We were very excited to go to this restaurant. The venue is very nice but that's the highlight of our visit. The experience was disappointing both with the food and most notably the service . Our lunch service at a inexpensive restaurant in town was more informative and gracious. While we waited for our table we ordered cocktails at the bar and the bartender was great so while it was a good start but that's where it ended. Our server came to table said a few thing about the multi course menu, left and then returned to ask is we were ready to order . She didn't ask if we had questions on the menu , if we wanted to order a bottle of wine, nothing and she was training someone else? As we received food there was no check in on if we liked it or needed anything just are you done . The selections of wine by the bottle also are lacking especially with American wines and the prices are very high. The Pinot selection has no California choices just Oregon and just a few which were overpriced. We ended up ordering by the glass. The seafood tower was ok but not in the top ones we've The shrimp were overdone and a little chewy. The pork was good but not outstanding. So the less than stellar service combined with the food quality was less than ideal. We are generally very generous tipper and left the smallest percentage tip we have left especially recently withCovid challenges in restaurants. However if we had been honest we would have left much less read more

Eh. I've been coming at least once or twice a year for the lobster tasting menu. Spring 2021? Give it a pass. It was all over cooked and not great. Sorry. read more

Pathetic and sad attempt by a new chef. If you like duck that tastes like pork and a super tiny entree that would leave a tiny child hungry (oh but it's plated so beautifully) and a cabbage chunk that was unyielding to the knife, you found Joseph Nardo .But at least it was cold and the wine didn't come till half way through ! We went out after and had a great dinner ELSEWHERE, Breakfast was simply the WORST of my life , I had two lonely eggs on a plate 4 minutes later comes the cold "homemade toast "Oh WOW. ( isn't all toast made at home ?)The "sausage" was a tiny sphere of chewy matter but at least the 7 tiny cubes of potato were cold and bland as driveway stones , We went and got a proper breakfast ELSEWHERE ! Natalie's will be back after Nardo leaves ( he hasn't held a job for a full year ) read more

As others have said, dining at Natalie's is an investment. We have dined at similarly priced establishments and been blown away. I walked out thinking Natalie's is a big fish in a small pond. Sure, the setting is spectacular, and the Maitre'd and Sommelier are pros. But being foodies, all that is secondary to the food. Gearing up for 2021 is going to be a challenge for any top tier restaurant, so I am happy to give them a pass on the help. They seemed almost awkward, and there were too many of them for the number of bookings, and seemed to be almost tripping over each other all night. I get it, this is the premier eating establishment in Camden, and we are not in the prime season yet. Management is using this time to train them for when every table is filled, not just outside. But I did expect more out of the food. The crab salad was a huge letdown, not sure where the chef was going with this one. Not nearly as flavorful as I expected. I think the intent was keep it simple and let the flavor of the crab come through, but it wasn't there. My wife' cod with artichoke risotto was everything we expected, but my lamb was another letdown. After enjoying the spoils of the area to excess, I felt the need for some red meat. While I understand that chefs are trying to stand out from the crowd by doing new things to our food, I am not sure why someone thought that a layer of foam that looked like soap suds needed to be on top of the potato gnocchi, mushrooms and chervil. The lamb was cooked well, medium rare, but just didn't have that big lamb flavor. It's typical to want dessert to finish off a meal at a French inspired restaurant. On the night we dined, three offerings (plus the cheese plate) were on the menu, but none of them sounded like a good way to finish off the meal. That rarely happens for us. So my wife was quite happy with her oysters and cod. I guess I didn't order well! read more

This elegant place of dining reminds me of the fine restaurants in Prague, Dresden & Berlin. Many reviewers comment on "they will return" amazing for a "special event", which is all good, but I go there every weekend from June thru October, because there just is not any other place that leaves me with the feeling I have driving home from Natalie's in Camden. Primo's down in Rockland is great, but noisy and tables too close. Yes...... it costs a pretty penny. And yes, it is worth every penny. Just budget for it. You can do it, LOL. If.... you can spend a moment at the bar before being seated, you will enjoy the repartee with Michael --- an Old Soul. read more

