Great food and atmosphere. I had the crab roll. I know, it's Maine, don't judge. I love crab. The waitress offered it with the butter instead of mayo, and I happily said yes. It was delicious, as were the fries. J had the pub burger. It didn't come out "medium"....but she said it was a really good burger. read more

The Thirsty Whale has a fun atmosphere and a classic New England Bar Harbor vibe, but it definitely leans toward being a tourist spot. The waitress was very busy, we had to remind her of some of the drinks we ordered! No big deal especially considering the busyness at lunch time. The fried pickles were a bit too greasy for my taste, though still decent. The sweet potato fries were the highlight, crispy and flavorful. The mozzarella sticks were very tasty, but again on the greasy side. Fish taco was average at best, Reuben sandwich was also average but good! The garden burger tasted good! Overall, a good stop if your on the area, however the parking during lunch time was the worst for sure! Took me around 15 minutes to park, about 7 minutes away, parking at a supermarket parking and walking here! The prices are a bit expensive but understandable since all the out of town, tourists in the area here to spend money just don't expect anything extraordinary. read more

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I had the New England Clam Chowder and it was just what I would expect. Excellent. We also had a large lobster roll and cheeseburger. The burger is 2nd best in bar harbor. Service was excellent. Atmosphere was very nice. Irish pub. read more

Thirsty Whale - Thirsty Whale inside - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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The Thirsty Whale is essentially an average joint in an above-average city. We stopped by based on high ratings on Yelp, as well as recommendations from local retailers and our hotel staff, so I was expecting something pretty, pretty good. The portions were generous, but the food itself was pretty mid. We ordered the fish & chips with a Caesar salad, along with a cup of clam chowder and bread. The chowder certainly wasn't the best in town, and the fish & chips fell short. We left feeling pretty underwhelmed by the meal. The service was wonderful, friendly, and attentive. We were seated quickly, and our staff was super nice and helpful. To top it off, our food arrived in just 10-15 minutes despite how busy and lively the place was. Laid-back vibe. It has that classic old-pub feel, though it could probably use a bit of a refresh. It was definitely buzzing with people while we were there. Outstanding staff and prompt service, but the kitchen didn't live up to the local hype. I wouldn't recommend eating here. Might be a solid spot to grab a couple of drinks and watch a game. read more

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Great name!! After a full day of hiking around Acadia we were really hungry and made the short drive over to Bar Harbor for dinner. We noticed Thirsty Whale on YELP and decided to try it out. The restaurant is relatively small and pretty much all the tables were full, but service was wonderful and friendly. My wife and I both had the HUGE fish sandwich which we could have easily split one. It was perfectly fried and delicious. We will be back to the area and will visit the Thirsty Whale on our next trip. read more

Thirsty Whale - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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It was not great. It had good reviews on yelp I thought this meant it had the best clam chowder which is what I was looking for. It wasn't. Not a lot of clam lots of potatoes though. My nephew got the crab roll. It didn't taste like real crab but imitation yes. My brother liked his fish fry. The place is busy until it isn't. We waited about 25 mins to sit and when we left it had tons of tables. Staff was nice. The place has that old feel could use a refresh. read more

Open late!! Friendly staff, generous portions, laid back vibe with the Red Sox on! Try the lobster bisque read more

Thirsty Whale - Fish taco and wild caught salmon - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

Staff was really nice, attentive and helpful. The wings were ok. Small and come with a breading that has it's own flavor. I had a couple issues with them as there were a couple wings that had something wrong with them that I don't think they may not necessarily seen in advance. For $13, the quality of the wings were subpar. The Fisherman's platter was a HUGE surprise. You pay extra if you want fries. We didn't want fries so we didn't have leftovers. The amount of fish, shrimp, whole belly clams and scallops was HUGE! The cole slaw is delicious. There was so much seafood that we still had to take some back with us. We live in Maine and have NEVER seen this much fried seafood without or without fries. Impressive and worth the money. read more

Thirsty Whale - Wings - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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A fun little dive restaurant bar in Bar Harbor. We each ordered the blackened fish sandwich, and wow they were so salty, I could barely finish my dish. Bathrooms left a lot to be desired. A lot better places in Bar Harbor imo. read more

Chose this restaurant based on Yelp reviews. We were underwhelmed by the food. Menu selection is great and staff are very nice but the food was just so-so. One of us got the crab roll and didn't like that it was cold so make sure to check the roll temperatures before ordering. read more

