38 Best Restaurants in The Mid-Coast Region, Maine

Stop in at this cute little house next to the boardwalk and order an ice-cream cone to enjoy at a nearby picnic table or as you stroll along the waterfront. You'll probably want to make it a two-scooper, so you can try at least two of the many flavors, all made right here in Boothbay Harbor. Favorites include coffee Heath bar, blueberry cheesecake, pistachio, rum raisin, and cinnamon gingersnap. You can go all in with a hot fudge sundae or a banana split, too.

Whether you sit at a booth in the dining room or at the counter of this eatery, established in 1927, chances are, you'll soon be chatting with your neighbors. The multipage menu has all the breakfast standards (including fresh doughnuts every morning) and comfort-food lunch and dinner classics—from chowders, fish cakes, and lobster or crab rolls to chicken pot pie, meat loaf, and New England--style boiled dinners to wild Maine blueberry, custard, or apple pie. There's a gift shop on the other side of the parking lot, as well as rental cabins and a motel just up the hill.

The customers lined up beside this little red shack at the bottom of Wiscasset's Main Street, just before the bridge across the Sheepscot River, have come from far and wide for one of the Maine Coast's best lobster rolls—namely, a perfectly buttered and griddled split-top roll that's absolutely, positively stuffed with fresh, sweet meat and served with melted butter and mayo on the side. Devotees swear that the wait (up to two hours!) is worth it, and it helps that staffers hand out ice water, popsicles, umbrellas to protect from rain or hot sun, and even dog biscuits for the pups. You can also get your lobster in a gluten-free roll or on a plate without any bread. Other choices include crab rolls, hamburgers, and onion rings, as well as clams or other local seafood fried in house-made batters. Enjoy your hard-earned feast at a table on the bilevel deck behind the shack or at a picnic table on the grass by the water. For a shorter wait, come on a weekday at an off hour (not lunch or dinner time).

The namesake of this shack first got the idea to set up shop when her father posed the simple question: “Where can you buy a quick lobster roll in Boothbay Harbor?” Unable to answer, Shannon’s Unshelled was born, and the shack is now beloved for its grilled, buttered buns stuffed with whole lobsters and served with a side of garlicky, sea-salted, drawn butter.

The dining room at Monhegan's iconic Island Inn serves breakfast and dinner to the public as well as to guests. The breakfast menu includes eggs, pancakes, and granola. At dinner, steamed lobster is always on the menu; other fresh seafood choices may include halibut, salmon, swordfish, and paella. There are also steaks and other meats, plus a vegetarian dish. 

Try for a table by the windows in the small dining room of this little landmark restaurant, perched beside Pemaquid Lighthouse at the very edge of the rocky shore. Blueberry pancakes with Maine maple syrup are the clear breakfast favorites; the lunch and dinner menu features fried fresh seafood, lobster and crab rolls, salads, and mouthwatering entrées like the shipwreck pie (lobster, crab, shrimp, and scallops sautéed in butter and topped with a cracker-crumb crust). Desserts include ice cream and homemade pies or strawberry or blueberry shortcake. Alcoholic beverages aren't served, but you're welcome to bring your own. The gift shop is packed jewelry, Maine-made jams and condiments, prints of local scenery, and other great souvenirs.

Connected to Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop through an arched doorway, this little café turns out excellent coffee and hot and cold coffee drinks, plus fresh-from-the-oven sweet and savory baked items. It's hard to choose among the scones, slices of cake and pie, sinful cookies, cupcakes, and old-fashioned dessert bars. For a light lunch, go for a wedge of quiche or baked-in-house bread, toasted and topped with house-made salmon spread, hummus, or avocado.

This aptly named, family-run restaurant serves all the standard Thai favorites, as well as some lesser-known options. Everything is prepared using fresh local fish, meats, and produce. In addition to indoor dining, there's a small patio just outside the front door.

This is the real deal—a working lobster wharf where fishermen unload their catch to be sold at the on-site fish market or incorporated into the lobster rolls, crab rolls, or fried seafood dishes that are served to diners on the dock and in the enclosed dining room. If you opt for the steamed lobster dinner, you get to choose your crustacean from a saltwater tank. There's live music every Friday and weekends. And if you're an oyster fan, head here for your fill of buck-a-shuck oysters Friday and Saturday evening. The view across the boat-filled harbor isn't bad, either.

Stop in here for a hot or cold coffee drink, a smoothie, or fresh juice. If you'd like to linger for a while, take your drink upstairs and settle in with your laptop.

Located in the heart of downtown, this café with its own on-site bakery draws visitors and locals alike for delicious coffee paired with made-that-day goods served with a smile. The cinnamon roll with maple bacon is a savory Maine take on a classic sweet treat. The coffee drinks are yummy—how about an almond joyous latte with amaretto, coconut, and chocolate? For a quick savory meal, grab one of the hand pies, with fillings that change daily. There's a reason why folks refer to this place as "Bath's living room": everyone is welcomed warmly.

What began as a lobster shack in 1955 has grown into a large, well-known, family-style restaurant with a sizable menu that is predictably heavy on local seafood (lobster boats unload their catch at a dock here) but also has plenty of choices for landlubbers. A shore dinner will set you back close to $50, but you won't leave hungry after a 1¼-pound lobster, steamed clams, drawn butter, and corn on the cob. If you want to focus just on the lobster, you can order a bug weighing up to 5 pounds! Whether you choose indoor or deck seating, you can watch as the lobstermen come and go and the boats sail across the bay. Expect this place to be packed at the height of the season. 

