Bar Harbor
Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn

Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn

1 Newport Dr. Bar Harbor, ME 04609, United States

Steak • Hotels • Venues • Coffee


"HORRIBLE. Service at the bar was slow and disinterested. The unpadded wood chairs were both uncomfortable and incongruous with the elegant room. Once seated with a menu, I noted the absence of their famous lobster stew. They were known for this stew with the lobster shaped puff pastry atop, and this should have tipped me off the kitchen skill had plummeted. I ordered the lobster (chowder? bisque to be followed by the lobster dinner. The bisque arrived, and other than looking a little dark, was nicely presented with a small portion of lobster. The lobster meat was tender and warm. BUT the bisque was ghastly. It had all the flavor of flour and warm water. It wasn 't just bland; it was not food but instead paste typically given to children. Upon receiving this dish I proceeded to do something I have never done before: I called over the waiter and advised him this was not to my liking; to cancel the entrée; and charge me only for the porridge if I were required to pay since I ate the piece of lobster (with the remainder of the gruel left undisturbed in the bowl . Without any inquiry over my dissatisfaction, I was presented with a bill for the bilge. I paid and departed without so much as an inquiry or expression of concern. The inescapable conclusion is that the establishment is fully aware its fare is wholly inesculent; otherwise, general curiosity alone would have warranted what seems to be out of order or is there something else I might bring you, or I 'm so sorry our food has sickened you. Certainly the pandemic staff shortage has hobbled the kitchen. But there are plenty of canned and institutional bisques that are at least palatable. Who hasn 't eaten on an airplane. But this was far worse than airline food. The combination of poor food and unprofessional management compels dining elsewhere in Bar Harbor. That the restaurant would serve this compels avoiding anything from its kitchen. Look elsewhere for now."

Havana

Havana

318 Main St Bar Harbor, ME 04609-1637, 04609-1648, United States

Soup • Salad • Seafood • Vegetarian


"Havana's team has healed an incredible evening-dinner experience. We made our reservation a few weeks in advance, and we are very happy that we are. We included that we celebrated our honeymoon in the online booking, and the hostess knew that and congratulated us at check-in! The group behind us also had no reservation and was told that they were able to come back and sit at 20:30. Our table was in a beautiful corner of the restaurant, and they contain a map of all the staff who congratulate us on our honeymoon!!! The first treat and the bread that was brought to us were so beautiful. The apricot shop was a nice touch, and the bread plate and accompanying spreads were delicious. We wanted the recipe for the black bean spread and the spicy chili oil and butter were also incredible. The wine book is incomparable, we were clearly above our minds in the 70 pages, but also with the combination of participants we wanted to order. The sommelier heard our demand for red, but pairing with seafood and lambcuffs and recommended 2 special bottles. We chose one of his recommendations and it was really perfect for soups and 2 ducks. While we enjoyed the seafood cats, we cannot say enough amazing things about the cured pumpkin soup! We know we never reach his size, but we want to try to make it ourselves. It was creamy and tasty and had only the perfect mix of spices. On the Entrees both were the perfect portions that we even went a few into a container. The seafood paella had so much seafood from as many varieties as the chorizo! One of the best paellas we have ever had. And the lamb was buttery and almost melted in our mouth. Cooked perfectly and we rarely took the recommendation of the head of Medium. Dessert the blueberry bread pudding was complete perfection. We brought the pumpkin back with us."