Have you ever been to a restaurant or pub that is not just a culinary delight but a sensory experience? It is not just that the food and drink is outstanding, but the service, the setting, the ambience together transport you to someplace magical?
Perhaps it was an old British pub, fireplace roaring, that sent you 200 years into the past. Or a little brasserie that whisks you away to Paris. My mountain top experience was Mama’s Fish House in Maui, where I felt like I had slipped the bonds of this earth for some dreamy Polynesian paradise (more about Mama’s in a future post).
Well, this past August, my wife and I were blessed to have another of these transformative experiences at Abel’s Lobster Pound in Mount Desert Island, Maine. We were camping in Acadia and had heard great things about Abel’s. It was a beautiful, sunny day, so we decided to hit the restaurant for lunch. So glad we did!
Let me just sum up the experience by saying, wow! We had been hitting lobster places up and down the Maine coast (after doing the same thing the year before in Connecticut) . It was all pretty spectacular. But Abel’s is in a class of its own.
The owner Mandy Fontaine, eighth generation Mainer, has done a masterful job reimagining a traditional New England-style lobster pound as a fine dining destination. The restaurant, nestled by a little marina in a beautiful, pine-tree lined cove, was founded in 1939. Ms. Fontaine begin operating it in 2020, retaining all its natural and easy-going charm while adding elevated, locally sourced cuisine.
So what does it feel like to go to Abel’s? It feels like being transported to an idyllic version of the Maine and New England coast, at least it does when the weather is wonderful. The stone and cedar-shaker building flanked by hydrangeas, the blue sea, the aroma of pine forest mixed with smoke from the outdoor cooking area, magical. And that is all before you have even looked at the menu!
We sat outside at a simple picnic table by the water with our dog Rapha. It was marvelous. Our server was so friendly and attentive. And she treated Rapha like a member of the dining party, bringing him a water bowl and checking in on him regularly. We felt so welcomed.
Then, when she began bringing the food and drinks to our table, the heavenly transformation was complete! Between us, we tried the oysters, lobster bisque, and “lazy lobster,” a lobster in browned butter sauce in a bed of grits. Everything was so flavorful! The bisque was fantastic. The lazy lobster was pure joy!
Abel’s also prepares mean craft cocktails in their quaint, outdoor bar. My wife had a delicious pina colada with a sherry twist! I tried their smoked old fashioned with molasses syrup and black walnut bitters. It was a truly exceptional drink that demanded to be sipped ever so slowly.
And we topped it off with some Maine blueberry pie with maple whipped cream. Simply divine!
What to do after such a joyful and filling experience? Well, we thanked our server, gave thanks to God, got back in the van, and laid down in our bed right there in the parking lot. A breeze carried in the salt air from the sea and tucked us in for a delightful afternoon nap. How glorious!
If you are ever by Acadia or Bar Harbor, I highly recommend a stop at Abel’s Lobster Pound. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to linger and enjoy!
How About You?
Have you ever been to Abel’s? What was your experience?
Have you ever been to a restaurant that transported you to someplace magical? What was that like? Please share with us.
A Short Meditation
Taste and see that the LORD is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!
Are you worn down and at wit’s end? Do you hunger for joy? Taste and see.
Un Petit Aperçu
Êtes-vous déjà allé au restaurant où la cuisine, le service, le décor et l'ambiance vous ont transporté dans un lieu magique ? Ma femme et moi, nous avons vécu une expérience comme ça chez Abel’s Lobster Pound à Acadia, dans le Maine, en août dernier. Nous avons mangé dehors, à une table au bord de la mer. Les huîtres, le homard, les cocktails, la tarte aux myrtilles étaient délicieux. La vue sur la mer et l'arôme des pins étaient envoûtants. Quel moment merveilleux ! Avez-vous déjà vécu une telle expérience ?
Μία Περίληψη
Έχεις πάει ποτέ με φίλους σε ένα εστιατόριο όπου το φαγητό, η εξυπηρέτηση, το ντεκόρ και η ατμόσφαιρα σας μετέφεραν σε ένα μαγικό μέρος; Τον περασμένο Αύγουστο, η γυναίκα μου και εγώ είχαμε μια τέτοια εμπειρία στο Abel's Lobster Pound στην Acadia του Maine. Φάγαμε έξω σε ένα τραπέζι δίπλα στη θάλασσα. Τα στρείδια, ο αστακός, τα κοκτέιλ και η πίτα με μύρτιλα και κρέμα ήταν νόστιμα. Η θέα της θάλασσας και το άρωμα των πεύκων ήταν μαγευτικά. Τι υπέροχη στιγμή! Έχεις ποτέ μια τέτοια εμπειρία;