The Best Restaurants in Maine’s Most Charming Coastal Towns

When you think of food in Maine, you probably automatically think of lobster—and for good reason. The state is the nation’s largest lobster producer and the crustacean contributes more than $1 billion to the Maine economy each year. I’m certainly buying my fair share of lobster rolls each time I head to the state’s beautiful shores (and I may or may not adopt a rule of eating at least one lobster roll per day while I’m there), but Maine’s food scene is also so much more.

You’ve got the fresh Maine blueberries, potatoes (did you know that Maine is one of the country’s top potato producers?), craft beers, whoopie pies, the regional soda known as Moxie and a plethora of other seafood. So where should you pull up a chair and chow down while you’re in the Pine Tree State? Here are some top options I’d recommend from my personal travels, as well as a few renowned institutions that have racked up thousands of positive traveler reviews. 

During one trip to Bar Harbor, I can honestly say that my best meal of the entire trip was not lobster at all, but barbecue. After a long hike in Acadia National Park, I stopped into the Mainely Meat BBQ outpost at Atlantic Brewing Company, settled in at one of the covered picnic tables and absolutely devoured the sampler plate that came piled high with pulled pork, ribs, smoked chicken, sausage, coleslaw, potato salad and baked beans—honestly what more could you need (beyond a side of Atlantic Brewing beer)? It’s clear to me why this has been voted one of New England’s best barbecue restaurants. 

Address: 15 Knox Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

A seasonal restaurant situated at the luxurious and recently renovated View Point hotel in York, A Little Auk is as charming as it gets. The restaurant is 100% outdoors, with a smattering of small tables. Beneath an awning, a 1969 Airstream trailer serves as the bar. The small menu offers shareable plates like wood-fired pizza and seafood and sliders. The local Maine lobster sliders won my nod for best lobster roll on that particular trip. 

Address: 229 Nubble Rd, York, ME 03909

Also in York and a short distance away, Fox’s Lobster House delivers old-school vibes, an expansive menu, all the Maine classics you could want and an excellent location adjacent to the famous Nubble Lighthouse, arguably York’s most recognizable landmark. You’ve got your crab cakes, your chowder, your lobster dinners and much, much more. Save room for pie for dessert (and then walk it off with a trip over to the lighthouse afterward). While the blueberry pie is a no-brainer, I’d attest that the “My, My, Mile High Banana Cream Pie” could give the blueberries a run for their money.

Address: 8 Sohier Park Rd, York, ME 03909

While it’s not a “town” per se, you can’t talk about food in Maine without mentioning the coastal city of Portland, particularly as it’s becoming more and more well known not just as a great foodie destination, but also just overall an excellent place to visit and live. 

There are near-endless excellent restaurants in Portland, but for a casual-yet-refined and entirely unexpected meal, try Duckfat, which combines local ingredients with European flair. Be sure to try the poutine, which uses Maine-grown potatoes fried in—obviously—duck fat. 

Other than the small and charming main location, there’s also a Duckfat food truck and Duckfat Frites Shack with a walk-up window.

Address: 43 Middle St, Portland, ME 04101

If you’re exploring the main Bar Harbor thoroughfare, you’re going to run across several well-known restaurants that, while long-time staples, have somewhat fallen into the “tourist trap” category. While some restaurants can manage to balance quality dining with catering to a high volume of tourist traffic, I didn’t find that to be the case in many Bar Harbor institutions—which is why I was very happy when I found West Street Café. 

This restaurant ticks a lot of the right boxes. It doesn’t feel overly touristy, but it’s still right in the heart of all the action (and it’s been around long enough that they know what they’re doing). The restaurant’s interior also doesn’t feel crammed or crowded and is instead bright and airy. If you’ve just arrived in town for your Maine vacation and want a quick hit of all the good stuff, order West Street Café’s Downeast Special. You’ll get a lobster, clam chowder and blueberry pie. 

