We visited The Burning Tree Restaurant for take out on a Sunday afternoon. We ordered the house made smoked salmon, the halibut salad and the green bean salad. This was all to go so you don't get to see what you pay for until you are gone and potentially far away or they are closed. Put green bean salad prices are $12 was the most messily minuscule item that I actually paid $12 for.... My husband and I finished it in 6 bites. We are talking green beans. If you go here, check your food before you leave to ensure the provided the amount shown in the display of the food you would be ordering. I ended up with less than a side salad. Sorry that I did not take a picture.... read more

Lives up to the hype! All the guidebooks recommend eating at Burning Tree, and even the locals recognize it as the best restaurant on Mount Desert Island (MDI).It is known for having "best and freshest seafood dinners on the island, with New American twists. Some of the produce and herbs comes from the restaurant's own gardens, while the rest of the ingredients are bought locally whenever possible. Everything's prepared with imagination and skill" After a few days on MDI, we looked up the restaurant on its website and discovered due to COVID-19, they are only doing take out. Given that we weren't staying nearby and we have kids, this worked out great until I saw that the fish dish was sold out that day. So we waited a few more days until we'd be back on that side of the island. When we finally decided to hike Precipice Trail, it was the perfect opportunity to pick up the food afterwards. We called at 9am when they opened to place our order for pick up at 1pm. The staff was super helpful and patient, as we quizzed them and asked their opinion - we don't usually do this but all the food sounded terrific. We were a bit bummed that they weren't serving any monkfish or cod as they were signature dishes. We ordered: scallop shrimp crab fritters with spicy mayo, clam flatbread, steamed Chinese eggplant with chili garlic sauce, halibut kebabs with fall vegetable and gruyere cheese risotto, and Japanese inspired scallops. Flatbreads take 20 minutes to "fire". We failed to notice that the scallops did not come with any side dishes and did not fully realize that the fritters and flatbread would be picked up hot. The fritters stayed hot but the flatbread did not but it didn't matter - the clam flatbread was tasty even cold. The clams were soft not chewy and very flavorful; we ordered the clam flatbread based on the staff recommendation as something different. The fritters tasted best dipped in the spicy mayo. The eggplant was covered in fresh herbs and seasonings and was very good. The halibut was ok - it tasted plain to me but my husband said the marinade had flavor. Directions to grill it was written on the container. We never got the fall vegetable or gruyere cheese risotto with the halibut - not sure what happened. The scallops were excellent - 3 very large scallops and the directions to bake in the oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees was on the website menu. Burning Tree was hard to find due to a lack of cell service on the drive on Otter Creek Road, but once in Otter Creek Village cell signal picked up and google maps directed us. Overall, we were very pleased with the food and would definitely dine here again with clam flatbread on the top of our list - we should ding them a star for the missing vegetable and risotto but the food was lovely and the staff patient so next time we will be checking that we have everything before we leave the restaurant. read more

See all

Best Organic food in all of Bar Harbor Maine Most welcoming and friendly service Definitely coming back on our next trip. read more

Have been coming here for many, many years - but this is my first time back in about 6 years, and first time back after Covid-times. Very sad to find that they are not offering dine-in services the way they normally would. This is my VERY favorite restaurant in the Island and I've had many amazing lunches and dinners there over the years. I'm sure things were very hard during Covid shut-downs, and I'm just glad they're still here! We got a few desserts for take-out (raspberry custard tarts were so perfect) and my daughter got a crab cake as take out, she said it's the best she's ever had. We also got to pet one of their cats, a beautiful old black and white Grande Dame who is so gentle and friendly. The Burning Tree will always be the best place on the Island - hoping they are open for dine-in again in the future. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Outdoor seating area - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

See all

The pasta and clam appetizer was the best dish I've had in years. For an entree I got the lobster and calamari. All their dishes are perfectly portioned so you don't leave feeling stuffed. Every dish comes with a side vegetable that is seasonal. I would call ahead since this place is small and serves amazing food. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

Burning Tree is an amazing restaurant. The only negative experience occurred at the very beginning, where the cliche "you never get a second chance to make a first impression" did not hold true thanks to the food. I am referring to the hostess who was rude and unfriendly. I have to say for an establishment of this caliber, the hostess leaves a lot to be desire! She fits more of a hostess working in a chain restaurant than a classy environment such as the Burning Tree. As for the food, I've attached a photo of what we had. The appetizers were spectacular. The sole was immaculate. The desserts are all made in house and were decadent. The only reason Burning Tree is NOT getting 5 stars is because of the hostess. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Bill - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

