5 Best Restaurants in Port Clyde, The Mid-Coast Region

You know that the lobster and other seafood is fresh at this quintessential shack, just east of Tenants Harbor and at the end of a scenic, winding shoreside byway—the owner's family owns the wholesale lobster company on the next wharf over, where local lobstermen tie up to deliver their catches. In addition to generously stuffed lobster rolls, the menu usually includes crab rolls, crab cakes, grilled clams, and a couple of nonseafood items. Save room for a slice of freshly baked pie or a whoopie pie. Order at the window, and settle at a picnic table with broad, serene views of the bay, islands, and the working harbor. This is a BYOB place, with regulars often interpreting the "B" to mean not only a bottle of wine, but also a bouquet of flowers in a jar or maybe a birthday cake.

Pop into this tiny café just beyond the Port Clyde General Store for a pick-me-up. Choose from excellent espresso drinks, brewed coffee and tea, and pastries. Sit inside or outside overlooking the harbor.

Just off Route 131, this family-friendly eatery is a community favorite. You'll find good local fare, such as fish-and-chips, mussels, chowder, pastas, burgers, and a haddock Reuben.

The restaurant at the atmospheric Craignair Inn—along a narrow lane in Spruce Head, about 8 miles northeast of Tenants Harbor—serves dinner four (winter) or five (peak season) nights a week. Enjoy your fresh, well-prepared seafood or meat dishes in the main dining room, in a gallery with a fireplace, or on an outdoor deck overlooking the water. The very popular Sunday brunch features classic pancakes and egg dishes, as well as more creative options such as a wild mushroom strudel or a house-cured salmon tostada.

You'll find the Dip Net behind the Port Clyde General Store, on a deck overlooking the harbor. Sit at a picnic table inside an enclosure or out in the sunshine and enjoy such local treats as fried oysters, lobster (of course), crab cakes, and fresh fish. There are good landlubber choices, too.