Look What’s Cooking in the MidCoast!

It’s Spring at last and Maine’s food scene is in full, delicious bloom. May is the best time of the year to visit the restaurants, cafes, and brewpubs throughout the MidCoast. The summer crowds are still weeks away and the chefs – with the help of local farmers fishermen, and artisans – have been creating new menus for the season ahead. While the MidCoast is known for its nationally-awarded restaurants, many more are raising vacation dining to foodie bliss, so come and look what’s cooking. Here are a few of our favorites.

 

 

The Hichborn – Stockton Springs

It was the nearby farms and fishermen in Stockton Springs that led the owners of the Hichborn to open their delightful, 30-seat restaurant in 2018. Originally a large nineteenth-century shipbuilder’s house, the Hichborn has been beautifully renovated with handcrafted tables, pewter Danforth lamps, and a very cozy bar. The word is out about this casual dining sensation, and reservations are recommended. For even more casual, kickback food and imaginative cocktails, the same owners recently opened Hey Sailor! just a few miles away in nearby Searsport.

 

 

The Alna Store – Alna

In the small town of Alna, a historic 1800s country store is the home to terrific food and cocktails that you could only hope for in larger cities. (Photo above shows local flank, hazelnut tomatillo romesco, fried kale, grilled scallion.) The Alna Store has prioritized sustainable agriculture and creates its menus with foods from local farms, fishermen, and artisans. Following in the steps of a sister restaurant in Tuscon, AZ, the Alna Store also offers country store necessities including groceries and convenience items. While in Alna, don’t miss the WW&F Railway Museum for a ride back into history on the Sheepscot Valley Steam Train.

 

 

The Harborview Bistro  – Tenants Harbor

A twenty-minute drive from Rockland will bring you to the small fishing and boating village of Tenants Harbor. Located in one of the historic buildings of the East Wind Inn, the Harborside Bistro offers a terrific view and wonderful, ‘boat-to-table’ cuisine literally from the dock next door. Before lunch or dinner, take a short drive to see the Marshall Point Lighthouse that was featured in the movie, Forrest Gump.

 

 

Suzuki’s Sushi Bar – Rockland

This small gem on Main Street in Rockland is one of the most delightful sushi bars in Maine. The chef’s selection – omakase, shown above – is often assembled entirely with local fish caught that day. Each day, Suzuki’s serves wonderfully fresh seafood – think scallops, grey sole, line-caught mackerel, monkfish, oysters, and more. Keiko Suzuki Steinberger has been twice nominated by the James Beard Foundation, Best Chef in the Northeast. It’s a well-deserved recognition for her passion to balance seasonally available seafood with classic sushi techniques.

 

 

Owls Head General Store – “Best Burger in Maine!”

A drive to scenic Owls Head Lighthouse near Rockland will take you past the tiny Owls Head Post Office and the even tinier, Owls Head General Store. However, waiting for you inside is the “Best Burger in Maine.” Just ask the reviewers at Down East Magazine and the Food Network. A recent store renovation with loving attention from the new owner, and the return of the famed “7-Napkin Burger,” have made the Owls Head General Store a favorite with locals from miles away.

 

 

The Lobster Pound – Lincolnville

In 1926, the Lobster Pound served its first customers in the exact same beachfront spot where you’ll find it today. And the menu today is just what you’d expect from a classic lobster establishment. Fresh lobster and shrimp rolls. Steamed mussels and clams. Crab cakes and hearty clam chowder. To really go big, and we mean big, the Lobster Mac N’ Cheese, with three different kinds of cheese is hard to top. Except perhaps for dessert which always leads with Maine Blueberry Pie.

 

 

The Old Goat – Richmond

This welcoming pub with exposed brick walls and wooden beams is a haven for lively conversation and comfort food, including plenty of pizza options. When the weather is warm, take a seat in the beer garden out back for a fine selection of fresh releases from nearby craft breweries. Before dining at the pub, plan on taking time to explore the historic Richmond area. Richmond is home to the Swan Island Wildlife Management area on the Kennebec River, a popular destination for hiking, biking, or boating.

 

 

The Causeway – Spruce Head

South of Rockland, at the end of Route 73, you’ll find the historic Craignair Inn and the wonderful Causeway Restaurant. In the 1930s, the inn housed workers from nearby quarries on Clark Island. Today, you can walk a causeway to the island which is now a protected 124-acre preserve. The Causeway’s delightful food is only outdone by the sweeping, epic ocean views. The menu is always inventive and inspired by fresh-caught seafood from local fishermen. Shown above is the Shrimp Louise Wedge Salad— gulf shrimp topped with remoulade, bacon, tomatoes and micro greens. In addition to delicious seafood, the Causeway menus also feature vegetarian and vegan meal choices.

 

 

Fresh & Co. – Camden

In a town known for its many great restaurants, Fresh & Co. is standout for its globally inspired menu. Using fresh, local ingredients, the chefs at Fresh & Co. create dishes from Katsu Chicken and Moqueca, a Brazilian-style stew to savory lobster corn dogs and classic New England-style cod (their halibut chowder is shown at the top of this page). The bar is just as adventuresome and offers wines, beers, and cocktails with roots from around the world. Tucked along the pier storefronts at 1 Bay View Landing and a short walk to the harbor, Fresh & Co. is a welcomed, casual place.

 

 

Wild Oats Bakery & Café – Brunswick

The people in Brunswick know how lucky they are to have an all-natural and from-scratch place as good as Wild Oats. On almost any day, you’ll find dozens of fresh cakes and pies, dozens of paninis and sandwiches, and nearly countless, delicious soups. The bakery and café are lively meeting places for locals who love the food and appreciate Wild Oats’ commitment to environmental and social responsibility. Thanks to its steady, growing popularity, Wild Oats recently moved to a new, airy location at 166 Admiral Fitch Avenue in Brunswick Landing.

 

For even more amazing MidCoast restaurants, read Feast on Farm-to-Table, Boat-to-Basket Bliss. And discover the Maine Oyster Trail in An Unforgettable Oyster Adventure in MidCoast Maine.