Had the Mac and cheese with ribs . Delicious. Would def eat there again. The only thing was the waitress gave herself a 20 percent tip without asking And then seemed Confused when I asked about it. Pretty shady. She said oh I think it defaults to that. I'm of the opinion that tips are based on service esp in a fast food place like this. Watch yourself. read more

Food was below average and over priced for what you get; wait was long. Try somewhere else

Excellent service, excellent food and very tasty beverages. We been going there annually for many years, and have always been pleased with Side Street's staff, the delicious food and the apple cider Margheritas. read more

Best blueberry pie in Bar Harbor. Incredibly fun and friendly staff. Great food and excellent drink selection. Highly recommend. Located off Main Street so it's in a nice quiet spot. read more

Things were pretty tasty! Wait can be pretty long but expected-- we waited an hour on a Sunday evening. I'd say it was worth the wait. We had the nachos, fries & queso, black bean quesadilla, and a blueberry pie slice. Everything was great, especially the quesadilla. Things came out pretty quick too. Get your fries well done!!! Otherwise they are not crispy at all. Things were pretty expensive but I guess it's a popular spot. I'll be heading back! read more

This place is awful, not sure how it gets so hyped. The ribs are inedible, not sure how they messed up mac and cheese but they did. My moms sweet potato soup tasted like it came out of a can. It's basically like Applebees. Our appetizer didn't come out till well after our entree even though we ordered it with our drinks. Horrible service. Just stay away. read more

Loved the lobster roll and wings! Would go back again and again. Covid customer service was also on point!

I am not sure why there are so many good reviews. My husband and I are visiting from Texas. I did lots of research trying to pick the best restaurants to try in Bar Harbor. Our meal wasn't terrible but it also wasn't spectacular. I got the lobster mac and cheese and my husband got the hometown burger. The flavor of the mac and cheese was alright. I've had a lot better. The burger was very bland. Do yourself a favor a go with a different restaurant. read more

Side Street Cafe - Lobster Mac and cheese and hometown burger - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Oh man we are having a rough time eating in Bar Harbor this season. I know it's peak tourist time but all the spots I read good reviews about are seeming to flounder under the pressure. I was so excited to eat their Reuben and it was basically all thick bread and almost no meat....fries were soggy and seasoned poorly, salads were very expensive for what we got. Kitchen quality control would go a long way. Front end Staff were all courteous and friendly and handling the crowd well. read more

Extremely rude and snappy hostesses. The food is great but gosh they were just so snarky and snappy at us when we were asking simple straightforward questions. What's funny is that there is a big sign right next to them that says "be nice or get out". YOU GET OUT! Lol read more

Off the beaten path but a busy place and we were on a wait list for about 30 minutes. They offer indoor and outdoor seating; however, it's open air even inside. Our waiter did a good job, and he seemed to know his stuff. They have a huge menu, and it would be impossible not to find something you like. Being the only wine drinker, I ordered a glass of the house red wine which was surprisingly good. The servings are large so it is very easy to share plates. For appetizers, we ordered the Bangin Shrimp and Crab Cakes. The Bangin Shrimp was delicious and the toasted ciabatta that came with it was sinful. The Crab Cakes had some great sauces and garnishes but missed out on flavor and texture. Hamburgers are everywhere but this place nailed it. Hand pattyed and cooked to a perfect medium rare. And the french fries that came with it were good too. The Island Jerk Chicken sandwich was tasty but very spicy - and I mean set your mouth on fire ... for a while. The fish in the fish tacos was a large serving but could have used a bit more spice (maybe from the Jerk Chicken!). The black beans and rice were a hit with our little one as well as the hot dog. He said it was the best hot dog he had ever had! read more

The food here was so-so. We had salads, chowder, haddock sandwiches and a burger. None of it was terrible, none of it was particularly good. Service was fast and friendly. The atmosphere was fine, basically like a million other bar/restaurants you've probably been in. Prices were pretty good. If you're nearby and you're hungry, it's fine, but I wouldn't make a special trip. read more

I've come to this restaurant several times over the years and the food is really delicious! A little over-priced for the portions but tasty nonetheless, I'd definitely recommend it based on the food. The service is great too, we loved our waiter. However, what drove me to leave this review was how hectic/disorganized the waiting and seating process was. We put our name in on a Sunday night, on their online queue being told we'd have an outdoor table in 70 minutes. We had to wait longer once we got there but then got seated at a narrow area of outdoor bar and stools. I get that its definitely a tricky task for restaurants when it comes to adapting their seating options to be covid friendly and also comfortable, however seeing as we had to wait so long, it would've been nice to have gotten an actual table. We opted to wait for a legit table because we wanted to be able to converse/share a meal comfortably, and when all was said and done we probably waited closer to two hours before we were seated. On the restaurants part it would've been nice to know that we weren't waiting for a table but a bar. Additionally, I understand its difficult to accurately estimate a wait time, but we waited for a pretty ridiculous amount of time, so maybe instituting a time limit on outdoor tables would be helpful. If you're coming to sidestreet cafe I would just say anticipate having to wait a while, especially if you're looking for an outdoor table. Also know that you might not get seated at a table, but a bar area, which is something to consider with larger groups. read more