Sadly, Natalie's did not meet my expectations. I chose the lobster course meal. Up until the main entree everything was mediocre with the exception of the bisque. The lobster bisque was more like a soup, not heavy which I found oddly satisfying since I absolutely love traditional bisque. The main course was the most disappointing of all. The lobster was over cooked, extremely tough and dried out. I took one bite and couldn't eat anymore. Our waiter was attentive but, not one time did he asked how anything taste. Based on my overall experience, I would not come back to this establishment. Especially, considering the cost of what you'll get..it's just not worth it. read more

This is by far a 5-star establishment and earns it place on the list of America's top 100 restaurants. Service is top notch and above and beyond - all staff has knowledge of dishes and menu and is polite and helpful, truly a pleasure. The cocktails are and have been outstanding over the course of our visits for 2 years and the wine menu is impressive with even lower price wines thoughtfully chosen by their sommelier - you can't go wrong with the wine or the oysters. We had the lobster tasing menu and NY Strip, all were enjoyable and perfectly cooked. The cheese plate was thoughtfully prepared. We ended up sourcing some of their selections in wine and cheese from local markets the next day just to re-live the experience. The only miss was the chocolate cake with raspberry sorbet, which was a light and bready cake - nothing special. For $500 for 2, we're happy to return here again and again, 5 stars earned all the way. read more

Terrible. Awful service. Tiny portions. Not worth it. Avoid going. Many other great restaurants on Camden. You could even go to the hartstone every night! Will never go back. read more

"Perfection" comes close to describing this meal. We all can imagine a perfect meal; but you cannot imagine food that is better than anything you have imagined, can you? Natalie's fell into this zone of beyond belief... This is probably the best meal I have ever eaten. How good was it? They brought out an appetizer described as "grits and shrimp". There were two small pieces of shrimp covered in grits with some sort of sauce. The waiter poured a smoked tomato bisque over this, creating a combination of flavor a that I will remember for as long as I'm alive... And that's just an appetizer that wasn't mentioned in the menu. Their web site mentions that "The unmatched beauty of this colorful region is reflected in modern techniques and unexpected plating styles, resulting in a stunning presentation." I agree completely... We had one plate with compressed Mellon for example. One dish with a soy sauce where the waiters mixed in an egg yolk after presenting the dish. Surprising and fabulous combinations of flavors and presentations. At one point the table is covered with a plastic cloth and a dish is simply dumped on the surface. This resembled a seafood boil but lifted to a new level. For example, when I asked what added flavor to the fingerling potatoes, I was told they were cooked in duck fat. They were delicious. We picked the five course lobster dinner. Essentially lobster done four ways followed by dessert, with maybe three appetizers tossed in just for good measure. It's close to a three hour adventure... They offer wine pairings with each course for an extra $76 or so per person. We picked a nice un-oaked French Pino Grigio after talking to the Sommelier. He would have done an excellent job with the five wines. Maybe if we come back, we will opt for the grand treatment. The staff was perfectly attentive, knowledgable, friendly and engaging. Our waiter knew the answers to all but one question and he asked the chef for that answer. The Sommelier was quite helpful and didn't appear to be insulted when we selected a sub-hundred dollar bottle. I cannot convey how highly I recommend dining here. If you are looking to be impressed, try it. I also ate breakfast here since its included in the room price. Breakfast was superb. Lobster egg Benedict... Great coffee... Served by one of the owners. read more

"Local & International Cheese with Marcona Almonds & Dried Fruit Compote" THAT DISH HAD A BUG AND OR COCKROACH.... Pics posted below you tell me? Service use to be better couple years ago Last sitting is 8:30pm....the host told us they don't seat after 8:00pm wish they haven't seat us down... Left running but still leave 20 percent tip :) poor server told him about the "bug" he pick up the dish and it crawl on his finger... read more

See all

Natalie's was a disappointment. While the dining room is beautiful and very comfortable, the food does not rise to the level of the ambiance or the prices. We started with what turned out to be the best part, an amuse (shot -glass size) of calmatti olive oil, corn and lobster in a cold bisque-like liquid. Totally delicious. The rest of the meal was, unfortunately, downhill. Of the four entrees at our table, all were judged good (not, in my opinion, good enough for a $40 naked ala carte dish). My halibut on Risotto suffered from a too heavy hand with the lemon, though the serving size was generous and the risotto perfect. My wife had roast lamb with a (tiny) garlic soufflé and a single deconstructed Brussels Sprout. Even though she is a lamb lover, her description was good. There was one steak which, while a large portion, was "OK" and one swordfish with eggplant and mushroom which was good. In addition to the halibut, I had a squid & squid ink appetizer. I find it hard to judge since I've never had the ink before and therefore have no standard of comparison. The very fact that it was on the menu is worth 1/2 star. Our bill for the four of us was $189.00 without tip. read more

