Reading Room Restaurant at The Bar Harbor Inn

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1. PM

   PaulMac

   Denver

   3 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on October 6, 2021

   overall5food4service4ambience5

   Salmon fantastic; did not care for accompaniments

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2. SD

   SusanD

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   4.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on October 4, 2021

   overall4food4service5ambience5

   Was my birthday. Service was good but our meals were not hot. Some complained the chicken dish was not tasty, and cool. Overall, a nice experience though.

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3. MM

   MikeM

   Columbus

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on September 30, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Great location. Service was wonderful and the piano player added perfectly to the experience.

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4. JA

   JAMESG

   Jacksonville

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on September 12, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   A wonderful place to dine. Beautiful view of the harbor and the food is delicious. I would recommend this restaurant whether for a special occasion or just a night out on the town.

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5. FB

   FloridaBrett

   New England

   4 reviews

   1.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on September 9, 2021

   overall1food1service2ambience4

   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.

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6. BH

   BobH

   New York Area

   50 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   50 reviews

   Dined on September 8, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   One of our favorite restaurants.

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7. JB

   JuliaB

   Charleston

   2 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on August 30, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience4

   Meal was delicious. Service was excellent. Good wine list. Piano music in the background. Very nice dining experience and would highly recommend!

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8. r

   redwriter

   New York Area

   31 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   31 reviews

   Dined on August 28, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Beautiful dining room, great views of the harbor. Wonderful experience, with great food.

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9. AF

   AnneF

   London

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on August 15, 2021

   overall5food5service5ambience5

   Fantastic service from Phelicia. Thank you!

   Report
10. SM

    ScottM

    New York Area

    35 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    35 reviews

    Dined on August 7, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Best meal in Bar Harbor. Everything was great about this place. Would have stayed at the Inn if we could have gotten a reservation. We will next time.

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11. MC

    MarthaC

    Charleston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 1, 2021

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    College roommate and I turning 60.

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12. JH

    JanayeH

    Charleston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 27, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Paula was a great server. Meal was delicious except for the truffle mushrooms which were way too salty, sadly. I couldn’t eat them.

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13. V

    Vin123

    New York Area

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 26, 2021

    overall3food1service2ambience5

    Food was sub-standard and over-priced. Ambiance and setting was excellent - but food at smaller - no view establishments in town was much much better.

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14. J

    Jocelynt27

    New England

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on July 22, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    The Reading Room has a fantastic history! It was incredible to be able to eat in this once secretive and exclusive lounge with my family. The menu was simple and local, and the service was beyond reproach. Live piano music made the experience even more special. The view can’t be beat. Overall, a dinner we won’t forget. Thank you to the staff of the Reading Room for making a memory for our family.

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15. R

    Ronag

    New York Area

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2021

    overall5food5service4ambience3

    Beautiful Inn Great food and service and atmosphere

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16. Y

    Yeaux

    Houston

    23 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    23 reviews

    Dined on July 21, 2021

    overall5food5service3ambience5

    Great lobster and scallops, ambiance was very nice. We had long gaps in table service attention. Once they prematurely removed our appetizer, the next service attention was over 30 minutes. But overall it was a good time and beautiful setting.

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17. BK

    BeeKal

    New England

    34 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    34 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    After a long day driving over from Boston..with stops along the way..it was nice to be greeted with a warm friendly smile by the hostess . We had made reservations beforehand and we were promptly seated. The view was amazing as well as the food. Stoyan our server was excellent. Thank you for a great evening.

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18. FF

    FlushingFirstTimers

    New York Area

    172 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    172 reviews

    Dined on July 20, 2021

    overall5food5service4ambience5

    The restaurant is located within a large harbor front resort hotel. As a result, it has ample parking, including valet parking. This is an important issue in a resort town with real traffic and parking issues. Additionally, you have a spectacular view of the harbor. We both ordered the black kale appetizer, which was very flavorful as well as a healthy choice. We ordered the lobster, which was removed from its shell for us. It was served with asparagus and new potatoes. Everything was done to perfection and the lobster was plentiful. We ordered the sea salt caramel chocolate torte with pretzels. It was very good and not overly sweet. The service was adequate but not attentive, given the nature of the restaurant and the resort. They may simply be understaffed at this time.

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19. DW

    DebraW

    Tampa

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on July 18, 2021

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Very good meal. Small thing, website menu and restaurant menu were not in sync.

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20. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Dallas

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Loved. Husband said we should have eaten here every night. Million dollar view. Old school menu and ambience. Loved.

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21. JY

    JillY

    Chicago

    7 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on July 16, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Absolutely Wonderful, and our server was Amazing!

