The Thirsty Whale was such a good lunch spot I found. The ambiance is very dive-bar-ish in the best way, but the food is SO good. It was the perfect place to sit down and have a good meal after a day at Acadia National Park, and they had so many options for everyone in the group. They also had great gluten-free options, which is really important for me. Indoor and outdoor seating too. We'll definitely be back because everyone enjoyed it. read more

Thirsty Whale - Fish and chips - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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This is your standard local pub, like you'll find in any American town. It has a casual atmosphere, good if not mind-blowing food, and friendly service. It didn't blow me away, but neither was it bad. If my wife wanted to come here again, I wouldn't push back. read more

Came here with some friends while visiting the area. When we arrived the other business were pretty much closed up and down the entire steet. The street was dead silent. I guess it's the only restaurant open later, but it wasn't that late, maybe 6pm? But I understand small towns have shorter hours. Parking- street parking was very open, no issue there. Service- was great, we came in with no resy and were seated immediately. Ann our server and the other staff that ran food and made sure we had what we needed, were pretty diligent. The place had a homey neighborhood type charm. Not fancy, very casual. Drinks- one of my friends ordered the Wicked Blue beer $9, which they liked. And my other friends ordered the Supernova $13 & Blueberry Margarita $13. I only ordered hot tea $3, but it only came out warm and not pipping hot like I needed on that cold night. Not there fault though. Food- the group got a couple of apps. 1/2 dozen oysters $18, which I didn't try but they really liked. The fried shrimp $18, which I imagine were frozen shrimp due to the size and taste, which is fine. And the shrimp cocktail $12, which was fine. For my entree I got the lobster roll 4oz and soup combo for $37. They ran out of lobster bisque, so I ordered what they did have available, the mushroom soup. The mushroom soup def grew on my as the more I ate it, the more flavor I found, which I liked. The lobster roll (mayo version not butter) def needed seasoning and flavor. Perhaps the restaurants philosophy is let the lobster alone speak for itself. But it needed more for me, like dill or tarragon, or something. But thats only my preference. While the price didn't match the taste for me, I appreciate the towny vibes, and at least getting to try some Maine Lobster. read more

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Came to this little spot for some grub before calling it a night! Cute little spot in town, the host/server Anna, was such a sweet person! She greeted us quickly, found a table for us and brought us out some waters. As we perused the menu, she got our drink orders, and we started off with a round of oysters! We all decided to share a bowl of clam chowder, which I'm glad we did, because a bowl on my own would've had me full. It was good, it had more potato than I typically prefer, but it was good for a cozy cold night. I ordered the blacked fried cod with fries. I have never had blacked fried anything, so that was nice to have a little flava flave to change up the typical cod experience. My friend had the regular, and I liked that one too. Needed a bit of salt, but other than that, no complaints. My friend also ordered the jumbo shrimp, delicious! And another ordered the fried shrimp on the appetizer menu, and those were great as well, had great crisp, yet light and airy, and flavored perfect! Was a great little local stop! read more

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Decent food and service, though the main appeal is that they remain open during off season for tourists looking to avoid busy summer months. I enjoyed the fried fish sandwich! read more

We stopped in for a light bite - ordered a Caesar salad, the lobster bisque, and the blueberry ale of course ! The salad was actually quite good and a generous serving. The lobster bisque just tasted like cream to us, not really much of a lobster taste to it. Service wasn't very attentive. read more

Thirsty Whale - Caesar salad Lobster bisque - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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The atmosphere is pretty normal for a bar, the service was also just fine -- the food was a pleasant surprise. I got the fish dip and my mom the fish and chips, and we were really happy with the flavor and texture of everything here. The beer is good and cold, and prices are reasonable. I see why there's always a line outside everytime we walk by this place. read more

Usual pub in a touristy town. Food is expensive, drink is ok, service is excellent. I think we paid like $60-$70 for a Lobster roll, fish sandwich, a blueberry soda, and a draft IPA. Lobster roll was fresh and had a LOT of lobster, but I feel lobster rolls are just not enough for me lol. Fish sandwich was great, complete with tomato, lettuce, pickles, and mayo. Not bad overall but not great, I think there are places that might sell the exact same stuff for a cheaper price. read more

