Who isn’t a foodie on vacation? When you visit Kennebunkport—one of Maine’s most exciting gourmet destinations—salt-scented breezes will stimulate your appetite, and we know you’ll be keenly interested in our coastal town’s dining options. With so many cool, casual spots, plus the state’s leading fine dining restaurants, you’re allowed to break the “rules” here and squeeze more than three meals into a day. This guide to the Kennebunkport Resort Collection’s array of fine and casual restaurants will help you chart a course for dining adventure.
The Boathouse Restaurant
The Boathouse Waterfront Hotel & Restaurant, 21 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport, Maine 207-967-8223
The Boathouse Restaurant opened in May 2018, led by Executive Chef John Shaw. A Kennebunk native who spent the past seven years at The Tides Beach Club in Kennebunkport, Shaw has fashioned a new “classic Maine” menu that focuses on fresh seafood with a sprinkling of Asian influences. Some of Shaw’s fan-favorite signature dishes from The Tides will also be featured, such as Seared Shrimp & Scallops with Lobster Fried Rice and Lobster Spring Rolls. The waterfront restaurant, located on the Kennebunk River just steps from Dock Square, features both indoor and outdoor dining areas, creating a spirited social seating and a vibrant bar space. For more information, please call (207) 967-8225 or view the online menus for The Boathouse.
Ocean at the Cape Arundel Inn & Resort
Cape Arundel Inn & Resort, 208 Ocean Avenue, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-4015
With dramatic views of the Atlantic’s wild waves from practically every seat, Ocean—the fine dining restaurant at the elegant, oceanfront Cape Arundel Inn & Resort—is doubly enchanting. Ocean’s artful creations are every bit as tantalizing as the scenes Mother Nature has painted. Prepared with seasonal, local ingredients and French precision, each plate is a journey. And exquisite service makes this white tablecloth restaurant tops for celebrating special occasions.
The Burleigh
Kennebunkport Inn, One Dock Square, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-2621
This hot newcomer on the Kennebunkport dining scene is tucked within the Kennebunkport Inn and named for the former mansion home’s original 1899 owner. You’re in for the best dining experience you can savor without getting dressy or exhausting your paycheck. Sophisticated, yet casual and friendly, The Burleigh is a place to rub elbows with locals at the lively bar or on the spacious outdoor deck. Snacks, small plates and entrees are designed for sharing and feature Maine-harvested ingredients. Ask your server to help you pair each selection with a local craft brew or a seasonal cocktail.
Earth at Hidden Pond
354 Goose Rocks Road, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-6550
Closed for the winter season. Every moment of your dining experience at Earth is designed to feel otherworldly. The service is refined, yet the indoor-outdoor ambiance is woodsy and whimsical: You’ll suspect you are trespassing in a candlelit fairy forest. Craft cocktails are mixed with farm-fresh ingredients. And Chef Joe Schafer’s playful dishes are built from a vivid assortment of just-harvested, foraged, wild-caught and locally raised delights. Herbs, flowers and heirloom vegetables are grown in Hidden Pond‘s two on-site organic gardens, and their freshness punctuates every bite. Nightly bonfires add to the romantic allure. Reserve your dining experience online.
The Tides Beach Club
254 Kings Highway, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-3757
Closed for the winter season. You’ve never had a lobster roll or fish n’ chips quite like this. Maine classics emerge from Chef Taylor’s kitchen respun for a new generation at this beachside dining destination. Imagine all of your favorites… wings, clams, ribs, burgers, grilled fish… elevated to a new culinary level, and you’ll understand why the competition can be fierce for tables at this coastal chic restaurant inside the Tides Beach Club, overlooking Goose Rocks Beach. So, make reservations online for dinner, served nightly May through October, and arrive early for a seaside stroll or a meticulously mixed cocktail. Happening happy hours start at 3 p.m. every day.
The Dory
Lodge on the Cove, 29 South Main Street, Kennebunkport, Maine, 207-967-3993
Closed for the winter season. Casual dining doesn’t have to be boring. Need proof? Escape the bustle of Dock Square and snooze-worthy grown-up fare at The Dory, where boozy homemade milkshakes, spicy burgers and sweet potato tater tots allow adults to relive their childhoods… with a twist. This fun, poolside restaurant and bar at Lodge on the Cove—Kennebunkport’s retro-chic motel—is hidden, yet centrally located and open to the public. Play ping pong or tabletop shuffleboard while you wait for your meal, and enjoy the laidback vibe. The Dory is open from May through Columbus Day Weekend.
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