The best way to finish a great meal is with a fantastic dessert. In the Boothbay region, dozens of great restaurants have menus filled with delicious choices of desserts. Here are some samples of what is available just around the corner.
At Boathouse Bistro Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 12 The By-Way in Boothbay Harbor, chef and owner Ralph Smith’s dessert creations include blueberry cheese cake and white and dark chocolate mousse.
At Whale’s Tale and Seafarer’s Pub, 125 Atlantic Ave. in... Read more
Dining Guide
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Welcome!
by Susan Johns
It’s all about the food this year!
Past editions of Dining Guide have looked at the skilled people who make and serve the Midcoast’s scrumptious food, those who own and/or run the eateries, we patrons who get to enjoy the fruits (and everything else) of their labors, the Boothbay Region’s dining past, plus trends and more. And along the way, we always incorporate delectable dishes. But this time, we cut right to the chase – highlighting the lobster, haddock and other seafood and all the ways it is served around here, from the time-honored traditions to new dishes.
Besides the seafood are the steak, schnitzel, chicken and more, in ways you might or might not have had these classic pleasers.
And save room for dessert. Our sampling proves “just desserts” are not two words that should go together!
Enjoy our start to finish journey through deliciousness, then head to the eateries – because you can’t eat the pictures, tempting as it is.
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Haddock craving?
Mild, delicate and somewhat sweet, our waters offer up haddock, a delicious fish that's a local favorite. Flavor isn't the only benefit: It’s nutritious with minerals, B vitamins, potassium, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids, notes webmd.com
Haddock is versatile, too. Whether you haven't tried haddock yet or you're looking to satisfy your haddock craving, here's what some of our restaurants are offering.
In addition to its haddock sandwich and fish and chips, Brady's at 25 Union St. is... Read more
What else you got?
Whether it is an allergic reaction to seafood or you are just not up for consuming the bounty of Maine’s ocean catches, area restaurants do offer a wide variety of menu items that should match your palate.
Try a different meat, such as pork or chicken. Dive into a cool, crisp salad. Or have a plate of pasta – topped with your favorite sauce, of course.
Some area restaurants offer Mexican or oriental meals, such as nachos or sushi.
Whatever you desire for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you... Read more
Shell-ebrate
Lobster is still a star of Midcoast Maine dining, but its fellow shell-wearers also delight the palate and, like the lobster, are served in a bounty of ways.
We sought a sampling of what area restaurants have waiting for you. Give these and other shellfish offerings a “crack” at “mussel-ing” into your rotation of favorites!
Steak-out!
Steak sells itself, but that does not stop Midcoast restaurants from getting creative on how to serve it and what with.
Enjoy this look at some of what you’ll find when you have steak in mind.
Lobster everything!
If Maine could have a mascot, there’s likely no better option than the lobster. This culinary icon of coastal communities from Kittery to Canada represents a cultural richness only rivaled by its unique flavor. In the Boothbay region, like many others, lobstering is not only a local way of life, it supports a wildly popular restaurant industry.
Boiled lobster with butter or in lobster rolls is a staple of many menus offering Maine’s favorite crustacean. However, thanks to innovative chefs... Read more
Dockside dining!
With the Boothbay region's peninsula and islands, enjoying a great meal by the water's edge is easy to do. And many restaurants also offer "dock and dine" options for guests arriving by boat.
Not all restaurants have their own dock, but two public docks are available just a short walk from most downtown restaurants. Both are available between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Whale Park Pier has free public docking for three hours and a series of floats to the west of the footbridge also offers free three-... Read more
Family a-fare
It has been about a year since the van der Veen family of Philadelphia took over Carousel Marina and Whale’s Tale Pub after the retirement of former owner Jack Cogswell. Jax van der Veen, now 24, became manager of the marina, and her younger sister, Emma Rose, 20, focused on Whale’s Tale Pub.
Jax emphasized her family’s commitment to maintaining the restaurant’s beloved seaside atmosphere and menu items while adding their own Philadelphia twist, such as offering Philly cheesesteak, pretzel... Read more
Artistry in sweet treats, with Tugba Ciftci
Tugba Ciftci is an artist whose creativity and imagination shine through in the menu items she creates for Boothbay’s Harborside 1901 Bar and Grill, Downeast Ice Cream Factory and in her own kitchen under Harborside at Harbor Treats, which opened for its first season this year.
Ciftci is originally from Turkey and got her first experience working in the kitchens of family-owned restaurants where she developed her skills as a pastry chef.
A desire for more variety in the food industry brought... Read more
Liz Evans’s chef career has been far reaching
Liz Evans has gone from chef on a private yacht to offering many delicious items including sandwiches, pizza, coffee, fresh baked goods and a daily dinner entree to patrons of East Boothbay General Store, where she is owner-chef.
Many customers greet her by name and she, in turn, has brief conversations with each about local happenings. Though Evans is not from Boothbay originally, it is where she now considers home. Many of her close family members are here now, too, including her parents and... Read more
For Lorie Demers, food and happiness go together
Imagine serving 200 made-to-order meals each morning in a kitchen only a little bigger than an average closet, receiving awards from fellow restaurateurs, and smiles from delighted customers, and you have a pretty good idea of Lorie Demers’ superpower.
Demers, the “Mama D” behind the cafe of the same name on Union Street, is a wiz at combining interesting, fun surroundings with delicious food so that a table at her place is prized by visitors and residents alike. If you are heading there for... Read more
Boothbay’s breweries
Boothbay’s breweries reflect the peninsula’s intense support of local businesses. Made with Adams Pond water, local grains and talented brewers, the beers are deeply imbued with a sense of place.
Names like Southporter, Route 27, 633 Boothbay Pale, Ovens Mouth and Shrimp Run remind patrons the craft beers are not just brewed locally, but also flavored locally, delivering a taste of community sip after sip. “If picturesque harbor and quaint shops had a flavor, it would be Fisherman’s Thumb (a... Read more
From pickle barrels to ‘the Spillings gentleman’
Among the treasures of the Boothbay peninsula are its three general stores, offering sustenance, warmth and a gathering place for the communities they have served for more than a century.
These stores on Southport and in Trevett and East Boothbay have seen better and worse times and two have been rebuilt after fires took them. Their existence is a testament to the part they still play in their communities and the lure of old and new that pulls customers through their doors.
Built in 1882, E.... Read more
2022 Claw Down winners announced!
Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its ninth annual Claw Down, held at The Shipyard in Boothbay Harbor on June 16.
Nine chefs competed in the event which showcases Maine’s popular crustacean. Chamber Executive Director Lisa Walby said 250 tickets were sold for the Chamber fundraiser. In addition, the Claw Down offered sales of the specialty drink Shipyard Sippah to benefit the New England Boat Preservation Foundation.
Walby said, “We are pleased to bring back... Read more