4.5 stars, if I could give halves. Might have missed this, were it not for a recommendation we received from a couple drinking beers beside us at Atlantic Brewing. They'd been here about a month and named it one of the best meals they'd gotten. It's about a 20-minute drive from Bar Harbor village, and we enjoyed having our last dinner away from the weekend hustle & bustle in town. The restaurant is set in a house, with covered seating on the front porch, and in a few rooms on the first floor. It is cramped, and therefore loud and a little stuffy. But the ambiance doesn't detract from the food... The bread basket had three breads -- a crusty French, rye, and banana bread! For a small restaurant, the menu is surprisingly diverse, and there were several dishes that caught our eye. On top of that, there are daily specials, several of which sounded great. We ordered one of the special apps, which was fried squash blossoms, stuffed with goat cheese and served with tomato jam. You just can't go wrong with any of those ingredients, and they tasted as good together as they sound. Just melted in my mouth! My entree was monkfish, topped with sweet chili sauce, served with Thai-style coconut jasmine rice and eggplant. First, the portions are BIG. And they come with additional veggie sides not even listed on the menu. That evening it was cauliflower and garlic scalloped potatoes. I loved how my dish fused seafood with Asian flavors; but I did think the chili sauce was a little heavy-handed, and overpowered the wonderfully nuanced rice. My husband couldn't stop raving about his main course, swordfish with preserved Moroccan lemon, and subtle cumin and cinnamon. It was his favorite thing he ate all week. I think there's 5-star potential here, but I was disappointed with service. Though everyone who came to our table was friendly, and helped answer questions about the menu, wait service felt inexperienced: my water glass stayed empty for more than half the meal; we'd ordered a bottle of wine, and the server didn't top our glasses; she also didn't bus our bread or app plates until the entire meal was finished. Nit-picky service stuff that didn't sway the overall experience; still, they are certainly things that are handled well by most restaurants serving at this price point. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Monkfish w sweet chili sauce and coconut jasmine rice - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

food is delicious but portions could be improved. one star. Their "hot box" seating arrangement is a real issue, as we were forced to sit there. lose another star. finally, the waitor (the great grandson of the founding family) was very helpful and knowledgeable of the menu. lose a star because he did not deliver our check nor had any sort of greeting goodbye. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

See all

We have gone to Burning Tree for years and generally love the in person experience. The take out experience is not so great. I understand it's tough times, but $170 for a meal I have to cook is too much. There are better options that are open in the area that you will not pay an arm and a leg to cook. I'll update this review in better times, we did not understand the food had to be cooked. read more

We called a few weeks in advance for dinner reservations at this popular restaurant that is renowned for its seafood and vegetarian fare. A basket with 3 types of bread was delivered to the table while we perused the menu. A shared appetizer of 6 mussels grilled with spicy harissa and radicchio was delicious, but priced excessively high. For an entree, my wife chose pan seared monkfish with a sweet chili glaze that was accompanied by Thai style eggplant and a coconut sauce. I chose a pan roast with chicken, chorizo, and clams that also included braised fennel, new red potatoes, garlic, leeks, kale, tomatoes and sherry pan juices. Accompanying each entree was a mini salad of micro greens with yellow beets that proved to be a delight both to the eye and palate. Overall, our dining experience this evening proved to be one of, if not, the best of our 8-night food centric vacation. read more

See all

Went here for dinner with my family and was so impressed with the service and the incredibly delicious meal. Fresh ingredients and the freshest fish make all the difference. Would highly recommend The Burning Tree if you're visiting Bar Harbor. read more

See all

The day we were there the menu had a handful of asian influences, which was welcomed. The chef's creations were great. My mom and i both had the salmon and loved it. My brother had the cod and an interesting salad and he really enjoyed both. My dad had the fritters as an appetizer and the sole dish for his entree, which was the daily special, and he was raving about both on the drive home. My sister got the chicken, which had some thai and indian influences, which she appreciated, and her husband got the lobster, which of course was great. All meals came with a greek/middle eastern style cucumber salad, and the pre-meal bread options were fantastic. My favorite was the banana bread. For dessert we ordered a sorbet and a chocolate mousse type dish. Both were very flavorful. The service was great, too. Overall our best meal on our week long vacation to MDI was here. High praise! Lastly, I was personally very excited to see an oregon pinot noir on the list of wines they serve by the glass. read more

