Penobscot Bay Restaurants
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Penobscot Bay - browse our top choices for Restaurants during your stay.
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23 Recommendations
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1. Archer's on the Pier
$$$ | |Standing on the edge of the harbor, with dining decks on three sides, Archer's is the prime spot in Rockland for dining with a view—even when the weather keeps you indoors, there are plenty of windows. The large menu is heavy on traditional preparations of fresh, local seafood—including old-fashioned haddock cakes—but also includes plenty of contemporary dishes. Chef-owner Lynn Archer emerged victorious on the show, Throwdown with Bobby Flay. The dish? A triple-decker club sandwich with lobster. Happily, it's on the menu. There are many nonseafood choices, too. Everything on the wine list is available by the glass, and there are lots of creative cocktails, too.
58 Ocean St., Maine, 04841, USA207-594--2435Known For
- Broad harborside views
- Welcoming atmosphere
- Great menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
2. Atlantic Baking Company
$ | |Classic European and American breads such as batards, baguettes, ciabatta, focaccia, sourdough boules, and rolls come out of French ovens every morning at this popular little spot. The cases are also filled with just-baked croissants, scones, muffins, cookies, and more. Various specialties are available on different days of the week. There's also a selection of sandwiches and salads for lunch. It's a quick walk across the street from the Farnsworth Art Museum.
351 Main St., Maine, 04841, USA207-596–0505Known For
- French macarons
- Apricot pistachio oat cookies
- Classic sourdough
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
3. Friar's Brewhouse Taproom
$ | |You probably wouldn't expect to find an eatery run by Franciscan friars in this little town, but you'll be glad you did. Dressed in long brown habits, your hosts happily serve excellent European-style beers brewed in their nearby mountainside friary, which pair well with sandwiches on freshly baked baguettes, or hearty entrées that blend Maine and French Canadian flavors like family-recipe meat loaf, from-scratch soups, pâté, and fresh local fish dishes. Sit at the bar and watch Brother Don cook, or choose a table with a view of the Penobscot River and the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Be sure to grab a loaf of friary-baked bread or a sweet treat from the to-go selection by the door.
84A Main St., Maine, 04416, USA207-702--9156Known For
- Fresh-baked breads
- Thoughtfully prepared dishes
- Warm and welcoming friars
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
4. Homeport Tavern
$$ | |With tufted green leather settees and a wood-burning brick fireplace, the Homeport Tavern, part of the Homeport Inn, exudes an English-accented coziness. While bangers and mash and fish-and-chips give a nod to the old country and New England seafood is well represented, many dishes on the lunch and dinner menus have a distinctly Southern drawl. Items such as a shrimp po-boy, filé gumbo, smoked pork belly, and bread pudding with bourbon praline sauce hint at the chef's Louisiana roots. There's a good selection of Maine craft beers on tap.
121 E. Main St., Maine, 04974, USA207-548--2259Known For
- Welcoming hosts
- Snug atmosphere
- Louisiana comfort food
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. -
5. Long Grain
$$ | |The celebrated Thai chef at this Asian-fusion restaurant places an emphasis on authentic noodle and rice dishes. The atmosphere is casual and open, with rustic wood tables and bentwood chairs. As it's very popular with both locals and visitors, reservations are strongly encouraged—though you might be able to squeeze in at the tiny bar without one if you're dining solo.
20 Washington St., Maine, 04843, USA207-230--8735Known For
- Chef Ravin Nakjaroen is a James Beard--nominated chef
- Consistently excellent
- Great take-out options
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon., Reservations necessary -
Recommended Fodor’s Video
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6. Young's Lobster Pound
$$$ | |Right on the water's edge, across the harbor from downtown Belfast, this corrugated-steel building looks more like a fish cannery than a restaurant, but it's one of the best places for an authentic Maine lobster dinner, known here as the "shore dinner." Lobster rolls, surf-and-turf dinners, steamed clams, steak tips, and hot dogs are popular, too. As this is a real-deal lobster pound, with absolutely no frills, lobstermen tie up at the dock to unload their catch. There are numerous tanks of live lobsters at the front of the concrete-floored building; lobsters can be shipped as well. Order your dinner at the counter, then find a picnic table inside or on the deck, just remember it's BYOB. Don't leave your outdoor table unattended—seagulls are quick and determined food thieves.
