for display only
Big Blue Interactive The Corner Forum  
Back to the Corner

Archived Thread

NFT: Going to Portland and Bar Harbor, Maine. Suggestions ?

BigRoss71 : 7/19/2017 11:18 pm
Leaving Friday morning. Was considering stopping in new haven for some pizza but that would probably work better on the way back.

I love seafood so I should be good in that regard, just not sure where the best places to get it are.

Was thinking of taking the scenic route 1 from Portland to bar harbor, maybe stopping in Rockland for Home kitchen cafe on the advice of a friend. Will probably be going to Acadia national park, but not sure beyond that what to do.
Maine seafood  
ChicagoMarty : 7/19/2017 11:23 pm : link
Yum.

If you stop for seafood for lunch. Just order the seafood chowder and nothing else because it is a meal to itself.

Any seafood place will do. There are simply no bad seafood restaurants in Maine
Lobster Roll  
rasbutant : 7/19/2017 11:24 pm : link
Reds Eats on rt1
Link - ( New Window )
Say hi to Carmelo for me  
Anakim : 7/19/2017 11:25 pm : link
Oh, Portland, Maine. My bad.
If you like beer  
rasbutant : 7/19/2017 11:33 pm : link
This place is a must find. See link

LLBean is worth a stop.

Popham Beach State Park


Link - ( New Window )
Last one from me  
rasbutant : 7/19/2017 11:41 pm : link
You mentioned pizza.
This place is great for a slice. Located in the back of the store. They only make it at a certain time and when it gone it's gone. Always a line waiting for it. Kind of reminds me of soap nazi from senfield.
Link - ( New Window )
Be on the lookout for  
Taggart : 7/20/2017 3:28 am : link
Wild blueberry pie. When you find it, eat it.
Portland is an awesome restaurant town  
Peter from NH (formerly CT) : 7/20/2017 6:08 am : link
Cool young city.

One of the landmarks is The Holy Donut. Awesome donuts. One location is downtown and another is a block or two from the highway.
The Holy Donut - ( New Window )
Holy Donut is great  
UConn4523 : 7/20/2017 6:26 am : link
try to get a reservation at Fore Street one night.

For beer definitely get to the new Bissell Brother spot, their beer is fantastic.
Duckfat  
UConn4523 : 7/20/2017 6:28 am : link
is a good spot for lunch. Novare Res as someone mentioned before is an amazing bar. So many beers and a very big outdoor space.
Days...a hidden gem right off Rt 1 in Yarmouth...  
JCin332 : 7/20/2017 6:33 am : link
for Lobster and Lobster rolls...

You'll thank me later...!!!
Days Lobster Pound - ( New Window )
If you go to Reds be prepared to wait an hour...  
JCin332 : 7/20/2017 6:35 am : link
..
Beehive Trail in Acadia National Park  
Dave in PA : 7/20/2017 6:55 am : link
If you're looking for some exciting hiking. Look into it before committing though, it's not for everyone.
Thanks to OP  
tbonfig : 7/20/2017 7:02 am : link
I will be up there in two weeks and am saving all the suggestions mentioned here. That bar looks amazing!

I'll probably be starting another thread in the next day or so about Acadia as I'll be taking a second trip to go camping.

Thanks in advance for all the comments here.
Has anyone been to  
tbonfig : 7/20/2017 7:10 am : link
The Lobster Shack Two Lights?


Link - ( New Window )
RE: Has anyone been to  
Eli Wilson : 7/20/2017 7:29 am : link
In comment 13533019 tbonfig said:
Quote:
The Lobster Shack Two Lights?
Link - ( New Window )


I've been there several times and was going to recommend it.
RE: RE: Has anyone been to  
tbonfig : 7/20/2017 7:38 am : link
In comment 13533024 Eli Wilson said:
Quote:
In comment 13533019 tbonfig said:


Quote:


The Lobster Shack Two Lights?
Link - ( New Window )



I've been there several times and was going to recommend it.


Awesome. Thanks.
Allagash Brewery in Portland  
Frank in Silver Spring : 7/20/2017 7:41 am : link
Mighty terrific. Oh, and a lobster roll. And lots of Shipyard beer. And an Adirondack deck chair with a cooler next to you as you watch the sun set over the harbor. It's called America's Vacationland for a reason. A darn good one.
Acadia is one of my favorite NP's  
AnnapolisMike : 7/20/2017 8:13 am : link
Do the Beehive Trail if you are outdoorsy (Precipice Trail is a classic but likely still closed) Rent a bike and spend time on the carriage roads in Acadia. There are any number of hikes with great views at the end. If you don't hike....at least do the drive around the park and up Cadillac Mountain. Schoodic Point is awesome as well but it is outside the main park.

Bar Harbor is a great down, but none of the restaurants are special IMO.

Grab a lobster roll someplace. YELP or Trip Advisor is your friend.

If you go to..  
FatMan in Charlotte : 7/20/2017 8:38 am : link
Fort Williams park to see the lighthouse and area, make sure you have a lobster roll at Bite Into Maine.