Let me tell - this place is such a cozy, New England vibe. Great spot for food, especially if you are arriving late into town. The staff are friendly, the service is excellent, people are seated pretty quickly. My girlfriends and I arrived into Bar Harbor after driving up from Boston. The food was so delicious and robust in flavor. I enjoyed trying some local beer of the area. I would highly recommend this eatery if you are visiting Acadia! Great vegetarian options! read more

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Food very good, good portion size ans polite service. Little dark but it's a bar! Lively place and would be fun for a friends night. read more

Came to this little spot for some grub before calling it a night! Cute little spot in town, the host/server Anna, was such a sweet person! She greeted us quickly, found a table for us and brought us out some waters. As we perused the menu, she got our drink orders, and we started off with a round of oysters! We all decided to share a bowl of clam chowder, which I'm glad we did, because a bowl on my own would've had me full. It was good, it had more potato than I typically prefer, but it was good for a cozy cold night. I ordered the blacked fried cod with fries. I have never had blacked fried anything, so that was nice to have a little flava flave to change up the typical cod experience. My friend had the regular, and I liked that one too. Needed a bit of salt, but other than that, no complaints. My friend also ordered the jumbo shrimp, delicious! And another ordered the fried shrimp on the appetizer menu, and those were great as well, had great crisp, yet light and airy, and flavored perfect! Was a great little local stop! read more

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Came here with some friends while visiting the area. When we arrived the other business were pretty much closed up and down the entire steet. The street was dead silent. I guess it's the only restaurant open later, but it wasn't that late, maybe 6pm? But I understand small towns have shorter hours. Parking- street parking was very open, no issue there. Service- was great, we came in with no resy and were seated immediately. Ann our server and the other staff that ran food and made sure we had what we needed, were pretty diligent. The place had a homey neighborhood type charm. Not fancy, very casual. Drinks- one of my friends ordered the Wicked Blue beer $9, which they liked. And my other friends ordered the Supernova $13 & Blueberry Margarita $13. I only ordered hot tea $3, but it only came out warm and not pipping hot like I needed on that cold night. Not there fault though. Food- the group got a couple of apps. 1/2 dozen oysters $18, which I didn't try but they really liked. The fried shrimp $18, which I imagine were frozen shrimp due to the size and taste, which is fine. And the shrimp cocktail $12, which was fine. For my entree I got the lobster roll 4oz and soup combo for $37. They ran out of lobster bisque, so I ordered what they did have available, the mushroom soup. The mushroom soup def grew on my as the more I ate it, the more flavor I found, which I liked. The lobster roll (mayo version not butter) def needed seasoning and flavor. Perhaps the restaurants philosophy is let the lobster alone speak for itself. But it needed more for me, like dill or tarragon, or something. But thats only my preference. While the price didn't match the taste for me, I appreciate the towny vibes, and at least getting to try some Maine Lobster. read more

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This is your standard local pub, like you'll find in any American town. It has a casual atmosphere, good if not mind-blowing food, and friendly service. It didn't blow me away, but neither was it bad. If my wife wanted to come here again, I wouldn't push back. read more

We stopped in for a light bite - ordered a Caesar salad, the lobster bisque, and the blueberry ale of course ! The salad was actually quite good and a generous serving. The lobster bisque just tasted like cream to us, not really much of a lobster taste to it. Service wasn't very attentive. read more

Thirsty Whale - Caesar salad Lobster bisque - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Cute place in bar harbor. I didn't have high expectations for food here but was still disappointed in the food and service. I had the chicken wings and the quality of the chicken was terrible, the meat had lots of black either old blood/veins/marrow in almost every bite. My husband's fish sandwich was okay. Overall, would not recommend getting food here but maybe would be fine for drinks! read more

I had the fried clams. I was under the impression that it would be clam strips, but no. To my surprise these were WHOLE fried clams. They were extremely chewy and large. The large chewy bits also had what looked like clam fecal matter in it. Could not continue the meal and grossed out others at the table. Was NOT impressed with their food. Another in our party had the fried fish sandwich and said it had no flavor. One positive remark from this restaurant was that our server was very attentive. read more

