Coastal Maine/ cape cod food recs

Pats pizza in Bar Harbor, believe it or not you will get tired of eating lobster and pats has great pizza

Stay away from stuffed lobster anywhere. Plain bread crumbs is their idea of flavor.

FWIW we thought Reds was worth doing, albeit not life changing. Granted, we're happy to spend an hour or two on a place like that just to check the box. So long as it's a pleasant experience I think it's worthwhile, and Reds fits in that category pretty easily. Good food, nice people.

We liked the Jameson Tavern in Freeport. Kind of a locals place. Pub food. with a decent bowl of chowder, lobster roll, and haddock sandwich.

There's also Red's in Wiccasset. It was on a food channel show and now has long lines. Across the street is Sprague's, which is just as good.

The seafood is all good if fresh...haddock, cod, lobster, you name it. Whole belly clams are good too. Anything with blueberries is good.

Portland
J’s Oyster
The Shop by Island Creek Oysters
Eventide Oyster Company
Dinner at Central Provisions
Standard Baking Co- pick up some bread/ breakfast
Eastern Promenade- check out the view from here
East End Beach- cool beach/dog park to watch the tide come in and out.

Portland to Mount Desert
Take Hwy 1 the whole way- it is scenic and gorgeous. There are a ton of fun stops along the way, I’ll list them below from South to North, but definitely take your time and stop as much as you’d like. It about 2.5 hours, but we stopped along the way for lunch, shopping, beers, buying ciders, groceries etc.
Day's Crabmeat & Lobster
Maine Beer Company
L.L.Bean Flagship store in Freeport
Sea Basket in Wiscasset
Red’s Eats is the more famous in town but there is always a huge line. The Sea Basket was perfect for lobster rolls, crab rolls, bisque, beers and fried clams.
Moody's Diner- whoopie pies, blueberry muffins
Oyster River Winegrowers- neat farm stop, they have some great wines and ciders. Pretty spot off the main road.
Primo Restaurant- in Rockland, probably one of the nicest places to eat up there
Good Tern Natural Foods Store- in Rockland, farmers market type produce
Maine Street Meats- butcher in Rockport
Sea Dog Brewing Co.- good beers in Camden, this is a good spot to get out and take a break from the car- walk around and shop.
Rhumb Line- food in Camden
Between Camden and Belfast is a beautiful drive
Perennial Cider Bar + Farm Kitchen- Belfast
Young's Lobster Pound- Belfast- Simple BYOB spot serving lobster rolls, grilled fish & casual seafood with waterfront picnic tables.

Deer Island and Mount Desert Island
Deer Island
Aragosta at Goose Cove- fine dining
Rec from friend, we didn’t do this but want to this year “If you have the time / inclination, one sick thing to do is the Maine Island trail. Not that many people know about it. It's basically like an ocean version of the Appalachian trail that you do with Kayaks. Every day you hit a different island. The entire island is your campsite. You are the king of said island. It's not for the casual treker though. You gotta WANT it.”

Mount Desert
Food
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound
Sweet Pea’s Cafe- outside dining, wood fired veggies and pizza
The Travelin Lobster, LLC
Mainely Meat Barbeque At Atlantic Brewing Company
Lompoc Cafe & Books- in Bar Harbor, shady patio for sandwiches beers and books
Farmers Market on Saturday at the The Mount Desert Island YMCA parking lot- found some neat stuff there
Jordan Pond House Restaurant- NPS restaurant so nothing amazing but great views and they have beer
MDI Lobster & BBQ- great spot, easy and good views
Beal's Lobster Pier- popular spot next to MDI lobster
Charlotte's Legendary Lobster Pound- my favorite spot of the whole trip- pick up a ton of food and head to Seawall Picnic Area to eat. Great views

Hikes
The Beehive Loop Trail via the Bowl Trail
Cadillac North Ridge Trail
Ocean Path and Gorham Mountain Loop Trail
Jordan Pond Full Loop Trail- with South Bubble Mountain
Beachcroft Path Trail
Sargent Mountain and Gilmore Peak via Giant Slide Trail

The Lobster Pound at Rye Harbor

Really good stuff. I appreciate it the effort very much. I’m overly excited for the trip. Never ventured too far outside Boston in the NE part of the country.

No love for Dimillo’s in Portland??
I second Eventide.

We ordered Pat’s Pizza from Bar Harbor Inn
It was like day 19 of a road trip and we just wanted pizza!

I also liked Geddy’s for a simple meal in Bar Harbor.

REDS EATS.

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We have a room booked in July in both cities. Taking the ferry out of Boston to Provincetown for a night and then Wellfleet for another night. We will be without a car so, any recommendations for food and things to do would be greatly appreciated.

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Awesome!

In Provincetown, grab a lobster roll at The Canteen and sit out back. My favorite oysters are at The Squealing Pig. Old Colony tap is the perfect dive bar. Ciro & Sal's is one of the coolest Italian haunts I've been to. Stranger & Saints is the best cocktail bar in P-Town. Harbor Lounge makes OK drinks, but you're there to enjoy one on their private pier. Craft beer in Provincetown is few and far between, but Nor'East Beer Garden usually has a solid selection.

For Wellfleet, spend some time at Beachcomber. Super laid back bar that sits at the top of the dunes overlooking Cahoon Hollow Beach. Great spot for drinks, casual food and live music at night. Mixed ages during the day, but more college-aged at night. Pretty sure you still won't get cell service. I always enjoy Bookstore & Restaurant or Pearl for the outdoor seating options. Food is solid enough. Sunsets in the harbor are absolutely beautiful. Eat at Winslow's Tavern if you can - very cool setting in an old house + front patio.

Truro is much more residential, and there isn't a ton to do outside of the Vineyards (worth a trip - great atmosphere and outdoor setting), but Ballston Beach is my favorite on the Cape. Proposed to my now-wife there back in 2019.