We really enjoyed being able to park at the Bar Harbor Inn, either free self parking or free valet, to dine here, especially after paying sky high prices for parking in Bar Harbor all week. The dining room was like something out of a classic summer blockbuster resort movie, beautiful panoramic views of the Harbor, a grand piano player, classic upholstered chairs. We had 5:45 pm reservations for dinner Friday night and were shown a lovely table by the windows. Our server, Drew, was enthusiastic, attentive, and friendly. We ordered the maple old fashioned, gin spritz, blueberry lemonade, and Cadillac sunset. Cocktails were delicious. My son ordered two blueberry lemonade and exclaimed that these were the best he's had all week. He gets it wherever we go. For appetizers, we tried a watermelon burrata salad and beef carpaccio. The carpaccio was delicious, especially if you like dijon mustard. For dinners, kids ordered off the kids menu, chicken tenders, and lobster trap pasta. Both were healthy servings, served with the most deliciously addicting truffle fries, and they came with chocolate chip cookies. It was refreshing to see a reasonably priced kids menu at a fine dining establishment. Our dinners were a crab cake linguine special, and the Chilean sea bass. Both were perfectly cooked. The sea bass was light and the risotto that came with it al dente and not overly cheesy or overwhelming of the fish. The crab cake special was the star, made with locally fresh caught Jonah crab, so flavorful, and I could eat that linguine all day. The wine selection was decent. We got a half bottle of sancerre that complemented both seafood dinners well. We shared a blueberry pie and port wine for dessert. Pacing was wonderful for us, though I read others had trouble with this. We had appetizers and entrees within 30 minutes of sitting down. Drew took great care of us. The other waitstaff were also friendly. This was our favorite place to eat all week. Our kids said we should have eaten here more. Oh well, we saved the best for last. Thank you Reading Room! read more

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Got there with an 8:30 pm reservation, didn't get our food until 9:30. They did give us blueberry sorbet for the long wait so honestly the service was great! Probably just an off day in the kitchen. Hopefully that wasn't the norm. I had the seared Scallops and my husband had the braised beef short ribs.....I am not sure if it was because it was so long to get it, if the serving size was so small, or I'm just a big back but we were both still hungry at the end of it. Great place for a special occasion. The view is absolutely stunning and I bet sunset would be incredible there. read more

Beautiful dining room and wonderful thoughtful service! The food is spectacular and you're sure to be pleased with anything you order! I really enjoyed the blueberry lemonade too! read more

Had an amazing birthday dinner here. I had mentioned in the reservation that I would be dining solo for my birthday and when I arrived everyone that greeted me said happy birthday to me, they brought me a card, and had the table set beautifully. The view couldn't have been better. The rosemary bread with blueberry butter was great, but I wanted to save room for the main course. I ordered the fillet mignon with a lobster tail on top as well as the bartender's suggested drink, blueberry lemon drop. One of the best lobster tails I've had and the fillet was so tender. The fillet could have had a tad more flavor but it was still very good. I then ordered the blueberry carrot cake to take home. I thought it sounded odd, but it really worked well together. Amazing service and great food. Thanks guys! read more

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This is a lovely spot for a special occasion, for elegant night out in Bar Harbor. The view from the tables was lovely, overlooking the water. The inside is a bit outdated, however, charming. The service was great, thorough and seamless. The lamb chops were tender and not game-y. The Seabass had an excellent sear and when eating with the risotto was good, though the risotto lacked flavor when eaten on its own. It was a great touch for the main blueberry gelato, palette cleanser. read more

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A beautiful restaurant with a romantic feel and live piano, this is the perfect location for a date night in bar harbor. I have been to this restaurant only a few times, but am extremely satisfied each time by the selection of dishes. The service differs each time, but wait staff are really great overall. I recently had a not so great experience with the hosts, where they were very dismissive, so that definitely lowers my rating and inclination to come back. They have a great selection of starters including soups and salads. We always try their seasonal compressed fruit salad, and their soups are good as well. We started out with complimentary bread and blueberry butter, which was nothing to write home about. They also serve different aperitif which we love. For entrees they have great steaks, but this time I tried the scallops and they were perfect. Loved the crispy potatoes and onions as well. My partner got the prosciutto wrapped cod, which was a little dry and maybe overcooked. I think the prices here are quite reasonable, but it is more of a place you come for the experience and views. We definitely recommend as a special place to eat while visiting the island, but the recent service has definitely made me less inclined to visit again. read more