Address: 76 West St, Bar Harbor, ME 04609

Kittery sits right next to the New Hampshire–Maine border, making it a great little town to stay in if you want to balance your beach trips with a side of exploring this region’s ample history. While you’re there, check out the lauded and long-lasting Bob’s Clam Hut. Established in 1956, the restaurant’s menu is short, simple and to the point. There are clams served a myriad of ways and if you don’t like clams, you have a whole lot of other seafood to choose from. You’ll quickly see why this eatery has been featured on a whole host of “best of” lists from nationwide publications, and why it’s received visits from famous faces such as Guy Fieri and Martha Stewart.

Address: 315 US-1, Kittery, ME 03904

My dear friend Julie has been visiting Ogunquit for years and she always raves about Footbridge Lobster’s lobster rolls, with their buttery buns and lobster caught right that morning. When you can go anywhere and get a lobster roll served on a plate, this little red restaurant is doling out rolls the way God intended—in a disposable box or boat lined with red-and-white checkered paper, with a side of some disposable silverware and a snack packet of Lay’s potato chips. 

(If you’re looking for other spots to dine or snack in Ogunquit, several other top recommendations include Harbor Candy Shop and The Egg & I Pancake and Waffle House.) 

Address: 108 Perkins Cove Rd, Ogunquit, ME 03907

Family-owned, award-winning and with thousands of positive reviews on Google, Alisson’s Restaurant is more than a safe bet when you’re looking for a spot to eat in Kennebunkport. The casual, walk-ins-only restaurant serves rave-worthy lobster rolls, lobster bisque and New England clam chowder. But they also serve quite a number of salads, sandwiches and entrees both of the seafood and non-seafood persuasion (in case you have a member of your party who’s not quite so keen on all the lobster).

Address: 11 Dock Square, Kennebunkport, ME 04046

If you’re near Boothbay, according to a bevy of very happy Google reviewers, Robinson’s Wharf is the place to go. The long-standing local restaurant features an on-site seafood market and a location right on the water. The lobster is caught daily, but in addition to the typical lobster dinners and rolls, there are a few unique options you can try as well—like the Southport Fondue, with its lobster and crab Newburg and served with baguettes and chips. 

Address: 20 Hendricks Hill Rd, Southport, ME 04576

You can now find The Holy Donut in a handful of towns on the Maine coast, including Portland, Brunswick, Scarborough and Arundel. The brand has become famous for its rotating flavors of gourmet potato donuts (remember: Maine is a top potato producer!). 

In addition to the 20 or so daily flavors like vanilla glazed, maple and dark chocolate cinnamon sugar, this donut shop also serves up gluten-free and vegan options. As someone who eats gluten-free at least part-time (and is highly critical of gluten-free baked goods), I really appreciated this thoughtful menu addition. And the gluten-free donuts were so good, you’d never even know the difference.

The best part? If you visit and entirely fall in love with these treats, you can order them after you get back home, thanks to The Holy Donut’s door-to-door shipping. 

In Rockland, Maine, Primo takes farm-to-table to a whole new level. Led by a multiple James Beard Award-winning chef, this full-circle restaurant doesn’t just source locally—it is the source. With two greenhouses, flocks of chickens and ducks, pigs and a closed-loop system that transforms kitchen waste into farm fuel or animal feed, Primo is the definition of sustainable dining. The menu changes with the seasons but the heart of the cuisine is Italian. Expect house-made pastas and standout dishes like local skate alla Milanese or pork saltimbocca.

Address: 2 Main St, Rockland, ME 04841

Another Rockland gem that’s earned plenty of love from the press, Nina June brings a Mediterranean flair to Maine’s seasonal bounty. The restaurant, helmed by chef and cookbook author Sara Jenkins, takes an international approach while staying rooted in local ingredients. The menu is limited but highly curated and, on any given day, you might find fresh pasta, risotto, duck or oysters, and even a burger for those who prefer the simpler things in life.  If you love the flavors here, be sure to check out Chef Jenkins’ cookbooks for a taste you can bring home.

Address: 24 Central St, Rockport, ME 04856