This is where we celebrated the anniversary of our 20 year marriage, and it was AWESOME !!! We dined on their rustic patio, complete with twinkle lights and trees. We started with onion soup, which was OUTSTANDING !! It wasn't too salty, which is often an issue but not here. The broth was a perfect blend of onion and beef flavoring, just enough cheese and croutons but not overpowering... it was divine. It might've been the best I've ever had. We also got bread service that offered lightly grilled French bread. I don't know what the deal was, but it was so unbelievably tasty, and it was so soft, too. I don't know if it was the texture or the bread flavor, but something was different... that made it so amazing. Better than usual. I wanted to eat more, but I knew I was already getting full, so we left most of it. Drat. For an entree, my husband got the Atlantic salmon in a lobster veloute with farfalle and ratatouille. I tasted it, and it was excellent. Such great flavors. I got the cioppino, which had scallops, shrimp, and haddock in a herb-infused tomato sauce. I was a little shocked because it was spicy... good flavor, but spicy, and I wasn't expecting that. I wish the waitress would've told me ahead of time, but she didn't. I ended up not eating most of it because it was a bit too much for my palate. I hate wasting food, but the truth is I wouldn't have finished it anyway. I was already full from the onion soup and 1 piece of bread. For our celebratory dinner, we also split a dessert. I had read this place is known for their blueberry pie, which we were very interested in getting. Soooooooooo glad we did because it was EXCELLENT... and yes, it was a la mode... with vanilla ice cream. There was some crystalized sugar topping on the crust, which really added to the awesomeness of this dessert. We hit pay-dirt here. This meal was the highlight of our trip to Boothbay Harbor. I hope we will be able to return to this lovely harbor town because we will make a beeline to dine at Thistle Inn again. Too bad we live so far away. This is a wonderful dining establishment, and they made our 20th anniversary even more memorable !! read more

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They advertise happy hour from 5-6 in Google search. Then on another add it advertises 4-5. Bartender should look for another job where you don't have to be friendly to customers. read more

I am torn with this review a bit. While the experience was fine it wasn't great and we were in and out in about 40 minutes. We were not starving and we just ordered entrees, I had the baked Haddock and wife had the scallops. Waitress was nice enough but not very engaging and the food was good enough. The insides are a bit dated and the staff seemed more interested in engaging with the locals than us strangers. Food came out quickly and then a quick check on if we wanted dessert and the next thing I knew she brought us the check. They were efficient but it all felt a bit too quick for a $100 meal. read more

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Visiting for the week and had our last evening meal at Thistle Inn. We split the Caesar, I had the Cioppino and my wife had the Steak Tips. The Cioppino had great flavor, loaded with seafood, and wonderful floral notes. Meal was delicious, good portions, great atmosphere, and attentive service. Staff however could have been a bit friendlier. Pro tip, sit outside. Next time in Booth Bay Harbor, we will make reservations again at Thistle Inn. read more

A charming little rustic inn with craft cocktails, an attentive bartender and fabulous food. There may not be a water view, but the truffle mushroom tart alone is worth a visit. read more

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A year later and we were so disappointed. My fish was delicious and the service was good. My dinner companion had talked about returning due to the fabulous scallops he'd had on our previous vacation. They were a tragic mess. Undercooked sweet potato chunks. Scallops overcooked on one side and the presentation was nothing like we had expected. Yes, we should have asked for a manager but we didn't and that is on us. We were both so taken aback by the difference from our last experience it didn't seem worth it. I will say it was much louder than the previous year and that might have contributed to the lower quality food. So maybe they were busier. While it didn't look super busy due to the layout of the restaurant you can't see all the dining areas. read more

Pleasant old room -- it definitely had the feel of an inn that's been around for a while. Our waitress was attentive. But the food was really mediocre. Our wine ($100+) was served quite warm; the waitress did deliver an ice bucket preemptively to help. But our apps arrived almost instantly, so the wine wasn't ready to drink. My haddock chowder was acceptable; my husband's salad good. Our entrees however were pretty poor. My scallops were seared nicely without being overcooked but were served on top of a gloppy mess that was done of the worst risotto I've had. The other entrees's haddock was very bland, also rather goopy. Desserts were a highlight -- very good carrot cake and decent if slightly dry skillet cookie. But for north of $300 you could do a lot better. read more

A very cozy and quaint restaurant in Boothbay, the menu is excellent and the food is delicious. There's a fireplace in the dining room which makes it very nice in the winter. Super friendly staff too, we love it here, it's one of our local favorites. Get a booth! read more