This was decent as far as food, but after eating at other places in the area this week I realize it is a bit mediocre and over priced for what it is. We had fish tacos and Mac and cheese, which were good, but nothing special. They are clearly a tourist place, and we were tourists, so on our first night in town before hearing about other more exciting options it was fine. read more

Went in for lunch with my girlfriend. The burgers were tasty but the pricing was a bit confusing in regards to building your own burger. We liked being outdoors with the heaters. And the staff seemed friendly, recommended! Good food overall. read more

We got on their waitlist and as a result the wait was not long at all to be seated. Just be present when your name is called. It took a second to actually be served but every table was full so we were patient. Once we ordered our food, it was quick to get to the table considering how busy the restaurant was. The food is very good; their burgers (specifically the patty melts) are quite delicious as are the sweet potato fries. The mac and cheese is good, but the classic doesn't offer anything special. I recommend getting a specialty order to liven up the flavor. They'll let you customize it even if it's not listed on the menu. They have a bar with audible background music, and a lot of chatter from everyone enjoying a good time. If you want to sit outdoors, you can. We came here twice during our time in Bar Harbor, the second time because we knew the wait would be shorter than some other places around town! Highly recommend! read more

The best meal my family had in Bar Harbor! For the price and the portion given, this restaurant is by far the best deal. The stand out of the night was definitely the scallops! The entree came with SO MANY and they were all cooked to perfection. I had a clam chowder which didnt have as many clam bits as I would've hoped for but it was still tasty. I also had the steak tips which were a little hard to chew. My mom had a lobster dinner which she said was so fresh and had "more meat than other restaurants" lol. My sister had a lobster mac and cheese that tasted a little bland but was still fine. It came with a lot of lobster and was a huge portion. Our server was also so attentive and made every table feel like she was their friend. Great place! read more

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After two terrible restaurants in Bar Harbor, we found a place that the locals supposedly go to. Well, we are so thankful we stopped by here. We had buffalo chicken dip to start and berry mint lemonades (non-alcoholic). It was delicious. Then we each had burgers, LD subbed her burger patty for chicken breast. It was simple, the avocado was plentiful, and the wait was practically nonexistent. The potato chip side was good. All of the dogs outside were distracting, but that's Bar Harbor for you- dogs everywhere. Happy with this choice. read more

The service was awesome and the drinks were pretty good. The haddock sandwich was edible but not much better than a McDonald's filet-o-fish. It was apparent that the fish was precooked and just warmed up. Even the fries were just ok and seemed to be sitting fir a while. The atmosphere was great and the crab dip appetizer was pretty good too. I would hesitate to recommend this restaurant to anyone. read more

No matter how you slice it, Bar Harbour during tourist season can be either fun or a nightmare. There is no in between. You won't be disappointed at Side Street Cafe. After a day hiking, we happened on this place via word of mouth on the trail. It's a cute little place on a side street. Staff is busy but friendly and helpful. Our drinks were top notch and salads were crisp with homemade dressing that was amazing. The salads were full of super fresh greens and veggies which makes them so good. There's a pretty broad choice of foods, but word on the street was their lobster Mac and cheese was to die for. Dear reader, this lobster Mac and cheese was so good I think I saw the baby Jesus flying over my plate. Our waitress was fun but professional and anticipated the things you hate asking for - the extra napkins, some grated Parmesan, more ice water.... Old school service with a contemporary vibe. Excellent experience! read more

This place was great for lunch. I felt like it was a little loud for dinner. The food was amazing and there was no wait for a late lunch. The manager was especially helpful and helped us park our bikes, we couldn't find parking downtown near the restaurant so we drove back to the hotel and road our bikes down. My husband had the fish taco's, amazing. I had the Lobster quesadilla and although the lobster was good it was a little bland. read more

I HIGHLY recommend eating here if you get the chance! I can't stop thinking about the blueberry pie!! I also had the Lobster Cobb Salad and a blueberry basil margarita- both of which were fantastic. My friend had the barbecue chicken salad which was also very good. We sat on the patio and it was just a great overall lunch. I will be telling anyone I know that vacations here to stop in. read more