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Came in for drinks while on vacation in BH. Sadly the weather was poor and the Terrace wasn't open that day, so we opted for bar stools in their bar area. The restaurant's bar area was upscale. We had a great view of the dining room where there was a pianist playing. The restaurant is pretty formal - this would be a good place for a special occasion. They have a semi-private long dining table off in an alcove near the exit from the restaurant to the hotel lobby which looked nice for an event. We stuck to drinks only and had a couple rounds of espresso martinis. Their espresso martini was very good, and only $16 if I remember correctly. If it had been in budget, it would have been nice to stay at this hotel - upscale and a great location with water views. read more

It's pricey - as is ALL food in Bar Harbor, get used to it. However the quality of the food and the location of the restaurant are definitely worth the spend. We had dinner here with family and had a fantastic time gazing at the ocean while chatting and dining. The ambiance was just what you would expect, and there was a piano player who accepted our challenge to play "November Rain" by Guns N Roses and it was incredible. The icing on the cake! Well, we had blueberry pie and creme brulee for dessert but you get the picture. The Lazy Lobster was perfect for my sister-in-law who loves lobster but does not like the mess. Our server was prompt, gracious and accomodating. This is the best dinner location in town thanks to the view - but if you don't like a traditional coastal Maine restaurant, look somewhere else, you won't care for the food and you'll think it's too expensive. Perhaps try the brewhouse or get some pizza instead? read more

While staying at Bar Harbor Inn, we decided to check out this restaurant since it was just a few steps away from our room. First of all, the views here are absolutely stunning!! This place feels so romantic and I'm so happy I got to dine here with my mom on our last night. There was lovely music being played on the piano and as the sun started to set we got to witness a picturesque sunset. The food was spectacular and the vibes felt very upper class. Our server was so kind and the presentation of the food was impressive. This will definitely be a lovely memory that we will share together forever. read more

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This place is located inside the beautiful Bar Harbor Inn and is beautiful. Right on the water. Even on a foggy night it was such a nice experience. Piano player also created such a relaxing environment. We split the Petite Greens salad which has a nice blueberry vinaigrette on it. It was good but didn't wow me. Could use a tad more flavor but still tasty. Our waiter brought me special gluten free bread so I could try their delicious blueberry butter so that was so nice and wow was both the bread and butter amazing. Before our main course they brought out some sorbet to cleanse the palette. Very classy and also delicious. I then had the Downeast Lazy Lobster. The dish and accompaniments were really good, however the lobster I had the night prior at Geddys tasted a tad more fresh. My boyfriend loved his short rib entree. We then headed to the bar to see Harry who we had met the night prior. Great bartender. Made me a nice coffee drink that I very much enjoyed. Would most certainly come back if we lived in the area. Beautiful restaurant. read more

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Beautiful spot right on the water in the Bar Harbor Inn. One of the fancier places in Bar Harbor but you can get away with a golf shirt and nice shorts/pants. Service was the best we had in the area. Friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating. Timing of ordering, drink arrival, food arrival was impeccable. AND the food...We both had the Downeast Lazy Lobster with Vermont Cheddar Biscuits. Perfect entree if you don't enjoy the process of fighting with the shells. Delicious and plenty to fill you up. Save room for a slice of Blueberry Pie a la mode. Nice ending to a great meal. read more

Food was delicious, beautiful and good quality. However they need to work on their hospitality training. Our waiter acted very rush and unprofessional. I am not a needy patron so that means a lot. The ambience is beautiful and very gilded age elegant. read more

My food was incredibly good and the service was friendly and efficient. We had an amazing view. I loved all the blueberry items-amuse bouche and blueberry butter. I got chicken and it was very nicely seasoned. Husband got lobster. Paired with Sancerre. Thank you for a memorable meal read more

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This food was verrrry good. The restaurant has amazing ambience and an incredible view if you are seated by the window. The only problem was that the portions were a little small, but otherwise this is a very decadent and well done restaurant with amazing food. read more

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WOW!!!! Fantastic dining experience. The room itself is stunning and basically every table has gorgeous views of the harbor. The food was absolutely delicious--I got the crab cake appetizer as an entree and it was massive and fabulous. Literally everything we ate was awesome and service was great too. They provided a blueberry sorbet palate cleanser before our main entrees and it was soooooo good. So glad we decided to eat here--10/10! read more