This feels like an old tavern. I loved the ambiance. Our server was fantastic. Very attentive. I think the food is the best in town for slightly upscale. Definitely get the carrot cake. read more

Came here on a Sunday night. We were seated outside with the lovely little lights wrapped around the trees. We ordered the peach and watermelon salad as an appetizer while the watermelon and the dressing were amazing. I swear the peaches were canned. That was very disappointing. One of my dining companions ordered the brandy lobster, which is really an appetizer, but she had it for dinner. It came with gnocchi and was so rich and fabulous. We had ordered a side of bread and I was dipping my bread in the brandy lobster sauce. Another diner ordered the scallops with sweet potato risotto, and I had the lazy lobster that came with risotto. I can't even begin to tell you how good all of them were. The food was excellent. My risotto had corn and was a little toothsome, a little more toothsome than the sweet potato risotto. The scallops came with a mashed avocado and roasted beets. My lazy lobster came with asparagus. It was all fabulous. Our server had a few too many tables, but all in all the service was good. I would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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Celebrated our anniversary here and it was a nice cozy way to round out another year together! It was right across the street from our bnb and was one of the few places in the area open in early April (harder to find than you think!) so was all in all very convenient. We tried the grilled Caesar, crab cakes, lazy lobster and baked haddock with crab stuffing, and the blueberry pie. Grilled Caesar: yum, all good things, no complaints Crab cakes: pretty good, but would have preferred a few more lumps to change up the texture a bit Lazy lobster: my partner really enjoyed this, especially the fettuccine Baked haddock: a bit bland overall and the crab stuffing was the same as the crab cake, so same thoughts there Blueberry pie: filling was delicious but crust was a bit salty for our taste. Servers were very kind and attentive, always filling our waters and checking in on us which was appreciated! read more

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We went for our Anniversary and it was the perfect spot. The in is a beautiful old sea captains home with tons of charm. The staff was friendly and attentive The food oh the food, Hands down the best food I've had in my 49years alive. The mushroom tart appetizer was amazing, the NY strip was so tender I barely had to chew, the signature cocktails were good A little strong for my wife but perfect for me. The Tres Leches coconut cake gave the perfect finish . We will be back. read more

Thistle Inn Restaurant - New York strip with lobster - Salad Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

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There are few restaurants that I have ever chosen to go to two nights in a row, and even less where I was completely impressed both times. We had the mussels (both normal and curry special), beet salad, seafood risotto, salmon, pork special, lobster brady, and blue berry pie dessert- all were excellent. If we were in town a third might we might have continued our tour through the menu another night with Amy providing great service throughout. (Didn't take pictures the first night) read more

Thistle Inn Restaurant - Mussels - worth ordering extra bread to dip in the sauce. - Salad Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

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Lovely ambiance- cozy interior and peaceful outdoor space. Good atmosphere for a date night. Service was friendly and timing was perfect. In addition to the menu, they had a number of seasonal specials. We tried the cioppono and the baked haddock. Nice portion of very fresh haddock-cooked perfectly- with white rice and spinach. Good quality but it didn't wow me. Cioppino was similarly high quality and fresh but seasoning was just alright. I'll give it another try in the fall because I want this to be a 5. It just wasn't quite there. I do still recommend checking it out if you're in Boothbay. read more

Food awesome! Service, excellent! Wonderful Ambience! Actually perfect for us. And you can choose to sit outside, weather permitting!!! read more

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I would recommend everything about this restaurant. The food was spectacular, the ambiance inside was comfortable and homey. Best meal we had hands down in Boothbay. The waitstaff was very attentive and helpful. read more

Service was great and our server was eager to accommodate our requests and substitutions. Menu is solid but I was bummed to see so many odd twists done to what would otherwise be delicious entrees. Sometimes it's nice to let a good quality piece of fish/meat speak for itself. Save room for dessert- so many classic choices and each one is done well. It was our favorite part of the meal. Historic building, good amount of parking, nice bar menu. Make a reservation so you don't miss out. read more

Absolutely amazing dinner, the seared scallops are the best I've ever had! The Cesar salad was delicious. Everything our entire party had was perfecto our waitress Maria was absolutely professional and wonderful. The evening was impeccable. We will definitely be back. I forgot to take a picture because I couldn't wait to take a bite. read more

Excellent food and great service in a lovely setting. What's not to like? We had the chowder, the lobster Brady, the duck, and the steak tips. read more