Natalie's - Natalie's Dining Room - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

Lovely restaurant in Camden ME while on vacation. Clementine and Hannah were very nice. Enjoyed the meal, lovely ambiance. Eric was a little stiff and not very friendly. He just needs to learn to smile. But overall it was a good experience read more

Everything about Natalie's was excellent - the service, ambiance, wine and cocktails, presentation, and most importantly - the food. We ordered the seasonal tasting menu, and as is typical with a 7-course tasting menu, the portions were small. Thank God! Otherwise there's NO WAY we would've been able to finish. As it was, we were so full by desert I thought I might burst. My experience was quite different from the reviewer below, who wasn't satisfied by the portion size. Did I want more of every dish? Of course! They were delicious! But that's the point, and larger portions would've been excessive. As it was, we ate every bite of food and bit of sauce on our plates, and left totally stuffed. We started with a cocktail at the bar. We were on our minimoon, so I wanted a champagne/bubbly cocktail, but they didn't have any on the menu. I ordered a French 75, and the bartender recommended a local gin that he said went fabulously in the drink. The drink was perfect and the bartender was totally happy to make a drink that wasn't on the menu. My spouse had an equally delicious Rye cocktail. They moved us to our table and brought out two amuse-bouches before even starting on the menu. The first was a cold soup shot (it was delicious, and I can't for the life of me remember what it was) and the second an exquisite bite of lobster and cucumber. Our 1st real course was cold lobster and mussel in a fresh citrus marinade on a prosecco gelee. The presentation was incredible (photo included), and it tasted outstanding. Second course was a ras al-hanoun spiced tomato soup with pork belly. I don't eat pork, but even without the supposed star of the dish, I was blown away by the soup. My spouse raved about the pork belly, as well. Third course, fresh pasta (chitarra) with whelks and cilantro. The chitarra had an amazing chile kick to it, and was well-balanced by the cilantro. The chitarra rivaled fresh pasta we've had in Italy, and was above and beyond plenty of fresh pasta we've had at high-end Italian restaurants in Boston. Fourth course: pheasant and fois gras with shallots and plum. Fois gras tastes amazing, but I actually hate getting large portions; it can be so rich it's hard to finish, and I feel guilty as hell leaving anything behind. (In general, but especially fois gras, where I already feel guilty about enjoying it as much as I do.) This was the perfect portion size, and the pheasant and plum balanced the richness of the fois gras without sacrificing their own flavor, while the shallots brought a really pleasant depth and earthiness to the dish. Fifth course: strip steak with mushrooms and truffle. Make no mistake, this isn't your average truffle-oil or sparing shave of truffle dish, as happens so often in the US. There was a very generous serving of freshly shaved truffle on a perfect piece of steak. Good sear on the outside, medium rare, all in an excellent mushroom sauce. I found that alternating bites of steak and truffle with bites of steak and mushroom sauce meant I got the best of all of the flavors; my only critique about this dish is that the mushroom sauce overwhelmed the truffle if eaten all together. Sixth course: Tomato tart tatin with a french goats milk blue cheese and 18 year aged balsamic. This course exemplified why I love tasting menus. I don't usually like blue cheese, and probably wouldn't have ordered this if I'd had the option. But damn, would I have missed out. This was exceptional, and the creaminess of the goats milk was very well balanced with the blue, all of which married fabulously with the caramelized tomatoes. Seventh course: Dessert. Neither my spouse nor I are really desert people, and at this point, I wasn't sure I could fit anything else in my body. But then dessert arrived. Sweet corn ice cream, a thick fresh blueberry sauce that really tasted like fresh blueberries bursting in my mouth, and saffron shortbread. We both totally cleaned our plates. After such a filling and rich meal, a super heavy, sweet dessert would have been too much. This was the perfect balance of sweet, savory, and tart, and a delightful end to a delicious meal. We opted against the wine pairing, mostly because we probably would've been too food and wine drunk to make it home safely. But the wine list was excellent without being overwhelming, and we were happy with our own pairings. All in all, an exceptional meal with phenomenal service and I can't wait to come back. read more