Usual pub in a touristy town. Food is expensive, drink is ok, service is excellent. I think we paid like $60-$70 for a Lobster roll, fish sandwich, a blueberry soda, and a draft IPA. Lobster roll was fresh and had a LOT of lobster, but I feel lobster rolls are just not enough for me lol. Fish sandwich was great, complete with tomato, lettuce, pickles, and mayo. Not bad overall but not great, I think there are places that might sell the exact same stuff for a cheaper price. read more

Thirsty Whale - Lobster roll - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Decent food and service, though the main appeal is that they remain open during off season for tourists looking to avoid busy summer months. I enjoyed the fried fish sandwich! read more

After being scolded for having the AUDACITY to peek inside and see if there was a seat at the bar without the "host's" approval, I then had a menu shoved at me and was told to "go all the way down." Moments later, my BIL came in (I saw him stroll past the door and knew that was going to be an issue). He also had a menu slapped down next to him at the bar. Kind of wild to have someone so nasty perform this particular job. We decided to just stay for our initial drinks and move onto someplace more welcoming. Oh, and the host later came in on a profanity-laced rant to his colleagues (what he said I won't repeat). For a place with pretty lackluster reviews to begin with, this is something that should be immediately addressed. At least our bartender was friendly. read more

My family and I ate at Thirsty Whale while visiting Bar Harbor / Acadia. A quick google search for "best fish & chips" led us here. While the fish & chips were decent, they weren't the greatest I've had. I decided to try their "blackened" style fish. It's definitely a flavorful iteration of blackened - however it leaned more into bitter tasting. It wasn't terrible, but you have to really like the blackened flavor profile to enjoy them. Contrary to what the menu says, it isn't spicy at all. I was disappointed by the fries. Not only were they completely unseasoned; they tasted like when you cook fries in the oven. Again, not terrible - just not great. We all got a bowl of the Lobster Bisque to start and really enjoyed it. One person in our group got the Fried Haddock Sandwich and enjoyed it. Our server was very friendly and checked in frequently. Thirsty Whale is super walkable to the Main Street in downtown Bar Harbor. If the menu catches your eye, I would give them a shot, but for us it was just an okay experience. read more

Thirsty Whale - Blackened Fried Haddock Dinner - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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Went with large plate of fried food shrimp couldn't be identified from clams. Haddock cut in chunks size of scallops. Not very tasty. Service was poor as well couldn't get a table figured out in beer garden when it was pretty much unoccupied. Interior smells like fish. Most seafood places aren't so pungent. Drink was good. read more

The Thirsty Whale was such a good lunch spot I found. The ambiance is very dive-bar-ish in the best way, but the food is SO good. It was the perfect place to sit down and have a good meal after a day at Acadia National Park, and they had so many options for everyone in the group. They also had great gluten-free options, which is really important for me. Indoor and outdoor seating too. We'll definitely be back because everyone enjoyed it. read more

Thirsty Whale - Fish and chips - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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I had to get my fried whole belly clam fix during our new England road trip. note that some restaurants and stores could be closed for the season, despite Google says open. I got my order to go. fast service, and I was happy to get what I crave. I can't get fried whole belly easily in DMV. read more

Excellent fish and chips and amazing vibe. Sat on the back patio and loved the vibe. We had a salad fried spicy pickles and the fish and chips. Everything had great flavors and tasted great. This place should have 5 stars! read more

Local tavern for casual drinks and local brews. Long bar with multiple tables for larger parties. Hostess was a bit cold and unpleasant to converse with. However the wait staff were friendly and attentive. Lobster bisque was good. Nothing to really write home about. I fished out maybe 2 tiny chunks of Lobster, but maybe that's how they do it here at the Thirsty Whale. The garlic bread was okay... had a nice amount of garlic and butter, but was a little too burnt for my liking. read more

Thirsty Whale - Lobster Bisque with Garlic Bread - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

It was a weeknight at the end of October and we dropped in for a late night bite to eat after a local Ghost Tour. The place was full and somewhat noisy with the World Series on every television. It's pretty much a sports bar so the atmosphere was appropriate. It was a nice refuge from the cold weather outside. We split a haddock sandwich and bowl of clam chowder; both were good and worth splitting. Looking around the dining room, portions were generous. But prices on the menu were excessive for a place that's just a step above average. Tables were clean and service was attentive. read more

