We have been visiting King Eider's Pub for years now when we summer in Maine. This is quite possibly our favorite restaurant; the food is amazing, the staff is very friendly and they have a great drink menu. We have tried almost everything on the menu and it has never been anything but excellent. The chorizo mussels are a staple for us. I must caution anyone who is considering the oysters. Avoid them at all cost. Once you experience one of their Damariscotta River Oysters, whether raw, Rockefeller'd or roasted it will forever ruin all other oysters. Seriously, these are without question the finest oysters on the planet. Yes, they are pricey but trust me they're worth every penny. The team at the Pub is top notch and we don't want to pick any favorites... but Easter is our fav:) We love that they are all locals, engaging and simply wonderful! Roger and John read more

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Having lived in big cities LA, Atlanta and Dallas and hitting all the pubs of note in each, King Eider's stands WAY out! In fact I would say it's heads and tails above. The staff is super friendly and accommodating (make sure and call ahead for a reservation) as this joint is popular. The food is a cut above normal pub food. We've been twice on this trip and had entrees the first visit and then apps / tappas style the second. Highlights for me are the pretzels with Brie and blue cheese, the honey Brie app. The beef pot pie is crazy good as is the seafood pot pie. Oysters are very clean and fresh as well. The only miss for me was untraditional fish and chips. Great selection of scotch and whisky, plus Guinness poured in the traditional manner. Do yourself a favor and give it try. Note: Pricing is prob above average but so is the food! read more

Liam was a very attentive and personable server who deserves man kudos and five stars. I had called for a reservation and expressly asked not to be seated in the oyster bar. Upon arrival, this is exactly where the manager sat us. One for him. But, glad we had Liam. Although they didn't have our favorite chorizo mussels the regular ones were fine. Exceptional was the seafood pot pie. A must try. read more

I have been summering in Damariscotta for 29 years and this was somehow my first time visiting King Eider's pub. I think I get a little ocean obsessed and have a hard time ripping myself away from dining next to, around or IN the ocean... However! We had an incredible meal here! We had the chorizo mussels, the bbq salmon and the haddock piccata. Everything was delicious, but really the mussels were the star. Be warned though, it is a massive serving. We ordered it as a appetizer (as it is advertised as) but really it was a full meal. It was so nice to have something that was a little different than steamed mussels in butter. The flavors were developed and unique. The "chorizo" is really just sausage though... coming from San Jose, CA, we got kind of a kick out of it. The haddock piccata was also delightful! The flavors were more mild after the mussels, but it was seasoned perfectly and had that belly warming comfort food feel. The salmon was also very good- although we brought the whole thing home, as we couldn't fit another bite in after the haddock and the mussels - (it made a great breakfast sandwich the next day:)) read more

King Eider's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Damariscotta, Maine

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Steak and ale pie is fabulous....IF you add a side of veggies...that makes it TOPS!!! Without the veggies the pie is a bit overwhelming.....ps the veggies were nicely cooked - not over or underdone and not too much seasoning....nice job read more

My family has been coming to the pub for years and it is always a great time! They have more seafood options than a "typical" pub fare menu but still have all of the crowd favorites (wings, soft pretzel, etc.) I love the mussels and the sangria! They have great patio seating outside but inside is a cozy ambiance so you can't go wrong either way. The Oyster Bar upstairs is a small bar which is a blast! Staff is always friendly and well equipped to answer any questions you have. read more

I have been a disciple of this restaurant since we first came here 5 years ago from NJ! The Seafood Potpie is the absolute best meal I have ever had. If it came down to it, it would be my last meal... I recommend making a reservation and eating in the pub as it has a great vibe and atmosphere. read more

In the last year, I have eaten here 5 or 6 times. The mussels are consistently good. In this review, I want to complain about the seafood pot pie. I had ordered this twice before, each time, enjoying the dish. Tonight, the pie that I was served was horrible. The butter had separated from the cream. When the waitress asked us about the food. When I showed her the dish, she acknowledged the issue, and said she would convey my concern to the cook. I ended up paying full price for a dish I left uneaten. So, I would give the place 2 stars, it definitely could have been better in terms of food and service. read more

Holy cow the seafood pot pie is to die for!!!! Their oysters are huge. The crab cakes were good, but that pot pie!!!! Service was awesome and quick. Good beer selection. Definitely a must visit!! read more