Natalie's - Lobster and mussel with citrus and a prosecco gelee - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

A dining experience. Really enjoyed my 4 course meal with amuse bouche and palate cleansing granita. Swordfish entree was a little smoky tasting from grill but I am stretching to find some constructive criticism. Sommelier was helpful with wine pairings. Beautiful dining location and good help. read more

Probably more accurately a 3.5 star experience. Dinner was nice if a bit affected. It seemed at times that parts of the meal suffered from the restaurant's studied commitment to haute cuisine. The swordfish was good but not great. The steak however was fantastic and perfectly cooked. Oysters good. Desert was beautiful and yet utterly unsatisfying and a bit....well strange. We probably would not return -for this caliber restaurant I expect consistently fantastic not just a "nice" meal. read more

Natalie's - Pistachio "cake" - Bars Near Me - Camden, Maine

My husband and I traveled to Camden for an anniversary getaway. We usually go to Kennebunkport but decided to try a new place this year. 2 restaurants were recommended for fine dining in the area. Only Natalie's actually hit the mark. The service was exceptional, the food was so innovative and delicious and the atmosphere was beyond romantic- candlelight, bold red, lush seats, and a perfect red rose on each table. We savored every moment, having time to talk and enjoy the occasion but also having attentive service that tended to our every need. We were delighted to immediately be offered a glass of Prosecco and a congratulations on our anniversary as soon as we walked in the door to our table and the night only got better from there. We can't wait to return. read more

Well, I wanted to go here, I really did... I made a reservation for 4 people for July 21st. On July 20th, I received a call at 1:43 pm asking me to confirm my reservation for July 21st at 8:30 pm; I happily confirmed. Approximately 30 minutes later I received a call from my parents that there was a family emergency back home in NJ. So, exactly 33 minutes after I confirmed my reservation, I unfortunately had to cancel it. I called the restaurant and let them know, they thanked me for calling. Fast forward the following evening, while in the hospital I received a call from the restaurant at 8:36 pm asking me when I was going to arrive for dinner. I told the person on the phone that I had cancelled the day before; he thanked me and we ended the call. Exactly 5 minutes later, I received another call from a different person at the restaurant who seemed to take issue with the previous call. He chided me for not showing up, even though I had cancelled the day before - THIRTY THREE MINUTES AFTER CONFIRMING! The worst part of this is that he said he was going to charge me $200 for cancelling. And, yes - they did charge me. I have never experienced anything like this in my life. I hope that karma will settle this matter for me as I will never go to this restaurant and I would hope that others take note of their unscrupulous business practice. read more

Short and to the point--The prix fixe menu was very, very good. We opted for the wine pairings which were interesting, but I would order my own wine if I had a do over. The only angst was a) the cost and b) the fact that Primo is 15 minutes away and we could have eaten there 3 straight nights and for less. The huge upside is the location. I doubt you will have dinner in Maine with a more picturesque setting. All in all a good experience but I would not repeat it. read more

Everything was cooked well and service was fine but compared to other tasting menu places we've been, this was not great. Food was good but not exceptional and you are paying for exceptional. Nice atmosphere if a little stuffy. Food was just a little bland and unremarkable while the bill was higher than most others we've had. Never mind paying a lot when we are thrilled and surprised but this was meh. Overrated. Also took forever. We like slow but 3 hours is too long. read more