2 Fairview St., Maine, 04915, USA207-338–1160Known For
- "shore dinner": clam chowder or lobster stew, steamed clams or mussels, a 1½-pound boiled lobster, corn on the cob, and chips
- Family-friendly environment
- BYOB
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Takeout only Jan.–Mar. -
7. Anglers
$$ | |This little restaurant has been around for a long time and has a large local following so it can be a little hard to get a table on a busy night, but it’s worth the wait. The traditional seafood dishes (fried or broiled) are good, the prices are reasonable, many dishes may be ordered in a "minnow" portion, and there are also a few choices for those who don't enjoy seafood.
22 E. Main St., Maine, 04974, USA207-548--2405Known For
- Friendly service—it's the kind of place where the waitresses call you “Hon”
- Welcoming atmosphere
- Traditional seafood dishes
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8. Belfast Co-op
$ | |Established back in 1976, the Co-op is a very special place in Belfast, and it’s not unusual to hear the expression, “I’ll meet you at the Co-op.” As the name implies, this full-service market is a members' cooperative that sells organic, locally grown vegetables, and other provisions, but you don’t have to be a member to shop here or visit the popular Co-op Café for coffee, tea, sandwiches, soups, prepared dishes, and homemade pastries. It's an excellent and inexpensive place for breakfast or lunch with one of the best selections of wines in town. There is no waiter service; you just order at the counter and pick up your food when it’s ready.
123 High St., Maine, 04915, USA207-338--2532Known For
- Excellent and inexpensive place for breakfast or lunch
- Coffee, tea, and to-go items at the Co-op Café
- Great selection of wine
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9. BOWA
$ | |Under the same ownership as Long Grain around the corner, this tiny bistro—whose name is an acronym for "Best of What's Available"—serves a well-priced lunch menu of street food from Asia, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean. Popular menu items include bibimbap, pho, and a Mediterranean bowl and many options are or can be prepared vegan or gluten-free.
31 Elm St., Maine, 04843, USA207-230--8292Known For
- Yummy pastries
- Lively flavors
- Fresh, healthy take-out or eat-in
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
10. Chase's Daily
$ | |For more than two decades, this Main Street mainstay has been serving farm-to-table food to an enthusiastic Belfast community. Straight from the Chase family's farm to their restaurant, everything on the menu is vegetarian, including many entrées that are rooted in Indian cuisine. Produce and flowers from the farm are also available for sale, as are baked goods. There's seating in a large indoor space, plus a seasonal patio behind the restaurant.
96 Main St., Maine, 04915, USA207-338--0555Known For
- Fresh-from-the-farm produce
- Excellent vegetarian cuisine
- Home-baked goods
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
11. Claws
$$$ | |Set right beside the road at the northern end of town, this lobster shack gets consistently enthusiastic reviews—many say the overstuffed lobster roll is one of the best. The large menu includes all the usual suspects plus a great selection of "snacky things" and entrées, and even a taco bar—butter-poached lobster tacos, anyone? Order at the counter and take your food out back to enjoy on the outdoor deck overlooking the harbor.
743 Main St., Maine, 04841, USA207-596--5600Known For
- Wild Maine blueberry shortcake
- Lobster rolls stuffed with a pound of meat
- Award-winning lobster bisque
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12. Darby's Restaurant and Pub
$$ | |With pressed-tin ceilings, this charming, old-fashioned restaurant and bar—it's been such since 1865—is a perennial local favorite with a welcoming community feel to it. Pad Thai, chicken chili salad with cashews, a Buddha bowl, and a few Mexican-flavored items are signature dishes, but the menu also serves hearty, scratch-made soups, sandwiches on homemade bread, and classic fish-and-chips. The walls of this cozy pub are hung with old murals of Belfast scenes and works for sale by local artists.
155 High St., Maine, 04915, USA207-338–2339Known For
- Excellent happy hour
- Gluten-free menu choices
- Homemade breads
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
13. Delvino's Grill & Pasta House
$$ | |Tucked among Main Street's lineup of small shops, this intimate bistro serves exceptional house-made pastas and other Italian favorites—try the eggplant fries to start. Among the entrées, the mushroom Sacchetti (pasta pockets filled with wild porcini, roasted portobello mushrooms, and cheeses) are especially popular, and on Tuesday, there's a special, budget-friendly menu for two. In addition to the inviting, brick-walled interior, there's a sidewalk patio for warm-weather dining.
52 Main St., Maine, 04915, USA207-338--4565Known For
- Fresh pasta dishes
- Great service
- Mushroom sachetti
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14. Fon's Kitchen
$ | |Diners are greeted by a friendly smile at this small and airy eatery. It serves a standard Thai menu—think pad Thai, tom kha, and chicken satay—with exceptional preparations. Popular choices include a chive rice cake and Panang curry.
