I have posted on this blog extensively about my happy place, midcoast Maine. You can search this spybird blog for midcoast Maine-related posts on these dates: 9/1/2013, 9/18/2013, 11/2/2014, 9/6/2016, and 9/9/2018.
After another fabulous season in the Damariscotta/Newcastle area, I thought it might be cool to pass on a few more hints and fave places. So without further ado:
1. Delano's Seafood Shack. 100 Atlantic Highway, Waldoboro, ME. https://lcnme.com/business/delano-seafood-shack-opens-in-waldoboro/ I had low expectations for this new seafood shack, but tasting is believing. It sits next door to Delano's Seafood, a retail establishment with a good reputation for fresh local seafood. If you love the stuff like I do, the Shack does a terrific job with fried haddock and scallop baskets. "Good count, good quality," as my buddy Irving used to say. And reasonable prices. There's also soft-serve ice cream on site.
2. I'm very excited about River House, Damariscotta's upscale experiment in farm to table dining. Charming and cozy, the restaurant sits right on the Damariscotta River, on Main Street, Damariscotta. The chef studied under my man Tony Maws (Craigie on Main, Boston), and the food is delicious. Some idea of menu is here: https://riverhouseme.com/eat . I had the roasted monkfish at $22. and it was quite tasty. The lavender pot de creme was rich, silky and really did taste like lavender, Ask for Myrtle, if you can request a server.
3. Glidden Point Oyster Farm. http://www.gliddenpoint.com. A venerable Maine oyster farm under new ownership, Glidden is a comfortable place to take an oyster tour during summer weekends (please check with the farm re availability) and learn about those tasty bivalves. Then buy some oysters (at very reasonable prices), shuck 'em yourself, and slurp them outside on the picnic table with a bottle of Sancerre. It does not get better.
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| Oysters Rockefeller from Shuck Station, Tour of Glidden and some Glidden oysters ready to shuck |
3. Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor. http://www.mainegardens.org If you have not yet been to the ever-growing Botanical Gardens down the peninsula in Boothbay Harbor, it has the makings of a perfect afternoon. Plenty of incredible plants, flowers, paths to wander, butterfly house, etc. etc. While the gardens are at their peak in late spring, there are always wonderful offerings throughout the year, and the Christmas exhibit is said to be a mind-blower. Note that tickets for this latter event are often sold out in advance so check.
Have fun and eat well in midcoast Maine!
