Lobster pounds are one of the mainstays of traveling through Mount Desert Island.  After going to see the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, we stopped at Thurston’s Lobster Pound for dinner.  It was all lobster tonight with a lobster salad, lobster stew, and a big whole lobster for me.

They do lobster right here.  The salad had big chunks of lobster, the stew was delicious and the whole lobster was perfectly cooked.  It was the best one I had on vacation.  We also tried their blueberry pie with blueberry ice cream.

The ice cream was really tasty and the pie was good too.  Total bill with a drink was $65.

Thurston’s Lobster Pound
9 Thurston Rd
Bernard, ME
207-244-7600

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We stopped at the Bar Harbor Lobster Pound for dinner.  They have a covered patio with picnic tables and luckily they weren’t too busy when we arrived.  We started off with some clam chowder.

This was a good version but it had a very strong herb flavor to it that was unexpected.  Loren went for the crab cake and I ordered some fried clams and a lobster.

The crab cake had a lot of crab and flavor.  The fried clams were a bit on the chewy side, but the lobster was spot on.  We also tried the blueberry pie.

I didn’t like the crust on this one.  It just wasn’t flaky enough.  Total bill with a drink was $66.

Bar Harbor Lobster Pound
414 State Hwy 3
Bar Harbor, ME
207-266-3825

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We traveled north today since it was raining and ended up in Lincoln, ME for lunch at Gillmor’s. We munched on some sweet chili meatballs to start.

These were pretty tasty.  They had a bit of spice to them and there were plenty for an appetizer for two.  Loren went for a bacon cheeseburger & I decided to try the haddock & clam combo plate.

He said the burger was cooked well and the bacon was just the way he liked it.  I liked the clams on my plate, but the haddock was a bit on the dry side.  We saw bread pudding on the dessert menu and had to try it.

We’re always surprised at how many different versions of bread pudding there are out there.  I didn’t particularly like this one.  It had coconut in it and a strong spice taste, I think it was clove.  Total bill with a drink was $44.

Gillmor’s Restaurant
236 W Broadway
Lincoln, ME
207-794-6565

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We decided eating outside of downtown Bar Harbor was the way to go, so we stopped at the Chart Room Restaurant for dinner.  Tasty rolls were brought to the table and I couldn’t pass up trying their lobster stew.

They did a great job with the stew.  Big chunks of lobster meat in a creamy flavorful broth.  Loren went for the mixed grill which had tuna, scallops and swordfish.

He said all of the seafood was cooked well and there was plenty of it on the plate.  I decided it was time to break into a whole lobster.

I grew up in New England, so I know the ins & outs of getting all of the goodness out of a lobster.  This one was perfectly cooked and quite tasty.  The baked potato was fine, but the peas & carrots should have been left off the plate.  They added no benefit whatsoever.  Then there was dessert.

I think this may have been the tastiest chocolate raspberry cake I’ve ever had.  The cake was moist and chocolatety and the raspberry sauce added a nice zing to the cake.  Yum!  Total bill with a drink was $69.

Chart Room Restaurant
565 Eden St
Bar Harbor, ME
207-288-9740

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We visited Asticou Azalea Garden and Thuya Gardens this morning and then stopped at the Asticou Restaurant for lunch.  This was the best meal we had on our entire vacation.  We started off with a cup of the lobster stew which came with two popovers.

The popover recipe is the same one they use at the Jordan Pond Inn.  It was so light and fluffy and delicious.  They were piping hot when served with strawberry preserves and the steam just billows out when you cut into it.  The lobster stew was phenomenal.  I should have ordered a bowl of it instead of a cup.  Big chunks of lobster in a rich, creamy, buttery broth.  It was amazing.  Loren got a roast beef and boursin sandwich and a side salad and I went for the lobster roll.

He said his sandwich was fresh and tasty.  The boursin cheese added a nice creaminess to the sandwich.  My lobster roll was perfect.  Big chunks of perfectly cooked and picked lobster meat and the roll were fresh and toasted.  It was so good.  There was no way I was passing up dessert here, so we got the blueberry pie.

It had a nice crust with a tasty blueberry filling.  The ice cream was also rich and creamy.  Service was great, we sat out on the patio and had a beautiful view and the food was amazing.  Total bill was $61.

Asticou Restaurant
15 Peabody Drive
Northeast Harbor, ME
207-276-3344

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