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Overall good but I feel I must warn you of a few things- this restaurant seems to have some reasonably priced options but there's some nickel and diming that's going on. For example, my nephew ordered the BLAT sandwich and wanted onions on it. Raw red onions (what can I say this kid likes onions on everything). I think in any other restaurant this would not be upcharged. Without notifying us, they charged us (.95, but on principle I was disappointed). If you want fries, that's $3 extra, a tiny cup of chowder, $4 more, sub salad for your side, $4 more. Meh. They advertise a build your own sandwich starting at $4, but that includes bread and sauce. If you want anything else, that's extra! Laughable. The food was good though. read more

It was very crowded and somewhat loud, but we really liked all the food! I had the roasted vegetables salad and a crab cake. Both were great. My friend had the lobster roll and I was jealous. Definitely recommend. read more

Great, 4-star experience...very friendly staff, good service, and solid food. Perfect for families. We stopped in for some quick food and drinks (3 adults and 3 kids). Each of us walked away satisfied! In particular, the clam chowder, the burgers and the mac and cheese were excellent. The blueberry margaritas were very good and unusual...worth a try. Overall an inexpensive, good service, good food place...worth a visit if you are in Bar Harbor and looking for casual. read more

I can see why this place was freaking crowded with a long wait. I went here with a wait of 2-3 hours. However the outside area was 1st come 1st served, so we gambled and luckily found an empty table that we pounced on. We ordered steamers. Mmmm it was fresh but maybe a bit too fresh. Helllo sand? Can you please clean the steamers a bit. Yes i know that you give the salt water so we can do it ourselves, but it didn't help at all. The sand bits were stuck on hardcore. I had the BLAT (bacon lettuce avocado tomato) w/ lobster. Yes you can add lobster to ANY dish. ANY!!!! It said so on the menu, so I did it. I'm glad i did; although i regret ordering my sandwich with focaccia instead of marbled rye. The sandwich was too bready, but that was my own doing. Overall the dish was solid, and the homemade potato chips were crispy and solid as well. I shared the lobster stew, and i wish i didn't. It was soooo good that I secretly didn't want to share it. The highlight of the dinner was the dessert. We shared a blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream... MMMMMMMMMMM! If it is on the menu when you go..I totally recommend saving room in your stomach for this dish, you will NOT be disappointed. read more

This is a cool place with outdoor seating as well as indoor. Another little location that is a house converted into a restaurant. The night I was there it was super hero night and all the wait staff were dressed as super hero's. They really seemed into it because it was to raise money for a local girl who has an illness. It was quite loud because the Women's world cup was on some televisions around the bar area and dining room. Side Street Cafe is known for their Mac and Cheese dishes. Apparently they have won awards for their recipe. Of course, they have a few different versions of lobster as well. They couldn't be in Bar Harbor without that. I chose to try their award winning mac and cheese, adding olives and spinach to mine. The portion is huge! And of course very filling. This was pretty good but I'm no mac and cheese expect. I must say though, my mother's homemade mac and cheese is better. For dessert, I spotted a chocolate bread pudding on the menu! Served warm with chocolate syrup. Had to have it but ordered it with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream which is an option. What was I thinking! After a few delicious bits I ordered the ice cream which completed the dessert. A good option for something completely different in Bar Harbor. read more

There is a happy hour from 3-6. Three dollars off apps and drafts. We had the trio seafood sliders as an app and they were really good. We took off half of the bun to make sure we got the full taste of the seafood. We ordered the lobster mac and cheese (I posted a picture) and it was life changing. The flavors, the meat, I literally can't believe it's gluten free! After that we had to try the trio dips. Their cheese dip is the best I've had. The only reason this place should get less than a 5 is because the service is a little slow because it's so crowded. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE! read more

Side Street Cafe - Lobster mac and cheese - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Good food, the lobster, steamers, soup and corn were all fresh and delicious. Good pie. Since its high season our waitress was very busy. She did a nice job & was very friendly & helpful. The restaurant is clean (for a lobster place) and well run. There are 3 bathrooms around the kitchen center of building so try them all you may find 1 open. These two were impressively clean for such a busy time. I appreciate that. read more

Side Street Cafe - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Stopped in for dinner around 5:30 on a weekday in August, and no seating available, however we did find a nice spot on the deck facing the street. Not much to look at - a parking lot and a juice bar next door, but there was a bit of a breeze, which was nice, given the evening heat in August. Nice dinner menu, but by 530 we had already had some ice cream and other treats while shopping in Village Green, so we ate light. Wife ordered a small pitcher of classic margarita - which I had a bit, very tasty, especially with salt. Daughter had an avocado salad with lobster - no greens to speak of, chunks of avo, tortilla chips and chunks of lobster - some tail, some claw meat, no real dressing to speak of, but she enjoyed. I had a fish taco - 2 tacos, haddock (I think), and it came with a bowl of spanish rice and red beans (which was very tasty). Tacos could have used a bit of dressing - not very taco in nature, just fish in a tortilla wrap. Son had a small order of lobster mac-cheese - grated thin slices of pecorino cheese, typical mac and lobster chunks (he enjoyed) and wife had a BLT with lobster extra. The bacon was excellent, lobster was a bit skimpy. Nice place to dine for a summer evening, off a side street from the Village Green area. Ate on a patio facing the street, with only a countertop, so we all faced the street - not really conducive to talking, but it worked for us. Would try the restaurant again when not so busy and we could share some dishes. read more