People have been stopping at this roadside lobster pound for a century, buying live or cooked lobsters to take home, or ordering a lobster or crabmeat roll, lobster stew, lobster dinner, steamed or fried fresh clams, and other local seafood to enjoy at a picnic table overlooking a serene salt marsh. It's just a few miles down the road from Freeport's Main Street shops, but it feels a world apart.

Just up the hill from the harbor, this goodie-filled shop is the ideal place to pick up picnic supplies. Large, made-to-order sandwiches (the chicken salad with apples and cranberries is divine) come on a choice of freshly baked breads, including sourdough, anadama, and three-Italian cheese. What's more, every sandwich is accompanied by a pickle—and a chocolate! The shop stocks a great selection of cheeses and wines, and there are plenty of baked treats for dessert, too. A daily menu of prepared entrées and soups would also be perfect for supper at your cottage.

Pull your car up under the green awning and turn on your vehicle’s lights to catch the attention of the servers at this retro drive-in restaurant. The eatery's BLT made with Canadian bacon is a longtime favorite that pairs well with onion rings and a frappe (try the blueberry), but baskets of fried clams and shrimp are also winners, and there are several burger options. Your order will be brought to your car or, if you prefer, to a nearby picnic table. It’s as fun as it sounds!

This local gathering spot sells a variety of hot and cold coffee and tea drinks, plus an appealing selection of light meals. Breakfast choices include a curried rice bowl, nachos, and avocado toast; at lunch, there are wraps and better-than-average salads. 

These days, you can buy this sinfully delicious gelato in food stores throughout New England and have it shipped to your door, but it all began in 2007 in this storefront in Brunswick. Stop in and pay homage to the history with a dish of ripe mango sorbetto, dark chocolate noir, or mascarpone pistachio caramel.

Take a break from Main Street's bustle and drive 3 scenic miles to South Freeport, where this popular, bare-bones, counter-service place sits beside the town landing and serves up seafood baskets and lobster dinners. Save room for strawberry shortcake, blueberry crisp, bread pudding, whoopie pies, or another of the homemade desserts. Lines can be long.

At this restaurant in an adorable building just off Main Street, the acclaimed crab cakes and the oysters fresh from the Damariscotta River are good bets, but so are the steak-and-ale pie, seafood stew, and fish-and-chips (made with fresh haddock that's sautéed rather than fried). With exposed-brick walls and low, wood-beamed ceilings hung with pottery beer mugs, the downstairs is a snug place to enjoy a Maine craft ale.

Billing itself as a classic Italian-American bakery, this little place across the street from the Maine State Prison Showroom turns out all sorts of sweet treats. The selection changes daily, but there's a good chance you'll find cupcakes, cookies, scones, sweet buns, tiramisu, Italian cream cake, savory foccacia buns, croissants, and pizzicati cookies. There's coffee, too, made from Maine-roasted beans. Get there soon after they open at 9 am, as the goodies usually sell out.

The coffee is freshly roasted and richly flavorful, the baked goods are straight from the oven, and the atmosphere is chill. Have a muffin or croissant, select from several toasties with imaginative fillings, or try the delicious avocado toast on homemade wheat bread. Wash it down with a really good iced latte. If you're in a hurry, select from the grab-and-go burrito menu.

Of the half dozen breweries in Freeport, the Maine Beer Company is a standout. Its beer is well crafted, as are its salads, charcuterie, and wood-fired pizzas, and you can dine indoors or out. It's a popular place, so reservations are recommended, though not required. Every year, the owners donate a percentage of profits to charitable organizations.

Cheeses, charcuterie, seafood, breads, and more from Maine's premier food producers and artisans go into the selection of small plates on the menu, which also features craft beers, wines, ciders, spirits, and Maine-made sodas. Open every afternoon from spring through fall, the center not only showcases the bounty of Maine, it also offers classes, workshops, and meet-the-producer events throughout the season.

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.

The food here is guaranteed to be fresh, given that the lobster comes in off the boats just down the dock from the window where you order your meal. The menu also features scallops, oysters, crabmeat, and haddock, all prepared in a variety of tempting ways. Watch the lobstermen unload their catch as you enjoy your seafood feast, and perhaps a beer or a glass of wine. Note that though this is a seafood shack, prices are comparable to those in more formal restaurants.

In a large, historic, handsomely renovated brick building, Newcastle Publick House serves delicious comfort food in a pleasant dining room and welcoming bar. Specialties include fresh oysters prepared several ways, a selection of burgers, and one of the best French onion soups around. There is often live music.

Chosen as Maine's best tasting room by readers of Down East magazine in 2021, Odd Alewives is set in a beautifully restored old barn that's a cozily rustic place to grab a bite and brew, whether you're a beer aficionado or not. The beers—some of which feature herbs and flowers grown on the farm—range from saisons and farmhouse ales to a dark black ale; food offerings, which vary from week to week, include pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, tacos, and meats cooked on an Argentinian wood-fired grill.

Here, the dough and many of the toppings are made from scratch, so it's no surprise that the wood-fired pizzas often sell out before closing time. Keep it simple with red sauce, cheese, and pepperoni, or go for more sophisticated toppings such as wild mushrooms, duxelles, caramelized shallots, house-smoked chicken, or house-made fennel sausage. Calzones, sandwiches, smoked wings, and other small plates round out the menu. Get here early on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday morning for hand-rolled, sourdough-risen, honey boiled, wood-fired bagels; like the pizzas, they can also sell out fast.

On Southport Island, across an old-fashioned swing bridge from Boothbay Harbor and overlooking the waters of Townsend Gut, this lively local favorite often has waits for its tables on summer weekends. Head inside or sit at a picnic table out on the dock, where you can watch lobstermen deliver their catch while enjoying a lunch or dinner featuring one of the well-prepared seafood dishes, many of them fried. There's live music on Friday and Saturday afternoon.