One of our favorite things about this trip was the food. Do not leave Bar Harbor without sampling the seafood. This is as fresh as it gets.
A Mt. Desert Island tradition is the Lobster Pound. Pay a set price (usually around $15 or $20, depending on market price of lobster) and get a whole lobster with butter for dipping. The "shore dinner" also includes side dishes. You eat the lobster outside, cracking and snapping away, with lobster flying everywhere. My husband enjoyed the lobster pound at Southwest Harbor- Beal’s Lobster Pier (207/244-3202). You will need a car to get there. There are many other lobster pounds--including many closer to Bar Harbor and the east side of the island. Try one of these for a closer option.
Restaurants: There are many restaurants along Main Street. Many of the restaurants we ate at during our trip, we found just by walking around and finding a menu that looked interesting. We did not eat at one bad restaurant during our trip (and we ate out almost every meal!). Here are some of our favorites:
Café This Way (14 Mt. Desert St., www.cafethisway.com) had very good food and vegetarian options. The desserts were probably the best we had on this trip. The pecan-crusted swordfish is highly recommended. Breakfast is also popular here, with many creative choices. Dinner prices are moderate, with entrees in the $20 range.
Havana (318 Main Street, 207/288-2822, www.havanamaine.com) is an upscale establishment with a Latin flair. Food was delicious, and the atmosphere was clean and refreshing. There are two sections to this restaurant. You walk on a wood-plank deck to get to the second half. This is where we sat. The area seemed to be more secluded and personal than the main section. Prices were expensive, with entrees in the $30 range. You should make reservations.
Thirsty Whale (Main Street close to the harbor) is a low-key restaurant with tasty food at low prices. This restaurant was recommend to us by our kayaking guide for its great soup in a bread bowl. My husband loved the seafood bisque.
Ben and Bill’s ice cream (66 Main Street, Open March-December 9am-10pm and April-August 9am-12am). This ice cream is delicious, and there is a wide range of flavors (including the famous lobster flavor that we were not adventurous enough to try). You can sample anything you like. Definitely stop here for a cone while you’re walking around downtown Bar Harbor.