Thirsty Whale - Lobster roll - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Everyone was nice & friendly. I also appreciated the choice of good local Maine beers. The clam chowder was underwhelming (they don't make it themselves...& it tastes it). Admittedly I didn't try anything else so rely on others reviews for that. read more

My family and I ate at Thirsty Whale while visiting Bar Harbor / Acadia. A quick google search for "best fish & chips" led us here. While the fish & chips were decent, they weren't the greatest I've had. I decided to try their "blackened" style fish. It's definitely a flavorful iteration of blackened - however it leaned more into bitter tasting. It wasn't terrible, but you have to really like the blackened flavor profile to enjoy them. Contrary to what the menu says, it isn't spicy at all. I was disappointed by the fries. Not only were they completely unseasoned; they tasted like when you cook fries in the oven. Again, not terrible - just not great. We all got a bowl of the Lobster Bisque to start and really enjoyed it. One person in our group got the Fried Haddock Sandwich and enjoyed it. Our server was very friendly and checked in frequently. Thirsty Whale is super walkable to the Main Street in downtown Bar Harbor. If the menu catches your eye, I would give them a shot, but for us it was just an okay experience. read more

Thirsty Whale - Blackened Fried Haddock Dinner - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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I had to get my fried whole belly clam fix during our new England road trip. note that some restaurants and stores could be closed for the season, despite Google says open. I got my order to go. fast service, and I was happy to get what I crave. I can't get fried whole belly easily in DMV. read more

Local tavern for casual drinks and local brews. Long bar with multiple tables for larger parties. Hostess was a bit cold and unpleasant to converse with. However the wait staff were friendly and attentive. Lobster bisque was good. Nothing to really write home about. I fished out maybe 2 tiny chunks of Lobster, but maybe that's how they do it here at the Thirsty Whale. The garlic bread was okay... had a nice amount of garlic and butter, but was a little too burnt for my liking. read more

Thirsty Whale - Lobster Bisque with Garlic Bread - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

It was a weeknight at the end of October and we dropped in for a late night bite to eat after a local Ghost Tour. The place was full and somewhat noisy with the World Series on every television. It's pretty much a sports bar so the atmosphere was appropriate. It was a nice refuge from the cold weather outside. We split a haddock sandwich and bowl of clam chowder; both were good and worth splitting. Looking around the dining room, portions were generous. But prices on the menu were excessive for a place that's just a step above average. Tables were clean and service was attentive. read more

Loved the little back patio! It was a nice surprise because I didn't think they had outdoor seating and it was a nice day and I was wanting to be outdoors! Great cocktail without being rushed to order. We really weren't hungry. We just some fries and crab claws while enjoying the weather. read more

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Three of us ate at thirsty whale. All three of us got sick. Steer clear of their fish. Actually steer clear of the place.

They were busy but we managed to get a seat fairly quickly. It's a louder establishment but good food. Our group had fish burrito, lobster roll, lobster bisque, salad, French dip and crab roll. read more

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We ate here by chance! I had looked up many restaurants and this was one, but it ended up being the restaurant due to parking! And I'm not mad about it! It's great all around! The service, the food, and the drinks were all amazing! read more

Thirsty Whale - This wine is "healthy"! One pint of blueberries in each can! Not sweet - but was good! - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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While visiting the area, I was perusing Yelp to find out where it would be good. We stumbled across thirsty well, and I looked into it even further as it seemed to be very good. Lo and behold, we were here six years ago, previous based on Yelp! :-) Little has changed, except the people probably. Our bartender and server, Dan, did a terrific job! We truly appreciated his professional friendliness! I open with a clam chowder and ordered a FRUBEN for my main course. It is actually a fish Reuben. In this case, I had the haddock blackened as well. Absolutely delicious! My wife ordered their blue cheeseburger with no bun. She truly enjoyed that as well. I also had a nice cup of chowder. Fairly good all considered! We are very happy. We stopped here for the second time in six years! read more