Last year, this restaurant was the highlight of our dining experience for the 2 weeks we were on the island. This year, it was horrible. That swing amplified our disappointment - and the highest priority at the end of the evening was to get out of there and brush our teeth. The atmosphere was ridiculously loud for the entire dinner - obnoxious people cackling, making it difficult to hear the server. The server didn't offer a choice of flat or sparkling water - and when we requested sparkling, they used the same glass type. Why did this matter? Because the service staff twice dumped flat water into my glass of sparkling water. The first time, we were told that the glass would be replaced - it wasn't. The second time, the server was annoyed with our objection to having it happen again. The second server changed the glasses to match their expected protocol, and did replace the bottle of water - but her irritation was apparent. The frisée salad had so much vinegar that it was difficult to eat. The mussel appetizer (which was a huge hit last year) was 'meh'. Not one of us could eat our entrees. The scallops were over cooked and the seasoning for all of the dishes was unappetizing. The combinations were off-putting. Unpleasant atmosphere, service and food - and it's expensive (especially considering how inedible it was). The only things that were positive were the wine, and leaving. read more

We came with very high expectations after reading all of these reviews and The Burning Tree exceeded in all categories! Wonderful service, beautiful atmosphere, awesome wine list and ooooo the food.... We started with a wonderful heirloom tomato and fresh peach salad with the tomatoes straight from the garden outside. The Atlantic salmon was out of this world, crusted with mustard seeds and topped with an interest fresh pear compote. The stuffed smoked chicken leg was probably the most different presentation and flavorful combination of spices and smoke I have ever experienced. Really a top notch experience and our best night out during our stay in Acadia. read more

My wife and I had a fantastic meal at the Burning Tree. The staff were friendly and we had a great server (Stephen) who's enthusiasm for the food was contagious. We both had a salmon dish, served over baked beans with bacon (yummy) and a flat bread appetizer (enough for 2 people) and a lavender creme brulee' was a must (even though there wasn't much room left to put it). Enjoyed the Mean Old Tom stout with it as well. Overall a great meal; highly recommended. read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

Oh Burning Tree you temptress! Your name is so cool. You're located in one of my favorites cities. And the first year we came to you hot damn you were good! But... Not so much any more. Burning Tree is a fairly nice restaurant on the outskirts of Bar Harbor, Maine. We were originally drawn to it based on reviews from tripadvisor.com (no one had Yelped it yet). The owners cook with a lot of fresh herbs from their garden, and some of the menu choices seemed unique and interesting. The first year we visited it was an excellent meal. I cannot remember what we ordered but I do remember that we were half drunk and pleasantly full upon leaving. Burning Tree take two: A year later - we go to Burning Tree with high hopes. We made a reservation and were seated promptly although we had to wait a very long time for our appetizer. Our waitress was very cute and sweet but for a higher end restaurant totally clueless. She even spilled wine all over our table while messily trying to pour it into our glasses. I don't remember what my husband got, but I ordered some pan seared Thai fish and eggplant. It was terrible! The fish had a sauce on it that tasted roughly like Sweet and Sour sauce from McDonalds. It was more fried than pan seared. The Eggplant was mushy and over marinated doused with the McDonald's sauce and maybe fish sauce too? Gross. At $22 I expect a lot more. I really like good food and was pretty disappointed. I'm not sure I will ever go back, likely not since we found a much better high end restaurant in the area, Mache Bistro. Too bad Burning Tree just couldn't deliver. read more

Nice experience and 60 seconds from our AirBnB rental. Very busy with a really upscale feel. The menu is interesting ( although it's not available online ) and it was hard to choose. I had the salmon and baked beans ( because I never heard of that pairing before ), the sole dish , Caesars salad and the Gorgonzola bobolini. We were all happy .. although the salmon dish lacked depth of flavor. But the beans were good !! read more

See all

Amazing food service and ambience. I've been coming to the island for 4-5 years. I love the distance from the tourist trap destinations. The food is clearly fine dining, the atmosphere is very approachable. Amazing wine list and the appetizers to entrees were phenomenal. Loved the use of local produce and fish. The flavors matched the descriptions. For dessert, I highly recommend the cheesecake. I really wish we were in town to enjoy two nights st thx wonderful establishment . Max, willow and eric were our primary contacts from start to finish. There is no question this is going to be our annual stop. read more