The ambiance was lovely with the coziness of the dining room in an inn. Every staff member we interacted with was super friendly and customer focused. I ordered the salmon and requested the butternut risotto and green beans for my sides. My husband ordered a chicken vodka special. When I say that it was the literal best risotto I have ever had, I mean it. So creamy, perfectly blended, not too salty... perfection!! The salmon was equally sublime and my husband enjoyed his meal and commented that the pasta and chicken were perfectly cooked. We split a piece of divine carrot cake with nice little chunks of fruit and a delicious cream cheese frosting. My husband enjoyed his old fashion with bourbon and my strawberry, cucumber basil mocktail was amazing. Overall... pure bliss!! read more

Visited Thistle Inn on a Tuesday night in September with H. We sat at the bar as usual -- it was quiet at the time. Bartender greeted us and got us set with cocktails quickly and professionally. For my meal I ordered the chicken sandwich, and it exceeded my expectations. The chicken was lightly breaded and I believe fried. It was moist and hot and just the right thickness between the nicely toasted brioche bun. What made this sandwich special was the bacon: not too much, and freshly and properly cooked. The bacon was piping hot, a little crispy on the outside edges and soft but not mushy on the inside. It had great flavor and contributed to the overall flavor of the sandwich, rather than dominating. A light slightly mustardy sauce rounded out the sandwich, which is perfect for chicken as chicken does not have strong flavor and thus needs light seasoning and sauces. I am always enthusiastic about sandwiches and salads done right at restaurants, as they may seem simple but are anything but and require attention to detail and appropriate ratios of the ingredients. The kitchen at Thistle Inn pays great attention to the details on their chicken sandwich, and it is marvelous. I will be back. read more

Went here with our friends who were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. My first time to this lovely historical sight. The atmosphere was warm & cozy with a fire burning in each room. The service was good & our waitress very pleasant & attentive. THE FOOD!! SO delicious! I had seared scallops over risotto - drizzled with maple glaze & bacon crumbles - oh my, so delicious! My husband & my friend both got the shrimp & chicken Alfredo over fettuccine, & her husband ordered the baked haddock - all delicious, lots of raves! I highly recommend this Inn and would definitely return if I'm ever in Booth Bay Harbor! read more

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We went for an early dinner, shifting our 7:30 reservations to 5:30 after an active day without lunch. Enjoyed an excellent meal of lazy man's lobster served over a bright lemony risotto, and my spouse had the haddock over wild rice, which had a crunchy texture, almost as if came off the side of a bimimbap hot stone - delicious. The inn filled up fast, and the staff was busy serving many meals and moved quickly and cooperatively to serve meals piping hot and drinks cold. Would repeat. read more

We each had a soup. I thought the clam chowder was a little fishy. I thought their French onion soup was delicious. The broth was flavorful and the cheese was the perfect amount. We had 2 entrees. The grilled Caesar with scallops was a generous size. The scallops were tender. The steak tips had great presentation. The tips were lesser quality of meat so they were tough and chewy. So I highly recommend the French onion soup and the Caesar with scallops. Our server Amy was attentive. The inn's interior is that dark panel expected in New England inns. Cozy and dark. read more

We ventured out into this classic old rambling inn and we were glad we did. I had the Lazy Lobster which I inhaled just about every bite and my son had the steak tips which he very much enjoyed. We were Too stuffed to dive into dessert but wish we had. read more

Fantastic food everything was coked to perfection, nice quiet place. We always like to set in the bar and have drinks and dinner. This particular visit the bartender which I hadn't seen before wasn't the greatest especially when needing refills and especially when it's early and we were the only ones in the bar.. But I won't hold that against them the owners are fantastic!! read more

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UPDATE: We went back to the Thistle Inn the next evening and the food was just as good as our first evening. Our server, Amy was very good and professional. She even offered us plasticware since we were taking our leftovers with us back to our hotel for lunch the next day! This evening we had the 1/2 duck which was crispy outside and tender inside served with a blueberry sauce and wild rice (a change from couscous because of being gluten-free) and sautéed spinach. I was given the choice of white or wild rice. The wild rice sometimes has Worcestershire sauce in it which is something I cannot have due to a shellfish allergy but they assured me this batch was free of Worcestershire sauce and I had no reaction. My partner had the Pork Chop special and enjoyed it. We had two glasses of Malbec which paired well with our food. Amazing dinner this evening! Surprisingly notch meal in an out of the way location. We had the flavorful herbal Cioppino and the special which was a bone-in pork chop cooked perfectly (medium) and topped with cherry chutney as well as a light gravy served over mashed potatoes with broccolini. The cherry chutney was the perfect topping to the dish. Each bite was amazing. We each had a glass of Malbec to go with our meals. For dessert (based on other reviews) we just had to try the homemade carrot cake and we were not disappointed . . . we were very full, but not disappointed. It was moist and tasty and topped with fried shaved carrots. The service from Maria was perfect. We would definitely recommend the Thistle Inn restaurant to anyone traveling to this area. read more