King Eider's Pub is a long standing business in Damariscotta. It offers reasonably good food, but is fairly expensive. Every time I've been, we've had good service and good to excellent food. On this trip, we had burgers, pasta and a haddock sandwich around the table. The burgers and pasta were good: not excellent, but very good. The pasta was good as well. The haddock, however, was sub-par and the fries were lacking in any seasoning. Based on my previous experiences, I'm not willing to ding the Pub too hard for one bad sandwich and fries. The food is traditionally good. However, the excessive prices are a standard feature of King Eider's and keeps it from being a five star for me. read more

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In town to visit a relative. Great spot on a cold winters day for a bite to eat before headed home. The beer selection was good, the menu had a nice selection of good pub food. Staff was friendly and helpful. read more

King Eider's Pub - Pubs Near Me - Damariscotta, Maine

Yum! Great food and lots of choices for kids and adults. Damariscotta is a great location and darling.

Good food, fun atmosphere. Service was adequate. Waitress was a bit overworked but the host had great energy.

Ate there last year when Covid was in full swing. Got stuck in a corner and pretty much ignored by the waitress. The food was average and pricey. Live locally, Would not recommend. Many better restaurants in Damariscotta. read more

I've been coming to King Eider's for 25yrs and they never disappoint. The honey artichoke dip is to die for as an appetizer. The mussel appetizer is large and should be shared. My absolute favorite dinner is the seafood pot pie. Loaded with lobster, scallops, haddock, and topped with a puff pastry. read more

King Eider's Pub - Seafood pot pie - Pubs Near Me - Damariscotta, Maine

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First timer to KEP. Friendly staff, great food ( and choices) and a superb cupcake dessert. I thought I'd grown too old for cupcakes, but the chocolate c-cake, filled with a warm chocolate Jamisons gnosh, topped with a Bailey's buttercream icing. It's hard not to put this on the top of my all-time fav decadent desserts read more

Recommended by someone who's been there before, albeit not recently. The staff were nice. The food, not so much. When I ordered a baked Brie, I was surprised to receive some sort of pseudo-cheese in a dish that tasted nothing like cheese. It was soupy. I then noticed a container in the kitchen that said alouette creme de Brie. Definitely not what you use for baked Brie. My husbands clam chowder was oily and horrible. He couldn't finish it. His mussels were horrible as well. Apparently they used to be good but I couldn't recommend this place at all. read more

We had the worst ever service / food. The waitress brought our dinner out before the appetizer..... then I had a long hair in my food. Way to loose your appetite. Needless to say it was a first time we Did Not tip our waitress. She was impersonal and rude!!!!Damn I love that ribeye read more

We came twice in a week - I would have originally thought 4 stars because it's nor earth-shattering, but after eaten several places in between - it is as good as any (other than Chez Michel, Primo and Hartstone, but those are different "types" of meals) and it's consistent! I would highly recommend! The untraditional fish and chips is wonderful (it's broiled!) - they have the best homemade tartar sauce around. The rocket and fruit salad with an order of crab cakes makes the best summer lunch! read more

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Excellent food, friendly staff and cozy atmosphere. One of our favorite places to eat!

The seafood is banging, i love the muscles and you definetly get what you paid for!!! Its a nice spot

Possibility the worse lobster roll I've ever had and I'm from Massachusetts. It was soaked with Mayo and the meet was so cut up you could not even tell what part of the lobster it was. Third time going here. Keep hoping it gets better. Thinking it must be good if they are charging 20 dollars for a burger. Nope it's not. read more

Our server was nice, chowder was good, haddock sandwich smelled fishy (not fresh) and was very bland, lacking any flavor or seasoning, ribs were mediocre at best. Overall disappointing and felt the food wasn't worth the pricing. read more

Very good. Impressive service and cozy vibe - but food is slightly overpriced, even for the coast. read more

King Eider's Pub - Warm pretzels - Pubs Near Me - Damariscotta, Maine

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Came in for dinner on Saturday night with a friend visiting. We waited minimally for a nice table upstairs. (It's a neat building.) I had heard of this place having good burgers, so that was my choice. My wife ordered the signature salad and my friend the steak and ale pie. I just realized that I forgot to order cheese on my burger. Regardless, it was very tasty. The meat didn't look that promising at first glance, but it was cooked a nice med/med-rare. Very good flavor. Cole slaw on the side was ok...nothing to write home about. The signature salad was good. Make sure to ask for the larger, dinner size if that is what you want. Otherwise, it's fairly small. The cheese was delicious! The steak and ale pie was also very good. Meat was very tender. Very good place to eat, especially as there aren't a ton of places in the area. Seems a tad pricey for what it is, but I would entertain the possibility of getting their burger a second time. read more