Yes, it is a food truck. Yes, it is at a tourist attraction, but it is the best lobster roll I've ever had. And you can get it either with butter or lightly covered in mayo

They also can be found outside of Allagash at times, so if you'd rather have a beer instead of one of their tasty sodas - that will work too.
Saltwater Grill in South Portland,  
Section331 : 7/20/2017 8:45 am : link
good food and great views. A little on the pricey side. Old Orchard Beach for sun and swim (or OOB, as the locals call it).
If you're into craft beer  
pjcas18 : 7/20/2017 8:47 am : link
there is quite a few breweries in Portland - Aligash and Shipyard (not sure if qualifies as craft) both mentioned. My buddies love Bissell Brothers. It's quite a sub culture forming, people wait in line, pay a lot of money and buy hoppy beer. I don't like most, but this place gets raves.

http://www.bissellbrothers.com/

In my experience Aligash is the only one to give out free samples. Maybe Shipyard, but the smaller ones who have a pour license usually don't and I always think they should, but that's another discussion.

Also if you do take the ride from Portland to Rockport/Camden and you take rte 1 stop at this place called the Seabasket in Wicasset and get the lobster stew. It was so good I had it shipped.

http://www.seabasket.com/

and one other thing if you like minor league baseball, the Portland Sea Dogs (Red Sox affiliate) have a nice friendly cheap stadium.
Not sure if you have kids  
pjcas18 : 7/20/2017 8:52 am : link
but Old Orchard Beach is about 30 minutes South of Portland (so the opposite way you'd be going to Bar Harbor and Acadia), but it's got a nice little amusement park and a decent beach and has been cleaned up in recent years.

You still see the place loaded with Canadiens in Speedos but there are less and less heroin needles now - and good food, tourism all around it when it used to be mostly run down motels.
Thank you everyone  
BigRoss71 : 7/20/2017 8:53 am : link
I really appreciate the responses. I'll be sure to check out a lot of these places
RE: Not sure if you have kids  
pjcas18 : 7/20/2017 8:53 am : link
In comment 13533053 pjcas18 said:
Quote:
but Old Orchard Beach is about 30 minutes South of Portland (so the opposite way you'd be going to Bar Harbor and Acadia), but it's got a nice little amusement park and a decent beach and has been cleaned up in recent years.

You still see the place loaded with Canadiens in Speedos but there are less and less heroin needles now - and good food, tourism all around it when it used to be mostly run down motels.


sorry Canadians, I doubt you see any Montreal hockey players there in Speedos.

And in my prior post Rockland was auto-corrected to Rockport
Bissell Brothers  
UConn4523 : 7/20/2017 8:55 am : link
was across the street from Allagash when I went 2 summers ago but since moved to a much better spot. Their Substance Ale is in my top 10 list for sure, possibly top 5.

Allagash is fine if you want to check out how a brewery works and get some free samples, but there beer can't compete with the micro-breweries around them. Its worth going to since there are like 3 or 4 right there and you can hit them all in a couple of hours.
Tons...  
GiantTuff1 : 7/20/2017 8:58 am : link
Portland is probably my favorite northeast city. You'll have a blast even just winging it...

As mentioned try Holy Donut, donuts made with real maine potatoes... they are tremendous, but sometimes they run out of donuts on the weekends in latter hours.

You can throw a stone and hit dozens of 4-5 star restaurants everywhere you turn, it's just a matter of what your'e in the mood for.

For a sort of new america tapas place with great drink Central Provisions is a culinary experience, but get there early. Opens at 5 pm. Many restaurants in Portland do not take reservations, I was lucky a few weeks ago cause we jumped in line around 4:50 and got a table with my wife. 30 -45 min later, there was a 2.5 hour wait.

For a divey breakfast I recommend the Porthole, get the Lobster Benedict, it's great. But there's a million other possible places.

Streak & Co is excellent, more on seafood side
Fore Street is great, seafood and more
J's Oyster is another local dive right by the pier for seafood

Vena's Fizz Bar for a vintage and creative craft cocktail experience, you won't be disappointed if you enjoy that... some of the most unique well balanced drinks I've ever had.

People have mentioned the top breweries but if you want something a little different there is a place called the Urban Farm Fermentory where they wild brew Kombuchas, Meads, Ciders, etc... It's pretty awesome, and tasty.

Maine Mead Works is right around the Corner
Maine Craft Distillery
Liquid Riot

Man, so much more.

Enjoy!

RE: Bissell Brothers  
pjcas18 : 7/20/2017 9:05 am : link
In comment 13533058 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
was across the street from Allagash when I went 2 summers ago but since moved to a much better spot. Their Substance Ale is in my top 10 list for sure, possibly top 5.

Allagash is fine if you want to check out how a brewery works and get some free samples, but there beer can't compete with the micro-breweries around them. Its worth going to since there are like 3 or 4 right there and you can hit them all in a couple of hours.


I liked Austin Street and Foundation better than any of the Bissell beers, but I don't really like anything citrusy and they all taste cirtusy - the area Uconn is talking about is a small industrial park across from Aligash. there are three or four craft breweries there and people take bus tours with stops there.