My go-to place for a nice meal when I visit Acadia National Park. As others have said, the food here is stellar. Local produce (literally, grown behind the restaurant), great selection of local seafood, and plenty of vegetarian options to choose from including a beautiful squash terrine. Nice wine selection and interesting cocktails. The 4 stars, rather than 5, is for atmosphere. Twice we've been seated on their porch, which was cold. So cold, in fact, that it was hard to enjoy the meal. The last time we visited we were in the dining room, where it was more than warm enough. Just be aware that if it's a chilly night in Otter Creek, you don't want to be on the porch. Or wear your winter jacket. One other fun fact: if you go to Burning Tree on their closing night (usually around Columbus Day weekend), the entire staff is dressed up in themed costume. When we went it was a jungle theme, and our server was wearing a loin cloth. Which is where he kept his check presenter. read more

Everything was perfect - the service was great, I had halibut and my husband had sole, they were cooked perfectly - I think I could live on the scalloped potatoes...proportions were appropriate, didn't feel "stuffed" just comfortably full - highly recommend if you are in the area! read more

Despite previous reviews by others, I enjoyed my dinner at Burning Tree. Reservations are required. NOTE: Because of the high price-tag, I'll review it as such. They receive 4 stars because I was in an awesome mood that night...still high from the day's spectacular hike in Acadia. In Boston, they'd receive a 3. The service was very attentive and friendly. Seeming knowledgeable, efficient, and personable. The lavender vodka specialty cocktail was enjoyably refreshing, delicate, unique, and fragrant. The appetizers were fabulous.....mussels in a thai coconut broth, and a lobster cracker thing that was awesome....(sorry can't remember the exact name). The main dish was a little slow arriving, but remember, I'm in Maine, what's the rush? Both fish dishes were cooked perfectly and not overpowered with added flavor. The Flounder with almonds was a tasty combo....the Halibut with peppercorns did satisfy. The side dishes were presented boringly....crowded together sharing one small plate.....tacky. The house Sancerre was crisp, dry, and wonderful. The desert list was daunting. How did I ever decide on just one! Lemon curd tart with a TON of fresh wild blueberries on top.....excellent. Honey Cheesecake = HEAVEN. The next time I come to Bar Harbor I will return, but I will skip the main course and order double app's....and maybe double dessert! read more

Outstanding service, presentation and food combinations! It was difficult to decide what to order with so many great menu items! Fortunately our table has no problem asking for side dishes to share with. Everything was delicious! The chef even pulled an appetizer back (hen clam app) realizing the sauce wasn't right and had the waiter ask us to choose alternate plate instead of serving a sub par dish. The waiter suggested an excellent red for the table and was very knowledgable. You cannot go wrong here. read more

If you are looking for a gourmet dining experience while visiting Bar Harbor, you cannot do better than The Burning Tree Restaurant. This was one of the best meals my wife and I have ever eaten. Everything was fresh and perfectly prepared. The menu is constantly changing based on what is fresh and in-season, so rather than go into lots of detail about our specific orders, I'll just share the highlights. We started with fresh salads - mine was with fresh greens from their own garden, and my wife had a beet salad. The green salad was very good, but the beet salad was truly special. (My only complaint is that the salads seemed to be priced a bit high, but if I went back I would still order them at any price.) Both of entrees were spectacular. The dishes were perfectly balanced with slightly unexpected tastes that really elevated the dishes to a new level. I had a perfectly prepared grilled salmon over beans. The beans were the stars. They had a barbecue flavor with some exotic spices. It worked perfectly with the salmon. My wife ordered Swiss chard with scallop mousse, lobster and shrimp in a tarragon cream sauce. This dish was unbelievable! The tarragon cream sauce was divine. The desserts and wine list were also very good. The restaurant has a relaxed, casual vibe. Our service was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful, although partway through the meal they switched our server without any explanation. This was truly one of the most amazing dining experiences that my wife and I have ever had. We would put our meal here in the same category as meals that we have had at Per Se and Le Bernardin in New York, and Bayona in New Orleans. read more

The food here is very creative and quite excellent. The sole special was subtly flavored and absolutely delicious. Our server seemed a bit young; our service fluctuated between attentive and inattentive. We were seated in the outdoor section which was actually a bit overheated and somewhat uncomfortable. Although we could not give 5 stars, this is a "yes" recommendation as the food was quite artistic. read more

This was a great restaurant! It had a different but limited menu each day. It is away from the town and tourist area which is nice! It also has some great dishes. It isn't kid freindly for the food but we made accommodations! Their dessert options were fantastic. If you love seafood or love a different variety of food options this is he place to be! read more