We went to Natalie's for our nine-year anniversary dinner. Upon arriving, we noticed the beauty of the decor inside, as well as the warm, inviting look of the veranda. The woman who turned out to be our server, Harper, greeted us and told us to walk to the host stand, which we had not noticed. I told her our name and that we had a reservation, and she asked if we wanted to sit inside or out. The manager cut in and wished us a happy anniversary, which we appreciated. Our server was not very pleasant or particularly informative. We ordered from the a la carte menu. The oysters were wonderful, with a jalapeno puree. My husband had the scallop crudo and I had the lobster bisque for an appetizer. Although tasty, the lobster bisque was not the greatest and (like other items) rather scant. I felt like I was scraping the bottom of the bowl from the time it was served. The amuse bouche was a bluefin tuna crostini, which was fantastic. I noticed the couple near us (who was also there for an anniversary) received a palate cleanser; we did not. More than once, we had to search for our server to order beverages. At a very expensive fine dining establishment, I don't expect to have to hunt down a server, especially when the place is crawling with staff. I asked a bus person for the wine list and another staff member brought it over, saying the sommelier would be over momentarily to assist. In the meantime, our server finally stopped by. I wanted to wait for the sommelier, but felt rushed and said I guessed I would have a glass of sauvignon blanc. Thankfully, he then showed up and guided me to a delightful pairing that went wonderfully with the black cod I ordered. My husband had the duck. We both enjoyed our dinners, but he lamented the smallness of the duck, which was a third the size of duck he typically receives at other fine dining restaurants. The server stopped by to ask if we wanted dessert. I ordered an espresso martini and a white chocolate goat cheese tart; my husband got coconut cake. Both were good. At that point, I was truly disappointed that, not only did our server not even utter a "happy anniversary" to us (again, it said it on our reservation, the manager said it to us in front of her, and she saw us exchanging cards and heard us discussing it), she also didn't acknowledge it in any other way. What does it take to write on a dessert plate or provide some other special touch, especially when people are dropping several hundred dollars on a dinner for two? Apparently a lot. It really left a bad taste in my mouth. As she dropped off our check, she managed to wish us a happy anniversary. Also, it could be unrelated, but my stomach was upset last night, and I continue to feel extremely ill today. I don't know what it could have been... read more

The restaurant is very elegant and the service is impeccable. It recalls the days of formal restaurants with amuse bouche and palate cleansers served. Both were delicious, especially the coconut granita. The a la carte menu is limited with very few choices that were available from their prix fixe online menu. The food, while good and well prepared, did not warrant the outrageous cost. read more

The lovely space and open air seating can not make up for the lack of attention from the kitchen and the wait staff. While dining there last night, only two other tables were occupied. With Francines' dark on a Monday night we thought the place would be paced as there really is no where else to go- not counting the waterfront. We soon found out why the place was empty. After waiting 35 min for our salads to arrive, the entrees came almost as soon as the salad plates were cleared. Arriving cold. The entrees needed to be sent back twice. The only thing we could think was that perhaps the waitstaff was doubling as the kitchen staff. The prices are what I pay at home in san francisco, and the quality and presentation laughable (except that I was paying.) A nice place for a glass of over priced wine, but please avoid dinner unless you are ready to be underwhelmed and over charged. It's a shame because Natalie's markets it self as something it's not. read more

This was probably our most expensive meal ever and it was completely worth every single penny. First, the atmosphere is incredible. It is quintessential New England. The views are breathtaking, the building is beautiful and the service is outstanding. We sat on the wrap around porch while watching sailboats come in. There were heaters and blankets available. The service was beyond compare. Each staff member was friendly, kind and accommodating. The all made us feel welcome and not at all intimidated at such a high end restaurant. The food was incredible. I did the regular tasting menu and my husband did the lobster tasting menu. The seafood was so fresh and clean. Each dish was prepared perfectly and the presentation was beautiful. Our absolute favorite dish was the lobster bisque. I know it sounds simple but its one of my husband's favorite foods and this was the best he's ever had. We felt that by the end of the meal we were very full and the portion sizes were perfect for the amount of plates we were served. The only thing I would have done differently was I would have had the wine pairings instead of ordering cocktails. The sommelier appeared to be very knowledgable and all of the tables around us felt he did a wonderful job pairing the wine and food. read more

One of the best meals I have eaten in 2010. http://www.nataliesrestaurant.com/ The staff is very friendly, professionally dressed and attentive. They worked as a team to deliver a very pleasurable dining experience. The chef, Geoffroy Deconinck, from Belgium is a culinary artist of the highest order. His introductory Chestnut and Celeriac Veloute was exquisite. The next course was a Two-Beet Salad with Valdeon Bleu cheese and a Pistachio purée which was followed by a Risotto that perfectly accompanied slightly seasonably sweet Maine shrimp that practically sprung off the plate bursting with flavors including Chervil, Parsley and a lemony essence the chef tells me was zest. Next was Parmesan Crusted Cod that was perfectly prepared and nicely accented with a Kalamata olive purée. Needless to say I highly recommend Natalie's to anyone in this geographically beautiful area of our country. A friendly diner at the next table indicated that the attached Camden Harbor Inn is also an oasis boutique hotel. Bon Appetit! read more