Bissell is no longer there as Uconn said, but if you like craft beer it's worth it, they also usually have some food trucks out there.

Also, there are fireworks in Maine now. Like Pennsylvania fireworks - legit exploding fireworks, I know some people on here are soap boxy about fireworks especially with the JPP injury, but I love them, I could spend hours in the stores (and there is one - Phantom Fireworks - right in Scarborough, ME not far from Portland).

they have fire crackers, jumping jacks, roman candles, bottle rockets, all the stuff you grew up dreaming about as a kid.
I was just in Portland last week.  
smshmth8690 : 7/20/2017 9:34 am : link
Every place I was going to recommend has been mentioned already, so here goes a big +1 for Central Provisions - place blew me away. The bar at CP is so detailed that they make many of their own mixers - the best Bloody Mary I've ever had, they infused it with Kimchi, just great. The food was excellent as well.

Fore Street was great as usual, make a reservation, although they do save about 1/3 of the seats for walk ins, but you have to put your name on the list at 5:00.
Standard Baking is just below Fore Street, great place in the morning for coffee, and great baked stuff.

Allagash Brewing, excellent informative brewery tour, you get 4 3oz. samples on the tour.

I've always heard Eventide is a great place, but after 3 attempts to get in last week, I've given up. They don't take reservations, but even when they had visible seats available, at off hours, they told us there was an hour wait.

Duckfat is great, also small, and busy.

Have to do sunrise atop Cadilac Mtn  
Jeever : 7/20/2017 9:58 am : link
First rays of sun on the continental 48. Don't forget to pass the doobie!
If you are going to Portland  
twostepgiants : 7/20/2017 9:59 am : link
Please tell me you are Carmelo Anthony
pjcas  
UConn4523 : 7/20/2017 10:05 am : link
I liked Foundation and Austin Street too. When did you last go? Curious if they have more beers than when I went 2 years ago.
Sea kayak tours...  
GA5 : 7/20/2017 10:06 am : link
in Bar Harbor. Seals, eagles, awesome views. Also, rent mountain bikes and do the trails through Acadia National Park. About 11 mile trip. Stop at Jordan Pond House, about half way around the loop, for lunch. Good luck with the Friday traffic, by the way.
Street & Company in Portland!  
GiantBlue : 7/20/2017 10:18 am : link
My wife and I vacationed at the Southern Maine Coast the week of July 4th and ventured into Portland one evening. It is a beautiful city and very, very cool. We walked along the waterfront and then followed a friends recommendation to eat at Street & Company. It was a Thursday Night, so we were lucky to get a two top without a recommendation around 7:45 PM and it was one of the best seafood dinners I ever had.
They had numerous specials of which I ordered one, cool small plates, great local craft beers and the most amazing bread!

Enjoy!
Street & Company - ( New Window )
Sorry  
GiantBlue : 7/20/2017 10:19 am : link
recommendation should be reservation
RE: pjcas  
pjcas18 : 7/20/2017 10:32 am : link
In comment 13533135 UConn4523 said:
Quote:
I liked Foundation and Austin Street too. When did you last go? Curious if they have more beers than when I went 2 years ago.


probably around the same time, if Bissell was still in the Industrial park. My friends I was with are opening a brewery in Northbridge, MA and were on a "research" tour.

they'd go to all those in Portland, some VT ones, Treehouse, Trilium, etc.

I honestly think their White IPA is the best of all of them. Opening soon.

Purgatory Beer Co - ( New Window )
Acadia is a beautiful NP  
RinR : 7/20/2017 11:23 am : link
as mentioned go up to Cadillac Mtn. Also, stop by Thunder Cove. Just some outstanding scenery and views in this park.
RE: Tons...  
GiantTuff1 : 7/20/2017 12:49 pm : link
In comment 13533061 GiantTuff1 said:
Quote:

Streak & Co is excellent, more on seafood side


Correction, Street & Co... darn auto correct monster got me.

When we airbnb'ed in Portland last year, we stayed in a spot owned by an Irish restauranteur named Johnny, just so happened he helped open some of the most famous restaurants in town, including Street & Co, Hugo's, and others. We weren't disappointed!
Portland has a good art museum  
TJ : 7/20/2017 1:25 pm : link
And as I remember it, walking distance from the waterfront. When I was last there, the portland waterfront was still home to a fishing fleet and there were a number of good seafood places right next to where the boats come in.
Portland Museum of Art - ( New Window )
If you like Fish and Chips,  
Simms11 : 7/20/2017 1:35 pm : link
there's a million places, but we have a fav in Rye Beach, NH; place called Petey's. Probably some of the best Fish and Chips I've had, outside of Scotland. It's not far off the beaten path as you go through Portsmouth, NH to get across the Bridge into Maine anyway and it's fairly close, plus the view of the coast there is absolutely amazing.
Link - ( New Window )
Bit of a dive  
NNJ Tom : 7/20/2017 1:46 pm : link
but I always liked Gilbert's Chowder House, right on the harbor.
Back to the Corner