132 High St., Maine, 04915, USA207-218--1007Known For
- Friendly service
- Pleasant decor
- Well-prepared Thai dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. and Mon. -
15. Harbor Dogs
$ | |A summertime fixture for five decades, the Harbor Dogs shack on the town landing is the perfect place to grab lunch to enjoy at a nearby bench beside the harbor or before or after a cruise. Hot dog toppings include southwestern, Asian, and Chicago, and there are also lobster and crab rolls, fish tacos, haddock Reubens, and fried-seafood platters.
1 Public Landing, Maine, 04843, USA207-230--9638Known For
- Delicious takeout to enjoy on a harborfront bench
- Lengthy hot-dog menu
- Watching the sightseeing boats and sailboats coming and going
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Wed. and Thurs. and mid-Oct.--mid-May. No dinner -
16. Home Kitchen Cafe
$ | |There's a decidedly Mexican influence at this popular place, with breakfast choices including migas, huevos rancheros, and a burrito, and a list of tacos highlighted on the lunch menu. You'll also find a little Asian influence in the breakfast fried rice and a banh mi, as well as plenty of good old American dishes. Both breakfast and lunch are served from opening to closing time. All of the breads, biscuits, sticky buns, desserts, and more are scratch-made at the restaurant's bakery (open to the public), two blocks away at 606 Main Street.
650 Main St., Maine, 04841, USA207-596--2449Known For
- Everything is house-made
- Just-baked sticky buns and "sinny" buns
- Lots of Mexican dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. -
17. Lobster Pound Restaurant
$$$ | |A fixture since 1926, this is an authentic place to enjoy a classic Maine lobster dinner—a cup of clam chowder, steamed clams, a 1-1/8-pound lobster, corn on the cob, potato, and Maine blueberry pie. The large restaurant has rustic wooden picnic tables outside, an enclosed patio, and two dining rooms with a gift shop in between, as well as tanks where you can pick from hundreds of live lobsters for your dinner. There's a full bar, and the wine list includes some Maine labels. Prices of the lobster dishes fluctuate with the market. There's also plenty of fried seafood as well as the required lobster roll. Because this is such a big place, you won't have to wait long, even when it's busy. It's right on U.S. 1, next to Lincolnville Beach, and has beautiful views of Penobscot Bay and the island of Islesboro. It's fun to watch the ferry go to and from Islesboro as you dine.
2521 Atlantic Hwy., Maine, 04849, USA207-789–5550Known For
- Family-friendly environment
- So many seats you'll never have to wait
- A solid selection of local craft beers
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. -
18. Must Be Nice Lobster
$$ | |Not only does Sadie Samuels captain her own lobster boat, the Must Be Nice, but she also transforms her haul into lobster rolls that she sells—along with crab rolls, fries, hot dogs, and burgers—from a lunch wagon parked at the bottom of Main Street, just up from the harbor. There are outdoor tables plus indoor seating alongside a small shop of items Samuels crafts herself.
2 Cross St., Maine, 04915, USA207-218--1431Known For
- Mini lobster rolls at half the price of the full-size rolls
- Made by a local lobsterwoman
- Award-winning lobster rolls
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. -
19. Ports of Italy
$$$ | |The sister establishment to Ports of Italy in Boothbay Harbor, this pleasant restaurant offers a selection of house-made pastas with traditional sauces, many featuring local seafood. Second-course choices include veal scaloppine, osso buco, and porchetta. Among the most popular starters is the Insalata Caprese, which comes in a deliciously crunchy basket made from Parmesan cheese. Dine indoors, on the porch, or on the patio. There's also a small pizzeria in a little building next door.
141 Commercial St., Maine, 04856, USA207-236--1011Known For
- Well-prepared Italian classics
- Appealing Sunday brunch menu
- Caprese salad in a crisp Parmesan basket
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20. Rockland Café
$ | |Famous for the size of its breakfasts—don't pass up the lobster or fish-cake Benedict—Rockland Café has been a local favorite for decades. The large menu includes plenty of lunch and dinner choices from the excellent clam, fish, and seafood chowder to fried haddock, clams, shrimp, and scallops or lobster, clam, shrimp, and scallop rolls. For nonseafood eaters, there are burgers, chicken baskets, meat loaf, and even liver and onions. For big seafood eaters, there are all-you-can-eat fried seafood dinners. Breakfast is served from 6 am until 11 am in the summer, and until 4 pm on weekdays in the off-season.
441 Main St., Maine, 04841, USA207-596–7556Known For
- Lots of traditional seafood dishes
- Classic liver and onions
- Lively place where locals come to catch up
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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