We had a fantastic meal ordering from the bar menu. I definitely need to go back for the tasting menu. Food and service were both exceptional. The lobster bisque is unique and wonderful. Completely different than any lobster bisque I have had. More like a lobster based ramen stock than a bisque. read more

Came here during my vacation. Everyone in town was talking about this place so I knew this was the right place to go. Service: We were never left needing something. Top notch. Food: The entire set menu is perfectly coursed. Our personal favorite was the lobster dish. Exceptionally well prepared. The cheese plate was fantastic. Ambiance: The views are amazing if you're in the right seats. The decor is quite unique. read more

very dissapointing, great ambiance and service but the food was a b at best. My halibut was dry and tastelessand my wifes cannaloni with riccatta was under cooked and and we had to search for the riccatta. will not return read more

Opted to eat 2011 Christmas dinner here, namely due to limited options. The restaurant is located in a gorgeous B & B, with lovely, intimate and modern decor. it's a pity the service didn't match. I must say I have never, if ever, felt less welcomed in any other restaurant, anywhere in the world! The staff seemed pretentious and agitated....it took them way too long to approach our table, something I do not expect at $80 per head! The food was quite delicious, especially the La bûche de Noël (Yule log)! read more

Had the portions been a bit less skimpy, I might have gone for five stars like so many of the reviewers. The last tasting meal I had was at Chicago's Grace - an unfair comparison as it is more costly than Natalie's, but there the food is art, yet the tasting menu actually leaves you satisfied. We went with Natalie's Seasonal Menu. First up was a string bean (yes, a single 1 and 1/2 " piece per person) from their garden, embellished with seaweed (if I heard correctly). Next was our actual amuse bouche of lobster mushrooms. This was a reasonable portion. About this time bread arrived, four delicious warm rolls with a local butter (Kelly's?). These were augmented by your choice of salts - porcini, truffle, ghost pepper, smoked, etc. At first I thought this was the height of pretension, but the salts worked well - particularly the truffle and the ghost pepper and the bread and butter was quite enjoyable. We had seconds. Next up was a small, embellished oyster. Delicious. Could there have been two? The crab course is where a choice is offered - cold with tuna loin, or warm with a sort of custard. I plump for the cold (superb) and my lady plumps for warm. I don't know if it's good because a taste is out of the question the portions are too small for that. If memory serves, the garganelli are up next. They are topped with a quail egg, seaweed oil and two other ingredients I don't catch. One is cheese-like. You mix them together yourself and they are wonderful. A larger portion of this would make a great first course in a regular meal. A long delay then ensues. Points off. (This is the only service glitch.) Foie gras appears - here the food cost makes the portion understandable. And then our "entree," sliced rib steak on a corn tortilla with vegetables, among them what I believe are pattypan squash. It's out of character with the rest of the meal, but again blown up to a larger portion would certainly make a superb main course. I crave one more bite of meat. Next up, is an oddball "cheese" course. Fried sourdough bread, shaved parmesan, and a sort of deconstructed pesto with a pignoli sorbet and basil puree. Tasty, but too tiny to form a real impression. The first of two dessert courses arrive. It's a little ginger panna cotta with wild blueberry and it's the right size for once. Yum! The panna cotta outshines the main dessert, a lemony semifreddo between two sort of chocolate shortbread biscuits. And then the lollipops to take home. Three hours is a bit too long, We had the sommelier's special Riesling, whose name i have forgotten, at $100 the bottle. It was a good wine, and given that we were having it in a restaurant, did not seem overly marked up, but I don't know what it goes for at retail. I don't think this menu was overpriced at $102 p.p., it may even be something of a bargain. Given that much of the cost goes to labor, both the cooks and the dish-washing staff dealing with all of the plates, it would seem that slightly larger portions would not necessarily raise the prices all that much - a second oyster, a bit more crab, one more slice of beef, a decent morsel of cheese, and I would gladly pay $120. I have eaten meals at this level in France and left stuffed - I would at least like to be satisfied here in the land of plenty If you're a delicate eater, you will certainly enjoy this meal, and I think it is worth what they are charging. See for yourself. read more

