This is for the restaurant at the Inn: To start, you are served tiny dinner rolls. You can finish them in one, maybe two, bites. Next, I ordered the tomato and feta "salad" (if you can even call it that). I had about 1/3 of a tomato, three tiny blocks of feta cheese, and three leaves of arugula. It was laughably small. I was hoping my entree would be larger, considering there are no other dining-out food options on Monday or Tuesday on the island. For my entree, I ordered the lobster. Everywhere else in Maine, when I have ordered lobster I received the lobster, including its shell for me to open and some butter to dip it in. Eating the lobster, to me, is all about the experience! This lobster, however, came served out of its shell on a plate with NO sides for almost double the cost of comparable lobster sizes. This entree was laughably small. I could hardly keep a straight face when our waiter told us to enjoy our "meal." There were not even any options for sides. I was too afraid to order desert considering how small my two menu choices were for their price. I will not be going back unless they are under new restaurant management next year. This is too bad because it is such a charming setting, overlooking the beautiful water and the golf course below.
(1)
Nils W.
We returned for dinner four nights ago and can report an entirely different dining experience from our earlier visit when we ordered not very satisfactorily from the Nostalgia Night menu. This time the food ordered from the regular dinner menu was great. My sweetbreads were rich and delicious. My partner's vegetarian fare earned high praise. Our friends were delighted by the food and found their room with ensuite bath charming and comfortable. Now if only the Inn owners will support the community that supports them, including local clammers and charitable institutions.
(4)
Mindy R.
Sunday brunch fiasco...I think we must have caught them on a bad day. The waitress mentioned that she had planned to go home, and then people started to arrive. We had a reservation on the deck, which we were told was not available...they had just filled the tables so there would be a wait. Had we realized that the service would have taken so long, we could have waited for the tables which had emptied by the time we actually saw any food. By this time, we were already seated inside. After the loooong wait, my husband got an overcooked sketchy burger on a stale roll, the smoked salmon omelette was lobster, which we sent back. The best part of the day was the lovely surroundings and opportunity to be with our family. The waitress was keenly aware of our situation, but did nothing to remedy our experience. SShe could have brought something tasty to the table while we waited, she could have waived the bill, she could have given us a gift certificate to return to give them another chance....Considering our large family spends a lot of time at a nearby island, we really want to like this place.
(3)
Alex G.
We stayed at the inn, and opted to have the 5 course tasting menu at the restaurant. The chef started with a scallop crudo, sliced thin and served with a touch of caviar and a some jalapeños. It was super fresh and absolutely tasty. Second course was pan seared (I think) gnocchi, served on a small layer of herbs/pesto and julienne zucchini - super light and expertly crafted. Next course was the lamb chops, perfectly cooked and medium rare, served with some decent arugula and two terrific roasted tomatoes. For the last savory course, we had their signature poached lobster, a small "chicken lobster" (one small claw and a small tail) which was extremely tender and uber flavorful, served with tiny baby heirloom carrots and some cooked greens. Sure, it's small, but it was a delicious preparation. The final touch was dessert: a warm blueberry semolina crumble cobbler, which was served with vanilla ice cream melting atop. Although it could have been a tad thicker, the flavors were fresh and light and baked to a luscious, berry-filled excellence. Wine list is extensive for an island inn, although don't expect a sommelier. Service is polite - and very sweet - but not professional. It's super casual and the entire staff could use a lesson in "big city" service techniques. Still, the place is comfortable and the view gorgeous. Expect a slow paced, relaxing dining experience. Worth a trip!
(4)
Jennifer S.
