Islesford Dock Restaurant

Never have I ever had a better lobster than the one at Islesford. The seafood (especially the lobster) is always the freshest and the views of MDI and Acadia simply cannot be beat. The clam chowder is a menu standout, too.
The Islesford Dock Restaurant boasts a truly one-​of-​a-​kind dining experience, from the boat ride out to the delicious seafood.

Don’t linger or else!
To be clear, this is based on an experience we had 2 summers ago and haven’t been back. We had been coming to this restaurant for almost 20 years and had enjoyed going there. We have recommended this place to numerous people. The experience of getting to Ilsford on the Mail boat is amazing and the food is also very good, but the experience was tainted by bad customer service.
We booked a table for 8 to celebrate our daughters engagement. The meal was good and maybe we lingered a little longer than usual. I was shocked when our young server came over to our table and said in an annoyed tone «I guess we can’t make you leave». Chalking the rudeness up to an inexperienced server we quickly got up to leave and was shocked when on the way out one of the owners unpleasantly and annoyedly eheoed the statement. We had just paid a bill for over $ 500! Maybe we lingered a bit longer than the usual turn over time, but a polite whisper that people were waiting for the table would have been sufficient to get us moving. Instead they embarrassed all of our guests and particularly me because I recommend the restaurant. It unnecessecerily tainted what would have been a wonderful experience.
I won’t say avoid the restaurant, but I would think twice about bringing large parties.

Only had the clam chowder… But on a chilly July day in thick fog, it was the best clam chowder I’ve ever had. It’s probably darn good under any weather conditions! The Restaurant is built right on the pier, surrounded by the local lobster fishing fleet. This is as authentic as it gets… Well worth the voyage!

Great little place. Its a bit of an adventure to get to so call ahead and make sure you have a spot. Don’t expect a fast meal. We had 2 hours between ferries and didn’t really have time for dessert which was fine with us. This is the first New England crab cake I’ve ever liked. I should have taken a bit of the sauce off but other than that it was perfect. Highly recommend.

I loved the location and food. We shared the vegetarian dish which was outstanding. Call before you go and verify the options. They frequently have band nights with a limited menu.

Jade horrible service they never asked how we were doing rushed our meal and the owner was running every which way

Awesome… one of the best dining experiences we enjoyed in all of Acadia/​Bar Harbor. A must try if you are in the area!
Getting here is a true adventure… you can only reach it by boat or ferry. They take credit cards, have a full bar and the chef rocks… one of our favorite restaurants in Maine, and rivals any of the best restaurants we have ever dined in.
Located on Cranberry Island, this place is a local gem… with adjacent art gallerys and amazing views!
We tried many plates… in particular we loved: heirloom tomato salad, scallop crudo, 2lb lobster meal, and a great kids menu.
Almost everything on the menu is local or home grown. This is a hard to get to place but it is worth every ounce of effort and the sunsets are spectacular.
A great 5-​star experience!

No doubt. our favorite restaurant in Acadia area. Wonderful, people, exquisite setting, simple good food. Do not order the blt… Terrible terrible, soggy, limp, barely cooked bacon. A shame really… As everything else is superb… ESP the clam chowder and dock burger. Also wish they would buy ice. The salty taste to water is not nice. Worth the effort to get there on ferries from NEH and SWH. Reservations for sure

Easily the best dining experience over the course of one week we spent in Bar Harbor. Easily. Excellent, excellent food in an amazing place. Moss growing on the deck and walls outside, topped by lichens. From the beginning I loved this place. Food and service did not disappoint. Salted cod sliders were outstanding. The island is as cool as can be and this restaurant is an added bonus. A very very special treat. One of my top 5 restaurants ever. If you are this area and like venturing out a bit, this is a must.

I went here with a large group, and we had an amazing experience! Most of the fun was actually getting to the restaurant and back, as you can only get there by boat. I had the great hill blue cheese salad which was one the best salads i have ever had. other people mostly ordered burgers and said they were amazing. then we explored the rest of the tiny island which was interesting. i cannot imagine living in such a small and isolated place!

If you are up this far in Maine and looking for an adventure, this is the place for you. First of all, you can only reach it by boat or ferry that leave from Southwest Harbor. They take credit cards, have a full bar and the chef knows how to cook on the level of many fine restaurants here in Boston. Directly adjacent to the restaurant is the Islesford Lobster Co-​Op, owned and operated by the 15 or so lobstermen that call Islesford, aka Little Cranberry Island, their home port. Any lobster you order was caught that day and most likely with in the last couple of hours.
The Rib appetizer is amazing and nearly enough for an entrée, I am willing to bet you could order it as an entrée if desired. The ribs are not about bbq necesarily, they are more Asian style with a honey glaze and cilantro. The Maine Lobster and Artisanal Burrata cheese was unlike anything I have ever had before — highly recommended. Warm lobster with a warm home made cheese excellent combination.
The country pork ragu was so unexpected that I ordered it. The pasta is house made and when the server suggested it, I ordered. It was delicious. I later learned as my brother and I sat at the bar drinking that this was the dish that anybody that was ordering take out was ordering — for good reason.
Islesford Dock Restaurant does an excellent job of having a seasonally adjusted ingredient list and almost everything on the menu is local or home grown. This is a hard to get to place but it is worth every ounce of effort and the sunsets are spectacular.

I’ve been to the dock on many occasions in the past six years and have never been disappointed. During a recent visit I had a great dinner with friends. We started with the gallimaufry, a mixed pot of local sea food, to share followed by the house made sausage with burratta cheese. This is definitely one of my favorite small plate items. For my main course I had the local halibut. It was delicious and crispy with a perfect fennel accompaniment. Two of my friends shared the steak for two, which was cooked to a perfect medium rare. They both loved the feta and watermelon salad but wished the potatoes had just a little more seasoning. Our fourth friend had the organic chicken and adored it. Cooked perfectly, not too dry, and served with savory creamed corn it was really great comfort food. At the suggestion of our server we shared a bottle of the martin codex with our app and bottle of the st. Innocent pinot nior with our entrees and loved both.
The ricotta with rubarb sauce and the raspberry crisp made perfect sharing desserts. Overall I’d give the Dock a double thumbs up for a great night out. The service was a little hectic but genuinely attentive and caring, Also I definitely suggest the lobster roll or dock burger at lunch!