Maine is still in the off season (middle of May), though that has changed as of this week. Boats are being placed in the harbor and restaurants that close for the off season are now opened. It will not be long before people arrive for the Summer in full force. We had dinner at Natalie's last week, upon the recommendations of a friend. I read many reviews, which were mixed, and went with some trepidation because of the consistencies in the low-rated comments, and the high expense. So here are my thoughts: Service was very good, though it was a very slow night. There were few guests in the hotel, and even fewer in the restaurant that evening. Cocktails were fixed well and served exactly as ordered. The fresh oysters were delicious, but needed no preparation. We found the fish to be slightly overcooked, and the rest of the food to be uninspired and middling. To have paid the amount we did for what we experienced (and it was a lot), I would strongly recommend going elsewhere. If you consume alcohol, your meal will likely set you back $150.00 per person, with tip. In my book, a restaurant needs to have a factor of "OMG!" for that amount of money. read more

My husband took me here for Valentines Day and we had a very nice time. The place is very cozy and inviting. When we arrived for our 6pm reservation we were greeted with a hand shake and they checked out coats and seated us. The specials they were running for Valentines Day didn't suit our taste so we ordered a la cart. We were presented with warm bread and butter followed by and Amuse of a Myer lemon risotto with a cheese(very tasty, very strong lemon flavor), a ham and cheese puff of some kind(very tasty as well) and then a soup sipper of celery root and parsnips with a hazelnut cream foam( it was awful!) For our appetizer we ordered the pumpkin ravioli, it had foam on it as well, the plating looked terrible as all the foam just looked like snake spit and didn't enhance the flavor at all, however then, capers added did accentuate the flavor of the pumpkin. Our meals came in a timely fashion and my husband was very disappointed in his Steak. It came in a crock type thing with three thin strips of steak atop German potatoes witch were still a bit hard. I got Salmon and it was ok but they took the liberty of assuming that I like my Salmon cooked medium, as I know its the preferred way to serve it I didn't say anything. With all the flavors in the salmon I couldn't tell if they were trying to hide a fishy flavor or enhance the salmon. It was heavily smoked and was rubbed with a Dijon mustard on top of a cauliflower puree with some other sauce and veggie chunks. We decided on desserts in hopes to end dinner with a 'wow' factor, it didn't happen. All in all it was a bit of a disappointment, the food did warrant the quality that the price reflected. However the staff and service was impeccable and the ambiance was very warm and soothing. Food-3 Service-5 read more

Beautiful setting with fixe price menu. From $67-97 per person with wine pairing $50-80 per person depending on menu selected. See photos for Memorial Day 2014 menu that we selected. My wife had to try the 5-course lobster dinner and it started with a complimentary lobster appetizer extra. Bread and butter was even an unusual experience, bread was fresh and hot but butter (unsalted) was salted to taste with variety of infused salts including: Porcini mushroom, white truffle, ghost pepper, and rosemary. Interesting experience that added to this "dining extravaganza" of textures, flavors and explanations of the wild varietals chosen by sommelier Micah. Micah made this experience a journey though the some obscure wine areas and obscure but magnificent wines. I normally only drink red but can now state one of my best wine experiences was here tonight drinking 6 or 7 whites, a rose and 2 red dessert wines! I thought I was a fairly knowledgeable vinophile; but Micah's journey through Northern Italy, Portugal, Willamette Valley and rest of wine producing world not in Burgandy, Rhone, Bordeaux, Napa, or the piedmont show me what a rank amateur I am. The wine experience here with sommelier Micah was 5-star plus and such a wonderful fulfillment of life's journey to wine nirvana, at least it was for me last night. But maybe after 6 flights, everything would taste special. I remember one wine from Oregon (see photos) that was in Chardonnay shaped bottle near end of night before desserts that was a meritage of Riesling, Chardonnay and other varietals with an effervescent finish reminiscent of nothing I have ever had. I'm going to find this wine and see if I was drunk when tasting nectar of the gods. Food courses were all marvelous except one overcooked lobster meat dish which was immediately exchanged for properly prepared portion and an extra cup of bisque which my wife and agree is maybe the best we have ever tried anywhere. Rabbit served like a "fried spring roll" was also succulent and over the top. Trying to find something to complain about, candle and rose(see photos). Taking off 3 points.... So instead of 5 stars only 4.9 stars.... Desert wine, birbet, pre-dessert sponge cake with ice cream and macadamia crunch/so good! When dinner is fixe prix and $150 per person with wine pairings, you expect excellence and we got it here. Service, sommelier, food, could not have been better, even with a couple courses not liked, they were promptly substituted with fabulous corrections....... Rabbit was served like spring roll and succulent My wife stated that the chocolate mousse roll was best dessert she had ever had and dessert wine pairing rated the same! Breakfast at Natalie's was complimentary with hotel stay and also over the top. Where else do you find "Lobster Eggs Benedict". Camden Harbor Inn is wonderful and highly rated small hotel and Natalie's that is part of it is makes this a great destination to relax and have the finest dining experience. read more