This place bugs me. Why? Because the food here is just as expensive as the rest of the food in godawful Maine and boasts cooking of my, a high school student's, caliber. The spices thrown together here are completely arbitrary. Minted wonton soup? White russian SORBET?? Even the chocolate layer cake was messed up, in the case underdone without a hint of chocolate flavor. $120 for four people. It was suuucccchhhhh a waste. You want good food in Maine? Go to a chowderhouse for lunch and make yourself a motel picnic for dinner. read more

Host kindly accommodated our party of six at the last minute, thoughtfully offering to call me back while he confirmed a time for us. Food was awesome. My parents had a grilled squid and seafood miso dish with rice noodles, my favorite of the table. Rest of us got flounder, codfish, and monkfish, all tasty. Excellent orange and buttermilk sorbet and cardamom coffee ice cream for dessert. My brother requested a second basket of sourdough bread for the table. Cute place. Plenty of parking. Definitely would go back. read more

You might initially pass this place and think it's place filled with scented candles, incense and yoga, but it turns out that this little place on the eastern side of Mount Desert Island is also one of the island's tastiest eateries. It's got a great rustic, beach house-ish ambiance with the dining area divided into several small rooms that have been opened up as much as possible. To top it all off, the soundtrack through much of the evening was the band Beach House - a wonderful treat for my party and me, but nice summery background music for everyone else. The wine list features several dozen bottles representing most of the world's famed wine regions, plus a small but respectable beer list that's heavy on the Maine brews. Both the appetizer menu and the dinner menu leaned expectedly to the seafood side of things, though the winner amongst our chosen apps was the stuff, fried squash blossoms. Smoked salmon was great, though it's possible that the greens it was served with stole the show. I went with the braised rabbit, which was over a bed of rice, red & orange peppers and some olives. I'm not the biggest olive fan so I gave most of those away. The dish probably would've been legendary had it been prepared with some different sides, but it was still very memorable. Had a taste of the halibut, maybe the best I've ever had. read more

This was an amazing gem just outside the harbor area. The food was thoughtful, artistic and so delicious. We had to get on the cancellation list to get in and it was just our luck! The staff was so friendly and knowledgeable. They all clearly love and have passion and pride in how the food tastes and how it looks. It was just a wonderful wonderful experience. The crab salad was wow! The flatbread was so tasty and our entrees .... were almost to beautiful to eat! But we cleaned our plates. We will definitely go back when we return to Maine!! And 30 years in business ?! Wow! read more

The Burning Tree Restaurant - Entry sign! Wildflower garden. - Seafood Near Me - Mount Desert, Maine

Pros: Creative and interesting menu, beautifully plated. Cons: Small interior space crammed with tables. The food, frankly, didn't live up to the hype. The biggest problem was the service. The meal lasted over two hours, not because we were lingering over dinner, but because it took that long to get food ordered and delivered to our table. Looking around, we weren't the only ones having the same problems. I had nothing there that made me feel it was worth the trouble. read more

This was such a pleasant experience. Food was delicious and also looked so beautiful. Quant little house at the bottom of Acadia National park that will surprise you with flavor and simplicity. Definite must when visiting Maine. read more

We went there for dinner on 6/29. It is a bit of a drive from Bar Harbor. It's in the house so don't expect great ambiance. Very good service. Food was excellent compared to all other places that we dined in Bar Harbor during this trip, so the 5 stars. It was pricey as expected. This is a place that we will return and will be happy to recommend it to our family and friends. read more

See all

Great spot. They have limited options but everything is delicious. Crab and halibut salad are fantastic. There's an outdoor garden where you can eat "to go" items. Also pick up a bottle of wine. Supper this business! read more

This is a review during COVID. We had an amazing meal at home from Burning Tree! We picked up the halibut skewers with risotto, seafood fritters, strawberry salad, beet salad, baked beans and cheesecake, and honestly everything was great. The fritters were a "grab and go" item so they were cooked at the store. They were amazing; probably my favorite but it was a close call. We threw the halibut on the grill and it was delicious. The risotto we heated up on the stove with a little water and butter...yum. The salads were fresh, the beans were tasty. I don't think you can go wrong here. The menu is on their website and they have daily updates on Facebook. I wish I could eat here under normal circumstances because I'm sure it is great, but offering a "cook at home" option is perfect for us during COVID. read more