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My husband and I spent this year's anniversary trip in New England with the majority of our time in Bar Harbor. While most our trip was spent in the national park and doing more casual things, we did want one nice dinner out. After perusing the cute town earlier that day, we knew that we wanted to go to the Reading Room for this. Thankfully, they were able to squeeze us in for a later reservation that same evening. While waiting to be seated, we explored the lobby of the hotel, and it was so beautiful and historical. I really enjoyed looking at all of the old photographs and reading about the background of the hotel. We were pleasantly surprised to be seated near one of the picturesque bay windows. We were served a small loaf of soft bread with blueberry butter and a small scoop of blueberry sherbert. After deliberating the menu, I opted for the short rib meal. It was absolutely delicious, and I would highly recommend. While it is pricey, the ambiance and food are well worth a nice night out! read more

Food was excellent but the views were better. We came here on our honeymoon and were in love. Definitely a must do on your trip to bar harbor. The staff was so kind and very helpful with the menu options. Unfortunately I don't have many food pics because it was so good we ate it so fast! read more

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What a beautiful restaurant. Claire was our server and she was amazing! The view of the harbor was very nice from our table. We didn't have reservations and glad that it was such a short wait to get a table. We ordered Maine Oysters, caesar salad, Herb Seared salmon, and Seared scallops entree. All were delicious! I love the blueberry butter and bread. A very nice pianist playing beautiful songs while dinner is being served. Great live music! Also, we did valet parking. What a convenience! read more

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5 stars for location and ambiance Food was very good too... some New England coastal classics. Large portions for entrees Or kids took us here for anniversary and it was a lovely experience. Service also great. It's pretty spendy, you're paying for an awesome view and upscale dining. read more

Delicious food and quick service. Although it's now the off season, this restaurant still impresses with some amazing dishes. Although I'm not a seafood eater, I still recommend the crab cake appetizer, I promise it won't disappoint! The staff also helped celebrate my birthday with an awesome dessert and piano rendition of Happy Birthday. Be sure to make a reservation, they get busy! read more

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We came for our anniversary. I live in NYC so I am a hard-to-please food snob. This was AMAZING. Tyler, our server, was absolutely wonderful. The caesar salad must not be missed, It was SO good. They use fresh garlic and anchovy for a nice depth of flavor. We also had the Land & Sea - a dazzling cut of filet mignon and pillowy lobster. Melted in my mouth. Ambiance and the view were the real catch for me. It made my dinner so much more enjoyable. Overall this was a peaceful, serene dinner and I cannot wait to come back! Thank you again to Tyler, for answering all my questions and making sure we had a nice time. read more

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The food in the reading room is absolutely some of the best you'll find in Bar Harbor! They have a wide selection of specials every day, so it'll be mixed up even for repeated visitors. The high quality of food and fine dining level of service, combined with some of the best views of any restaurant on the island, is what makes this place so special. The pan seared halibut is one of mine and my wife's favorite dishes that sometimes is a special. The fish is crispy on the outside and glistening with moisture on the inside. One of my personal favorites is the braised beef short ribs, which falls apart when touched with your fork and is covered with a delicious glaze -- they even give the roasted potatoes a smoke flavor, which pairs very well with the beef. Also would recommend the pan seared scallops, which are fork tender and delicious. The crab cake is a generous portion and filled with flavor. For dessert, the exploration of chocolate is new a favorite and if they ever have it as a special, the s'mores dessert is excellent! Can recommend this place enough! read more

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We received breakfast & dinner as part of a hotel package we purchased so although the hotel offers a free, very nice, continental breakfast we dined in their beautiful Reading Room with its exquisite views. However, the eggs Benedict only had one paper thin slice of Prosciutto on each muffin & tiny pale eggs, the lobster version was rather tasteless too although the hollandaise was excellent. We waited close to 30 minutes for our meals to arrive, with one mistake that was quickly corrected; server (Susie) for both breakfast & dinner in the same day was working hard, had a lot of tables. Secondary staff was stellar, especially Trish who kept water, beverages filled & dishes cleared. The crispy potatoes were delicious, and views were gorgeous. Dinner tonight was nice, but average. Filet had little seasoning, Lobster was average in taste, texture & portion-wise, did not impress but was ok. Didn't care for food being stacked high on the plate, with sprouts sprinkled on top, weird combo. The focaccia bread with blueberry butter was delicious. Wine extra, not included in our package, just soft drinks/coffee/tea. Overall, would not get the package again including breakfasts & one dinner, became tiring taste-wise. Would rather dine at different restaurants in town. read more

