Denise S.

Well......haven't been since the new owners took over. The tavern area is very bright, very white walls, not enough character for a pub. The floors were refinished, so now the pub and restaurant are all in the same big room. Some of the same staff is still there, though some key people were missing: the Irish bartender and the marvelous hostess who always greeted us with a warm smile. The menu was similar, with a few new items. I ordered the sweet potato soup (needed salt, not on table)and the salmon pinwheel, amazing flavor and cooked to perfection. My husband had the baked haddock, too lemony and salty. The potatoes were bland. There was an obnoxious man at an adjacent table, who was a tad inebriated and spoke too loudly. The staff seemed to know him and didn't seem to mind his awful behavior. He ruined my meal with my husband. So.....the food is good, but depends on what you order. Be careful where you sit. Need to work on consistency and hire more help!

Cassandra F.

Amazing food and server was so knowledgeable about the entrees. This is by far one of the best spots in Kennebunk! We will be back shortly. The dessert to order is "moderation dessert sampler" and is like no other- order it and thank me later!

Lacey D.

This is a beautiful place, with friendly people and outstanding service. This was our last dinner in Maine and it did not disappoint. We started with the avocado fritters and wedge salad-yummy!! My husband had the salmon and I had the bolognese. They were both wonderful! The king pao cauliflower was especially delicious. My only complaint was that the bolognese sauce was creamy/cheesy and that's not really what I expect from a traditional bolognese sauce. For dessert I had a friend Oreo- yes!! And my husband had a small portion of their peanut butter/chocolate dessert- he raved about it. This was a lovely and memorable meal!

Angie M.

Did I just die and go to heaven?! After spending nearly 2 weeks in foodie country, THIS is THE best food we have had our whole stay (and it is our last night). We did not have a reservation (highly recommended), but lucked out getting a seat at the bar. I think luck was also on our side this eve as we were served by the most personable, down to earth bartender who was working his tail off, but still able to chat and make you feel like you belonged here. We were shocked to discover this guy was also the owner, who should be so proud of the phenomenal establishment he and his wife have created. My husband had a Guinness on tap, but I opted for the Basil Squared with vodka instead of Basil Hadens's - so technically mine wasn't squared! I could really taste the basil, which I love. It wasn't super sweet and was a strong pour. I really enjoyed it. For dinner we opted for the Lobster Pot Pie and the Lobster Lo'Mein. I am telling you, both were phenomenal - but the Lo'Mein is right up there as one of my favorite meals of all times. The pot pie (loaded with lobster meat) was a large cup sized chunky and creamy lobster stew with heavy hints of butter. So rich and tasty, it is no wonder it made Food Network's "Best foods I ever ate" show. It was topped with a super light and flaky puff pastry - the absolute definition of "Comfort Food". The Lobster Lo'Mein was also loaded with lobster (I had two large claws plus the rest of what I believe was a full lobster). The lobster is served chilled with chilled Lo'Mein noodles in a super creamy miso sauce. The noodles were local made and had the best texture, such a good and satisfying bite to them. The sauce was creamy, but not overly rich and so very tasty. It was topped with fresh cilantro and 2 beautiful pieces of crispy, sweet, warmed pork belly on the side. It sounded very odd to have a cold noodle and lobster dish with warm pork belly, but I am telling you this dish is a match made in heaven. The goal, I'm told by the owner, was to mimic the warm roll and cool lobster of a Maine lobster roll and they outdid themselves here! My husband was skeptical, but when he tried it, fully regretted not ordering his own plate! Have no fear, this meal is able to be ordered online and shipped overnight. Guess who will be having it shipped to Indiana? Me - that's who and I can't wait to eat it again! Last, we got the dessert sampler. Their desserts are made in small "3 bite" servings or you can get them all in a sampler. I HIGHLY recommend the sampler as it is perfect for 2 and even those at the table who said they don't do dessert loved it! The sampler included an adorable little "reverse root beer float" with a vanilla soda and a root beer ice cream, a peanut butter lava cake with a melty peanut butter core inside a moist and fudgy chocolate cake topped with a tiny scoop of peanut butter ice cream, a lightly battered deep fried Oreo, and a s'mores pie. Words can't describe how beautifully done these desserts were and how perfect the size was, my husband and I were in heaven! The service was impeccable, the inn was clean, and the atmosphere was charming. The dining area was busy at 6:00pm on a Saturday night, but quiet and had many generational families. If you like to eat later than 7:30 this is a good spot as tables appear to open later in the eve. They serve an older crowd during dinner rush, but this place has food to please all. The price point is that of high quality and worth every penny you will pay. We cannot wait to come back to eat, but will also plan to stay at the Inn sometime as we are certain the charm and service will be just as satisfying. Thanks for a great evening!

