Forks, Knives, Chopsticks and Seafood Crackers!

The MidCoast’s Amazing Food Season is Here!

With the arrival of May, the terrific food scene in Maine takes off. What’s your pleasure? Farm-to-table restaurants, delightful food trucks, and fried clam shacks offer a delicious range of dining options for everyone who loves good food. The MidCoast is home to some of the most-awarded restaurants in the country. With the growth of aquatic and organic farms, vacation dining is being elevated to foodie bliss even at the smallest cafes. And not to be overlooked are the MidCoast’s beloved craft breweries, specialty bakeries, coffee roasters, and of course, roadside stands with hand-made ice cream. Here are a few favorite places you might want to try.

 

 

Simple Becomes Extraordinary

wolfpeach – Camden

The name “wolfpeach” comes from “Lycopersicum” which is the scientific name for tomato. You’ll find plenty of tomatoes and other locally grown vegetables and herbs included in wolfpeach’s hyper local/seasonal menu. Opened in December 2021 on Elm Street in Camden, the restaurant has quickly gained attention for its focus on foods of the northeast, as well as preservation techniques from across the globe. The one-page menu offers imaginative courses of all-local seafood, meats, and produce and simple pleasures like milk and cookies. Skate Chowder is pictured above: Accompanied by clams, squid, mussels & smoked mussels, all cooked in a cream broth with diced potatoes, finished with a hefty grating of cured/dried scallop. wolfpeach is proudly a no-tipping establishment that has chosen better income and benefits for its staff.

 

 

An Asian Adventure

ZaoZe Cafe – Brunswick

Located behind the popular Tao Yuan Restaurant, ZaoZe Café & Market is part bakery, part café, part Asian deli and grocery store – all set in a comfortable, homey setting. The café serves lunch daily with a la Carte favorites such as Fan Tuan (a sticky rice wrapped Chinese duck fat donut), Kung Pao Cauliflower, and their Zao Smashed Burger. Oxtail Ragu is shown above, made with doubanjiang, pickled mustard greens, chili campanelle, chili crisp and pecorino. Behind the Café is a large, rooftop aquaponic greenhouse that supplies the Café and Tao Yuan Restaurant. Visitors are welcome to tour the space.

 

 

Fabulous, Famous, Fried Clams

Five Islands Lobster Co. – Georgetown

Perched on an active fishing wharf, Five Islands Lobster Co. overlooks one of the most scenic harbors in the MidCoast. The ocean here has some of the deepest and coldest waters on the coast which produce exceptionally delicious seafood. The lobsters are pulled straight from the surrounding waters. The Wall Street Journal calls the lobster rolls the Best in Maine. But not to be outdone, Downeast Magazine says the fried clams are the Best in Maine. Bring a cooler (they don’t serve alcohol) and enjoy your meal with the sound of buoys ringing in the harbor.

 

 

Casual and Crazy Good

Sammy’s Deluxe – Rockland

Widely-spaced tables and mismatched water glasses quickly tell you that this storefront hot spot is going to be casual. However, the food is terrific. From the humble baked-in-a-can Brown Bread to the Preserved Matsutake Pelmeni (caramelized Matsutake, apples, onions, potatoes stuffed inside plump little pelmeni with roasted mushrooms, and more) – everything at Sammy’s Deluxe is served with skill, simple surroundings, and a sense of humor. They don’t accept reservations, so get there early and leave your name to get seated later.

 

 

A New American Public House & Beer Garden

Sterlingtown – Union

A short drive from the coast will bring you to the Sterlingtown Public House in the historic Village Common of Union, Maine. Wonderful comfort food with Asian influences and craft beers you won’t find in other parts of Maine are just part of the attraction. Music fans look forward to a sunset series of small concerts held in the beer garden. The popular concerts feature many local musicians and tickets tend to sell out early. Take a look at Sterlingtown’s summer’s box office for upcoming performances.

 

 

The Bakery, Farm Produce & Restaurant

Chase’s Daily – Belfast

Few places are as beloved as Chase’s Daily on Main Street in Belfast. With food sustainably grown on their busy farm, the Chase family and their friends have offered wonderful breakfasts and lunches for over two decades. Instead of finding trend foods on the menu, you’ll find what the Chase’s call “old recipes” – food that brings out the full flavors of each ingredients– such as their raspberry tarts, shown above. Stop by anytime and you’ll also find that Chase’s Daily is a hub for people choosing fresh flowers and produce brought in early each morning from the Chase Farm.

 

 

A Brilliant Thai Star

Long Grain Restaurant – Camden

The reviews in Bon Appetit, Saveur, and The New York Times all agree that Long Grain brings a rare, authentic excitement to Thai food on the coast of Maine. With exceptional quality and reasonable prices, the 30-seat spare but attractive restaurant is always busy. Using locally-sourced ingredients, the owner’s capture the flavors of their native Bangkok and cook in a style that grandmothers all over Thailand would approve of. Make your reservations early and prepare to easily rediscover your chopstick skills.

 

 

Local, Organic, and Unforgettable

Coastal Café and Bakery – Searsport

Breakfast and lunch at this cozy spot in Searsport is always a new experience thanks to their seasonally-influenced menus. From the bakery, choose between orange Danish, New York style bagels, scones, or hand-rolled croissants with over 300 layers in each one. Really hungry? The beef in their signature Corned Beef Hash (pictured above) is slow-cooked in-house, sauteed with red onions, piled onto smashed red potato hashbrowns and served with two local eggs, a slice of Borealis toast, and fresh sliced apple. Need we say more?