Upping this to 5 stars because the Reading Room really is my favorite upscale restaurant on MDI, especially with the indefinite closure of the Asticou Inn and restaurant. I think they've gotten a new chef in the last few years; the menu definitely feels a little fresher and everything is very well executed. The soft bread with blueberry butter that they start you off with is always a winner - we went through multiple loaves - and if the sea scallops with a side of lobster and potato hash are on the menu, don't pass them up. The scallops are cooked to perfection and the lobster hash is great. Although the vibe of the place is relatively fancy with the live piano music and formal table settings, it's kid-friendly and they even have a children's menu (probably due to the location inside a hotel). read more

The view is gorgeous, the dining room is lovely, the food is quite good, my drinks were dope. The only negative is that while our server was quite charming, the wait for our check was interminable. It might seem petty to ding a place for such a thing, but it really bugs me to be held hostage for 30 minutes when one is done with food and drink, not being allowed to leave. read more

My family tried the lazy lobster, arctic char, oysters, and crab cake. Our waiter Tyler elevated the experience to a new level, he connected with us and constantly made us laugh. Everything was AMAZING, the quality of all the food was top tier, this place has an amazing atmosphere with a piano player and a great view of the water. The blueberry pie was the perfect way to end the dinner. I would say this is a must try place in Bar Harbor, ask for Tyler! read more

We have been dining here since 1993. Service has always been great. Atmosphere can not get any better, sunsets over Frenchman's bay make it the best. Food is a bit pricey but almost always very good. Tonight we had scallops, lamb, ribs and lazy lobster. Everything was perfect, but lobster a little over cooked and tough. read more

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Love the food. Beautiful ambiance and views of the water. We go there at least once during the summer

I was devastatingly disappointed with my experience at the Reading Room. The positive points first: our waiter, Tyler, and the attractiveness of the dining room. It was all downhill from there. I'm unsure why people rave at the food -- it's extremely mediocre, at best. I had the scallops, which included 4 scallops (well prepared) and a strange potato hash with a miniscule amount of lobster, plus the equivalent of 1 asparagus spear, cut in 3. There was nothing elevated about the flavors or preparation that you'd expect with "fine dining." My husband's lazy lobster was similarly unimpressive. For the fine dining label and prices they charge, it would be safe to expect elevated food. This did NOT deliver. The blueberry pie was similarly non-inventive and wasn't much better than a pie I'd get from the grocery store. I was also underwhelmed by the hosts' sense of logic. We got the very last window table in the restaurant, meaning in the back of the dining room, next to a bus cart that was both noisy and unappealing to look at all night. Now, the hosts knew we were 1) there for our anniversary, 2) hotel guests for 3 nights, and 3) had reservations. There were better window tables available when we were seated -- exactly what does one need to do to get a prime table? Special occasion, spending a lot of money already at the property, and planned ahead. ??? But by the time I realized we were next to a bus cart and I should perhaps ask for a table in the main dining area (window or not), Tyler had greeted us, and we quite liked him, so we didn't make a fuss. Not thrilled we did that, since it was a pretty irritating experience and the food definitely did not impress. read more

the most incredible view overlooking the water!!!!! we had dinner right around sunset and the sky was absolutely stunning - felt like the sky kept changing to various hues for an hour. there was live classical piano music too so it just really added to the overall ambiance - everything about this was perfect!! the service was good, our waitress came by a good amount to check on us but I didn't exactly feel the interpersonal connection. she seemed like she asked questions just to ask, without really caring to hear what we said? my bf responded to something she asked but she literally walked away while he was mid-speaking. she spent a long time serving & talking to the old couple in front of us - I definitely got a sense of ageism here. this sort of restaurant def draws a wealthier crowd so you can kind of imagine how the servers might tend to cater towards people like them. we also saw the manager walk around and check in on this family behind us 2x, that older couple once, but not us ever. that irked me a lot. as for the food: bread & butter: the butter is infused with blueberry which was soo unique - you could actually see blueberry pieces in it. the butter melted right into the warm bread. I thought the edges of the bread was actually a bit too crispy and tough to bite down on at times. great combo tho lobster bisque: thick soup that's hearty and warms my stomach, but kind of reminds me of gravy. it's not very sweet and I liked the lobster pieces that come on top. it comes with crispy bread with a cream cheese & chive spread. probs not the best lobster bisque I've ever had but still good raspberry sorbet palette cleanser was so refreshing. palate was cleansed!!! soy glazed atlantic cod: the glaze was very yummy and cooked well, it came with this lobster egg roll thing which was actually so good. not a huge risotto person but I thought the overall combination of this dish was yummy and was my fav of the two entrees downeast lazy lobster: shredded lobster dipped in butter that was fresh, came with carrots and potato. gorgeous presentation but overall a mid dish mint chocolate chip crème brûlée: the HIGHLIGHT of dinner (besides the bread & butter). i felt like i could taste actual mint leaves in the homemade ice cream, never had anything like this. the torched creme brûlée on top and chocolate pieces really accentuated the flavors of the mint. wish I could have this again overall, pleased with my experience here esp when it came to the ambiance. def felt ageism and as if the restaurant catered only to the top 1% so if you're a young, not wealthy diner.. take that as you will. some of the food was unique but overall the entrees didn't blow my mind. read more