Stopped by for dinner during out first night in Acadia. Good was meh, service was okay. Ordered the fish and chips blackened. The fish was nice but the seasoning was too salty. The lobster bisque and clam chowder were nothing great. Food was brought to the table promptly and hot. Won't bother with another try! read more

The burger and pub burger were boring premade store bought patties with some onion and tomato tossed on, the fish sandwich lacked flavor. NE clam chowder was good. The restaurant was half empty but they stuck our 5 person group on a 4 person table but they didn't say anything when we pulled over a neighboring table so we weren't bumping elbows. If you want some food at a tavern, sure, it's an option. read more

Loved the little back patio! It was a nice surprise because I didn't think they had outdoor seating and it was a nice day and I was wanting to be outdoors! Great cocktail without being rushed to order. We really weren't hungry. We just some fries and crab claws while enjoying the weather. read more

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Food was delicious, service was incredibly fast (Monday night) , and they were very accommodating and welcoming!!! The lobster roll and bisque, as well as fried shrimp, made a filling and delicious supper. read more

We got carryout and while some of the food throughout bar harbor were heavy misses on quality and flavor, thirsty whale completely delivered on some late night food. Grilled chicken salad with their creamy scallion dressing (amazing), seasoned and crispy chicken tenders, flavorful rich clam chowder read more

They were busy but we managed to get a seat fairly quickly. It's a louder establishment but good food. Our group had fish burrito, lobster roll, lobster bisque, salad, French dip and crab roll. read more

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Honestly, just ok. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but I just wasn't blown away. The littles were tired of seafood, so chicken tenders it was. Pretty basic kids menu stuff. The southwest burger was decent. They cooked it to the correct temp. The big kids are on a clam chowder kick, and they both enjoyed their soup. The Freuben was just... disappointing. I don't know how else to describe it. I ate half and I was ok with not eating the other half. The "Greek" pasta salad tastes like store bought Italian dressing, which is a shame because the ingredients themselves would've been good with a better dressing. Overall, it was around $70 for the above. Not terrible for Bar Harbor, but we probably could've had a more enjoyable meal elsewhere. read more

Excellent service. We were seated on the small outdoor patio in the back, with heat lamps which were extra nice after a very cold sunset cruise. The Freuben was tasty and generous in size. The blackened fried fish and chips is highly recommended! read more

We ate here by chance! I had looked up many restaurants and this was one, but it ended up being the restaurant due to parking! And I'm not mad about it! It's great all around! The service, the food, and the drinks were all amazing! read more

Thirsty Whale - This wine is "healthy"! One pint of blueberries in each can! Not sweet - but was good! - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

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"The world caves in when a man with purpose steps toward his destined path." - Dinky H. Reviews. Beneath collapsing stars and alien screams, one can dine at the Thirsty Whale. Although the chained whale in the basement, kept for ancient wisdom and prophecies, may be too literal for my Dinktastes. Surrounded by city streets, you will eat while within an encased, spiritual bubble. The burger and fries were delicious, and the shadowy figures haunting me enjoyed the atmosphere. The waitress had eighteen eyes and a mouth connected to the abyss. Impeccable service! Food was handed timely and with elegance. Dinky is a great enjoyer of this place, even if he is missing a large chunk of his skull. It was wonderful! Dinktastic, even. read more

Thirsty Whale - Burger. - American Near Me - Bar Harbor, Maine

While visiting the area, I was perusing Yelp to find out where it would be good. We stumbled across thirsty well, and I looked into it even further as it seemed to be very good. Lo and behold, we were here six years ago, previous based on Yelp! :-) Little has changed, except the people probably. Our bartender and server, Dan, did a terrific job! We truly appreciated his professional friendliness! I open with a clam chowder and ordered a FRUBEN for my main course. It is actually a fish Reuben. In this case, I had the haddock blackened as well. Absolutely delicious! My wife ordered their blue cheeseburger with no bun. She truly enjoyed that as well. I also had a nice cup of chowder. Fairly good all considered! We are very happy. We stopped here for the second time in six years! read more

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My friend and I totally went here because of the name. We loved it. We sat on the back porch with heaters on it. The food and service were amazing. The clam chowder and seafood plate were great. I would have come back here another night, but we tried somewhere else (as we should being in a new place). There were many things on the menu I wanted to try, but I had been getting the equivalent of the mixed seafood platter and clam chowder everywhere to compare them. This was one of the best I had had in my trip to Maine this time. read more