Sadly the cold hard truth is that the food here is shockingly bad and portions are MINUSCULE. The prices are very high, and the service is VERY slow. Both things I could live with if the food was good. We came for dinner on a Saturday evening in August. They have a small menu that boasts local produce farmed on the island. First off are the dinner rolls that come out lukewarm with ice cold butter. The rolls were hard and dry and strange tasting. A nod to hardtack perhaps? Hardtack, you know the dry biscuits sailors ate just before they ate each other? Either way these little square hockey pucks were completely inedible. They taste like a 7th graders first attempt at baking in home ec. as if they forgot the baking powder, or to let them rise properly or something? For dinner I went with the chowder and the goat cheese ravioli. The chowder came out in a large bowl with about half a ladle full of chowder. It was watery, needed salt or seasoning, was sour (yes sour, I have no idea why), no potatoes, ONE tiny piece of sliced carrot (it was practically raw) haddock and no mussels or clams as promised. There were some sweet corn kernels at the bottom so that helped. Next up was my goat cheese raviolis. Completely underwhelming, they were served in a small bowl with 5 (?!) to a portion. This is not a meal -this is not even an appetizer. They come with what tasted like unseasoned plain tomato puree from a can, and a few pine nuts. That's it. No veggies or anything else along with it. I was STARVING. I was thinking of ordering one of the local seafood options on the menu, but the only two were also underwhelming. The fish was steamed haddock (snooze) and the lobster for ($28) I was told is only a portion of the lobster in its shell (who does that?). Nothing had any taste or life, or soul. I can't understand how they can serve this bland lifeless tasteless food. We wanted to come back the next day for drinks and apps to watch the sunset on the porch but the experience here was so bad we couldn't bring ourselves to spend another dime here.
(1)
Barry F.
We have visited the Inn many times in the past few years and feel that all around the quality and service is at an all time low. The service is very slow if you can get any at all. Sitting outside, we've had to walk in and get our own drinks on three different visits. Waited over a half hour just to be given menus durning a recent lunch visit. Unfortunately, there are few other options on Chebeague. Be prepared to be disappointed. For the time being the view is the only reason to go there.
(1)
John S.
Service is really bad, the food is like you'd get at a wedding, and it is very overpriced. The only reason it is two stars is because of the view. Skip the meal and just go for cocktails on the porch.
(2)
Don M.
Inn opened for the season this evening. Outstanding and generous bowl of Bangs Island mussels. Tyrone, the fine barman, brought me extra rolls to finish the buttery, garlicky broth. I am replete, so no entree needed this evening. I have to plan better next time. Finished with a gin & bitters. AAA+++
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Dressy Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Caters : Yes
Micah D.
This is for the restaurant at the Inn: To start, you are served tiny dinner rolls. You can finish them in one, maybe two, bites. Next, I ordered the tomato and feta "salad" (if you can even call it that). I had about 1/3 of a tomato, three tiny blocks of feta cheese, and three leaves of arugula. It was laughably small. I was hoping my entree would be larger, considering there are no other dining-out food options on Monday or Tuesday on the island. For my entree, I ordered the lobster. Everywhere else in Maine, when I have ordered lobster I received the lobster, including its shell for me to open and some butter to dip it in. Eating the lobster, to me, is all about the experience! This lobster, however, came served out of its shell on a plate with NO sides for almost double the cost of comparable lobster sizes. This entree was laughably small. I could hardly keep a straight face when our waiter told us to enjoy our "meal." There were not even any options for sides. I was too afraid to order desert considering how small my two menu choices were for their price. I will not be going back unless they are under new restaurant management next year. This is too bad because it is such a charming setting, overlooking the beautiful water and the golf course below.
(1)Nils W.
We returned for dinner four nights ago and can report an entirely different dining experience from our earlier visit when we ordered not very satisfactorily from the Nostalgia Night menu. This time the food ordered from the regular dinner menu was great. My sweetbreads were rich and delicious. My partner's vegetarian fare earned high praise. Our friends were delighted by the food and found their room with ensuite bath charming and comfortable. Now if only the Inn owners will support the community that supports them, including local clammers and charitable institutions.
(4)Mindy R.
Sunday brunch fiasco...I think we must have caught them on a bad day. The waitress mentioned that she had planned to go home, and then people started to arrive. We had a reservation on the deck, which we were told was not available...they had just filled the tables so there would be a wait. Had we realized that the service would have taken so long, we could have waited for the tables which had emptied by the time we actually saw any food. By this time, we were already seated inside. After the loooong wait, my husband got an overcooked sketchy burger on a stale roll, the smoked salmon omelette was lobster, which we sent back. The best part of the day was the lovely surroundings and opportunity to be with our family. The waitress was keenly aware of our situation, but did nothing to remedy our experience. SShe could have brought something tasty to the table while we waited, she could have waived the bill, she could have given us a gift certificate to return to give them another chance....Considering our large family spends a lot of time at a nearby island, we really want to like this place.