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I'm so mad at myself for not taking pictures!!! We came after hiking early in the morning so I was just too hungry!! I got their blue velvet waffle and the table agreed it was the best choice! But the traditional waffle and baguette French toast were also fantastic! Service was so quick which was great. Here's the best advice though- whatever you get you MUST order a side of the breakfast potatoes. Oh my gosh these were the best things ever. Not your average side on a breakfast plate. These were 10/10. Also loved that the chef made some rounds speaking to us and other guests. The view is also gorgeous. 10/10 overall read more

We enjoyed the view.....restaurant was really beautiful...everyone enjoyed their breakfast ... service was great... highly recommend...

Fantastic view of the harbor. Interesting historic artifacts in the lobby. Very well landscaped exterior. This is great for a romantic dinner or just watch the ships come in. The staff were very attentive and friendly. The food was very good. The Compressed Asian Pears were wonderful. The surf and turf had a great presentation. The Spiced Apple Bomb looked great but wasn't my favorite. It is a little expensive but a great experience. read more

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Where to begin? The Reading Room was by far our most favorite dinner dining experience. From the most delicious and tender cuts of beef that don't require a knife to the succulent fresh Maine lobster and serene views overlooking the water The Reading Room has everything you need to celebrate a special occasion or just grabbing a quick dinner. The service at The Reading Room was unparalleled, Sergay was our waiter and Henry was our bartender the next evening along with an amazing pianist that set the mood for this special place in Maine that will forever live in our hearts. Would highly recommend! read more

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Everything about the Reading Room is so beautiful and the food and Service is amazing. Claire was our server and even though she had just come back from a 24 hour flight seeing her mother she was energetic and very happy to be back at work. The Reading Room is an experience- we have been coming for 26 years our hostess for 36. A new manager for the restaurant but is from Bar Harbor. It is the highlight of our stay to come to this beautiful dining experience. We will be sure to book again for next year. The hotel at the Bar Harbor Inn and Spa is a gem. The steak and lobster at the restaurant is perfection. Also the Blueberry pie is delicious. read more

Food -Bread with blueberry butter -Caesar Salad -Lobster Bisque -Scallops -Salmon Service -Amazing Ambiance -Elegant -Piano player What a wonderful find! I loved how they transformed this space into a beautiful dining area. To top it off, the food was exquisite. There was definitely a uniqueness to it with an artsy flair to the production. The service was wonderful and attentive. I just had a wonderful experience. The prices are a bit steep but it is worth it to go for a celebration or if on vacation. read more

Made a reservation for later in the night hoping to get a seat with a view or at least near the piano as it was my SO's birthday. I specifically requested a good seat and said we didn't mind waiting Instead we got the seat farthest away by the door and wait station. We had a bottle of wine and port with dessert. Our dishes were good. We had lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, scallops, short ribs, blueberry cheesecake. Ambiance? Again, we were by the door / and wait station. I was disappointed as I wanted this to be a special night for my guy. We did have a great waitress, Haley. She made it worth the trip. read more

Here's the sharper, more sarcastic version: The view? Absolutely gorgeous. The food and service? A slow-motion disaster. This is clearly a restaurant that survives on its scenery alone -- and boy, does it show. My meal arrived looking tired, tasting worse, and barely resembling the menu description. When the waitress finally returned, she asked if I wanted the bad meal taken off the bill. Let me think -- yes, I absolutely love paying for something horrible that I didn't eat. What a strange question. It's almost as if they've given up on the idea that customers might come here for the food or service. If you're fine with overpriced disappointment and indifferent staff, you'll be right at home. Otherwise, take your appetite somewhere that still cares about what ends up on your plate! read more

I enjoyed the food here. It was pretty tasty. Everything was plated beautifully. The views are also incredible, book it at sunset. I did wish they had some local specials or a few other options on the menu. It felt limited when you can tell they really know how to cook! read more

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Really elegant dining and superb services. The food was absolutely delicious! A must stop here at the Harbor! read more

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