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We were looking for somewhere nice to go to for our anniversary. A friend told us about the restaurant. The atmosphere when we walked in was lovely. A cheerful wood burning stove was roaring (almost got the room too hot) but was lovely. Nice private booths. We had a very friendly server, Marie, come over and wait on us. I started with the tuna tartare which was amazing and then had the scallops. Scallops were cooked perfectly. The additions, especially the risotto could have been less which made the plate a little crowded but all in all delicious. My husband had the Cioppino which he said was excellent. He was dis that there were no good brandies such as kirsch, framboise or pear Williams. The small selection of desserts did not excite us so we declined that. All in all a lovely experience. We will be back. read more

Amazing restaurant! Food and service is outstanding. A must for a great dinner in Booth Bay!

Excellent food. I had the Lazy Lobster and I highly recommend. Bread was outstanding. Great service. Not ocean view but well worth your time and $. read more

Great Food & Great Service this is one of the special places that we eat in town in Boothbay Harbor The chefs do a fabulous job If they have it, try their carrot cake it is to die for read more

We had a wonderful dinner in this old world European style inn. The seafood was so fresh and tasty. I had the Cioppino and it was a beautiful balance of perfectly cooked halibut, shrimp and mussels with a lovely tomato sauce. The service was great and the booths were cozy. My only regret was the portions were too big for us and I had to leave behind some of my meal. Great spot! read more

Everything was excellent and full of flavor, from the Caprese Salad to steak to fettuccini Alfredo and carrot cake. Highly recommend.

We had a delightfully delicious meal at the Thistle this past Wednesday! They were so accommodating with our party of 12 (that included 3 children under the age of 3.) The staff was very welcoming and really engaged with the kids; we all felt right at home. I tried the orange dragon cocktail which was gin based, balanced and absolutely delicious. Don't sleep on the bread service! It's well worth the minimal extra charge. It was great with the butter but also to sop up all the extra sauce that came with the mussels. I had the Brandy Lobster: half a lobster with asparagus and gnocchi in a creamy sauce and port wine reduction. It was delectable! I ordered the fish and chips for my 2 year old off the pub menu (which we were offered even though we were seated on the deck!) and it did not disappoint. The fish was fresh and perfectly cooked in a crispy breading, the fries were addicting, even the coleslaw was super tasty. Our server, Maria was a sweetheart and super attentive. My only regret is that we didn't save enough room for dessert. We will have to next time as the dessert looked amazing and we will definitely be back! 10/10, wish I could give more than 5 stars read more

We had dinner here last night to celebrate our 26th anniversary, since they close on Wednesdays (our actual anniversary) based on our Innkeepers recommendation. So glad we did! I had the Sunday morning drink ( yummy) and we split the roasted beet salad. Then our main dishes arrived - I had the duck, which was cooked perfectly- crispy on the outside and very tender and sauce, was delicious! My husband had the scallops on risotto and we both loved our meals, and btw, the portions are huge! I forgot the name of the wonderful young woman ( from Romania) that took care of us, she was very gracious and very good at her job! The place is old and dark, but that adds to the charm & ambiance, I will give them 5 stars all the way! read more

Thistle Inn Restaurant - Sunday morning cocktail - Salad Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

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This little old historical inn is home to one of the best places to eat in the area! Whether you're outside in the patio, around the fire pit, or in one of the many cozy dining area's inside you are sure to have some good eats & even better drinks! I am obsessed with the basil gimlet! They make them better than anyone else! I haven't had anything that I didn't like on the menu. It's all outstanding but I really recommend the salmon dish or the pasta! Both are very special read more

Thistle Inn Restaurant - Short rib pappardelle - Salad Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