(3)Alex G.
We stayed at the inn, and opted to have the 5 course tasting menu at the restaurant. The chef started with a scallop crudo, sliced thin and served with a touch of caviar and a some jalapeños. It was super fresh and absolutely tasty. Second course was pan seared (I think) gnocchi, served on a small layer of herbs/pesto and julienne zucchini - super light and expertly crafted. Next course was the lamb chops, perfectly cooked and medium rare, served with some decent arugula and two terrific roasted tomatoes. For the last savory course, we had their signature poached lobster, a small "chicken lobster" (one small claw and a small tail) which was extremely tender and uber flavorful, served with tiny baby heirloom carrots and some cooked greens. Sure, it's small, but it was a delicious preparation. The final touch was dessert: a warm blueberry semolina crumble cobbler, which was served with vanilla ice cream melting atop. Although it could have been a tad thicker, the flavors were fresh and light and baked to a luscious, berry-filled excellence. Wine list is extensive for an island inn, although don't expect a sommelier. Service is polite - and very sweet - but not professional. It's super casual and the entire staff could use a lesson in "big city" service techniques. Still, the place is comfortable and the view gorgeous. Expect a slow paced, relaxing dining experience. Worth a trip!
(4)Jennifer S.
Sadly the cold hard truth is that the food here is shockingly bad and portions are MINUSCULE. The prices are very high, and the service is VERY slow. Both things I could live with if the food was good. We came for dinner on a Saturday evening in August. They have a small menu that boasts local produce farmed on the island. First off are the dinner rolls that come out lukewarm with ice cold butter. The rolls were hard and dry and strange tasting. A nod to hardtack perhaps? Hardtack, you know the dry biscuits sailors ate just before they ate each other? Either way these little square hockey pucks were completely inedible. They taste like a 7th graders first attempt at baking in home ec. as if they forgot the baking powder, or to let them rise properly or something? For dinner I went with the chowder and the goat cheese ravioli. The chowder came out in a large bowl with about half a ladle full of chowder. It was watery, needed salt or seasoning, was sour (yes sour, I have no idea why), no potatoes, ONE tiny piece of sliced carrot (it was practically raw) haddock and no mussels or clams as promised. There were some sweet corn kernels at the bottom so that helped. Next up was my goat cheese raviolis. Completely underwhelming, they were served in a small bowl with 5 (?!) to a portion. This is not a meal -this is not even an appetizer. They come with what tasted like unseasoned plain tomato puree from a can, and a few pine nuts. That's it. No veggies or anything else along with it. I was STARVING. I was thinking of ordering one of the local seafood options on the menu, but the only two were also underwhelming. The fish was steamed haddock (snooze) and the lobster for ($28) I was told is only a portion of the lobster in its shell (who does that?). Nothing had any taste or life, or soul. I can't understand how they can serve this bland lifeless tasteless food. We wanted to come back the next day for drinks and apps to watch the sunset on the porch but the experience here was so bad we couldn't bring ourselves to spend another dime here.
(1)Barry F.
We have visited the Inn many times in the past few years and feel that all around the quality and service is at an all time low. The service is very slow if you can get any at all. Sitting outside, we've had to walk in and get our own drinks on three different visits. Waited over a half hour just to be given menus durning a recent lunch visit. Unfortunately, there are few other options on Chebeague. Be prepared to be disappointed. For the time being the view is the only reason to go there.
(1)John S.
Service is really bad, the food is like you'd get at a wedding, and it is very overpriced. The only reason it is two stars is because of the view. Skip the meal and just go for cocktails on the porch.
(2)Don M.
Inn opened for the season this evening. Outstanding and generous bowl of Bangs Island mussels. Tyrone, the fine barman, brought me extra rolls to finish the buttery, garlicky broth. I am replete, so no entree needed this evening. I have to plan better next time. Finished with a gin & bitters. AAA+++
(5)