Truly inspired! I honestly cannot understand how this bit of deliciousness is able to provide (via their garden), create (wonderful dishes), served by truly talented and engaged staff, AND make enough money to stay in business. They must be doing more than one thing right!!! We have eaten at restaurants all over the world - several of the best ever (such as FARM in Napa) - and this small gem, almost trying to hide by locating in the beautiful village of Otter Creek, is now in our top ten. From apps to port / dessert, truly sublime. And finally, if their marketing strategy is pure word-of-mouth - which would fit with the overall theme - then consider it working as designed! I will be Yelping! about this one to anyone going near MDI. read more

Wow. There are some PICKY people on Yelp! People were cackling? Seriously? How is the Burning Tree supposed to fix that. Yes people are loud. I hate it too, but it's a reflection on their lack of class, not the restaurant. At any rate. Been coming to MDI for years and coming here for years. Hands down the best restaurant on the island. The food is innovative and, sorry folks, the portions are generous. I left stuffed because I made such a piggy of myself. The crab appetizer special and the pate was wonderful this time -- the pate ALWAYS wonderful. The halibut and the sole were superb. Timing of our waiter was impeccable. We will be back and back and back. Don't change! read more

Quaint farm-to-table dinner spot. Unique preparations with fresh ingredients. I had the cod, poached in a light herb broth - it was delicious! My husband also enjoyed the halibut very much. My favorite was the side salad, created from their garden. Server was knowledgeable and friendly. While the house setting is really cute, I wish they would invest in some comfortable chairs with tables of adequate height. It was really uncomfortable. In general, the decor and ambiance could use a little polishing. That was our only complaint. Actually, I have one more recommendation (working in the service industry myself for many years), when you have an upscale - especially family owned - restaurant, the owner / chef should really come and greet the guests. Tell us about your food and story! read more

Ate at Burning Tree as our last night in Acadia. Most of their produce and meat are from local farms, or even from their own garden. Not only is the food fresh and prepared well, there are a number of pretty unique dishes such as deep fried squash blossoms stuffed with goat cheese and served with a spicy and sweet tomato jam. Other highlights include fresh sesame cucumbers served with an edible flower, the rabbit with baby bell peppers, capers and olives, or even the homemade earl grey with shortbread ice cream or saffron vanilla ice cream with bits of pistachio. Fantastic, good quality food that is worth the price ($28-34 dollar per entree). read more

See all

We ate at several places in bar harbor area and this was hands down the best. We got this as a recommendation from our airbnb hosts and they told us that this gem is a local favorite and was farm to table. The food here was incredible. They had a few vegetarian options as well. The desserts were also amazing!! read more

Had a lovely meal here and the staff and hosts couldn't have been nicer. Burning Tree is sort of in its own category for Mt. Desert Island. It's a foodie kind of place, but it lacks the pretension of some other fancy-pants MDI restaurants, and it sells itself quietly (no website that I can find). The quality, presentation and culinary skill qualifies as "fancy cooking" and it's on par with the Island's best restaurants or meals you would expect to find in an upscale restaurant in a large city. For example: carrot-infused yogurt served with orange slices; lobster and scallop mouse steamed in a whole chard leaf served with shaved zucchini in a sorrel sauce; smoked, stuffed, boneless chicken leg; grapefruit custard cake; cocktails with obscure ingredients. Flavors from around the globe find their way into the menu, and it's likely that the details change from day to day depending on what's fresh. The variety of accompaniments, paired with each entree, is also remarkable. A lot of skill went into each dish, and the whole result is very impressive. Of course, you pay the cost of all this attention. On the other hand, compared to some of the "fancy cooking" restaurants in Bar Harbor or Southwest Harbor, it's not pretentious at all. They set a nice table, but its not about the pretty silverware, or this historic dining room, or that everything is organic or locally-sourced or whatever. There's a nice wine list, but it's not marketed as "carefully curated" like another very nice place on the Island does. On the third hand, it's not a steak and lobster place in any way. No french fries. No ketchup. No dinner roles. No cole slaw. Well, some cole slaw, but it's not like any cole slaw you're imagining right now. Like, if you want to know what your meal will look like in advance, go someplace else. This could be tough for kids under 10. Our kids were made to feel welcome and we were told that, if they had trouble finding a meal they liked, the servers could suggest ways to make the dishes less "weird" for them. As it turned out, this an eye-opening dining experience for them. It helped that they could get up mid-meal and run around the parking lot for a few minutes. We also saw little kids (age 2, 3) wander the room with stuffed animals and play pocketbooks, and that was OK, too. But dinner will take 90 minutes or more (and why rush a fine meal) so know your kids . . . . read more