Tracy A.

I wasn't terribly sold on trying a restaurant in a hotel, but my sister in law raved about it, and she's pretty discriminating. We headed to the Kennebunk Inn for our pre-holiday get together on the Saturday before Christmas, for a late lunch at around 1:30 or 2 PM. The restaurant was virtually empty, which we found surprising. We weren't greeted as we came in, and had to look around for someone to seat us. But my sister in law knew just about everyone in the place, and led us to a table by the bar. Our server was Grace, and she was friendly, attentive and very sweet. In fact, the entire staff was quite welcoming! The menu is extensive and interesting. I am trying to limit my calorie intake, so I opted for a cup of the Butternut Squash Soup and the Kennebunk Inn Salad with grilled chicken breast. My husband ordered the Triple Burger Panini, and my sister in law the Black Angus Hamburger. We were all really happy with our meals. I tasted a bit of the burger meat, which was really juicy and delicious. The fries were good as well (my husband wouldn't part with more than a few of those!). My soup was savory, creamy and comforting. Although my salad at first came without the chicken, that was quickly remedied. It was definitely worth the wait, as the chicken was the most tender I have ever eaten - easily cut with a fork and almost melted in my mouth. FYI - although there weren't many people there the day we visited, I understand that the restaurant and bar can be quite crowded. I recommend you brave the crowd and enjoy a wonderful meal!

Cathy C.

I first heard about Academe from Food Network's "Best Thing I Ever Ate" around the time I was doing my New England itinerary months ago. Chef Cat Cora loves their Lobster Pot Pie so it was a no-brainer to include this place onto my list. Located in the cute and quiet town of Kennebunkport. As soon as you enter Kennebunk Inn, go to your left and Academe is right there. You'll be greeted by a lovely lady who also assists guests at the inn. Aside from the Lobster Pot Pie, I also wanted to try the Lobster White Pizza but it was on their dinner menu and our reservation was at 11:30am. The lovely lady I just mentioned talked to the chefs for us so we can try the lobster pizza and they gladly obliged. We were the first diners of the day and we got to sit anywhere we liked and sat by the window. Lobster Pot Pie: Lobster meat, corn, peas, potatoes and puff pastry. The puff pastry was hot and flaky. I dipped it in the bowl of chowder. Think how good a bowl of clam chowder is but with lobster instead of clams...yum! 4/5 Lobster White Pizza: Chunks of lobster with spinach, havarti, roasted tomatoes, herb-infused cream and drizzled with truffle oil. The crust was thin and crisp and I was using it to clean off the truffle oil from the plate. You'd think that cheese and seafood combo would be weird but it worked. Consume immediately! 5/5 Excellent food and definitely even more excellent service!

Bill S.

Mrs. S. and I are seasonal campers nearby. We've eaten at Academe at least 3 times a summer and have done so for the last four years. Our last visit was this past Friday. As has always been our experience, it was absolutely fantastic! The restaurant is located in The Kennebunk Inn, and there is parking around back. We made early reservations (5:30) and were able to get our favorite table by the windows that look out onto Main St. There was a lively crowd at the bar, but the Dining Room was still virtually empty (It filled up as the evening progressed). Our server was Charlie and he did an outstanding job! Personable and very professional, he reflected the type of service we have always had at Academe. We shared the Chicken Croquettes for our appetizer. They are AMAZING! The creamy sauce is actually within the breaded and fried croquette (as opposed to being poured over top). This dish is crazy good and is served, essentially, with an entire salad as a garnish. Warning! This appetizer could serve as an entire entre! Mrs. S had the Lobster Pot Pie which she loves! Tons of lobster in a creamy sauce covered by a home made puff pastry. Friday was no exception and the Lobster Pot Pie was, by her account, absolutely wonderful. I am a fan of the Personal Meatloaf. It's wrapped in bacon and what makes it absolutely fabulous is the truffle ginger BBQ sauce. I always ask for a bit extra on the side because frankly, I can't get enough! The mustard mashed potatoes are great and green beans are. . well. . . green beans. (Not generally a vegetable guy!) All in all, it was a fabulous dinner! We were both full to the brim, but there's no going to Academe without having at least one Fried Oreo Cookie. . . Utterly fantastic! I've seen some other reviews where folks complained about this or that. Take my word for it, I've never seen any problems there, none at all. If you are having dinner out in the Kennebunk area, I strongly recommend you give Academe a try!