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After overthinking where to get a good lobster roll, I chose this place. Bought take out for my mom and I--the lobster roll for her and and the haddock sandwich for myself. We were both disappointed, the fish was chewy and under seasoned. The maple caper sauce that was on the side of mine turned out to be a lifesaver for both of our sandwiches. Overall for $60+ I feel like I got punk'd. Pass! :'( read more

The best place I went to in Bar Harbor!! First off, if it's a nice summer day you must sit out on the patio! Such a fun atmosphere and it's great to be looking out onto a side street in Bar Harbor that isn't as congested as the main street. The ambience is amazing! Second, I got their steak burrito and wasn't that thrilled with it (too many beans and not enough seasoning) but- I'd still eat it again. It wasn't terrible by any means. I'm so sad I only ate here once during my trip because there was lots of other things I would love to try. For example, their lobster grilled cheese looked dynamite and I love that you can create your own sandwich. As a picker eater, that's exactly what I need. Very much recommend!! read more

Side Street Cafe - Steak burrito. Had rice, cheese, beans, and mildly seasoned steak in it. - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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After reading a ton of reviews to find the best lobster mac and cheese in Bar Harbor (it came up several times when planning this trip), I chose Side Street. I HATE to be this person... but it just wasn't that good!! It was extremely bland and I think they forgot to add any salt to the sauce. Or could've added more Parmesan or another flavorful cheese? I'm not sure, but it was below average. While I did read a couple reviews that said the lobster was tough, luckily that was not the case for me. I'm glad I added jalapeños for some added flavor. Three stars because my waitress was decent, the house white was pretty good (on the dry side), and the atmosphere was lively. But overall, if you're going for the Mac and cheese, don't. Save your $20 (well, that's the half order) and go elsewhere. read more

This place is an absolute MUST when in Bar Harbor !!! Everything is good here. By far my absolute FAVORITE is Lobster Stew read more

Side Street Cafe - Lobster stew from heaven, no lie!!!!!!!!! - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

This was our favorite restaurant in Bar Harbor and we ended up eating there for dinner and lunch later in the week. We did both meals on the later side but did not have to wait for a table either time. They had a great drink special a coconut pineapple margarita, and it was one of the best drinks I've ever had. I got the fish tacos and my husband got the burger and fries. The rice and beans that come with the fish taco we're awesome and flavorful but I wasn't a huge fan of the fish tacos. They were haddock which I've never had so I'm not sure if I just don't like that type of fish or if it was just fishy. It could have used a little spice or extra flavor. It was still OK. I like my husbands burger a lot and ended up ordering that when we went back for lunch. The service was pretty good and I love that it is family owned. read more

Side Street Cafe - Fish tacos - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Great little spot with a nice outside deck. We shared the crab dip and Cobb salad both were excellent. Service was friendly and attentive. Great vibe. So good we ate here twice, second time we shared the Cobb again and the Rueben. We were both a little unsure of fish as a Rueben, but were up to try. We were very pleasantly surprised, it was delicious, I would recommend for sure. read more

This place is awesome! The lobster roll is legit, the chips and fries are great, but if you don't try a mocktail or margarita, you are missing out! All that, plus the staff is excellent. Highly recommend! read more

Jasmine was a helpful and lovely server. Jalapeño margarita was excellent w homemade jalapeño vodka. I will ask for less simple syrup next time. Halibut was good. Three people had blackened salmon salad snd salmon wasn't blackened, had no flavor and was over cooked. That was the big let down of the ordering. Great blueberry pie! read more

Lots of places in New England claim to have the best lobster roll in New England, but honestly, this might be the best I've had. Great, airy atmosphere and friendly staff help, but I can't say enough about the lobster roll. Look, its difficult to get bad food in Bar Harbor, but their lobster is very fresh and delicious. They also make a great mimosa with blueberry. Give this place a try, if you're up in Bar Harbor- you'll be glad you did. read more

We were looking for a quick and delicious option after some Acadia hiking, and Side Street was recommended by a friend. We split the tuna melt and the lobster roll appetizer. The food was ready in less than 15 min, the touchless pickup was super smooth, and most importantly, the food was amazing. We live locally and have had our fair share of Maine lobster, but their lobster meat was far and away the tastiest and freshest! The tuna melt was delicious - loved the addition of avocado! We plan to make this a regular stop on our frequent trips to Bar Harbor! read more