DINING OUT

D I N I N G O U T

FROM SEASIDE LOBSTER SHACKS TO COZY PUBS AND FARM-TO-TABLE FARE, WALDO COUNTY RESTAURATEURS OFFER PLENTY TO SAVOR

THE HICHBORN

WASSES HOT DOGS

How does a largely rural corner of the country support a dining scene as vast, varied, and venerated as Waldo County’s? It’s all about heritage, about communities that have lived for generations close to the land and sea. Folks around Belfast have a penchant for savoring what each season has to offer — and for enjoying good times in good company, no matter the season. Locals and visitors might crack into lobsters on a dock in summer, huddle in fall over a farm-to-table brunch, and gather for burgers and pints in front of a cozy pub ƂUHSODFHLQZLQWHU$QGWKDWŒVMXVWD taste of the area’s culinary abundance.

For an elegant date night, the white-tablecloth dining room at the Youngtown Inn (581 Youngtown Rd., Lincolnville; 207-763-4290; youngtowninn.com) offers a seasonal PHQXRI)UHQFKLQƃXHQFHGFXLVLQH prepared by Parisian-born chef Manuel Mercier, who owns the inn with KLVZLIH0DU\$QQ7KH0HUFLHUVŒ IDUPKRXVHbKDVEHHQD0DLQH dining mainstay since 1992, the rare country inn where a diner can enjoy Continental classics like escargot and duck mousse pâté.

,Q6WRFNWRQ6SULQJV7KH+LFKERUQ (10 Church St., Stockton Springs; 207-322-8307; thehichborn.com) is a similarly historic structure with a more contemporary vibe. Owners Kirk Linder and Charlie Zorich serve up 1HZ$PHULFDQHQWU«HVELJZLWKORFDOO\ ƂVKHGIDUPHGDQGIRUDJHGLQJUHGLHQWV — think short ribs with beef raised right up the road or Gulf of Maine cod with wild mushrooms gathered on the PLGFRDVW7KHFRXSOHŒVDUWFROOHFWLRQ OHQGVVRPH:DUKROƃDLUWRWKHLUV Italianate mansion, a former B&B, and the kitchen’s lovely plating practically begs to be Instagrammed on the dining room’s hand-hewn wooden tables. Down East magazine has hailed the +LFKERUQŒVRIIVHDVRQEUXQFKDVWKH state’s best.

$\HDUVWDOZDUWRIGRZQWRZQ Belfast, Chase’s Daily (96 Main St., Belfast; 207-338-0555; chasesdaily.me) helped pioneer what a midcoast farmWRWDEOHUHVWDXUDQWFDQEH7KH&KDVH

family has been farming nearby since 1969, and the family-run restaurant, bakery, and indoor market is as much a destination for fresh produce and ƃRZHUVDVIRULWVUXVWLFEUHDGVDQG EDNHGJRRGVDQGLWVWRUWDVVDQGZLFKHV and other prepared foods. Friday night dinners and Sunday morning brunches DUHHYHQWVZLWKDOOYHJHWDULDQRIIHULQJV tasty enough to have earned Chase’s a -DPHV%HDUG$ZDUGQRPLQDWLRQDV one of the country’s most outstanding restaurants. (Plus, the dining room doubles as an art gallery!)

Of course, some of the county’s more casual meals are among its best. Right on Lincolnville Beach, the Whale’s Tooth Pub & Restaurant (2533 Atlantic +Z\/LQFROQYLOOH ZKDOHVWRRWKSXEFRPVHUYHVVWHDNDQG VHDIRRGHQWU«HVŐbQRWWRPHQWLRQD NQRFNRXWZHHNHQGSULPHULEŐZRUWK PDNLQJUHVHUYDWLRQVIRUEXWWKHƂVK and chips, shepherd’s pie, open-face burger, and other comforting pub IDYRULWHVDUHMXVWDVPRXWKZDWHULQJ %UDVVƂ[WXUHVH[SRVHGRDNEHDPVDQG a mahogany bar give the Whale’s Tooth DZDUP2OG(QJOLVKYLEH&RPSOHPHQW WKDWZLWKDQ$QGUHZŒV(QJOLVK3DOH$OH Ő/LQFROQYLOOHŒVYHQHUDEOHPLFUREUHZ — and pull up a seat on the deck in summer or in front of the monster ƂUHSODFHLQZLQWHU

And don’t skip the classics: Sister restaurants Mammie’s Country Kitchen 'HSRW6W8QLW\DQG 5LGJHWRS5HVWDXUDQW.QR[5LGJH 7KRUQGLNHDUHDSDLURI quintessential country diners offering big portions of home-cooking standards like meatloaf, pot roast, platters of golden-fried seafood, and giant omelets and benedicts at breakfast. In Belfast, Young’s Lobster Pound & Seafood 5HVWDXUDQW)DLUYLHZ6W%HOIDVW \RXQJVOREVWHUVFRP is the place for the can’t-miss Maine ZDWHUIURQWPHDOIURPZKROHOREVWHUV and steamers to generous lobster and clam rolls to plate-smothering portions RIEOXHEHUU\SLH%ULQJ\RXURZQEHHU RUZLQHSLFN\RXURZQOREVWHUIURPWKH tanks, and enjoy a seaside breeze on the deck as lobsterboats motor up to deliver their catch.

Of course, not all classic Maine eats FRPHIURPWKHVHD:DVVHV+RW'RJVb %HOPRQW$YH%HOIDVW has been serving steamed buns and IUDQNIXUWHUVIURPLWVOLWWOHZKLWHVWDQG off Route 1 for decades. Plain or piled KLJKZLWKFKLOLDQGJULOOHGRQLRQVD Wasses dog is a time-tested fave of both ORFDOVDQGWRXULVWVŐbLQDWRZQZLWKQR shortage of options. •

MAINELY POTTERY MAINELY POTTERY

MAINELYPOTTERY.COM Potter at work and works of 28 Maine potters Open daily on Route 1 East Belfast 207-338-1108 Potter at work and works of 28 Maine potters Open daily on Route 1 East Belfast 207-338-1108 MAINELYPOTTERY.COM

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