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My friend and I totally went here because of the name. We loved it. We sat on the back porch with heaters on it. The food and service were amazing. The clam chowder and seafood plate were great. I would have come back here another night, but we tried somewhere else (as we should being in a new place). There were many things on the menu I wanted to try, but I had been getting the equivalent of the mixed seafood platter and clam chowder everywhere to compare them. This was one of the best I had had in my trip to Maine this time. read more

Nice meal. The host outside was a little off, there was about three groups in line waiting for tables, she stated there was no wait list, but ignored the other groups waiting and starting talking to a 6 top that just walked over wanting a table, rather than checking in the rest of the line that had formed. We didn't see much of our server, were sat inside but towards the end of the bar where there was an external door, so it was a bit chilly again and by the busser's station, so got to watch them dumping food and drink which wasn't the nicest. People in line were taking about the lobster bisque so we tried that - it was pretty nice. I got fish and chip, my non seafood eating partner got a Ruben, which he enjoyed. My fish and chips looked a little too brown, old oil? But the fish was cooked well, I was expecting a fillet rather than fish fingers basically! Wasn't greasy however. The restaurant doesn't have dessert, which was surprising, they should be taking advantage of local blueberries! read more

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"The world caves in when a man with purpose steps toward his destined path." - Dinky H. Reviews. Beneath collapsing stars and alien screams, one can dine at the Thirsty Whale. Although the chained whale in the basement, kept for ancient wisdom and prophecies, may be too literal for my Dinktastes. Surrounded by city streets, you will eat while within an encased, spiritual bubble. The burger and fries were delicious, and the shadowy figures haunting me enjoyed the atmosphere. The waitress had eighteen eyes and a mouth connected to the abyss. Impeccable service! Food was handed timely and with elegance. Dinky is a great enjoyer of this place, even if he is missing a large chunk of his skull. It was wonderful! Dinktastic, even. read more

Thirsty Whale - Burger. - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

The fried blackened haddock sandwich is delicious. The perfect level of heat and crunch. The fries were hot and fresh. Great choices of local drought beer. I enjoyed the blueberry beer! Friendly staff and atmosphere. 10/10 Recommend for drought beer and a fish sandwich. read more

Thirsty Whale - Blackened haddock - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

This place is so adorable. My husband and I popped by on a whim when shopping around Bar Harbor, mostly drawn in by the fun name and casual vibe. I opted to try the fish n' chips, and I am always grateful when a restaurant allows me to order off the kid's menu, especially while travelling. I rarely eat a full adult size meal and it's frustrating and such a waste when I'm travelling and can't take leftovers back. My fish was cooked perfectly, and the batter was deliciously seasoned. The ranch on the side for the French fries wasn't my favorite, but it was acceptable. Overall great experience and I would have loved to have time to go back at night and experience it with the evening bar vibe. Next time! read more

Great local bar for a drink. Unpretentious and laid back vibe. Come casual and grab a seat for a cold beer and some local pub fare. read more

Thirsty Whale - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Excellent food, we probably eat there once a day when in Bar Harbor Constantly good grub. read more

Thirsty Whale - Seafood appetizer - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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This place was awesome! Flew into Boston from Indiana and drove 6hrs to bar harbor. Best fish I've ever had. Fried blackened haddock! Great server!great 25 yr anniversary trip! read more

Thirsty Whale - Blackened fried haddock - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

This restaurant is not pet friendly. They deliberately mislead here by having a stamp that it is. I'm happy to take my business to a different place. read more

I stopped in to try the clam chowder as it was recommended by the BnB I was staying it. I wasn't impressed. It was very thick and didn't have a ton of flavor. It did have a good amount of clams. It wasn't terrible but I wouldn't get it again. I was also told that they had great fried clams but did not try those. It was a nice place to have a drink and in a good location though. read more

