chili oil. For entrees, I had the chile rellenos - mildly spicy poblano peppers stuffed with cheese and almonds, topped with a creamy tomato sauce, served with corn and scallion pancakes - and my boyfriend had the pork shank, which was served with roasted potatoes and a few roasted carrots. For dessert, we had the lavender creme brûlée, which just had a hint of lavender. All was excellent! The service was also great. Both of the waitstaff were very friendly, knowledgable, and attentive, but at the same time they did not bother you every few minutes to ask how everything is. read more

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For a special occasion I looking for a hidden gem rather than a tourist trap. Didn't care about location, all I wanted was the best food the island could offer. After reading all the reviews and looking through the pictures I was SURE this place was going to be big city flavor in small town Maine. It's WASN'T the flavor town I was expecting, however, they were trying so hard to be what I was looking for that it makes me think they did the best they could with the small town limitations that they have. Real good, high quality, FRESH ingredients prepared decently, but not amazingly. Not sure if I'd try again due to the $150 bill for 3 courses and a bottle of wine for 2 people. Nonetheless, I encourage other people to try because the owner seemed like a fantastically nice lady and my parents told me they really enjoyed their time here. read more

This was our favorite dinning spot on a recent trip to MDI. It's a nice deviation from the tourist spots that overwhelm the area. The staff is awesome and very knowledgeable. The food was unique and inventive and fresh. I had the ramp soup to start and the hubby had mussels. For entrees I happily chose the scallops in a caramelized sauce and he went for it with the lions mane mushroom dish. It was incredible; highly recommend. I also loved that they offer half bottles of wine. The entrees were the stars of the meal and while we both liked our starters and desserts, they just didn't have the same perfection as the entrees and could have been better seasoned or developed. But we would absolutely include Rogue Cafe in any future trips. By the time we left the place was full of patrons. Clearly a favorite of those in the know and willing to make the drive to the other side of MDI. Highly recommend. read more

Rogue is one of my favorite places to eat. The food is fresh, locally sourced and absolutely delicious. (I recently had the mussels...yummmm, and scallops, perfectly cooked, and to finish, the lavender creme brulee... for real soooooo good) The atmosphere is sweet and romantic, has good lighting, and the tables are well spaced/placed. It never has felt crowded and during the pandemic the owner and staff have been thoughtful about the safety of the patrons. I cannot recommend this place enough. I have watched this restaurant change through a few years and the food and quality of service that I have experienced has been consistently excellent. The Chef/Owner has a sense of humor and I look forward to seeing her when I come out. Just go already. You won't regret it. Reserve ahead! read more

Start to finish my experience at the rogue cafe was perfect. My friend and I were visiting and happened upon the Rogue Cafe when we were looking for somewhere interesting. Our waiter was friendly and repeatedly stopped by to check on us. I had the scallops in a fennel caramelized sauce which was superb. I will definitely be back when I get up to Acadia again. read more

Rogue Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Southwest Harbor, Maine

When you get your fill of boiled lobster be sure to check out Rogue Cafe! There is a non-traditional clean motif atmosphere. The food has a delicate beginning and wonderful flavor with sometimes subtle heat in the distance. An outstanding menu more indicative of a trendy city bistro... Almost forgot, for dessert I had the chocolate pudding. Awesome!!! Even though it made me think of Bill Cosby, minus the ruffie of course... read more

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Ok, so now we have a new "must go" restaurant when we're in MDI. Everything was fresh and beautifully prepared, good cocktails and wine list, the owners - who were running around doing everything front-of-house (hosting, waiting, bartending...) were still gracious and friendly. My partner and I shared a burrata and melon salad; she had the halibut and I had a gnocchi with forgaged mushrooms, bacon and a light cream sauce that would have had me licking the plate if were were in private. (lots of mushrooms on the menu, all gathering in the woods by one of the owners). Definitely going back before we leave. read more

Delish, fresh, creative, funky, comfortable, great service, BAM. Fried green tomatoes were great! So great I only got a bite away from my wife (we got it as a table app). On the flip side I ate most of the spicy green bean app. Perfect balance between green bean, spicy peanut sauce, and toasted peanuts. Love!! My wife got the pork scallopini, I got the statler chicken breast, neither disappointed. The grilled, pressed potato cakes that came with the pork may have been the stand-out. Phenomenal. And the best came last: the hand wrapped homemade salted caramels. We wanted to buy a bag to go!! Great place! A true gem with lots of obvious regulars returning the whole time we were there. read more

I think this is best dinner option in the area. The food was good, the staff was nice, and everything had an overall homey and genuine feel to it. I thought the portions were generous and the seafood and veggies fresh and seasonal. Very nice meal, and the caramels with the check were the cherry on top! read more

At Rogue, we ate the best meal we had in Maine! The gnocchi were little pillows of greatness and the chicken with mushrooms was simply heavenly. read more

Rogue Cafe was recommended to us by the owner of our Somerville rental house. We were very interested in the farm-to-table menu, especially after sampling the Beech Hill farm store array of vegetables. There were 4 of us at dinner and we had as many small plates as we could and they were all delicious. We tried an eggplant & burrata dish, the sweet potato bisque, and the lobster gougere. The large plates were good, but not as stellar as the small plates with the exception of the scallop dish on the menu tonight. There were not enough of the farm-to-table vegetables on the large plates and they were all incredible. read more

My family stopped in after a day of hiking in lovely Acadia, looking for a good meal. We loved the whole experience at Rogue Cafe. Friendly staff, great menu selection, great wine and beer selection! Loved the cioppino. Our daughter raved about the gnocchi. She said it was "life changing"! We will definitely be back next time we come to Bar Harbor. read more

Opened recently at the location of the former Demuro's Top of the Hill. The new restaurant is unaffiliated with Demuro's; Rogue's owners previously ran Town Hill Bistro, which closed a couple of years ago. Like Town Hill Bistro, Rogue offers a small menu of very fresh items, including produce that is grown in the restaurant's own garden. Salads were fresh, not overdressed, and very tasty. For main courses, we had gnocchi with mushrooms and bacon, and cod in a lemon-butter sauce. Both were clean, simple preparations that were well balanced and perfectly cooked. Desserts were out of this world -- a spiced ginger cake with caramel sauce, and a bittersweet chocolate pudding. Service was a bit slow. We were seated promptly, but there was quite a wait before our order was taken. Since this is a new restaurant that is already quite popular, we're willing to cut them some slack. Wait staff were pleasant and knowledgeable about the menu. read more

Absolutely my favorite on MDI. Locally sourced food, great service and love the owners. People seem so happy there, eating and sitting at the bar. The ambience is beautiful. We had the Thai flavored mussels which were a hit! My husband had the halibut and i had scallops and both dishes were excellent. Every bit of the plate was fresh and seasoned to perfection. No heaviness. Some people may complain the portions aren't big enough but they are just right. Don't miss this lovely bistro. Good wine list and great beers. read more

My friend and I recently ate at this adorable restaurant. The service was attentive and enjoyable. The food was innovative and delicious! I especially enjoyed the fish tacos and we shared two desserts! Haha...everything was so good. I can't wait to go back! read more

Go Rogue. Passed it a few times in and out of Southwest Harbor on vacation and decided to give it a try. The owner and staff were inviting from the moment we walked in. The menu is small, but varied. Between the five of us we had a good sample of the offerings and everything was up to par. Desserts were also good. Wine list was also varied and well priced. A definite trip. read more

Food delicious, wine great. Took 45 mins between salad and entrees. Way too long. Chef gave complementary desserts but then cream for coffee was sour. Locals say that this is not the norm and there seemed to be a number of locals there. Worth taking the chance but my husband won't go back. read more

I've been a devoted customer since they were at Town Hill. She is an amazing chef and getting better ... her husband could learn some customer service skills though ... after more than 10 years, he still treats his loyal customers every night like they are newbies... big mistake... happy to dine at Red Sky instead ... read more

Returned the Rogue Cafe yesterday: just as good as we remembered it. The staff is friendly; the food is great; and the general vibe of the place is warm, welcoming, and genuine. The best place in Southwest Harbor. Two thumbs up! read more

Fresh, eclectic menu! We could taste that the delicious food was prepared from scratch (nothing reheated or previously frozen), which is, I think, so difficult to do in a restaurant setting. We went to the restaurant at 5:45 hoping to be served early with a 10.5 month old in tow. The owners and their staff were so attentive and friendly. They offered a small fruit plate for our daughter to munch on and also (without us asking) served us using sharing plates for dishes that they knew we were splitting. Since we were not able to enjoy dessert with them as we needed to put our baby to bed, they offered us each a delicious piece of homemade caramel to go. Thank you for a lovely evening! read more

We've been eating Maureen's food for a long time, since she had Mache Bistro on Cottage Street. She's a great chef, uses fresh local items for the most part. We come up to Maine once a year, and we are always greeted like we were there last week. From the outside it looks a bit lonely and perhaps abandoned as it is located before you actually come into town. Inside is a different story, plain wood walls are enlivened by the artwork, and fairy lights around the top. Maureen cooks to order, with one other person in her kitchen, so service might be a bit slower than other places that have a larger staff and are trying to get you out the door and turn over the table. We find it very relaxing to be able to sit and enjoy our wine and the food as it comes. JJ always has a great selection of wine to choose from. The portions are perfectly set to allow you to have the appetizer, main and a dessert and be comfortably full without waddling away. I love her duck, and since it was on the menu, had to have. My husband tried the braised skirt (I think that was the cut) steak, something I had never thought could be braised, but it was fantastic. Was considering fighting him for it. We had a nice Port with our dessert. read more

Don't judge a book by its cover. The restaurant doesn't look very impressive on the outside but the inside is very nice. The meal was delicious and the atmosphere was lovely. Staff was friendly and attentive. Overall wonderful place to have dinner. read more

There are some very fine aspects of this restaurant. Overall the food menu (varied) and wine list are excellent. But the restaurant needs to be more attentive to its quality control. Two issues we had were: (1) the eggplant was burnt for the eggplant appetizer and (2) our server had noticeable body odor and was not well dressed. Also the bartender and door greeter is a bit rough around the edges. read more

A great addition to restaurants on MDI.; Great food and ambiance for a reasonable price. I had the pork shank and it was melt in your mouth good (and I really went to town on the marrow). The duck broth was a delightful appetizer, and the fried eggplant was perfect to share with the table. read more

I've been twice and had fabulous meals. The menu changes weekly and chef Maureen really knows her stuff, from appetizers to dessert. Be sure to make a reservation as walk-ins don't work, even when there appear to be empty seats. Everything is cooked to order (and perfection), and advance planning is needed. read more

Good food and overpriced. Gnocchi for $24 after running out of the pork shank for $26. Good luck to you all.

There's no denying it- the food at Rogue is delicious. The reason for my low rating is the slowness of the kitchen and selectivity in serving customers. It took over an hour and a half for our entrees to come out, while a table next to us who had been seated 45 min later got their food at the same time as ours. It was clear that they had a close relationship with the owner and some of the servers, which is why they got faster service. This is the first time I've had an issue with the staff prioritizing customers, but the kitchen has been slow before. Delicious, unique food- but be prepared for a gamble on the length of your meal. read more