Camden

Winona’s Restaurant, Camden, Maine, 6/5/26

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exterior – 31 Elm Street, Camden, ME 04843

Winona’s is owned by Hannah Adams and Chef Devin Dearden.  With just 20 seats it’s small and very casual.  Hannah does the front as well as wine service and Devin cooks in the open kitchen.  They named it for their cat Winona and are the only staff.  The menu changes every 3 weeks and during the two years they’ve been open they’ve offered about 29 different menus.  It is all a la carte but the recomendation is to order one of everything and share it as a modified tasting menu.  Most of the tables were large, well spaced round ones sitting on large checkerboard of wood squares.  Art was on the walls and the bathroom was filled with cat art that Frankie adored.  Music was in the background and the windows on the front looks out at the little street.  It’s a cozy bohemian look that worked well with the owners personalities and food choices.  They only serve beer and wine as alcoholic beverages, you have to rely on street parking and the napkins are paper.   However, I would highly recommend this place when in the area – it’s a hidden gem. Continue reading →

Natalie’s at Camden Harbor Inn, Camden, Maine, 6/3/26

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exterior – 83 Bayview Street, Camden, ME 04843

As the name would indicate Natalie’s was the restaurant in the Camden Harbor Inn.  The fine dining restaurant is under Executive Chef Jose Ochoa who actively tries to highlight the bounty of Maine’s harvests.  Inside the white cloth-covered tables are set with padded armchairs surrounded by windows with views of the gardens and water.  There is also terrace dining outside.  It has an elegant feel with wood floors , lots of flowers, music in the background and attentive service.  Open daily they offer an a la carte menu and two tasting menus.  We chose the lobster tasting and started the meal with both of their local oysters and a Vesper classic cocktail.  It was a lovely evening with the staff friendly and helpful and the tasting with good pacing and portion control. Continue reading →

The Norumbega Inn, Camden, Maine, 6/2/26

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Norumbega Inn – 63 High Street, Camden, ME 04843-1733

The Norumbega Inn was a stone castle by the sea that was converted into a boutique hotel in 1984.   Built in 1885 the building has had several owners, most recently William Tims and Brett Haynie who purchased it in 2022 and finished the beautiful restoration.   The restaurant opened this month and will continue through October run by Peruvian Chef Marymarcel Densmore.  In addition they have a cute bar area run by Steel Kilgore who directs the beverage program as well as makes fine cocktails.  The bar and restaurant are both open to the public Saturday through Tuesday from 4:30 to 8:00 but other days the bar opens in the afternoon and serves snacks with drinks around 4-6.  There were a number of dining options with 2 indoor dining room and a large outdoor patio.  The small tables were set with comfortable armless chairs while the lights were dimmed and music was in the background.   Service was efficient and friendly but the food was mixed.  We started the evening on one of the 4 bar stools where we met Steel and enjoyed his drinks and menu suggestions before heading into the dining area.  This was a highlight of the evening so make sure to include this when you visit.  I also would recommend staying in one of the 11 guest rooms.  They serve some really tasty breakfasts that are only available to guests. Continue reading →

Long Grain, Camden, ME., 9/26/24

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entrance – 20 Washington St, Camden, ME 04843

Long Grain opened around 2010 serving “honest food” which was mostly Thai based but also made use of other Asian cultures.  A husband and wife team owns it, Ravin Nakjaroen and Paula Palakawong, both from Bangkok with he being a self-trained cook.   In 2014 he was a semifinalist for the Best Chef Northeast James Beard Award.   Located in downtown Camden parking is as you can find it but there was a small public lot across the street.  Over the years the place has expanded in size, which helps as it’s pretty popular.  Large windows look out to the street and inside it’s divided into 2 rooms by an open bookcase with things for sale.  A few seats are also available at the counter in the back.  There’s lots of light in addition to the windows with the addition of skylights and there is music in the background.  The servers were very friendly but service was slow, I think due to being overwhelmed by customers.  They do take reservations and serve lunch and dinner Tues through Sat. The food was worth waiting for – everything we had was excellent.  Put this one on your list for your Maine vacation. Continue reading →