Acadia National Park Restaurants

Those of you staying in cabins, condos with kitchens or tents will find this the place to stock up on healthy staples of every kind. The Alternative A's offerings include a large range of organic, natural, gourmet, and bulk foodstuffs plus fair trade coffees. It also had the cheapest expresso bar in town (when we were last there). For a picnic in the park or on the trail, stop in for take-away paninis, fresh fruit, energy bars, bottled beverages, salads and baked goods. Clean, friendly place - made a great latte! Hours were daily 10-6 but may have changed.

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The Husband's goal for this trip was to eat lobster - in some form or another - every day: mission accomplished. We chose Thurston's for our lobster pound experience because of the great views of Bass Harbor from the huge windows. Like any of the pounds, it's a no-nonsense, no-frills, paper- plate kind of place and we loved it.

Both of us ordered a full meal that included melted butter, corn on the cob, roll, slaw and blueberry cake, and they also had beer and wine (some pounds are BYO). It was our first encounter with a "shedder": lobster that has recently shed its old shell and is growing into a new one. The shells are softer than what you're probably used to so they're easier to get into. Both shedders and the usual, hard-shelled varieties were available but we wanted to try these as we'd never had them. Shedders do have less meat inside than hard-shelled but prices are per pound so it's a wash.

If there was a downside, the slaw was pretty tasteless and the cake sort of dried-out and stale. Shedders also retain a lot of water in the space between the body and the shell so were really messy BUT the sweet, tender meat and spectacular views of the harbor more than made up for any shortcomings. Open Memorial Day to Columbus Day from 11:00 AM - 8:30 PM.

Favorite Dish: Lobster - the best reason to come. They also have clams and mussels by the pound, chowders and sandwiches. Lobster is sold per current market price so I'm not noting PP tabs here.

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Recommended: Our favorite bartender sent us here and we were glad he did! McKay's is a favorite with the locals 'cause it's one of the few restaurants that stays open almost all year. It's in an old Victorian house with original fireplaces, copper tables and a warm, cozy atmosphere.

The menu ranges from pub grub (burgers, fish and chips, soups, salads, etc.) to higher-priced entrees (salmon, braised short ribs, steaks, etc.) and there are special menu offerings daily. I had some kind of beef special and while I can't remember exactly what it was, I remember that it was very tender and had a great sauce. Jerry had lobster meat in lemon butter with squash: so good we tried to have it again but they'd changed specials later in the week.

McKay's specializes in local organic produce and meats, and locally caught seafood. Nice ales on tap and a full bar. Dress: casual to dressy. Nice garden out front for outdoor noshing.

Favorite Dish: As we both had daily specials and as those change, I can't recommend anything in particular - it all looked good. I'm not noting PP prices as those can swing widely depending on pub grub or higher-end dinner entrees: see the website.

Recommended: This place has great food and a large range of full dinners at special Early Bird (4:30 - 6:00 PM) prices. All of these $10.95 entrees are served either over, or with, pasta, a vegetable and bread basket. A baked potato can be subsituted for the pasta for $1.00 more. Entrees include Apricot Chicken, Shrimp Marinara, Eggplant Parmigiana, "bottomless" pasta bowls, and many more. I had baked haddock with shrimp and crab stuffing: terrific.

Aside from the Early Bird menu, they also have a lobster or stone crab feast (cup of bisque; pasta or potato; broiled, sauted or stuffed lobster or chilled crab claws; brownie a la mode), steaks, salads and other chicken, pasta and vegetarian meals and desserts. Full bar. Cozy, homey, casual-but-nice atmosphere. Great place - will definately go back.

Favorite Dish: Baked Stuffed Haddock - yummy!

Jordan Pond House is virtually the only restaurant associated with the park, and a tradition that goes back to the 1870's. Although the original farmhouse-turned-eatery burned down in 1979, the tradition continues as a restful spot to enjoy afternoon tea, ice cream or a meal while taking in the stunning view from the end of the pond. The popovers are legendary,and seem to be on everyone's "must do" list when visiting the park. The best way to eat them is with strawberry jam at a table on the lawn. That's the good news.

The no-so-good news was that every time we were there, they'd just unloaded a bunch of tour buses and fighting the crowds was just not something we were in the mood for so we skipped the food. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner (11:30AM - 9:00PM, mid-May through mid-October) and there's also a nice Acadia gift shop, an ice cream counter, and they carry beverages and hiker's snacks on the second floor. Tea is served in the afternoons (with hot popovers) from 11:30 - 5:30. There are also restroom facilities here - although the tour-bus hordes can make getting into them a bit of a wait.

If nothing else, grab a place on the lawn for a packed-in snack or beverage as it's a really pretty spot. You can also access the 3-mile Jordan Pond Shore Trail here, and there's a handicap-accessible path down to the pond.

Favorite Dish: Again, they tell me that the popovers are to die for. Next time......

We stopped into Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium one night for a little something sweet? That little something turned into a serious chocolate binge one night, and a gelato pig-out on another. Oh my. A mind-boggling array of homemade chocolates and candy - from huge truffles to taffy to toffee to fudge - filled cases from here to there. And if that wasn't enough, their freezer pack 76 different kinds of homemade ice cream, sorbet, frozen yogurt and gelato. Do NOT go near this place if you're on a diet: you'll blow it in 30 seconds. This is a great place for an after-hike splurge or quick dessert after that seafood dinner - IF you have any room left!

Yes, they have lobster ice cream. No, I don't recommend it.

As we were leaving the main part of Acadia National Park we passed through Sea Harbor at lunch time. The Lighthouse Inn caught our eye and we stopped to try it out. It is a nice restaurant located in a very quiet place.

Favorite Dish: I had a Ceaser salad with lobster and my husband had mussels. I was pleased with my lunch ... my husband order a lunch that was too light for him. There was no bread served with the lunch.

We push ourselves to the limit hiking or cross-country skiing (this place is open year round!) and then indulge in the best onion rings on Earth. Head in mid-afternoon to avoid an interminable wait, snag a window table and enjoy like as it should be!

Favorite Dish: Bar grub as it's finest - burgers, fries, cold beer, laid back service.