Really cool place in a very nice town. Amazing Guinness - excellent pours! Food was really good and plenty of options, even for Vegans! The pub reminded us a lot of pubs we saw in Ireland - truly an Irish or British Pub. Overall people are nice, food amazing, drinks really good and authentic! read more

This place is overpriced for its quality and atmosphere. Marvelous and generous order of mussels, good but skimpy salad, overdone dry hamburger, excellent fries, indifferent service, and a noisy atmosphere. read more

Stopped in for lunch, I had the 1/2 pound burger with bacon and cheddar, my mom had the special fried chicken pesto wrap, and we shared a coconut rum creme brulee. My burger was huge, nicely juicy, and cooked beautifully to the temp I ordered. There was an upcharge for bacon but they loaded it up, so no issue there. Per my mother, "The fried chicken pesto wrap was delicious, with plenty of chicken. The additional charge for fruit on the side was well worth it, as the fruit was plentiful and fresh." The creme brulee was an adequate size and a nicely balanced flavor profile. Service was friendly and attentive. My only minor complaint is that things were a little pricey, but that's to be expected in touristy coastal towns. Overall we very much enjoyed our experience and would reccomend. read more

I love their food great environment and nice workers! It's a great place to eat new foods you haven't had! The atmosphere is also great.

Oysters! This is a small pub with traditional decor. The beer selection was plentiful. The oysters were so fresh, salty and amazing! The servers were friendly and helpful. The pretzel was tasty, as were the scallops and other offering. Go for the oysters, but enjoy all the other food too. Great stopover from Bar Harbor to Portland. read more

Great food and atmosphere!!! I would recommend going and giving the steak and ale pie a try!!! Very good

Great food, and the staff was awesome. If you're seated upstairs it's kind of cramped, but it's still an awesome spot when you're in Damariscotta. read more

Love this place! Such a cozy pub in a cozy town. Stopped in yesterday for lunch with a coworker - service was excellent, food was excellent, vibe is excellent. I had a dozen local oysters - so cold, fresh, big and tasty! I also had a lobster roll which was good size and full of meat. My friend got the buffalo chicken wrap with fries and said they were good. read more

I've eaten here before and the food was fine. Service is as fine. I get that it's Covid times now. It's fine if you can't seat a party of two at 4:45 without a reservation. I get that you might not have the staff despite several empty tables. However, the was absolutely rude. I highly doubt I'll eat here again. read more

Never disappointed!! Great weekday lunch: took advantage of the pulled pork tacos. Only ate 1 of the 3 large tacos, so filling and so dElicious! Gladly took the rest home. One of our favorite places to go read more

King Eider's Pub - Pulled pork tacos - Pubs Near Me - Damariscotta, Maine

If you're traveling anywhere near Damariscotta then you must stop at King Elders for a bite. The atmosphere and staff are amazing, especially Hannah. Incredible food with lots of options. Sit outside and have a great view of Elm Street and check out the shops when you're done. read more

We vacation in the area every year, and we've gone to King Eider's at least once during each vacation. Every year, it's become more and more disappointing. At some point, pre-COVID, they reduced their menu significantly. There really aren't many choices, but usually they have a nice selection of specials. When we went this past week, there were only 2 specials which both involved things like Bacon, which I won't touch. So I was left with the menu items. Food is ok. Service has become minimal. We were really disappointed, since a few years back this was our favorite place to go. It's now become our least favorite, unfortunately. read more

It was great! Did curbside pickup and they came out right to our car. Loved the pastrami Ruben. Definitely recommended! read more

The atmosphere is great. Nice and "Pub-ish". If you are going to the Pub to drink, I would recommend. I can say that the food quality has gone downhill over the last couple months. Several of the original food menu items are now extinct which were the main reason that we made the hour long trip to King Eiders several times a year. Do not order the sautéed haddock. It was presented more like a steamed piece of fish that lacked any flavor. I'm sad to write this review because I have always highly recommended the Pub. read more

They got rid of my favorite (longstanding) mussels with chorizo. Shame! Nuff said - have to add a few characters to make post eligible.