See all

If they were as great as they all think they are they'd have a 5 star rating, not 4. Get over yourselves, and whoever did the decorating, maybe spend less time in the red light district and more time taking decorating courses. read more

The menu said Lobster Tasting...Conveniently, that was at the top of my list on the trip to Maine...I have 3 words for you about Natalie's. Splurge without regret. You deserve it! read more

Bart and his crew were the best - fit us (a group of 12 with no reservations!) on a great outdoor table, 4-course lobster dinner was amazing, and service was fantastic! read more

See all

I went with my friends and their three children and this was their first dining out experience since COVID. The restaurant did a stellar job of laying out the space and all the employees were wearing masks and gloves. The food was excellent. All the adults ordered the lobster special and they allowed us to bring in our own pasta for them to make for my friends daughter who has an egg allergy. My friends got the premium wine tasting along with their dinner and the sommelier did a very good job of explaining the wines to them. For tasting menu was very good with the entree and first course being our favorites. The desserts were very good as well. read more

Natalie's is not about eating. This is a Dining Experience!! Went there on a Wednesday evening, the place was about 1/2 filled. We had a reservation but were about 30 minutes early, no problem, we were seated immediately . The service was impeccable. Although you are assigned a waiter, the hostess, sommelier , captain continually check on your progress and want to be sure everything is satisfactory The menu changes daily but the format is 1). A 3 course a-la-carte 2). A 5 course lobster dinner 3). A 7 course chef's selection It can be intimidating but make a selection and sit back and let them do their thing! Trust me the Chef's know what they are doing. The appetizers, main course and desserts come out of the kitchen as works of art! The wine list is extensive but many selections are available by the glass. Be prepared for the check, however, dinner for 2 will easily set you back $175 to $350!! Give it to yourself as a gift, You Deserve It!!! read more

Wow. For me, dining out is an experience. From the service to the plating of the food to the tasting. Natalie's was spot on in every way. While visiting Maine, I naturally had to try the lobster tasting menu. They started off the meal by bringing around warm bread rolls and small glass plates of three droplets of butter each. I was reaching for the butter before I noticed a woman coming around with something in her hand. She went around to each person asking what kind of salt they wanted for their butter (ie. truffle salt, spicy curry, smoked). I had told them earlier that I was dairy and gluten free, and they remembered throughout the entire course. They served me gluten free bread and olive oil instead. For each course, about five different waiters would come to give us our plates simultaneously. (we were a party of 7). Each course of the lobster was unique it its own way. Instead of the lobster bisque, I had smoked lobster that was under a cup of smoke, over a bed of dried strawberry powder. For the last course, we were given a picnic style table cloth and the waitress threw down some lobster with potato and corn. Cute presentation, better food. At that point I thought I was going to turn into a lobster. The service, the food, the attention to detail, the ambiance was great. It was very quiet in the restaurant, but more attention to us right? read more

This was one of the worst dining experiences of my life! Portions are way too small and staff is rude. We arrived an hour early to an empty restaurant. We were put in a back corner table outside. We were asked after a 4 course overpriced meal if we would move inside to accommodate other guests who wanted an outdoor table. There were multiple unoccupied tables for hours which we we were told were "reserved". If u want mediocre food and rushed service on the clock then you should dine here! read more

Rather disappointing, given the mostly good reviews and the high cost. Peekytoe crab salad seemed like it was put together 8 hours before we ate it. Roasted lobster had a cloyingly rich sweet sauce. Enjoyed the sea scallops and the monkfish. Service was mediocre. The place was half empty on a Saturday night in peak tourist season. Seems like people have voted with their feet. read more