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Overall a great experience. We were sat quite quickly our waitress was kind and helpful. The table favorite was my blackened fried Haddock sandwich. The fish was cooked perfectly and the seasoning was delicious and just a bit spicy. The salmon sandwich was also good but the Haddock seemed like the way to go. The only bummer is a friend with dietary restrictions got the normal burger and the meat was flavorless and a bit over cooked. She did say the sweet potato fries were delicious though. Overall a good experience. read more

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Karissa was the host who greeted us with a big smile and great tips for us to jump into this whale a good restaurant! I ordered the fried whole belly clams as an appetizer and couldn't believe the portion size! My son had the fried shrimp kid's meal. So many little shrimp piled on his plate with fresh fries! Three others ordered dishes with haddock and they said it was the best fish they had all trip. Get it hand battered for a light crunchy crust or blackened if you like some spice. Really fair prices for Bar Harbor-$15 to $20 a plate with generous portions. They have a patio in the back of the bar tables are filled or if you just want to sit outside and have some drinks. read more

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It was so good we went 2 nights in a row. The service was good, the food was fresh and delicious, the portion sizes were great for the price, and the Coconut Margaritas were fantastic. In two nights we had chowder, salad, fried fish sandwich, cheeseburger, fried fish salad, and coconut margaritas and everything was great!!! read more

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Our last dinner in Bar Harbor and we were looking for something open late because we had spent sunset at the lighthouse. The Thirsty Whale was open late. They had a small wait so we waited for about 5-10 minutes. After that we got seated on their back patio. Our waitress was quite busy but she was nice and pleasant. We ordered some beers and we got the hummus as an appetizer which was delicious. For dinner we all got the fish chips which were piping hot!! The fish and chips were good nothing out of the ordinary but a good meal after a long day. read more

Thirsty Whale - Hummus - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Best lobster roll we had in Maine on our vacation (Kennebunkport, Old Town & Bar Harbor) best drink (Blueberry Lemonade) and best service by far. Don't miss this one......thanks read more

Thirsty Whale - Blueberry Lemonade - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Yummy yummy yummy!!! The blacked is where it's at. The blackened fish and chips and the blackened fish sandwich were on point. Very mild fish, and delicious. The prices were very fair, considering the location. The service was awesome. Our waitress was super nice, helpful and friendly. Jess was AWESOME!! The atmosphere is also great. Small and friendly, but you do not feel like you are on top of each other. Great place!! read more

Thirsty Whale - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Awesome for a quick dinner and a beer. Great little spot. Food was pretty good and service was so friendly. Bar was also a good place to watch a game! read more

A solid go-to when most other spots are winding down early. This place serves food until 10:30 PM before switching to a late-night menu, making it a great backup plan if you're dining on the later side. Service was fast and efficient--we were in and out in 30 minutes. The 6-ounce lobster roll was generous and packed with meat, but served cold and a bit lacking in flavor. Portion size was solid, though I would've preferred more seasoning or richness overall. Still, for the convenience and speed, it's worth keeping on your radar. read more

Stopped by for beer at the bar . Local beer choices were good, but did not have a friendly vibe when seated at the bar without checking in so many other good local choices nearby read more

We got into Bar Harbor super late and questioned what would be open. To our surprise we stumbled onto this place. The staff welcomed us with warm smiles and great drinks. It was a cool wood filled pub. Even though the place was packed with people the service was amazing and the food was absolutely delicious. I definitely recommend the Ruben. We will definitely be back. read more

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Visiting my brother up in Bar Harbor and looking for a dinner spot was tough. The last of the fall/leaf peepers were still in town so made for all restaurants having waits. This was our best option with the lowest wait time. The host and our waitress was friendly and they all were doing everything they could despite how busy they were. I ended up getting the fish taco wrap and it was pretty solid. My wife ended up having their short rib sandwich and she thought it was decent overall. The overall vibe of this place is a pub style feel and did have a local feel despite being touristy. Next time we find ourselves in the area I would like to try somewhere else rather than returning right away. It's a solid option but I was not blown away by any means. read more

Thirsty Whale - Beef Short Rib Sandwich - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Great food and service, we came two nights in a row. Fish and chips was a very good value! read more

Thirsty Whale - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine