Nebo Lodge

You just know that if you have to take a boat over open ocean to get to a completely self sustained island full of organic farms… the food is gonna be good. And indeed it was. There is something about eating a meal in which you know everything came from down the road that makes it taste even more delicious.
I recommend their peking duck wrap with pickled radish, sticky rice, and sri-​cha-​cha, the fried green tomatoes, and the Caldwell Farm rib eye. The dessert wines offered were fantastic, the vintage port and a DPX sherry in particular. I only wish that I had gotten a chance to then stay at the Nebo Lodge and experience their breakfast! Our waitress was wonderful as well, the perfect combination of sassy, sweet, and attentive.
A less than successful interpretation of a fish taco was this spectacular place’s only downfall. I had high hopes for this but it was really a strange combination of a reuben, and a fish taco… very much a swing and miss.

If it were even possible to separate this outstanding restaurant from it’s stunning environs, it wouldn’t change a thing — except that they would lose their unique, almost exclusive farm-​to-​table setup. And you would lose a breathtaking walk from the beach or ferry.
If you’re reading this, you are most likely already aware of how incredible the island is — I don’t have to explain Nebo’s unique geography or ethos. You’re in an f-​ing special place right there.
Everything we experienced, from the personal greeting at the door (as if we were visiting friends at their home,) to the craft beers, to the INCREDIBLE apps/​main dishes, to the desert — was absolutely, unspeakably perfect. There is no other way to explain how a pack of 6 judgmental, ego-​maniacal, holier-​than-​thou New Yorkers could all be simultaneously rendered speechless and in total awe at every turn. It was humbling, really.
I almost never give 5 stars and I’m not one of those trolls that leaves reviews for money (tho I have been asked many times.) This place is truly one of the most amazing culinary and cultural gems out there. Run don’t walk — just please don’t tell your friends because if they get too popular, we risk losing what makes them great. (Spoken like a true Brooklyn gentrified, right!?) There is NO way you will not leave Nebo with a smile on your face and a restored sense of pride for your fellow man.

My boyfriend and I went to Nebo after boating over from Vinalhaven. The location was wonderful because we could walk straight there from the docks!
I loved how every tablecloth was different, making the atmosphere very home-​y and comfortable. Our waitress was friendly and not overbearing… I would’ve appreciated more information about the food we ordered from the menu. I ordered crabmeat thinking that would be it. Fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised that it came over a bed of pasta but I didn’t feel as though that was clear in the menu. The portion was huge as well and our waitress said people often end up taking home leftovers– which I did. I could’ve gone for less food and a lower price!
I still had a wonderful time and my food was delicious. I loveddddd the outdoor seating and couches, making it feel like a neighbor’s patio. We were there at sunset and the weather was beautiful. I would recommend Nebos and will be returning in the future.

The wonderful menu has been the same for three years. Delicious. But the same.
Excellent mussels. Steamed, a pound or more arrive in a deep bowl brimming with delicious cream white wine broth. Thick, supple — a truly special dish.
Fried green tomatoes. Crispy from panko and creamy from chive dressing.
Trout fish tacos are certainly enough for a meal — lightly breaded and fried crisp, the fish is succulent.
The pickle appetizer has been a success on all visits.
North haven oysters to down — salty and sweet — these little morsels are perfect.
Tender rib eye — bone in. Served med rare with a large dollop of herb butter and rosemary. Truffle fries cover the large piece of meat.
The brick chicken is tart and sweet with a most crisp skin. Tomatoes provide sugar to this rendition of thigh and breast. Juicy meat.
A large piece of trout is accentuated by a light lemon cream.
A large selection of bespoke cocktails.
Large but pricey wine selection with a bent towards France and California.
Polite service. Good dessert and coffee.

Staying at the Nebo Lodge was a great experience. Unique, isolated by the sea and only accessible by ferry, there’s a great feeling of community about the island. With only one other restaurant in town there’s always a crowd around the food, which is grown locally and organically, giving you a real home grown feel. The house was amazing, a perfect blend of Victorian, rustic, and contemporary styles, that all combined seamlessly into a lovely atmosphere. The rooms were clean, decorated with local art, and complete with all natural soaps and shampoos that smelled great and brought you closer to nature it seemed. Our room, on the third floor, stayed cool through the night with a fan unit and lots of windows. To stay here was a real treat, and I would love to stay another night if the place wasn’t already filled to the gills.
The food was good as well, although I was not blown away by it as I had hoped to be. As one of Bön appetit’s top ten foodie destinations, I was expecting an unforgettable meal, which was a desire left, meh, unsatisfied.
The dining room was beautiful, with unique linen cloths on each tabletop. The dishes were mismatched vintage pieces, all beautiful, and the ensemble was pulled together by the teacup planter and mason jar candle center piece. I loved the rustic feel of the setting, and the beauty of the old china. Our appetizers were served, fried green tomatoes, crispy kale, and chicken liver pâté, which were delicious. Having been left with high expectations for the entrees, I was unimpressed my my main course. I ordered the brick oven chicken, which was served with a cabbage slaw base and fresh basil. The flavor balance was beautiful, but the portion was much too large and over salted. My mother ordered the lobster, which was some of the best I’ve had although it was served without utensils to properly eat which I though to be strange.
The desserts were delicious,
We ordered the chocolate pots de crème and the honey-​thyme ice cream. The chocolate was dark, bitter and rich, offset by a light caramel drizzle. The ice cream was like nothing I’d ever had, a definite favorite. Our servers were attentive, helpful and sweet. Outside of the disappointing entrees and steep bill, the Nebo Lodge dinner was a hit.

Well, not as good as I had anticipated. Perhaps it was because it was late and the «boat dinner» people had left. Had a salad that was not usually good, but acceptable, followed by the Asian ribs. Was dying for something Asian and spicy after the traditional Maine food, but it was not be. Tasted like stew meat. Asian would never slow cook ribs. Had to ask for Sriracha to get through it.

We stayed one night as a last bit of pampering after visiting other parts of Maine and doing some camping. We stayed in Babbidge and it had a shared bathroom. The room was quaint to fit with the age of the house, but also very modern in décor. A comfy brass bed with tons of pillows. They do supply a fridge if you wish and some really great smelling herbal toiletries. There was no AC, but two openable windows with screens, and it had dropped to the high seventies so we were OK. Being right off the water did help keep it cool also.
All the staff was great and the hosts make sure you know what the island as to offer. There is walking, biking, swimming, golf, local markets. They offer bike rental.
We had dinner reservations, which is a must. There is not any dinner dining options on North Haven, and people actually come from the main land to eat here. The food was excellent, and the farm to table vibe was a welcome offering after eating on the road and lobster for a week. We had the pickle plate with turnips, beets, fiddleheads, cauliflower and cheddar and rye. So tasty, and the bread basket was just right, crusty on the outside and pillowy in the middle. I had the lamb with polenta and beet salad which was seasoned perfectly, my fella had the trout which he enjoyed as well as the local oysters. The continental breakfast was good and had some thoughtful options, some really great biscuits with a honey glaze, farm fresh yogurt and homemade granola.
They have a beautiful garden, and 3 really nice porches for relaxing on, I did some reading and some peaceful vegging. This is an out of the way place, slow paced, and very relaxing. I only regret we didn’t spend more time to do some biking and see more of the island. There isn’t a market near Nebo, so plan well and take some snacks if you need or a romantic picnic.

This is a review about their restaurant only, as I don’t do reviews for lodging here. My husband and I attended their harvest dinner this month. We really looked forward to the dinner as we knew they use lots of local ingredients. Some of the dishes were superb, like the oyster appetizer (from the island, served with tiny delicious onion bits) and steak (also local, according to the waitress) which may have been one of the best steaks I’ve ever had. Some other dishes were merely decent, like the stuffed fish my husband ordered. The flavor of the fish was totally overwhelmed by all the cheese, cream, potato, etc. I barely remember the desserts. I think one of us got an apple crisp and the other something with crème anglaise, which the waitress called «cream angelie.» Obviously they weren’t well-​trained waitresses, hence a few kinks with the service. My husband chose to do wine pairing with the prix-​fixe, and he commented that some of the pairings did not work. Good meal, but I didn’t feel like it was worth the money, especially after so many amazing meals in Quebec for similar price. We also had their breakfast, which was good except they didn’t have the delicious local lamb sausage they had last time! My husband loves the island so we probably will end up coming back here.

I’ve seen the rooms, but I’ve never stayed at Nebo, since I have friends on the island.
I’ve eaten the food though… and it’s amazing. They get as many ingredients as possible from local farms, so the food is always fresh and the menu changes a lot.
The dining area is divided into several rooms, and they are all nicely decorated. Elegant but relaxed. The staff is super nice and attentive. There is a nicely stocked bar with bowls of snacks, so if you get there early you can have a nice drink. I had a whiskey sour.
The first time we went, the chef prepared a special vegan dish for me, since I was still vegan at the time: roasted vegetables skewered on rosemary stems with balsamic vinegar on a bed of farro. For a chef who’s never really cooked for a vegan before, it was a great offering. The veggies were just slightly roasted, nice and crunchy, and the farro was delicious and chewy.
The second time around, I was no longer vegan. I had Maine crab cakes with red pepper remoulade. Amazing. Sweet, fresh crab, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the remoulade was perfect. My one complaint is that I asked if I could have them as a dinner portion, and what came out was definitely an appetizer. They were so good, I didn’t complain. I also had the pumpkin chiffon pie with gingersnap crust. The pie was light and delicious, and the crust was by far the best pie crust I’ve ever had, perfectly crunchy and crumbly and a little spicy from the ginger.
Each time, I had the garden frites (potatoes, carrots, and green beans) with truffled ketchup. The veggies are nicely fried and not too oily, and the ketchup is (I know I use this word too much) AMAZING. The complementary bread is also wonderful. It’s got the most amazing crumb… I’m tempted to ask for the recipe.
If you’re going to be on North Haven or Vinalhaven, or even in Rockland, you owe it to yourself to go.