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22. f

    funfoody

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 14, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    I had filet and lobster tail with charred carrots and roasted potatoes. The filet had a special sauce and tail was a nice size. It was excellent. My partner had short ribs with broccoli and kind of potato patty. He said it was tender and could not finish as portion was generous. Wonderful atmosphere as it’s on the Bay and overlooking a small harbour

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23. OU

    OUTSTANDING

    New England

    12 reviews

    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on July 14, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Suzy was our waitress and the view and the service was impeccable would highly recommend this to everyone

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24. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    Columbus

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 13, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious dinner, great service and fantastic view!

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25. J

    Judy

    Denver

    15 reviews

    3.0

    15 reviews

    Dined on July 10, 2021

    overall3food3service5ambience5

    I was in the Reading Room three years ago, and the highlight of my trip to Bar Harbor was the full lobster entree. I finally got my husband to join me, so he could experience the sheer joy of wearing a bib and tackling a huge lobster. Needless to say, we were both vastly disappointed. The lobster was good, but was not nearly a pound of meat, and the total experience was lacking. I sincerely hope that entree will return to the Reading Room. The rest of our dinner was excellent.

    Report
26. DW

    DavidW

    Dallas

    8 reviews

    3.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on July 10, 2021

    overall3food3service4ambience4

    We stayed at the hotel and were celebrating our Anniversary . The waitress acknowledged our anniversary, brought us complimentary amuse bush (sp) but my wife is allergic to anything with wine which our waitress did not know about. We ordered Caesar salads but they were out of anchovies. We both ordered the filets, which was almost ruined by a brown sauce and the plate came with some crazy blue potato.dish. The best thing about the hotel was the breakfast we had the next day. Same venue good breakfast, but we had to wait 30 minutes to be seated even though the restaurant was only about 20 capacity. Definitely staffing issues are impacting this place plus poorly inspired food

    Report
27. MB

    MariaB

    New York Area

    36 reviews

    5.0

    36 reviews

    Dined on July 8, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Food and service were both superb. Piano music playing in the background added to the ambiance.

    Report
28. M

    Mariakc

    Chicago

    17 reviews

    2.0

    17 reviews

    Dined on July 7, 2021

    overall2food2service2ambience4

    The room was fancy! The food was ok. Nothing grand. The service was average.

    Report
29. TM

    TracyM

    New York Area

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 7, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    Overall nice, but ran out of oysters, lobster dinner overpriced and fingerling potatoes were substituted with Yukon gold. Piano player was enjoyable

    Report
30. DL

    DarwinL

    Philadelphia

    4 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on July 6, 2021

    overall4food4service3ambience5

    Beautiful restaurant with beautiful view, food is average but the ambiance is perfect.

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31. k

    kelleym

    New England

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on July 2, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Delicious. Special treat.! The creme brûlée was exceptional!

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32. CM

    ColleenM

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 1, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    My husband and I came to the Reading Room restaurant for our first night ever in Maine and to say it was a great kick off to our trip would be an understatement. We were sat right at the window overlooking the water (so happy with our seating). The pianist was playing in the background throughout our meal which set the mood perfectly. Our waiter was charming and offered great recommendations. We ordered oysters, cocktails, wine and my husband ordered the naked lobster while I went with the scallops. Both were very tasty. The waiter brought a little candle with a small dessert in honor of my husband's birthday. We left dinner and walked right outside to the most beautiful sunset. Truly a magical evening. We would love to come back here again the next time we are in town.

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33. C

    Cyrrob

    New England

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined on June 30, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Could not have been better

    Report
34. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 28, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Lovely spot overlooking the water. Amazing food for a really reasonable price by New York standards!

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35. MD

    MarcD

    New England

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Was a beautiful building, very friendly staff and stunning views of the harbor. Highly recommend it

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36. OT

    OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on June 28, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Good was excellent. Nice views and friendly staff.

    Report
37. SL

    SherryL

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 27, 2021

    overall5food4service5ambience5

    Absolutely beautiful and relaxing for an upscale meal with excellent service. Lovely place.

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38. M

    Mstidcrna

    Jacksonville

    8 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on June 27, 2021

    overall5food5service5ambience5

    Everything was excellent.

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39. C

    Cynthia

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on June 27, 2021

    overall4food4service4ambience5

    Beautiful restaurant with excellent food. Views are unbeatable.

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40. K

    Karl

    Denver

    4 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on June 27, 2021

    overall2food2service1ambience4

    Wine list is nonsense for a fine dining restaurant. Food was seasoned well, but did not taste good and was very dated (90’s fine dining menu) Staff was nice, but not hospitable at all. Such a shame. This could be the star restaurant of Barr Harbor.

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