Justin S.

Academe has become one of my favorite regular dining places. The bar area is cozy and quaint, and it is always easy to strike up a conversation with one of the locals. One of the main reasons I keep going back to Academe, aside from the amazing food, is Adrian the bartender. This gent loves his craft and it shows! Check out some of his unique cocktail creations, such as the award-winning "Sage Against the Machine" or "Put the Lime in the Coconut", which is actually garnished with 2 scoops of coconut sorbet! Last night, Adrian made me an Old Cuban (basically a mojito topped with prosecco), but upon my request, muddled a few strawberries in the cocktail. I actually had to share my drink with the woman next to me because it was so good I wanted to share the experience. And if you are not sure what to drink, ask him to pair a glass of wine, beer, or cocktail with your food - he always has the perfect suggestion. Now for the food - the menu is always spot-on with local flavors of the season. I always look forward to the remarkable and crearive talents of renowned Chefs/Owners Brian and Shanna O'Hea. Last night I started with a cup of gazpacho, which was simple, fresh, and delicious. For my entree, i ordered the Caribbean Pork Osso Buco, which was served with creamy banana polenta and 2 generous pieces of crispy pork belly. The pork was so tender, i didn't even need to use my knife, and the toasted cashews were the perfect garnish to compliment the Caribbean jerk and banana flavors in this dish. The ONLY downside was perhaps the presentation... it could have been a little more colorful. Even just adding a few micro greens or pea shoots would have done the trick. But I would definitely recommend this dish. Overall, I give Academe 4 stars for the food/cocktails, ambiance, great service, and friendly staff. I would give it 5 stars, except i will never give a restaurant that allows children 5 stars. I really hate children. Cheers!

Salman A.

Heard about this place from food network and had to try it based on the lobster pot pie.. Turns out, the lobster pot pie was good, but they also had notable heavy hitters besides. First, we had the sampler: 2 burger sliders, 2 pulled pork sliders and a 'mini' lobster roll, that actually wasn't that mini. Wow, those pulled pork sliders were phenomenal! Juicy, tender and the bread was lightly toasted and a little sweet. The burgers were a bit overcooked. I asked if they could be made medium rare but was told no (weird.. But whatever). So I thought by this time I would be sick of lobster rolls... But NOPE! Very tasty lobster roll for sure (had 4 lobster rolls on vacation these past 2 day). Then we had the lobster pizza... So meaty and great quality cheese.. Had amazing little sundried tomatoes and the crust was perfectly crispy and tasty. The lobster pot pie itself was pretty much exactly what I thought it would taste like.. I was kind of full at at the time I ate it so I don't want to judge it .. I just feel that the execution of the concept was a little annoying to eat being that the lobster pot pie was basically a bowl of a creamy lobster chowder with a flaky pastry bread on top.. Very tasty, just hard to eat. Nonetheless, I would come back here and order the exact same things!

Nathaniel J.

Located in the Kennebunk Inn, Academe is a true jewel and a must visit for anyone in the Kennebunk area. We came in for lunch starving and ordered a couple dishes to begin with as well as drinks. I had a local Ale while my wife had a Sage Against the Machine cocktail that was every bit complex as it was refreshing and delicious. The heirloom tomato salad was so well balanced and appropriately dressed. It was a great way to begin our lunch. We also had the Kung Pao Cauliflower (so delicious). Then came the rockstar dishes. The Lobster Lo'Maine is a cold dish which made us unsure at first, however, one bite of the lobster with a touch of the pork belly and all doubts were pushed aside. The samba oelek provided each bite with a touch of heat that set all of the flavors into outer space. The Lobster Pot Pie came next. Each bite sends you into a creamy, lobster/puff pastry trance that is only broken by the thought of another mouthful of this heavenly deliciousness. Its $22 and its not massive, and it is worth every cent that you will spend. Lastly, lest discuss the service. We sat at the bar and were attended (Yikes, I forget his name. Sorry) to with a terrific balance of engaging explanations for both the food and drink menus and prompt arrival/departure of dishes and drinks. We came out of busy Kennebunkport to Academe in Kennebunk (4miles away) and it was absolutely worth it. Food is amazing and the service is superb, yet the atmosphere is relaxed. Make the 4 mile trip and you will wonder why you didn't come sooner.