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Given all of the five star reviews, I expected much much better. We arrived early and enjoyed a quick cocktail in the lounge which was enjoyable and had a friendly bartender. We then moved to the dining room for dinner. The setting was not at all what I had imagined. A bit old tavern, dark, loud, crowded, bustling, families with children, harried and rushed wait staff. I was expecting a pleasant fine dining experience and it was not. Our waitress while friendly had darting eyes as if she needed to move quickly someplace else, everything was rushed. Food was acceptable, but nothing special at all, over salted and each couple at our table ordered the same dessert, ours came with none of the flourishes. We joked with our waitress and she brought a small side of whip cream. Again, was it terrible, no. Was it something I would do again, no. Perhaps we caught them at a bad moment, but the reviews here simply don't match our experience sad to say. read more

A toxic new owner running a dangerous property telling customers off --------- I was shocked to read that Jenny Chen actually telling my wife off "do Not step foot onto my property and business again" Jenny Chen, who also owns Waves Breakfast Restaurant who called us seeking our feedback and tie us down to the phone for full 20 min did not seem to appreciate my feedback; the employee seem very judgemental and talked down to customers. I sympathize running a small business with seasonal talents from other countries is hard, but it does not excuse the owner for behaving the way she does. Since the owner is escalating this, I am going to mention a couple of things people should know about this property. The property is a mishmash of building modification on top of building modification, which is a hazard to customer safety, both on tripping and as well as fire and exit control. The structure of the building is not sound, including some external structures tacked on top of another without a proper support structure, as well as sketchy retaining walls. As for the food, you would think a hamburger will be easy not to mess up. Well they did. It was overcooked and dry, we barely touched it. Also, Poke is another one easy not to mess up. Well, they also did that one too. Chef Ian Ronan appears not to know how to keep a hamburger meat moist and does not know how to look up a Poke, a simple Hawaiian dish. Poke is supposed to use Sushi rice, lightly tossed in venigar at about our skin temperature, Chef Ronan's came out with inappropriate rice, without tofu of proper texture that is more rough than silky... Vinegar used for the source was more of brown variety then proper Japanese rice one for Poke. I expect the owner to get nasty with me well, and she should know I have more to share for her if she choose to continue. --------- response from the Trisle Inn and Waves owner ----- I did call and express my apology already. Giving us another one star review, actually makes me wondering about your intention. Looking back to the camera, your husband came after 20 mins you arrived. You were in the bathroom for a few minutes after we sat you. She was waiting for both of you to finally sit and settle. After both of you arrived, she did checked on you, got you the soda and pub menu order, delivered the food, refilled your soda and cashed you out. Maybe not as often as you preferred. After all, we are serving every customers that walk through the door, Not just you. So we have to pay attention to other customers as well. For the record, we called it a pub menu for a reason. We serve that at the pub. If you let us know at the hostess stand that you wanted the pub menu, we would have been more than happy to sit you at the pub. Although she did gave you the pub menu after all. As you mentioned, we do have a lot of regulars and this is actually the first time I've heard that someone had a terrible experience with our server. That's also one of the reason why I made a personal 20 minutes phone call with you and your husband. I wanted to apologize for it. Again, give us 2 one star reviews on 2 different social media platforms. Especially after We had phone conversation and me apologizing 10 times later. Makes me very curious of your motive. Anyway, to prevent future misunderstanding. Please do Not step foot onto my property and business again. read more

Since their hours on Yelp listed the establishment closed on Sunday, we were disappointed that we wouldn't be able to eat here and didn't have reservations. But as we drove into town, we were surprised to see they were open and managed to secure a high top table in the bar. I'm glad we did. The Thistle Inn has a wonderful story, began centuries back by the seafaring Samuel Miller. Over the years it served as a brothel and temporary YMCA before finally taking shape as a top-scale restaurant. The bar was a bit noisy, but we enjoyed listening to the locals. There is also a very nice formal dining room and outdoor seating. Delicious food and drinks. The crab cake appetizers were amazing. I had the baked haddock and Linse enjoyed a shrimp-scallops-haddock trio, of which the scallops were heavenly. Our server was very good throughout the meal until the very end where we finally had to hunt down the check. He was attentive, knowledgeable but busy. Loved the ambiance. read more

Thistle Inn Restaurant - Baked haddock over jasmine rice. - Salad Near Me - Boothbay Harbor, Maine

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We went to the Thistle Inn for an early dinner this past Friday night and had a wonderful experience. We sat at the bar and split the tuna crudo, truffle mushroom tart, and scallop entrée. Each dish was delicious and had unexpected touches of color and flavor that had us scraping our plates. We will absolutely be back! read more